ND Tenure Policy: Master's Degree Now Required

A new tenure policy requiring a master's degree or higher for future faculty appointments has been enacted by the North Dakota State Board of Higher Education. The board voted unanimously to implement the policy immediately, which will not impact current tenured positions but applies to all future tenure grants within the North Dakota University System.

This policy change is expected to affect some faculty members at the state's two-year colleges, particularly those in vocational fields like welding and culinary arts, who may not hold advanced degrees. The board also approved the use of "special appointment" job titles for faculty with significant work experience or expertise, offering an alternative designation that may include multi-year contracts.

The North Dakota Council of College Faculties had input on the policy's definition, although their vote was not unanimous. The new regulations fulfill a legislative mandate from House Bill 1437, requiring a uniform tenure policy across the system's 11 institutions by a July 1 deadline.