Over the summer, UND President Robert Kelley went on a 30-day leave to visit other universities and learn about tenure policies. President Kelley is looking to use this leave as a way to create a more fluid method of how faculty are awarded tenure at UND.

“I believe strongly in fostering career-long growth and in deepening our understanding of the concepts and issues central to the life of the University,” Kelley said in a message to the University before his leave.

The current tenure policy at UND, which can be viewed on its website, was last revised in June of 2012.

“I am pleased to be able to personally engage in this development opportunity” Kelley said in his message.

The message Kelley issued to the university explains the focus of his leave and how he will gather information.

“I will examine literature, policies, and procedures that deal with all aspects of the tenure process and that suggest possible ways to clarify standards and improve the process,” Kelley said.

The current tenure process at UND is unique because it allows each institution to award tenure based off its own standards. Kelley’s concern is that each institution is becoming inconsistent in the standards they are awarding tenure.

Kelley is looking to somehow create a blanket tenure policy that is standardized to cover all institutions.

According to UND’s office of institutional research, in the fall of 2013, 48 percent of professors, associate professors, and assistant professors had tenure, and 17 percent were on track to be awarded tenure. Kelley is trying to streamline tenure at UND and not necessarily create more or less tenured faculty.

“The focus of my leave will be a review of the issues and policies related to tenure,” Kelley said. “Tenure is a vital aspect of life at most research universities.”

In his message to the community he stated he will submit a written review of his findings and  hopes to use that to benefit UND. President Kelley has not yet issued another message to share his findings from his leave.

Parker Payne is a staff writer for The Dakota Student. He can be reached at [email protected].