As of early 2026, no R1 university has fully eliminated tenure. No R1 has voluntarily eliminated tenure because doing so would jeopardize the "innovation pipeline" required to meet the simplified 2025 Carnegie R1 threshold of $50 million in R&D spending and 70 doctoral degrees per year.  While several state legislatures and governing boards have introduced bills or executive orders to abolish tenure, the highest-tier research institutions (R1) have so far been exempted or have successfully lobbied for compromises that preserve tenure while increasing "accountability".

The current landscape for tenure at R1 and public universities is defined by three distinct trends:

1. Flagship Exemptions (The "R1 Firewall")

In states where tenure has been targeted, R1 institutions—which are seen as the primary drivers of state economic development and prestige—are often shielded to prevent "brain drain" and loss of federal research funding.

• Oklahoma: In February 2026, an executive order eliminated tenure for new hires at public regional universities and community colleges. However, the state's two R1 institutions—the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University—were explicitly allowed to continue offering tenure.

• Texas: The original 2023 proposal (SB 18) aimed to abolish tenure entirely for new hires. The final law was modified to preserve tenure at all public universities, including R1 flagships like UT Austin and Texas A&M, while mandating rigorous post-tenure reviews every six years.

2. The Rise of "Post-Tenure Review" (PTR)

Instead of outright elimination, many states are moving toward policies that make tenure "conditional" through enhanced administrative oversight—similar to the situation you described at VCU.

• Florida: New state regulations mandate post-tenure review every five years for faculty at all public universities, including R1s like UF and FSU. These reviews allow for termination if performance is deemed unsatisfactory.

• Georgia: The Board of Regents implemented a policy (which led to an AAUP censure) that allows for the removal of tenured faculty without a traditional peer-review hearing if they fail consecutive performance improvement plans.

3. Impact on R1 Classification

The Carnegie Classifications were redesigned in 2025, making it easier for more universities to reach R1 status (now totaling 187 institutions). This expansion makes the "R1" label a high-stakes competitive asset.

• Risk to Status: Business and academic experts argue that if an R1 were to eliminate tenure, it would likely see a drop in research expenditures—a core metric for maintaining R1 status—as top researchers would migrate to institutions with more stable employment protections.