Mississippi 2023 Regular Session

Mississippi Senate Bill SB2785

Introduced

1/16/23

Refer

1/16/23

Failed

1/31/23

Caption

Tenure programs for public university faculty; phase out.

Impact

Beginning with the 2025-2026 academic year, the bill mandates that all full-time faculty and tenured faculty at public institutions must teach a minimum of two undergraduate or graduate classes each semester. This policy aims to ensure that faculty are actively engaged in teaching duties and addresses concerns about faculty workloads and the availability of classes for students. Institutions will also be required to provide annual reports detailing faculty demographics and course loads, promoting transparency and oversight.

Summary

Senate Bill 2785 aims to establish significant changes in the tenure and employment practices within state institutions of higher learning in Mississippi. The bill prohibits state institutions from awarding tenure or entering into employment contracts longer than four years with new hires after December 31, 2023. This essentially phases out tenure for future faculty members, with existing tenure programs remaining until no faculty under those programs are still employed. The intent behind the bill is to increase accountability and adaptability among faculty, allowing institutions to adjust their staffing and teaching strategies more efficiently.

Contention

The main points of contention surrounding SB2785 center on the values of academic freedom and job security for faculty. Advocates of the bill argue that it will enhance educational quality by holding faculty accountable for their teaching responsibilities while allowing institutions flexibility in hiring. Conversely, opponents raise concerns about the diminishing of job security for faculty and the potential negative impacts on attracting qualified educators to Mississippi's higher education institutions. Critics assert that without tenure, faculty may face pressures that could limit their academic freedoms and ability to challenge norms or engage in controversial discussions.