By Tony McVeigh
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wuky/local-wuky-832367.mp3
Frankfort, KY – Two weeks ago, a majority of the faculty of Southeast Community and Technical College at Cumberland expressed no confidence in the state board of regents. Now, the faculties at community colleges in Maysville, Elizabethtown and Hopkinsville have announced similar votes. There are 16 community colleges in the system.
The teachers are upset over the regents' vote last month to abolish tenure for faculty hired after July 1st. Regents chairman Richard Bean says the no-confidence votes are disappointing, but the board has no intention of reversing course.
Bean says waiving tenure will save money and offer more flexibility in hiring, without eliminating employee protections. Opponents fear eliminating tenure will reduce the pool of highly qualified faculty candidates.