Public postsecondary education: tenure policy.

Existing law authorizes the granting of tenure to academic employees in public postsecondary institutions. The existing Donahoe Higher Education Act sets forth the missions and functions of the segments of postsecondary education in this state, including the 3 public postsecondary segments: the California Community Colleges, the California State University, and the University of California. Provisions of the act apply to the University of California only to the extent that the Regents of the University of California, by appropriate resolution, make those provisions applicable. Existing provisions of the act express the intent of the Legislature that the 3 public postsecondary segments adopt and enforce policies and procedures that ensure that teaching is an important factor in the evaluation of faculty for appointment, retention, promotion, and tenure. This bill would express the intent of the Legislature that the California State University and the University of California develop and adopt tenure policies aimed at encouraging and rewarding service, both to the campus community and to the community outside of the campus, provided by faculty members. The bill would require the Trustees of the California State University, and request the regents, to take specified actions during the next review of the retention, tenure, and promotion policies at each campus, or before the end of the 2017–18 academic year, whichever occurs first, to recognize and reward service as appropriate for each discipline, as specified; to consider the extent to which specified forms of service may be recognized for purposes of appointment, promotion, retention, and tenure review; and to develop and distribute throughout their respective segments transparent criteria for tenure that include service, if criteria of that type that are academically appropriate for each discipline have not previously been adopted in that segment. The bill would also require the trustees, and request the regents, to consult with the academic senates of their respective segments and with student and community organizations and to act consistently with applicable collective bargaining agreements in carrying out these responsibilities.