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A rocky road to tenure?

To some critics, recent amendments to the tenure policy bring transparency and fairness into question, while the economic situation at the University may have adverse implications for the promotion process

The Office of the Dean of the College amended its procedural guidelines in August 2009 to state that the College's Promotion and Tenure Committee would no longer reconsider denied tenure cases. Before the amendment, candidates who were not promoted during their sixth years at the University could request permission to resubmit their cases the next year. The American Association of University Professors said although the change is not concerning in and of itself, it raises possible concerns about the University's tenure procedures, while some University faculty members said it resurfaces a debate about the role of tenure in higher education.

Grounds for concern?\n"Tenure is usually a six-year process," said Milton Adams, vice provost for academic affairs. "At the end of that time, if a candidate is unsuccessful, they have to find a job somewhere else."\nTo see if they pass the test for tenure, assistant professors and other faculty members on the "tenure track" are annually reviewed and then evaluated in three categories

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All University students are required to live on Grounds in their first year, but they have many on and off-Grounds housing options going into their second year. Students face immense pressure to decide on housing as soon as possible, and this high demand has strained the capacities of both on and off-Grounds accommodations. Lauren Seeliger and Brandon Kile, two third-year Cavalier Daily News writers, discuss the impact of the student housing frenzy on both University students and the Charlottesville community.