HB2464 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB102 14960 NHT 20315 b

102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2021 and 2022
HB2464

Introduced 2/19/2021, by Rep. Deanne M. Mazzochi

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

110 ILCS 305/120 new
110 ILCS 520/100 new
110 ILCS 660/5-210 new
110 ILCS 665/10-210 new
110 ILCS 670/15-210 new
110 ILCS 675/20-215 new
110 ILCS 680/25-210 new
110 ILCS 685/30-220 new
110 ILCS 690/35-215 new

Amends various Acts relating to the governance of public universities in Illinois. Requires the governing board of each public university to ensure the existence of a tenure track for a defined percentage, to be set by board policy, of undergraduate faculty in which the criteria for securing tenure shall be predominantly devoted to (1) excellence in teaching, (2) demonstrated fluency with and competency in the foundational texts within the field being taught and the ability to convey them to students, (3) an instructional style that adapts readily to student needs, interests, and problems, and (4) the demonstration of a constant improvement mindset. Provides that the board shall have ultimate authority over the substantive decision of whether a specific individual should, or should not, secure tenure.

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning education.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The University of Illinois Act is amended by adding Section 120 as follows:

(110 ILCS 305/120 new)

Sec. 120. Faculty tenure.

(a) The Board of Trustees shall ensure the existence of a tenure track for a defined percentage, to be set by Board policy, of undergraduate faculty in which the criteria for securing tenure shall be predominantly devoted to all of the following:

(1) Excellence in teaching, as evidenced by:

(A) setting high standards for students that help them attain academic excellence;

(B) student comprehension and understanding of the material, including grade distributions if requested by the Board;

(C) assigning a rigorous quantity of work; and

(D) requiring high quality work from students to succeed in class.

(2) Demonstrated fluency with and competency in the foundational texts within the field being taught and the ability to convey them to students, which may be evidenced by:

(A) academic history;

(B) course descriptions and syllabi for courses taught and the number of students taught;

(C) a statement of teaching philosophy; and

(D) peer evaluations.

(3) An instructional style that adapts readily to student needs, interests, and problems, including actively working with individual students to help them improve their scholarly or artistic performance.

(4) The demonstration of a constant improvement mindset, including through the use of data and research identifying methods to improve student outcomes.

(b) The Board shall have ultimate authority over the substantive decision of whether a specific individual should, or should not, secure tenure under this Section.

Section 10. The Southern Illinois University Management Act is amended by adding Section 100 as follows:

(110 ILCS 520/100 new)

Sec. 100. Faculty tenure.

(a) The Board shall ensure the existence of a tenure track for a defined percentage, to be set by Board policy, of undergraduate faculty in which the criteria for securing tenure shall be predominantly devoted to all of the following:

(1) Excellence in teaching, as evidenced by:

(A) setting high standards for students that help them attain academic excellence;

(B) student comprehension and understanding of the material, including grade distributions if requested by the Board;

(C) assigning a rigorous quantity of work; and

(D) requiring high quality work from students to succeed in class.

(2) Demonstrated fluency with and competency in the foundational texts within the field being taught and the ability to convey them to students, which may be evidenced by:

(A) academic history;

(B) course descriptions and syllabi for courses taught and the number of students taught;

(C) a statement of teaching philosophy; and

(D) peer evaluations.

(3) An instructional style that adapts readily to student needs, interests, and problems, including actively working with individual students to help them improve their scholarly or artistic performance.

(4) The demonstration of a constant improvement mindset, including through the use of data and research identifying methods to improve student outcomes.

(b) The Board shall have ultimate authority over the substantive decision of whether a specific individual should, or should not, secure tenure under this Section.

Section 15. The Chicago State University Law is amended by adding Section 5-210 as follows:

(110 ILCS 660/5-210 new)

Sec. 5-210. Faculty tenure.

(a) The Board shall ensure the existence of a tenure track for a defined percentage, to be set by Board policy, of undergraduate faculty in which the criteria for securing tenure shall be predominantly devoted to all of the following:

(1) Excellence in teaching, as evidenced by:

(A) setting high standards for students that help them attain academic excellence;

(B) student comprehension and understanding of the material, including grade distributions if requested by the Board;

(C) assigning a rigorous quantity of work; and

(D) requiring high quality work from students to succeed in class.

(2) Demonstrated fluency with and competency in the foundational texts within the field being taught and the ability to convey them to students, which may be evidenced by:

(A) academic history;

(B) course descriptions and syllabi for courses taught and the number of students taught;

(C) a statement of teaching philosophy; and

(D) peer evaluations.

(3) An instructional style that adapts readily to student needs, interests, and problems, including actively working with individual students to help them improve their scholarly or artistic performance.

(4) The demonstration of a constant improvement mindset, including through the use of data and research identifying methods to improve student outcomes.

(b) The Board shall have ultimate authority over the substantive decision of whether a specific individual should, or should not, secure tenure under this Section.

Section 20. The Eastern Illinois University Law is amended by adding Section 10-210 as follows:

(110 ILCS 665/10-210 new)

Sec. 10-210. Faculty tenure.

(a) The Board shall ensure the existence of a tenure track for a defined percentage, to be set by Board policy, of undergraduate faculty in which the criteria for securing tenure shall be predominantly devoted to all of the following:

(1) Excellence in teaching, as evidenced by:

(A) setting high standards for students that help them attain academic excellence;

(B) student comprehension and understanding of the material, including grade distributions if requested by the Board;

(C) assigning a rigorous quantity of work; and

(D) requiring high quality work from students to succeed in class.

(2) Demonstrated fluency with and competency in the foundational texts within the field being taught and the ability to convey them to students, which may be evidenced by:

(A) academic history;

(B) course descriptions and syllabi for courses taught and the number of students taught;

(C) a statement of teaching philosophy; and

(D) peer evaluations.

(3) An instructional style that adapts readily to student needs, interests, and problems, including actively working with individual students to help them improve their scholarly or artistic performance.

(4) The demonstration of a constant improvement mindset, including through the use of data and research identifying methods to improve student outcomes.

(b) The Board shall have ultimate authority over the substantive decision of whether a specific individual should, or should not, secure tenure under this Section.

Section 25. The Governors State University Law is amended by adding Section 15-210 as follows:

(110 ILCS 670/15-210 new)

Sec. 15-210. Faculty tenure.

(a) The Board shall ensure the existence of a tenure track for a defined percentage, to be set by Board policy, of undergraduate faculty in which the criteria for securing tenure shall be predominantly devoted to all of the following:

(1) Excellence in teaching, as evidenced by:

(A) setting high standards for students that help them attain academic excellence;

(B) student comprehension and understanding of the material, including grade distributions if requested by the Board;

(C) assigning a rigorous quantity of work; and

(D) requiring high quality work from students to succeed in class.

(2) Demonstrated fluency with and competency in the foundational texts within the field being taught and the ability to convey them to students, which may be evidenced by:

(A) academic history;

(B) course descriptions and syllabi for courses taught and the number of students taught;

(C) a statement of teaching philosophy; and

(D) peer evaluations.

(3) An instructional style that adapts readily to student needs, interests, and problems, including actively working with individual students to help them improve their scholarly or artistic performance.

(4) The demonstration of a constant improvement mindset, including through the use of data and research identifying methods to improve student outcomes.

(b) The Board shall have ultimate authority over the substantive decision of whether a specific individual should, or should not, secure tenure under this Section.

Section 30. The Illinois State University Law is amended by adding Section 20-215 as follows:

(110 ILCS 675/20-215 new)

Sec. 20-215. Faculty tenure.

(a) The Board shall ensure the existence of a tenure track for a defined percentage, to be set by Board policy, of undergraduate faculty in which the criteria for securing tenure shall be predominantly devoted to all of the following:

(1) Excellence in teaching, as evidenced by:

(A) setting high standards for students that help them attain academic excellence;

(B) student comprehension and understanding of the material, including grade distributions if requested by the Board;

(C) assigning a rigorous quantity of work; and

(D) requiring high quality work from students to succeed in class.

(2) Demonstrated fluency with and competency in the foundational texts within the field being taught and the ability to convey them to students, which may be evidenced by:

(A) academic history;

(B) course descriptions and syllabi for courses taught and the number of students taught;

(C) a statement of teaching philosophy; and

(D) peer evaluations.

(3) An instructional style that adapts readily to student needs, interests, and problems, including actively working with individual students to help them improve their scholarly or artistic performance.

(4) The demonstration of a constant improvement mindset, including through the use of data and research identifying methods to improve student outcomes.

(b) The Board shall have ultimate authority over the substantive decision of whether a specific individual should, or should not, secure tenure under this Section.

Section 35. The Northeastern Illinois University Law is amended by adding Section 25-210 as follows:

(110 ILCS 680/25-210 new)

Sec. 25-210. Faculty tenure.

(a) The Board shall ensure the existence of a tenure track for a defined percentage, to be set by Board policy, of undergraduate faculty in which the criteria for securing tenure shall be predominantly devoted to all of the following:

(1) Excellence in teaching, as evidenced by:

(A) setting high standards for students that help them attain academic excellence;

(B) student comprehension and understanding of the material, including grade distributions if requested by the Board;

(C) assigning a rigorous quantity of work; and

(D) requiring high quality work from students to succeed in class.

(2) Demonstrated fluency with and competency in the foundational texts within the field being taught and the ability to convey them to students, which may be evidenced by:

(A) academic history;

(B) course descriptions and syllabi for courses taught and the number of students taught;

(C) a statement of teaching philosophy; and

(D) peer evaluations.

(3) An instructional style that adapts readily to student needs, interests, and problems, including actively working with individual students to help them improve their scholarly or artistic performance.

(4) The demonstration of a constant improvement mindset, including through the use of data and research identifying methods to improve student outcomes.

(b) The Board shall have ultimate authority over the substantive decision of whether a specific individual should, or should not, secure tenure under this Section.

Section 40. The Northern Illinois University Law is amended by adding Section 30-220 as follows:

(110 ILCS 685/30-220 new)

Sec. 30-220. Faculty tenure.

(a) The Board shall ensure the existence of a tenure track for a defined percentage, to be set by Board policy, of undergraduate faculty in which the criteria for securing tenure shall be predominantly devoted to all of the following:

(1) Excellence in teaching, as evidenced by:

(A) setting high standards for students that help them attain academic excellence;

(B) student comprehension and understanding of the material, including grade distributions if requested by the Board;

(C) assigning a rigorous quantity of work; and

(D) requiring high quality work from students to succeed in class.

(2) Demonstrated fluency with and competency in the foundational texts within the field being taught and the ability to convey them to students, which may be evidenced by:

(A) academic history;

(B) course descriptions and syllabi for courses taught and the number of students taught;

(C) a statement of teaching philosophy; and

(D) peer evaluations.

(3) An instructional style that adapts readily to student needs, interests, and problems, including actively working with individual students to help them improve their scholarly or artistic performance.

(4) The demonstration of a constant improvement mindset, including through the use of data and research identifying methods to improve student outcomes.

(b) The Board shall have ultimate authority over the substantive decision of whether a specific individual should, or should not, secure tenure under this Section.

Section 45. The Western Illinois University Law is amended by adding Section 35-215 as follows:

(110 ILCS 690/35-215 new)

Sec. 35-215. Faculty tenure.

(a) The Board shall ensure the existence of a tenure track for a defined percentage, to be set by Board policy, of undergraduate faculty in which the criteria for securing tenure shall be predominantly devoted to all of the following:

(1) Excellence in teaching, as evidenced by:

(A) setting high standards for students that help them attain academic excellence;

(B) student comprehension and understanding of the material, including grade distributions if requested by the Board;

(C) assigning a rigorous quantity of work; and

(D) requiring high quality work from students to succeed in class.

(2) Demonstrated fluency with and competency in the foundational texts within the field being taught and the ability to convey them to students, which may be evidenced by:

(A) academic history;

(B) course descriptions and syllabi for courses taught and the number of students taught;

(C) a statement of teaching philosophy; and

(D) peer evaluations.

(3) An instructional style that adapts readily to student needs, interests, and problems, including actively working with individual students to help them improve their scholarly or artistic performance.

(4) The demonstration of a constant improvement mindset, including through the use of data and research identifying methods to improve student outcomes.

(b) The Board shall have ultimate authority over the substantive decision of whether a specific individual should, or should not, secure tenure under this Section.