"What’s tenure mean, anyway? It means the University is making a permanent commitment to you for your faculty position. However, it does not mean that there is guaranteed and permanent funding with that position. Each of our ...departments has different components to the salary — often referred to as 'A plus B'. Part of the salary (anywhere from just 10% up to 50-60-75%) is covered by 'hard' money from the department or University; for the additional 'soft' money component, the faculty member is expected to cover it via grant dollars, additional teaching commitments, or clinical service."