Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning: Tenure Review Considers “Effectiveness in Communications,” “Collegiality”

On April 21, 2022, the Institutions of Higher Learning Board of Trustees, which oversees eight Mississippi public universities, amended its tenure review process to grant university presidents the authority to award tenure and to include “effectiveness … and integrity in communications” and “collegiality" as mandatory criteria for consideration. On April 27, FIRE and PEN America wrote the IHL to urge the board to eliminate these provisions, as such collegiality requirements stifle dissent and chill speech in violation of the First Amendment.