The editorial is the opinion of the editorial board of The Daily Eastern News.

Very rarely do people take good advice and follow it. Eastern President Carol Surles has, however, much to the benefit of the university.

Surles said she will retract her proposal to change a Board of Trustees regulation that allows executive administrators to be granted tenure upon being hired to a position.

Surles’ proposal would essentially void that regulation, making it impossible for such administrators to receive tenure.

Tenure, which practically ensures professors a lifetime position within a department, is an extremely important aspect in the academic world. To attain tenure, faculty members work years devoting themselves to the university. In these times of tight job markets, granting tenure to executive administrators is an effective and necessary tool in hiring for a university of this size.

Considering that the university is seeking employees for three of the four vice presidential positions, this does not seem like a good time to handicap the university by taking away that recruiting tool.

For once, the campus has spoken out loud concerning a proposed regulation change, and someone has listened.

David Radavich, president of the University Professionals of Illinois, and James Tidwell, chair of Faculty Senate, have both said they are not in favor of the regulation change. In addition, the Faculty Senate unanimously passed a resolution condemning the proposed change.

Shortly after the campus voiced its opinion, Surles responded by stating she would withdrawal the proposal at the next BOT meeting. That is what a president should do – listen to her university.

The whole idea of Surles’ proposal was already questionable. The rules state that the granting of tenure must be initiated by the president and approved by the related departments and deans. Why did Surles want to change the rules if she already had the power to do what she wanted?

The question may never be answered. The proposal was an item added to the BOT agenda at the last minute, and Surles’ responses to questions have been brief and watered down. The announcement of her retraction didn’t even come from her; it came through Lida Wall, interim provost and vice president for academic affairs.

But however it happened, Eastern should feel good that it did happen, and President Surles deserves the credit.