Prohibiting tenure systems at the institutions of higher learning governed by the state board of regents, and including applicability provisions

This bill directs the state board of regents to prohibit the establishment or continuation of a tenure system at the regents universities for any employee of a regents university. The bill provides that acceptable grounds for termination of employment of any member of a regents university’s faculty shall include but not be limited to just cause, program discontinuance, and financial exigency. Each university is directed to adopt a written statement enumerating employment agreements, annual performance evaluations of all faculty members, minimum standards of good practice, standards for review and discipline of faculty members, and policies with regard to dismissal for cause, program discontinuance, and financial exigency. The bill provides that each dean of a college at a regents university and the president of the university shall employ faculty as necessary to carry out the academic duties and responsibilities of the college. The provision relating to faculty members employed by regents universities does not apply to a faculty member who entered into an employment contract with a regents university prior to July 1, 2021, unless such contract is renewed on or after July 1, 2021. The bill makes corresponding changes in the Code.