Bills › 90th General Assembly
Prohibiting tenure systems at the institutions of higher learning governed by the state board of regents, and including applicability provisions
Topics:Higher education
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedJanuary 17, 2023
- Done: SubcommitteeJanuary 18, 2023
- Stopped: House committeeDied when the General Assembly ended
- Next: Passes the House
- Next: Senate committee
- Next: Passes the Senate
- Next: To the Governor
- Next: Signed into law
Died when the session ended The 2024 session adjourned on April 19, 2024, the General Assembly’s last regular session. Bills that didn’t pass both chambers died. What’s a funnel?
What’s in it
AI summary Iowa's state universities would no longer be allowed to use a tenure system for their employees. Instead, university leaders will follow new rules for hiring, evaluating, and firing faculty members based on specific reasons like budget needs or performance. These changes do not apply to faculty members who had existing contracts before July 1, 2023, unless those contracts are renewed.1
Read the official explanation
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.F. 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, 2023, unless such contract is renewed on or after July 1, 2023. The bill makes corresponding changes in the Code.
House subcommittee
Named January 18, 2023. Meeting: Tuesday, January 24 · 12:00 PM · RM 304.
Three legislators hear a bill first and recommend what the committee should do; it’s the best time to weigh in. How to take part
1 written public comment to its subcommittee: January 24, 2023 (1) · on the Legislature’s site
Iowa Code it changes
Lobbying
2 for · 17 against · 3 undecided · Who →
Family tree
90th General Assembly
Earlier and later bills are matched by wording or an identical title.
Tried before
This idea has been filed in 2 earlier General Assemblies. None got through a chamber.
- HF 49 Prohibiting tenure systems at the institutions of higher learning governed by the state bo…89th General Assembly · Renumbered as HF 496 · same titleCleared committee
- HF 496 Prohibiting tenure systems at the institutions of higher learning governed by the state bo…89th General Assembly · Approved by committee · same titleCleared committee
- SF 41 Prohibiting tenure systems at public postsecondary educational institutions, and including…89th General Assembly · Subcommittee recommends passage · very similarCleared committee
- SF 27 Relating to the establishment of tenure systems at public postsecondary educational instit…88th General Assembly · Subcommittee recommends passage · similarCleared committee
Matched by wording or an identical title.