What is tenure? What performance evaluation bill means for KY university employees
Several bills have been introduced by Republican lawmakers around the country that could impact tenure for public higher education faculty members, including in Kentucky.
Receiving tenure is a lengthy — sometimes yearslong — process for faculty, designed to help protect faculty’s academic freedom. Tenure allows faculty “to pursue research and innovation and draw evidence-based conclusions free from corporate or political pressure,” according to the American Association of University Professors.
Bills that could impact tenure have been introduced in seven states this year, according to the Chronicle of Higher Education: Arkansas, Kansas, Kentucky, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio and Texas.
In Kentucky, House Bill 424, sponsored by Rep. James Tipton, R-Taylorsville, would require public university presidents and faculty members to undergo an evaluation at least once every four years. Failure to meet “performance and productivity” standards would allow the university to fire the employee.
Tipton has repeatedly said the bill is “not about tenure,” but about giving universities the ability to remove under-performing employees. Tipton introduced similar legislation last year, but the bill did not pass out of the House Education Committee.
Critics of the bill have said they worry it would impact tenured employees and the ability to recruit new academic faculty to Kentucky.
The bill now goes to the state Senate. If passed there, schools would have until Jan. 1, 2026, to establish an evaluation method, and the process would go into effect on July 1, 2026.
What is tenure?
Tenure is an indefinite appointment at universities, meaning tenured employees can be terminated only for cause or under specific circumstances, according to the American Association of University Professors.
“Tenure promotes stability,” the group said. “Faculty members who are committed to the institution can develop ties with the local community, pursue ongoing research projects, and mentor students and beginning scholars over the long term.”
About 21% of academic employees are tenured faculty, according to the association.
Receiving tenure is a lengthy process for university faculty, including extensive evaluations, feedback and applications. For example, at the University of Kentucky, to apply for tenure, a professor must first compile a dossier including their research or publications, teaching portfolio, recommendations and narrative statements.
Over the next several months, that dossier is reviewed by the professor’s educational unit, college and provost, before the president brings the recommendation to the board of trustees, according to UK’s website.
This story was originally published February 28, 2025 at 11:27 AM.