…this time in the form of pending legislation in Iowa that provides that,

(1)….If a professor fails to attain a minimum threshold of performance based on the student evaluations used to assess the professor’s teaching effectiveness, in accordance with the criteria and rating system adopted by the board, the institution shall terminate the professor’s employment regardless of tenure status or contract. (2) The names of the five professors who rank lowest on their institution’s evaluation for the semester, but who scored above the minimum threshold of performance, shall be published on the institution’s internet site and the student body shall be offered an opportunity to vote on the question of whether any of the five professors will be retained as employees of the institution. The employment of the professor receiving the fewest votes approving retention shall be terminated by the institution regardless of tenure status or contract.

The first provision is bad enough–a legislatively authorized breach of contract and due process–but the second is just vicious and insane. 

(Thanks to Chris Surprenant for the pointer.)

UPDATE:  Reader Prabhu Venkataraman calls to my attention that this nasty piece of legislation has been killed in committee.