Appendix II: A Partial Summary of Historical Activity at the University of Michigan Related to the Tenure Probationary Period

1921 President Marion L. Burton recommended that promotion of faculty members to professorial ranks should require Regental approval.

1923 A revision of Regents’ Bylaws Section 6 (a) said that all professors and associate professors are appointed on “indeterminate tenure.”

1925 Regents adopted appointment standards for junior instructors and assistant professors.

1926 Regents recognized “professional ability” as a qualification for faculty appointment and promotion.

1940 (December 13) Regents approved Bylaw 5.09 on the appointment and tenure of members of the teaching staff.

1941 (July) Regents adopted a resolution recommended by the President and Senate Advisory Board for a six-year tenure probationary period. The key reasons for the six-year period were to avoid retarding the progress of “fitted teachers” and at the same time to allow those faculty who were not “fitted” to seek promising careers elsewhere.

1941 (July) Faculty Senate Advisory Committee and the President recommended to the Regents a procedure the University must follow before demoting or dismissing a faculty member.

1941 (October 1) In a special issue of the University Record, the Advisory Board on University Policies published, “The Problem of the Instructorship.” The report, which recommended a six-year limit on the tenure probationary period for instructors, was a response to the American Association of College’s recommendation for a seven-year tenure probationary period for instructors.

1942 (May 7) The UM Advisory Board on University Policies (established by the Regents in April 1940) produced, “A Report on A Study of the Associate Professorship and the Assistant Professorship, “ which recommended an eight-year limit on the probationary period for assistant professors.

1944 (January, Regents meeting) Regents approved revisions to Bylaw 5.091 (which is now 5.09) to revise the tenure probationary period to eight years.

With thanks to Brian A. Williams, Associate Archivist at the Bentley Historical Library.