ACADEMIC POLICIES & PROCEDURES

Faculty Personnel Policy

Academic Freedom and Academic Responsibility

Academic Freedom

Rogers State University is committed to academic freedom. The right to teach the truth about the physical, social, and biological world, so long as it is related to the subject assigned, shall not be abridged; however, a strong sense of ethics should be applied to the teaching of any subject.

Faculty members are entitled to freedom regarding research and in the publication of the results, subject to the adequate performance of instructional and non-instructional duties. Patent and copyright ownership will vest consistent with Board policy.

Faculty members are entitled to freedom in the classroom in discussing their subject, but faculty should be objective in teaching of a controversial matter that has relation to that subject and of controversial topics introduced by students. The faculty member should not introduce controversial matters that have little or no relation to the subject of instruction. The teacher should encourage students in their quest for knowledge, giving them every assistance in the free exploration of ideas. Teaching frequently and legitimately involves a presentation of disquieting facts and controversial theories, and it is in the examination of perplexing issues that students most need the guidance of a good teacher. Disturbing concepts should not be withheld from students simply because some individuals may be distressed by them. When issues are relevant, they should be given full and objective discussion so that students can make intelligent decisions with regard to them. However, presentation of ideas likely to be difficult for some students to accept should be governed by tact and respect for the individual.

University faculty members are individuals, members of a learned profession, and representatives of a university. When faculty members speak or write as individuals, they should be free from institutional censorship or discipline, but faculty position in the community imposes special obligations. As persons of learning and education representatives, the faculty members should remember that the public may judge the profession and the university by extramural utterances. Hence, each faculty member should, at all times, be accurate, should exercise appropriate restraint, should show respect for the opinions of others and should make every effort to indicate that faculty do not speak on behalf of the university.

Academic freedom should be distinguished clearly from constitutional freedoms, which all citizens enjoy equally under the law. Academic freedom is an additional assurance to those who teach and pursue knowledge and, thus, pertains to rights of expression regarding teaching and research within specific areas of recognized professional competencies.

Academic Responsibility

The concept of academic freedom must be accompanied by an equally demanding concept of academic responsibility. The concern of the university and its members for academic freedom safeguards must extend equally to requiring responsible service, consistent with the objectives of the university.

Faculty members have responsibilities to their discipline and to the advancement of knowledge generally. Their primary obligation in this respect is to seek and to state the truth as they see it. To this end, they shall devote their energies to developing and improving their scholarly competence. Some forms of faculty development include formal education (emphasis on advanced degrees), workshops, seminars, conventions, and memberships in relevant professional organizations. They shall exercise critical self-discipline and judgment in using, extending, and transmitting knowledge and they shall practice intellectual honesty.
Faculty members have responsibilities to their students. They shall encourage in students the free pursuit of learning and independence of mind, while holding before them the highest scholarly and professional standards. Faculty members shall show respect for the student as an individual and adhere to their proper role as intellectual guides and counselors. They shall endeavor to define the objectives of their courses and to devote their teaching to the realization of those objectives. A proper academic climate can be maintained only when faculty members meet their fundamental responsibilities regularly, such as preparing for and meeting their assignments, conferring with advising students, evaluating fairly and participating in group deliberations which contribute to the growth and development of students and the university. All faculty members also have the responsibility to accept those reasonable duties assigned to them within their fields of competency, whether curricular, co-curricular, or extra-curricular. Faculty members make every reasonable effort to foster honest academic conduct and to assure that their evaluations of students reflects their true merit. To protect students’ privacy, grades will not be posted. Also, they do not exploit students for private advantage and acknowledge significant assistance from them. They protect students’ academic freedom.
Faculty members have responsibilities to their colleagues, deriving from common membership in a community of scholars. They shall respect and defend the free inquiry of their associates. In the exchange of criticism and ideas, they should show due respect for the opinions of others. They shall acknowledge their academic debts and strive to be objective in the professional judgment of their colleagues. Faculty members accept a reasonable share of faculty responsibilities for the governance of the university.
Institutions of higher education are committed to open and rational discussion as a principal means for the clarification of issues and the solution of problems. In the solution of certain difficult problems, all members of the academic community must take note of their responsibility to society, to the institution, and to each other, and must recognize that at times the interests of each may vary and will have to be reconciled. The use of physical force, harassment of any kind, or other disruptive acts which interfere with ordinary institutional activities, with freedom of movement from place to place on the campus, or with freedom of all members of the academic community to pursue their rightful goals, are the antithesis of academic freedom and responsibility. So, also, are acts that, in effect, deny freedom to speak, to be heard, to study, to teach, to administer, and to pursue research. It is incumbent upon each member of the academic community to be acquainted with his individual responsibilities, as delineated by appropriate institutional statements found in this manual.
Differing approaches to one’s discipline should be presented to students in such a way as to encourage them to study the relevant facts and draw their own conclusions. Free expression of both criticism and support of the various approaches is to be encouraged as essential to the development of individual students and the field. In dealing with an area of specialization other than his or her own, a teacher should make it clear that he or she is not speaking as a specialist. In attempting to make an understandable and interesting presentation of subject matter to students, a faculty member should not sacrifice adequacy of treatment to considerations of popular appeal.
A teacher should respect students’ right to privacy and not require students give information that they may wish to withhold; neither should the teacher reveal information that a student has given with the reasonable assumption that it will be held in confidence.
A teacher should require of students only activities that are designed to contribute to the student in the area of instruction. Other activities not related to course objectives and not having secondary values should be made available to students on a voluntary basis. Exploitation of students to obtain research data or assistance with the teacher’s own work is not acceptable.
In addition, teachers should not offer their own opinions on controversial issues as facts. Individual opinions, including those of students, are valuable when exploring many areas, but it is important to differentiate between fact and opinion.
Faculty members have responsibilities to the educational institution in which they work. While maintaining their right to criticize and to seek revisions, they shall observe the stated regulations of the institution. Faculty members shall determine the amount and character of the work they do outside their institution with due regard to their paramount responsibilities within it. When considering the interruption or termination of his or her service, the faculty member recognizes the effect of such a decision upon the program of the institution and gives due notice of the decision.
Faculty members have responsibilities to their community. As a person engaged in a profession that depends upon freedom for its health and integrity, the faculty members have a particular obligation to promote conditions of free inquiry and to further public understanding of academic freedom.
Classroom Records: At the beginning of each semester, each faculty member will be responsible for obtaining a grade book from the respective academic dean’s office. This grade book will become the primary document of students’ performance in each class. The faculty is required to keep daily/biweekly records of each student’s attendance and performance. The grade book should also reflect the way in which the final grade was calculated and assigned. At the beginning of classes each semester, a temporary class list will be provided to each faculty member by the Registrar’s Office. This list may be used as a temporary class record, but as soon as possible, all pertinent information will be transferred to the grade book. At the end of the semester, all adjunct and associate faculty will turn in their grade books along with their grades to the administrative assistant for their department. Full-time faculty may keep their grade books until the end of the academic year, at which time they will also turn their grade books in to the academic dean’s office. All grade books will be kept on file for five academic years in the academic dean’s office.
Syllabi: Each faculty member is responsible for the preparation of an up-to-date course syllabus for each course being taught. A copy of the syllabus must be provided to each student in each class, and copies must be provided to the office of the academic dean and the Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs. Each syllabus should include the following information as a minimum:
1. Class name and number, PIN number, teacher’s name, phone number, e-mail address, and office number.
2. Course prerequisite.
3. Course description from the current bulletin.
4. Next course in sequence (if applicable).
5. Textbooks and other required materials. List the title, edition, author, and publisher of the textbook and supplemental workbooks, lab manuals, etc. List any other classroom materials needed by the students.
6. Course objectives. Inform the student about what the course will do for him/her, and what he/she should be able to achieve upon completion of the course.
7. Teaching methods. State the teaching methods to be used, such as lecture, class discussion, guest speakers, films, lab assignments, etc.
8. Assessment techniques. Provide an explanation of how assignments and final grades are determined.
9. Grading system. State how the evaluation techniques will be used to compute the student’s grade and how much grading emphasis will be assigned to each component.
10. Attendance policies. Inform the student of class attendance policy and late arrivals and whether this policy will be included in the grading system.
11. Late assignments and make-up policy. Notify the student of time limits that exist for make-up work, etc.
12. General topic outline and agenda. Provide a tentative schedule of the events in class such as reading and problem assignments, due dates on reports, essays, and class projects, and tentative exam dates.
13. The Rogers State University plagiarism statement (refer to Academic Integrity Policy).
14. The following ADA statement: If you have specific physical, psychiatric, or learning disabilities please let me know immediately so that your learning needs may be appropriately met. You will need to provide documentation of your disability to the Office of Student Affairs, Student Union, 343-7754.
Curriculum Development: All faculty are expected to participate in course and curriculum development within their academic department. The Curriculum Committee is responsible for reviewing and suggesting changes in the curriculum. All full-time faculty are subject to serving on this committee from time to time.There are forms and procedures for persons proposing new course(s), new program(s), changes in course(s), and/or changes in program(s). Please contact the appropriate department head for the necessary forms.
Classroom Procedures:As a professional courtesy, furniture in the classroom should be left in an orderly manner for other classes that will occupy the room. If it is necessary to rearrange the furniture for your class, please return the room to its original arrangement before leaving the classroom. Also, be sure the boards are erased before leaving the classroom.
Textbook Selection: The textbook that is used for a course will be chosen by a committee comprised of all full-time faculty who teach that particular course. Once there is a consensus, the committee will forward a book request form to their department head who will then forward this information to the bookstore. To hold down student costs, textbooks should not be changed without good cause. Most publishers furnish desk copies of a textbook and ancillaries upon adoption of the text. Many publishers also send examination copies for consideration. Faculty should contact the publisher’s representative directly to place their order for these copies.
Classroom Supplies: The appropriate departments will be responsible for maintaining necessary standard classroom and office supplies. The teacher should ask the department administrative assistant for normal supplies such as chalk, paper, erasers, pencils, etc. Laboratory supplies will be ordered by the appropriate faculty member responsible for that laboratory, using the appropriate purchasing procedures.
Examinations: When appropriate, the faculty member is to prepare and give course examinations during the semester. In some instances, a departmental examination may be given for courses with multiple sections. Special examinations may be given to support assessment activities. Final examination periods are published in the Schedule of Classes. These periods must be used to give examinations.
Online Courses: All faculty teaching online courses should include the following statement in their online syllabus: The materials on this course website are provided for the educational purposes of students enrolled in (name of course) at Rogers State University. These materials are subject to U.S. Copyright law and are not for further reproduction or transmission. Faculty teaching online courses will not require class assignments to be submitted during scheduled RSU holiday periods.
Administrative Support of Academic Freedom: Administrators must protect, defend, and promote academic freedom.