 In 1988, Kovel was appointed Alger Hiss Chair of Social Studies, a non-tenured position, at Bard College.In February 2009, he was informed that his position would not be renewed after the contract ended on June 20, 2009 and that he would be moved to "emeritus" status at that time.Kovel argued in a letter sent to the faculty of Bard College that his contract was not renewed due to his political views.