SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6306

BYSenators 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)

                  February 2, 1990

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION, JANUARY 31, 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 State Board for Community College Education is directed to adopt, and periodically revise, a salary schedule and compensation plan for faculty in the state system of community colleges.  The schedule and plan are to be constructed to provide for an equitable faculty salary structure across the entire state system.

The total time required for a community college faculty member to achieve tenure is increased from three years to six years by adding a three-year tenure track period to the three-year probationary period.

The probationary appointment is a faculty appointment for a designated period of time which may be terminated without cause upon the expiration of the appointee's terms of employment.  During the probationary period the appointee is undergoing evaluation by the college administration for advancement to tenure track.

The tenure track appointment is a faculty appointment for a designated period of time which may be terminated without cause upon the expiration of the appointee's terms of employment.  During the tenure track period the appointee is undergoing evaluation by a review committee for the granting of tenure.  No faculty appointee may be promoted from probationary status to tenure track status until that appointee has completed three years of service on a probationary appointment.  No faculty appointee may be granted tenure until the appointee has completed three years of service on a tenure track appointment.

If a faculty appointee on probationary appointment does not demonstrate adequate competency for advancement to tenure track status within three years the appointee shall be terminated from service.  If a faculty appointee on tenure track appointment does not demonstrate adequate competency for the granting of tenure within three years the appointee shall be terminated from service.

There will be periodic review of probationary appointees by the college administration.  The college administration may establish a peer review committee to assist in the evaluation of a probationer.  Tenure track appointees will receive periodic review by a peer review committee.

The provisions of this act shall apply only to faculty appointments made by community colleges after June 30, 1990.

EFFECT OF PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE:

The original language is entirely stricken and replaced by the following provisions:

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