UP Faculty Calls for the Granting of Tenure to Sociology Prof. Sarah Raymundo

We, faculty members of the University of the Philippines (UP), call for the granting of tenure to sociology Prof. Sarah Raymundo.

Prof. Raymundo has been teaching at the Department of Sociology, College of Social Sciences and Philosophy (CSSP), UP Diliman for the past nine years. She has attained and even exceeded the minimum requirements necessary for tenure. She successfully obtained a master's degree in sociology within the time allotted to her as a former instructor. Students consistently give her higher than satisfactory performance ratings. And, aside from having complied with and exceeded the refereed publication requirements for the granting of tenure, she is probably also one of the most active faculty members involved in extension work in her department. [UP Diliman Faculty Manual (2003), Section 5.3, p. 60; "Shaping Our Institutional Future: A Statement on Faculty Tenure, Rank and Promotion," OVPAA, 2004), Section I.E.1.2, p. 9]

It is a matter of puzzlement to us why the Department of Sociology has chosen not to grant tenure to Prof. Raymundo.

The document "Shaping our Institutional Future" (2004) states under the "responsibilities" on the part of the tenured faculty tasked with recommending tenure that they, "Uphold academic freedom, which requires that faculty appointments are made solely on academic grounds в performance in teaching, research and extension, potential to contribute to the discipline, and ethical conduct of the profession" (I.B.2.2.a). And that it is their responsibility to "create an intellectual environment that supports open and free inquiry, including the freedom to differ, in the spirit of learning and scholarship" (I.B.2.2.c).

It is therefore explicitly stated that the consideration of tenure be made "solely on academic grounds" and that not doing so shall constitute nothing less than a "violation of academic freedom" (I.F.4.a).

Also quite disturbing, highly irregular and patently questionable on legal grounds is the verbal instruction issued by the Chair of the Department of Sociology on Nov. 6, 2008 to Prof. Raymundo that she refrain from attending her classes until further instructions despite the fact that Prof. Raymundo's contract with the University is until May 31, 2009.

The Department of Sociology has not been exactly forthright regarding the basis of its decision. None of the official communications received by Prof. Raymundo nor by the All UP Academic Employees Union (AUPAEU) on this matter (Dept. of Sociology Chairperson Clemen Aquino, Nov. 20, 2008; CSSP Officer-in-Charge Nimfa Ogena, Nov. 21, 2008) reveal the slightest effort at explaining the "academic grounds" they used to decide against granting her tenure. In this vein, we would therefore like to remind the Chairperson of the Department of Sociology that the right of "temporary faculty to expect fairness, both in the process by which the tenure decision is reached and in the substance of that decision" is explicitly recognized and protected by the University (I.F.5).

In the interest of transparency, due process and the protection and furtherance of the right of junior faculty to an appeals process, we enjoin the Department of Sociology to clarify the basis of its decision. Not doing so would only cast doubts on their processes and promote unfortunate speculations on the possibility that a blatant violation of academic freedom is being perpetrated in our midst. We appeal to the College Executive Board (CEB) of CSSP and to the Chancellor of UP Diliman to aid in shedding light on this matter. We feel that it is only reasonable that the basis for the denial of tenure and an account of the processes involved in arriving at this decision be put down in writing and that this be given to Prof. Raymundo immediately.

We reiterate our call for the granting of tenure to Prof. Sarah Raymundo.