Senate File 437 - Introduced SENATE FILE 437 BY ZAUN A BILL FOR An Act relating to tenure systems, including modifying 1 provisions related to tenure systems adopted by institutions 2 of higher education governed by the state board of regents 3 and implementing standards for community college tenure 4 systems. 5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 6 TLSB 2307XS (2) 90 jda/jh
S.F. 437 Section 1. Section 260C.36, Code 2023, is amended by adding 1 the following new subsection: 2 NEW SUBSECTION . 5. The board of directors of a community 3 college shall not establish a tenure system for any employee 4 of the community college unless the tenure system requires 5 the employee to participate in a post-tenure review process 6 at least once every three years after the award of tenure to 7 assess the employee’s performance. 8 Sec. 2. Section 262.9, Code 2023, is amended by adding the 9 following new subsection: 10 NEW SUBSECTION . 39. Prohibit, at each institution of 11 higher education governed by the state board of regents, the 12 establishment or continuation of a tenure system for any 13 employee of the institution unless the tenure system requires 14 the employee to participate in a post-tenure review process 15 at least once every three years after the award of tenure to 16 assess the employee’s performance. 17 Sec. 3. Section 262.12, Code 2023, is amended to read as 18 follows: 19 262.12 Committees and administrative offices under board. 20 The board of regents shall also have and exercise all 21 the powers necessary and convenient for the effective 22 administration of its office and of the institutions under 23 its control, and to this end may create such committees, 24 offices and agencies from its own members or others, and employ 25 persons to staff the same, fix their compensation and , subject 26 to section 262.9, subsection 39, their tenure , and delegate 27 thereto, or to the administrative officers and faculty of the 28 institutions under its control, such part of the authority and 29 duties vested by statute in the board, and shall formulate and 30 establish such rules, outline such policies and prescribe such 31 procedures therefor, all as may be desired or determined by the 32 board as recorded in their minutes. 33 Sec. 4. Section 262.82, subsection 2, Code 2023, is amended 34 to read as follows: 35 -1- LSB 2307XS (2) 90 jda/jh 1/ 2
S.F. 437 2. The board of regents shall also establish a program 1 to create faculty opportunities for women educators at the 2 universities under the board’s control. The program shall 3 include but is not limited to the creation of faculty positions 4 in targeted shortage areas. The Subject to section 262.9, 5 subsection 39, the board of regents shall also develop 6 and implement, in consultation with appropriate faculty 7 representatives, tenure, promotion, and hiring policies that 8 recognize the unique needs of faculty members who are principal 9 caregivers to dependents. 10 EXPLANATION 11 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 12 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. 13 This bill relates to tenure systems, including modifying 14 provisions related to tenure systems adopted by institutions 15 of higher education governed by the state board of regents 16 and implementing standards to govern community college tenure 17 systems if such systems are adopted by community colleges. 18 The bill prohibits the board of directors of a community 19 college and institutions of higher education governed by the 20 state board of regents from establishing or continuing a tenure 21 system for any employee of the community college or institution 22 unless the tenure system requires the employee to participate 23 in a post-tenure review process at least once every three years 24 after the award of tenure to assess the employee’s performance. 25 The bill makes conforming changes. 26 -2- LSB 2307XS (2) 90 jda/jh 2/ 2