Up-or-out Policy in Universities

Abstract

For high school seniors with strong academic records who are choosing a university, one important factor is whether the university courses are taught by faculty members with strong academic ability. To recruit these students, universities implement an up-or-out policy with three features: (1) faculty members being promoted from assistant to associate professor are awarded permanent tenure, (2) those denied promotion to associate professor are asked to leave, and (3) the promotion decision is based on the quantity and quality of academic publications during the probationary period.