This bill proposes the creation of a new section in chapter 15-10 of the North Dakota Century Code, focusing on the academic tenure policy for institutions of higher education under the control of the state board of higher education. By July 1, 2026, these institutions are required to develop and adopt a comprehensive policy for tenured and tenure-track faculty. The policy must include criteria for tenure progression, annual evaluations, post-tenure evaluations, and the composition of evaluation committees. It also stipulates that unsatisfactory reviews may lead to removal from the position, with such decisions made by the institution and the state board of higher education.

Additionally, the bill mandates that advertisements for open faculty positions must clearly indicate whether they are nontenure-track or tenure-track. When a tenure-track position is offered, the institution must provide the candidate with the newly established policy. This legislation aims to enhance transparency and accountability in the tenure process while ensuring that faculty evaluations are conducted systematically and fairly.