Kuempel calls for more oversight for professors with tenure

Darren Dunn

(Austin) -- A somewhat controversial plan to do away with tenure for Texas college professors is being shelved. Instead, state lawmakers, including Seguin’s representative in the house, are pushing a different bill that includes more oversight.

“This bill requires that universities have policies that are clear, hold tenure faculty accountable for their teaching and research.

That’s Texas State Representative John Kuempel, of Seguin.

The revised bill by Kuempel would require state colleges and universities to conduct regular performance reviews of teachers with tenure.

“Ensures that faculty who are not meeting established standards for their performance can be removed from their positions while receiving due process,” said Kuempel.

Representative Kuempel says that instead of doing away with tenure, they want teachers to be subjected to performance reviews

“This bill will help ensure the faculty who earn tenure uphold the responsibility to their students, their university, and the people of Texas,” said Kuempel.

The Texas Lieutenant Governor set off a firestorm when he announced plans to go after tenure, as a way to reign in who he called activist professors. That led to fears that good teachers would flee the state in protest.