ACADEMIC POLICIES & PROCEDURES

Faculty Personnel Policy

Regulations Affecting Faculty and Department Head Load

Calculation of Teaching Load

• Lecture: 1 Carnegie clock hour per week = 1 semester hour unit
• Laboratory: 2 Carnegie clock hours per week = semester hour unit

The load status of classes listed as arranged courses, directed readings, independent studies, or departmentally specific courses will be evaluated by the department head, the dean, and the faculty member. Such courses may be judged by the same enrollment considerations applied to other courses.

Independent study courses are discouraged and no faculty member may teach more than 3 students during the entire academic year by this method. Faculty members teaching independent studies courses do not receive additional compensation. Faculty members teaching arranged courses, directed readings or departmentally specific courses will not be asked to teach a course without proper compensation. Arranged classes, departmentally specific courses, or directed readings courses will not be taught unless adequate enrollment is obtained.

Office Hours

A full-time faculty member is required to schedule ten office hours per week, and it is recommended that at least one (1) office hour be scheduled each day Monday through Friday. In addition, a faculty member is expected to be available additional hours by appointment.

Faculty with major clinical and laboratory responsibilities may submit a request to the department head to include at least half of these clinical and laboratory hours, up to a maximum of five towards the office hour requirement. The department head, dean, and vice president for academic affairs must approve the request prior to the semester or academic year in which the request is to be effective.

Absences from Duty

When a faculty member is to be absent from an assigned responsibility, he/she must file a statement with the department head prior to the absence containing the reason for absence and provisions made to cover the responsibilities.

Outside Employment

As a general rule, full-time faculty are not to be engaged in regular remuneration producing activities (operating a private business or working as an employee for others) from 8 a.m. through 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Exceptions must be approved by appropriate administrative personnel. Faculty and staff are prohibited by state statute from utilizing university facilities or equipment in personal or private businesses.