Although it was nice to spend a long weekend in a place where there were no phones, automobiles or shopping malls, I was glad to get back to the real world yesterday. I do miss the internet when it's not available to me.
My schedule today includes the first of several Centennial Campus Conclaves. Faculty, staff and students are invited to share ideas and recommendations for our upcoming 100th birthday in 2010.
Also, I'll be hearing a report from the Provost about this year's tenure and promotion decisions. Tenure is probably one of the most misunderstood aspects of the academic world. Put simply, it is conferred upon a faculty member after the longest (6 years) and most rigorous probation period of any employee group. Tenure confers an expectation of employment for an indefinite period that may not be terminated by the employer except for good cause. It differs very little from the same privileges in other public and private sectors.