Literature and litigation are reviewed in a three-part study of the problems that exist in the administration of academic tenure; the history of faculty tenure at Texas community and junior colleges; and possible alternatives to faculty tenure. Part I outlines the general features of tenure operation in the United States and discusses trends toward the declining popularity of the tenure system. This section examines the percentages of colleges and faculty under the tenure system and discusses the fiscal and public relations problems caused by the difficulty of dismissing tenured faculty. Part II examines tenure policy articulated by the Coordinating Board of the Texas College and University System which sets non-binding standards concerning probationary periods, notices of intention not to reappoint, and grounds for the dismissal of tenured faculty. Finally, the techniques of procedural due process and contract negotiations are proposed as alternatives to the tenure system, especially in light of current legislative attempts to abolish tenure in Texas. Part III also reviews pertinent litigation, focusing on the procedural safeguards in due process, the types of issues that may be negotiated between faculty and administration, and the components of a formal grievance procedure. A bibliography and an American Association of University Professors statement on academic freedom and tenure are appended. (JP)