It depends what numbers you use

A study into the use of statistics when showing trends in university tenures over the last decade

HEADLINE NEWS: There are thousands more tenures, but less is being taught !

ANALYSIS: How is the composition of tenures changing, and is it sustainable ?

Professors and Instructors DOWN Assistants and Lecturers UP
30

The number of tenures has risen by 14,807: from 277,559 to 301,663

350,000 300,000 250,000 200,000 150,000 100,000 50,000 0 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009

Tenured Non-tenured On-tenure track

25 20 15 10 5 0 2001 2003 2005 2007

Professor Assistant Associate Instructor Other faculty Lecturer

2009

Tenures as a proportion of university sta has fallen by 2.4%: from 46.5% to 44.1%
50 40 30 20 10 0 70

New hires under tenured contracts have reduced: from 45% to 37% Non-tenured

Tenured Non-tenured On-tenure track

60 50 40 30 20 10

Tenured and On-tenure track

2001

2003

2005

2007

2009

2001

2003

2005

2007

2009

2011