Proposed law would prohibit academic tenure in Missouri colleges

A bill proposed in the Missouri House would make two major changes to higher education.

Sponsored by Rep. Rick Brattin, R-Harrisonville, HB 266 would prohibit public universities from awarding tenure to faculty members after Jan. 1, 2018.

The bill also proposes requiring public universities to clearly display certain information about degree programs offered in all catalogs and listings.

According to the bill text, the information would include:

Estimated cost of the degree based on the hours required to complete the degree program, the books likely required to complete the degree program, and the on-campus housing costs for the number of academic years likely required to complete the degree program Types of employment opportunities generally expected to be available for students who earn the degree The current job market for people who have earned the degree The number and percentage of students who earned the degree employed within one year of graduation for the most recent graduating class for which data is available and, for the students employed, their average income The number and percentage of students who earned the degree employed within one year of graduation in a field closely related to the degree program for the most recent graduating class for which data is available

The bill has undergone a second reading but has not been assigned to a House committee.