The South Dakota Board of Regents held the first reading of a proposed policy establishing a process for post-tenure review of faculty across the state’s public university system.
The new policy is the result of extensive efforts that began this summer by the Sustainable Approach to Tenure and Faculty Evaluation Process advisory committee, which is one of three academic projects currently underway within the Board of Regents system. These projects engage stakeholders from academics, finance and administration, human resources, and faculty in developing forward-looking policies and practices to strengthen South Dakota’s public higher education system.
In recent months, the committee has reviewed post-tenure policies at universities nationwide and engaged with stakeholders to shape the draft policy. The advisory committee presented the proposed draft to the Board Thursday afternoon (Oct. 2, 2025), and the Board unanimously approved the first reading.
“Tenure is foundational in higher education, a status earned by high-achieving faculty through sustained excellence in their field,” said BOR Executive Director Nathan Lukkes. “This proposed policy builds on that foundation by ensuring our tenure system remains sustainable, transparent, and accountable.”
The purpose of the new policy is to clearly articulate procedures and expectations for reviewing the instruction, research, and service contributions of tenured faculty. The draft outlines consistent practices institutions, colleges, and departments must follow when conducting post-tenure reviews, helping to ensure an impartial and uniform application of standards across the system.
“This is about strengthening our system for the long term,” said BOR President Tim Rave. “By creating a clear and consistent process for post-tenure review, we’re ensuring that our universities uphold the highest standards of teaching, research, and service while also supporting faculty in their ongoing professional growth.”
The policy will be presented to the Board for a final reading and consideration this December.
Comments