Bill > S667

This bill proposes to amend Chapter 75 of the General Laws, specifically Section 4, concerning the rights of faculty members at the University of Massachusetts. The key change is that when the Board of Trustees holds an executive session, which is a private meeting not open to the public, to consider awarding tenure to a faculty member, that faculty member has specific rights. These rights include being notified in writing at least 48 hours before the session, though this notice can be waived if both parties agree. Crucially, if the faculty member requests it, the meeting must be held in an open session. If an executive session is held, the faculty member has the right to be present during discussions about them, to have their own legal counsel or representative present to advise them (though not to actively participate), and to speak on their own behalf. This aims to provide greater transparency and due process for faculty members undergoing tenure review.