UNC-Chapel Hill's Board of Trustees this spring refused to grant tenure to a women’s and gender studies hire, a rare intervention that has reignited faculty and student outrage across campus. The blocked appointment of Kiran Asher of UMass Amherst had already been cleared by department faculty, college reviewers and the provost before trustees voted against it at a May meeting.
How the Board Vote Went Down
At the May meeting, the board approved 33 tenure conferrals but singled out one candidate for rejection, leaving staff and faculty stunned. As Inside Higher Ed reported, Asher’s appointment had already moved through the department, college, tenure committee and provost reviews before trustees refused final approval.
Trustees’ Internal Debate
Internal emails obtained by The News & Observer reveal that at least some trustees have begun to treat tenure as a budget and policy problem rather than a routine personnel clearance. The paper reports trustee Jim Blaine wrote that tenure is “an anachronistic relic” that can create long-term financial challenges, while trustee Marty Kotis pushed back against AAUP criticism and urged focus on enrollment and return on investment.
The Professor’s Account
Kiran Asher told WUNC that she had signed a contract more than a year ago and that the board’s no vote surprised her and her colleagues. As WUNC reported, Asher described the process as opaque and said the trustees’ intervention undermined established academic review steps.
Enrollment Trends and Department Reaction
Data obtained by The News & Observer show the Women’s and Gender Studies major count fell from a 2016 peak of 112 to about 50 in the most recent semester, with enrolled credit hours hitting a record low of 891. Ariana Vigil, chair of the department, told the paper that using low enrollment as a reason to block hires is paradoxical because hiring new faculty can be a deliberate strategy to rebuild offerings and student interest.
Open Meetings and Governance Questions
The episode lands against a backdrop of legal and governance scrutiny over what trustees may discuss behind closed doors. The UNC School of Government notes that while personnel matters tied to specific individuals may be considered in closed session, “general personnel policy issues may not be considered in a closed session.” The wider dispute over closed meetings was the subject of a recent suit that was later settled, as reported by The Assembly. The underlying law has been explored in detail by the UNC School of Government.
What’s Next for Tenure at Carolina
Faculty leaders say the decision will increase pressure for clearer rules about when trustees should intervene in hires and for more transparent criteria around long-term commitments. Devin Duncan, the student body president who serves on the board, told Inside Higher Ed he voted to award tenure to all candidates presented at the May meeting and urged trustees to defer to established academic review processes while the university sorts budget and enrollment priorities.
