Academic whistle-blower rejected present (7)
I believe the answer is:
proffer
'present' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'academic whistle-blower rejected' is the wordplay.
'academic' becomes 'prof' (short for professor).
'whistle blower' becomes 'ref' (I've seen this in another clue).
'rejected' says the letters should be written backwards.
'ref' reversed gives 'fer'.
'prof'+'fer'='PROFFER'
(Other definitions for proffer that I've seen before include "Present, tender" , "Hold out for acceptance" , "Hold forward" , "Offer a suggestion" , "Propound" .)