| University of Houston Faculty Senate -
ARCHIVE DOCUMENT (from 1996) |
VII. Legislative and Community Posture
There are 26 state legislatures currently discussing tenure.
Texas Senate Education CommitteeÐSenator Teel Bivins (R) chair
Proposed Legislation:
Establish a faculty evaluation policy that includes an annual review of the performance of all faculty, including tenured faculty. The review would include the use of peer and student evaluation. Below standard peer and student evaluations for two consecutive years would provide cause for tenure revocation or dismissal. (System responsibility)
Implement an undergraduate instructional formula that provides a higher level of funding for classes taught by tenured and tenure-track professors. (Legislative responsibility)
Create a set of outcome measures for higher education that includes student performance on a nationally-normed "rising junior" test, the GRE and other graduate entrance exams, and professional licensing tests. (Coordinating Board responsibility)
Review the quality of all degree programs offered at each institution within the system. (System responsibility)
Members of the Tenure Issues Task Force met with Senator Ratliff (former Chair of the Senate Education Committee) to discuss the proposed legislation. Based on this exchange, we understand that the intent of the proposed bill is to offer a mechanism to institutions that will assist them in maintaining high standards and productivity amongst tenured faculty, and to give an opportunity to eliminate substandard faculty. The responsibility of faculty evaluation still rests, as it should, with the faculty and institutions to determine how this proposed legislation would impact existing campus policies and procedures.
Regardless of the legislative intent, it is hard to predict the far-reaching consequences of this legislation and points to the difficulty of trying to affect change from outside. It will be viewed by some as a long overdue opportunity to drop a match on the deadwood. Unfortunately, this approach might unintentionally spark a forest fire that could rage out of control. On the other hand, this legislation (perceived as handed down from on high) could guarantee that there will never be another unsatisfactory review of faculty in Texas again. Neither of these extremes would be a desirable outcome. Laws are written for the unlawful, but impact all. It is often the case that those most impacted are not the ones who provoked the legislation in the first place.
House Committee on Higher Education RepresentativeÐIrma Rangel (D) chair
The House will not be discussing tenure. However, any bill that comes forward from the Senate will require a House vote as well.
Back to Basics
Governor Bush set as a priority goal for strategic planning in Texas: "To provide a cost-effective system of higher education which prepares individuals for workforce demands and furthers the development of knowledge through instruction and research."
In response, the Chancellors of UH, UT, Texas A&M, and Texas Tech have formed an alliance to present a united front to the state legislature. This alliance has prepared a report, Back to Basics, to underscore that an investment in higher education would bolster the Texas economy by cultivating a more educated and skilled workforce. Objectives and goals include:
Status of Post-tenure Review Policies at Other Texas Institutions