Tenure constitutes a basic tenet of professionalism in higher education, protecting academic freedom and allowing for employment free from personal politics. Constituencies most affected by tenure must have some significant input into the tenure process. This report presents a model four-year tenure process developed by the Educational Policies Committee of the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges (ASCCC) setting standards and criteria for evaluation as well as grounds for faculty recommendations for continuation, tenure, and termination. The report provides information on the following: (1) the philosophical principles of tenure; (2) pertinent statutory provisions of the California State Education Code governing tenure; (3) definitions of terms; (4) aspects of the tenure process beyond the scope of this model; (5) general considerations, including qualities of effective faculty members, suggested standards for faculty evaluation, types of evaluation, diversity requirements, individual and institutional tenure review committees, and administrative role; (6) primary tenure review considerations in the first year, the second year and in the fourth year of employment; (7) an ASCCC statement explaining the rationale for adopting the American Association of University Professors' (AAUP) Statement of Professional Ethics; and (8) a copy of the AAUP statement. (PAA)