美國大學終身職教授因學校財務危機被解聘案例分析   免費試閱

Tenured Faculty Dismissal Because of Financial Exigency: The Case Analysis of the United States

臺灣高等教育的急速擴張在面臨少子化的趨勢下，各所大學未來都須面對生源不足的問題，因此在高等教育政策方面，政府有必要針對教師面臨學校因註冊人數下降產生財務危機而被解聘的相關問題進行討論；本研究透過對美國大學終身職（tenure）教授因學校財務危機被解聘案例的討論，希冀給予大學及教育行政機關在政策執行上的參考。首先，探討美國大學教師終身職的歷史背景，並列舉美國大學教授協會對於因財務危機解聘終身職教授的準則，另外，本研究從學校性質（公、私立）、財務危機界定與程序問題三方面的判例來做討論；此外，亦論述臺灣目前對大學教師聘任的相關規定與問題。透過案例分析可以了解到不管公立或私立學校，學校是否實際有財務危機是解聘成立的先決條件，而學校與教師之間的契約內容則是法院作為判決的主要依據。此外，法院也會考量在解聘的程序上是否盡到通知，以及給予陳述意見的機會，整體而言，法院通常會尊重學校的自主管理權限。最後，則建議未來學校在聘約文件中要盡量詳述解聘的相關原則與條件，且最好在財務危機發生前就及時採取預防性措施。

In Taiwan, the Ministry of Education predicted that there are around 60 colleges or universities will be closed within twelve years because of a sharp decrease of birth rate. Thus, it is especially important for universities in Taiwan to learn how to deal with this situation and also prevent it. This study provides an overview of case history from three parts. First, is the historical development of academic tenure rights. Second, is about the AAUP guidelines of tenured faculty dismissal because of financial exigency . In addition, this paper provides discussion of three financial situations related to the dismissal of tenured faculty. According the case examination, it is essential that the university should have the reality of financial exigency for both public and private universities. In addition, the plan of faculty termination should be reasonable and follow the due process rules. Under these situations, the court usually gives deference to the discretionary power of the university. Therefore, when facing inevitable financial exigency due to declining enrollment, universities should set clear standards related with faculty dismissal in contracts. Furthermore, in order to avoid unnecessary disputations, universities can have a prevention plan in advance before dismissing tenured faculties.