SENATE BILL REPORT

SSB 6306

BYSenate Committee on Higher Education (originally sponsored by Senators Saling, McDonald, Stratton, Bailey, McCaslin, Benitz, Thorsness, Barr and Amondson)

Revising provisions for tenure at community colleges.

Senate Committee on Higher Education

Senate Hearing Date(s):January 22, 1990; January 29, 1990; January 31, 1990

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6306 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

      Signed by Senators Saling, Chairman; Patterson, Vice Chairman; Bauer, Cantu, Smitherman, Stratton, von Reichbauer.

Senate Staff:Scott Huntley (786-7421)

                  March 2, 1990

House Committe on Higher Education

AS PASSED SENATE, FEBRUARY 12, 1990

BACKGROUND:

The state community college tenure statute provides a system for granting tenure to faculty members.  This system allows for the granting of tenure to a faculty member following the successful completion of a three-year probationary period.  Recently, many efforts have been made by the Legislature, the Higher Education Coordinating Board, and the colleges to improve the quality of instruction received by students at our state higher education institutions.  In conjunction with these efforts, it is argued that the process for the award of faculty tenure at community colleges should be strengthened to allow for a more lengthy and thorough review of the performance of faculty appointees.

At present, there is no single salary structure for faculty at state community colleges.  Salaries for faculty, with similar experience performing similar tasks, may vary across the 24 community college districts, and there are no uniform statewide provisions for granting salary increments for experience or successful performance.  It is argued that a single salary schedule and compensation plan for the entire state system of community colleges would provide a system where salaries would be equitable between faculty members across the state.

SUMMARY:

The maximum length of time in which a community college faculty member may be reviewed by his or her peers for the granting of tenure is increased from three years to five years.

The State Board for Community College Education is directed to study and make recommendations to the 1991 Legislature on the establishment of a statewide allocation model for salary funds appropriated for the state system of community colleges.  The study will be done in consultation with appropriate faculty organizations, labor representatives, and local community college governing boards and administrations.

The increase in the maximum time available for the review of faculty prior to the decision on the granting of tenure applies only to faculty appointments made by community colleges after June 30, 1990.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      available

Effective Date:July 1, 1990

Senate Committee - Testified: Earl Hale, State Board for Community College Education; John W. Magnuson, Washington Education Association (con); Gene A. Holland, Washington Education Association (con); Evelyn Rieder, Washington Federation of Teachers (con); William, Washington Federation of Teachers (con); Mike Bigelow, OFM (pro); Ron Bell, Shoreline Community College

HOUSE AMENDMENTS:

The entire bill is stricken and replaced with the following provisions.

The length of time which a community college faculty member may be reviewed by his or her peers for the granting of tenure is changed from three consecutive years to nine college quarters (these need not be consecutive).  With the consent of the faculty members and the appointing authority, this period of time may be extended up to three additional college quarters.

Notice of non-renewal of a probationary faculty appointment may not be given subsequent to the last day of the eighth quarter.

The State Board for Community College Education is directed to study and report to the 1991 Legislature on salaries for full and part-time faculty and administrators at community colleges.  The study will be done in consultation with appropriate faculty organizations, labor representatives, and local community college governing boards and administrations.

The changes in tenure provisions apply only to faculty appointments made by community colleges after June 30, 1990.