It is true that wonders never cease.  The Kentucky Community and Technical College Board of Regents has just voted to reverse its March 2009 decision to end tenure in the KCTCS system.  The Courier-Journal is reporting that "the board voted unanimously to revise its hiring policy to include the seven employment-status categories in effect before July 1, 2009. Faculty tenured employment status and faculty tenure-track are among the seven categories."

"We are extremely pleased that the KCTCS Board of Regents has made the decision to restore tenure and abide by the legal opinion issued by the Kentucky Attorney General,"  says David Cooper, President of the Faculty Staff Alliance, AFT Local 6010. "It was always our opinion as well that the board had exceeded its legal authority when it abolished tenure last March.  Union members did a fantastic job of organizing votes of no confidence, contacting legislators and board members, and working with the media to bring about this result."  

"This is a big win for college students in Kentucky and a big win for fairness for faculty," said AFT President Randi Weingarten in a statement  on the board's action. "This decision will ensure that professors have the job security and academic freedom necessary to address challenging subjects and maintain the high standards that are essential for student success."

The board, not surprisingly noted that they disagreed with Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway's recent opinion that the board had overstepped its authority when they eliminated tenure, but Board Chair Thomas Zawacki told the Courier-Journal that "it is time to heal and work together for the common good - our students."

One might suggest the board could have been focused on the students all along, rather than working to diminish the professional status of the faculty who are responsible for helping those students succeed in the first place.

In addition to reversing the policy decision, the board authorized one of its subcommittees to review the tenure policy.  FSA Director Barbara Ashley said that the union found that decision "puzzling." 

"The rigorous tenure review process that has been in place is comparable to that used by most institutions of higher education," noted Ashley. "We expect that whatever modifications are made will result in a valid and viable tenure system for KCTCS.  If it does not, we will continue to hold all legal and legislative options open."