Perceptions of academic tenure, post-tenure review policies, and organisational commitment in university academic staff

Abstract

This study investigated the relationships between perceptions of academic tenure, post-tenure review policies, and three dimensions of organisational commitment (affective, continuance, and normative) in university academic staff. We surveyed a sample of 150 academic staff from 74 universities in the USA that have implemented post-tenure review policies or are contemplating doing so. Then, we tested hypotheses about the relationships between their perceptions of their post-tenure review policies and processes, and organisational commitment. The results showed that perceptions of post-tenure review as a threat to the guarantees of academic tenure were related negatively to affective and normative organisational commitment. The implications of these findings for employment stability and the ability of universities to attract and retain qualified staff are discussed.