Students give Tilghman Isenberg tenure petition

Seven University students showed up at President Tilghman's weekly office hours yesterday armed with anecdotes and 500 signatures.

The students — all history enthusiasts — came to protest the University's decision to deny professor Andrew Isenberg a tenured position despite support from his colleagues and undergraduate and graduate students.

Their hope was that the University would reconsider its decision, said Erik Linstrum '06, a student in Isenberg's American Places class and one of the students at Tilghman's office yesterday afternoon.

Tilghman listened to the students attentively, nodding and affirming their positive experiences, their awe of Isenberg's teaching ability and his scholarship in the newly emerging field of environmental science.

"I want a reason," said Morgan Prewitt '05, who said she declared a history major because of her experience as one of Isenberg's students.

Tilghman tried to to demystify the tenure process by outlining the three categories of consideration: teaching ability, scholarly eminence and collegiality, or the "likelihood that a candidate will become a leader in the department," Tilghman said. "All three are debated."

Three graduate students who either serve as preceptors for Isenberg's classes or are familiar with his scholarship came to attest to what Tilghman called "scholarly eminence."

Jay Turner GS, a sixth-year graduate student in environmental history, called Isenberg's work "a model" and an "exemplar."

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Turner said Isenberg's book "The Destruction of the Bison" is well respected and that he is already under contract for his next book, on the Gold Rush.

Tilghman said she could not detail Isenberg's case, but could only explain the process and encourage Isenberg's appeal of the University's decision.

"There is no question that he is a gifted teacher," she told Brandon Parry '06, Jerry Parker '03, Prewitt and Linstrum. "This case was taken very seriously and took a lot of discussion. This was a decision carefully considered and not easily reached," Tilghman said.

"The undergraduate voice was very seriously considered," Tilghman said.

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The Committee of Three — six faculty members and the senior deans and provost — makes the decisions by reading a file on each candidate that includes student evaluations and letters of recommendation from scholars in the field. The Committee presents a recommendation to the University president, who makes the final decision on granting tenure.

"Ultimately, the decision is mine to make," Tilghman said to the students. "We are all fallible."

She then detailed the appeals process.

"I admire that you're here," she said to the students. "Professor Isenberg has options. He can request an appeal and that is a judicial system that allows for the fact that we could have made a mistake. He should do that."

"We get the feeling that he will," Parry said.

The group left Tilghman's office when the hour was up and then gathered in front of Nassau Hall. Still unsatisfied with Tilghman's response, Prewitt said the group will return next Wednesday to present her with more letters and anecdotes from Isenberg's students and fans.