BOR Adopts New Post-Tenure Review Policy | 12/11/25PIERRE, S.D. — The South Dakota Board of Regents (BOR) [...]

PIERRE, S.D. - The South Dakota Board of Regents (BOR) has approved a new post-tenure review policy designed to support continued excellence among tenured faculty across the state's public universities. The policy outlines a clear, consistent five-year review cycle intended to promote high-quality teaching, research, and service throughout a faculty member's career.

"Our universities are home to exceptional faculty who are deeply committed to student success, research, and institutional accomplishments," said BOR Executive Director Nathan Lukkes. "This policy reflects our confidence in their work and creates a structure that supports continued excellence. By providing a clear review process and opportunities for development, we are strengthening the academic environment for both faculty and students."

Tenure remains a core element of institutional stability in higher education. With this new policy, the Board affirms its commitment to retaining these values while clearly defining and consistently applying performance expectations. The goal is to create a fair review process that supports academic growth, transparency, and professional accountability.

Under the policy:

• Tenured faculty will undergo a comprehensive review every five years.
• Reviews will evaluate contributions in teaching, scholarly and creative activity, and service.
• Evaluations will draw from student feedback, annual performance reviews, and other documentation.

Implementation begins in the 2026-2027 academic year, with tenured faculty phased into review groups over five years. Starting in year six of implementation, every faculty member will be reviewed once every five years.

"The Board extends sincere appreciation to the faculty, administrators, and campus leaders involved in developing this policy," said BOR President Tim Rave. "Their teamwork and dedication to improving the tenure process demonstrate the expertise and effort they have invested to ensure their work benefits our faculty, institutions, and students."

The post-tenure review policy reinforces the Regents' ongoing commitment to supporting high-performing faculty and maintaining strong academic standards across all six public universities.