College leaders condemn bill abolishing tenure rights

Leaders of the University of Kansas and Kansas State University said a bill that would abolish property rights for tenured employees would make it difficult to recruit quality educators and devastate the state’s economy.

TOPEKA — Academic leaders of the University of Kansas and Kansas State University said Tuesday legislation retroactively abolishing property rights inherent in tenure would run off distinguished educators, undercut faculty recruiting, destroy research programs, trigger an exodus of students and deliver a devastating blow to the state’s economy.

KU Chancellor Doug Girod and KSU President Richard Linton testified against a Kansas House tenure reform bill despite issuance of what the chief of staff to Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly characterized as a threat from Senate Republicans that state university budgets would be slashed if academic leaders spoke out against House Bill 2348.

“Eliminating or weakening tenure in Kansas would create an immediate and severe competitive disadvantage for our universities,” Girod said. “Top researchers and educators would choose institutions in other states where tenure protections remain strong, while our current faculty would receive compelling offers to leave.”

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