Higher‑education leaders and faculty are debating reforms to tenure and service to restore public confidence and address uneven workloads. Commentators argue traditional tenure protections require recalibration to improve accountability, while faculty advocates stress preserving academic freedom. Separate research and commissions highlight that women and faculty of color shoulder a disproportionate share of undervalued service work. Institutions are now discussing policy changes that would preserve faculty autonomy while formalizing expectations, crediting and redistributing service contributions to address equity and retention.