Appointment and Employment Procedures and Regulations
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Faculty Appointments
Normally, an earned doctoral degree in a related discipline is required for all faculty appointments to a tenure-track position in the Program. Postdoctoral experience is preferred.
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Faculty Ranks
The basic definitions of faculty ranks are the following:
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Instructor
This rank is intended for persons initially hired with a master's degree. Normally, the Program does not hire at the rank of Instructor except for full-time non-tenure track (NTT) faculty positions.
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Assistant Professor
This rank is normally the entry level rank for tenure-track faculty holding the doctorate in an appropriate discipline.
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Associate Professor
Hire to or promotion to this rank presumes prior service as an Assistant Professor, significant academic achievements, and possession of the doctorate in an appropriate discipline (See, Section V of this Handbook).
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Professor
Promotion to this rank requires credentials and achievements beyond those required for promotion to Associate Professor and is reserved for senior faculty members who have achieved significant recognition in their discipline (See, Section V of this Handbook).
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Research Associate and Research Assistant
These ranks are reserved for individuals who are engaged in research and who are not normally assigned teaching responsibilities. Such positions are typically supported by extramural grant funds and are not tenure-track appointments. Faculty who hold these ranks do not vote on Program committees and do not participate in Program governance.
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Adjunct Faculty Appointments
These appointments are held primarily by faculty from other institutions or persons on the staffs of community-based agencies and organizations. Adjunct faculty appointments are made at the discretion of the Chair in consultation with the FAC. Adjunct faculty members do not vote on Program Committees and do not participate in Program governance.
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Visiting Faculty Appointments
Visiting faculty appointments at an appropriate faculty rank may be made when leaves of absence occur or special needs arise and funds are available. A visiting faculty member is typically a faculty member from another institution who is employed by the Program for a period not to exceed one (1) year. In the event that a Visiting faculty member is employed in that capacity for a second consecutive year, the visiting faculty member will then become a full-time non-tenure track (NTT) faculty member.
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Full-Time Non-Tenure Track Faculty (NTT) Appointments
Full-time non-tenure track faculty (NTT) appointments are made on an annual basis (See, Section VI of this Handbook). NTT appointments are not included under the umbrella of the University policy and procedures regarding faculty tenure (See, University Policy Register 3342-6-14) and NTT faculty members are not entitled to any rights with regard to tenure.
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Part-Time Faculty Appointments
When the Program cannot meet its teaching needs from the ranks of its full-time tenured and tenure-track faculty, full-time non-tenure track (NTT) faculty and graduate students, part-time faculty appointments will be made from an established pool of qualified applicants not currently on regular appointment at the University.
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Graduate Faculty Status
As a doctoral degree granting program, the Program normally requires that all faculty hired for tenure-track positions be eligible for appointment to the graduate faculty as associate or full members. The Administrative policy regarding graduate faculty is included in the University Policy Register. (See, University Policy Register 3342-6-15.1)
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Recruiting Faculty
The Program supports the goals of equal opportunity and affirmative action in recruiting and in making appointments to the faculty. Search Committees are appointed by the Chair after consultation with the FAC and faculty members in the specific area or discipline conduct the search for candidates. Search committees may include a student member selected by the faculty members serving on the search committee. Following the search, the search committee recommends to the Chair that two (2) or more candidates be invited to campus for an interview. The search committee may recommend its choice of candidates to the Chair. Committee recommendations are advisory to the Chair, who then makes a recommendation to the Dean. If the Dean concurs with the Chair, a recommendation is forwarded to the Office of the Provost. If the Chair's recommendation is different than that of the search committee and the faculty, the Chair shall inform the Dean of all recommendations and the reasons for the disagreement.
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Role and Responsibility of the Faculty
Research, Teaching, Service: Each faculty member is expected to contribute to the Program, Campus, College and the University according to the terms and condition of his/her letter of appointment.
Scholarly activity is expected of all faculty members. Faculty are expected to present evidence of their endeavors as witnessed by publication, proposals submitted for extramural funding, and dissemination of research in various venues as appropriate to the discipline. Activity in professional organizations and the training of graduate students is also expected.
All of the Program faculty members are expected to be full or associate members of the graduate faculty, and all are expected to be involved in significant research activity, serve on graduate student committees, and direct graduate student research. Supervision and direction of undergraduate research projects and theses may also be part of the teaching function for some faculty members.
Service to the University is a responsibility of each faculty member. Program, Campus, College, and University committee or task force membership is expected as a normal part of a faculty member’s contributions. Special or outstanding service above and beyond that which is typical may be considered during the review of a faculty member, but service alone will not reduce the expectations of quality teaching and scholarly activity. Public service is encouraged and recognized as a part of the professional responsibilities of each faculty member, although contributions in this area can be expected to vary. A unique aspect of the CPIP is its close affiliation with the LCI. CPIP faculty are expected to be ‘core members’ of the LCI, and, as part of their regular workload, to contribute 25% of their time as service to the LCI, under the guidance of the LCI Director. This is to allow the LCI to efficiently undertake activities such as preparing large group, equipment and other grants of importance to the LCI, helping to equip and maintain LCI facilities, carrying out targeted research needed by the LCI, preparing educational materials for and offering instruction in the use of LCI facilities, preparing and offering short courses for industry, building electronic information resources for the LCI, interacting with industry, government labs, funding agencies and carrying out a broad range of outreach activities. -
Faculty Code of Ethics
All members of the Program faculty are expected to maintain the highest ethical standards as teachers, scholars, university citizens and colleagues. The University policy regarding faculty code of professional ethics can be found in the University Policy Register. (See, University Policy Register 3342-6-17)
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Faculty Workload and Workload Equivalents
All full-time tenured and tenure-track faculty of the program are expected to carry a maximum workload of twenty-four (24) credit hours per academic year. Full-time non-tenure track faculty members are expected to carry a maximum workload of thirty (30) credit hours per academic year. (See, University Policy Register 3342-6-18). The workload for each individual faculty member is assigned by the Chair with the approval of the Dean. The FAC shall advise the Chair on issues related to teaching assignments, class schedules and the appropriate application of workload equivalents. The Chair shall provide each faculty member with a statement of her/his workload.
In addition, the Chair may, in consultation with the FAC and with the concurrence of the Dean, assign workload equivalencies for specific duties which are considered essential to the academic mission of the Program. The program’s expectations and specifications for such workload equivalencies is given in the table below. The workload equivalents contained here are based on the program’s mission and are divided into five categories: course instruction, research instruction, research productivity, administration, and other.
Table 1. Workload Equivalents Table
Table 1. Workload Equivalents Table.
Title / Name of Assignment
Load Equivalent (Range)
Frequency
Course instruction
Responsibility for a lecture or lab section or the general colloquium
1 per semester credit hour
Semester
Individual investigation such as 3 hours of Research (CPHY 80498)
Typically 1 per student supervised per semester
Semester
Significant new content or format change to an existing course
1
Semester
New course development
1-2 per semester, 4 total per course developed
Semester
Research instruction
Supervision of doctoral dissertations (students enrolled in “dissertation onlyâ€)
1-2 per student per semester
Semester
Supervision of a masters student
1 per student per semester
Semester
Research Productivity
Extramurally-sponsored research
2 per year, per $25K annual grant budget
Semester
Research activity and proposal submission
0.5 to 1 per paper, presentation, proposal, or US patent application
Semester
Administration
Chairperson
2-6 per semester
Semester
Director of LCI (if member of CPIP )
6 per semester
Semester
Assistant to the Chairperson
1-3 per semester
Semester
Graduate Coordinator
1-3 per semester
Semester
Graduate Recruiter
1-3 per semester
Semester
LCI Facility Director
1-3 per semester
Semester
LCI Program Assignment
1-4 per semester
Semester
LCI Other Service Assignment
1-4 per semester
Semester
Other
New faculty (first 2 years)
1-6 per semester
Semester
Leave (health, faculty improvement, research, etc)
1-12 per semester
Semester
In the interest of maintaining a high standard of teaching and the desirability of faculty involvement in research and service activities, overload assignments are strongly discouraged. Overload assignments (i.e. workload assignments which total more than twenty-four (24) credit hours per academic year for tenured and tenure-track faculty and which total more than thirty (30) credit hours for full-time non-tenure-track faculty) will be made only in unusual circumstances. Such assignments require the agreement of the faculty member, and the approval of the Chair and the Dean. -
Teaching Assignments and Class Schedules
Faculty members are assigned to teach specific courses by the Chair. The primary considerations for course assignments are prior teaching experience, subject expertise, and shared responsibility among the faculty for service and introductory courses. Questions regarding teaching assignments should be addressed to the Chair. In the case of a dispute or request for reassignment the faculty member may request review by the FAC which will make a recommendation to the Chair.
Scheduling of classes is the responsibility of the Assistant to the Chair with approval of the Chair. The primary consideration for scheduling classes is student need with regard to meeting program requirements within a reasonable time frame. In addition, the scheduling of some classes may be determined by the need to serve nontraditional students. -
Summer Teaching Assignments
The Chair welcomes requests for summer teaching assignments from all full-time faculty members. Summer teaching cannot be guaranteed to any faculty member and most summer teaching assignments are for a partial load. The size, content, and staffing of summer courses are dictated by budgetary constraints and curricular needs. Within these requirements faculty members are offered summer teaching assignments on an annual rotation system. The program will endeavor to distribute summer teaching opportunities equitably among members of the bargaining unit without regard to academic rank. Faculty members may elect not to accept a summer assignment. See also CBA Article IX, Section 3.
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Other Faculty Duties
Advising: Faculty are required to advise and counsel students on academic matters. Individual faculty members are responsible for providing academic counseling to pre-dissertation students assigned to them and to other pre-dissertation students who seek such advice, as needed. Student advising at the dissertation level is conducted by the student's dissertation advisor and the student’s dissertation committee members. In order to assist in student advising, faculty members should maintain current knowledge of University, College, and Program offerings and requirements.
Grades and Student Records: Faculty members must inform students of their progress throughout the semester. Grades are a faculty member's responsibility and should be assigned fairly and objectively. Submission of final grades must comply with University Policy, including but not limited to the deadline for the timely submission of grades. Failure of faculty members to provide grades in compliance with University Policy will be taken into consideration in reappointment, promotion, tenure and merit decisions. Materials used in computing grades (e.g., exams, papers, reports, etc.) should be retained by the faculty member for five (5) years after final grades are submitted. Students have a right to inspect the written work performed during a course and discuss the grade with the faculty member.
All members of the Program must comply with all laws and University Policies which govern the privacy of student education records, including but not limited to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). These regulations require, among other things, that faculty members keep thorough academic records and forbid the posting of grades by name, social security number or any other system which might identify a student with her/his education record.
Office Hours: Faculty members are expected to be available to students for at least five (5) office hours per week (See, University Policy Register 3342-6-18.101). If a student, for a legitimate reason or reasons, is unable to meet during the faculty member’s scheduled office hours, the faculty member shall make appointments to meet with the student at an alternate time.
Participation in University Activities: Faculty members are expected to participate in recruitment programs, graduation ceremonies and other activities which are appropriate to their role as a faculty member in the Program.
Student and Peer Evaluation: A Student Survey of Instruction (hereinafter “SSIâ€) is required in each course in each semester and will be conducted under the auspices of the Chair pursuant to applicable University policies and procedures (See, Section IX of this Handbook).
Probationary faculty members are required to undergo peer review of teaching during each year of the probationary period.
Syllabi: Faculty members are expected to provide students with a syllabus which includes the subject matter to be covered in a course, a listing of assignments and/or reports, approximate dates of examinations, grading standards, attendance requirements, and other pertinent details of the conduct of the class. -
Sanctions
A sanction is a documented corrective action in response to a faculty member's unsatisfactory performance of his/her duties and responsibilities as a member of the faculty. (See, CBA Article VIII).
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Faculty Information System/Workload Summary Reports
All faculty members are required to provide a current curriculum vitae (CV) to be kept on file in the Program office. The faculty member’s CV must be updated annually. (See CBA Section IX.2.D).
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Faculty Leaves
All leaves, sponsored or unsupported, personal or professional, are subject to the approval of the Chair, the Dean and the Provost.
University leaves include but are not limited to:
1. Research leaves (See UPR 3342-6-11.8 ).
2. Leaves of absence without pay (See UPR 3342-6-11.9).
3. Faculty professional improvement leaves (See UPR 3342-6-12).
4. Research/Creative Activity appointments (See UPR 3342-6-15.3).
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Faculty Absence and Travel Policy
Faculty members who will be absent from campus for professional or personal reasons must submit a Request for Absence Form with the Chair. The request should be made at least one (1) month prior to the planned absence and is subject to the approval of the Chair and the Dean. Arrangements for any classes to be missed during the absence must be addressed to the satisfaction of the Chair before approval will be granted.
Attendance at professional meetings is encouraged and approved travel expenses incurred in attending such meetings will be reimbursed when approved prior to travel according to the University's travel policies and are subject to the availability of Program funds. In general, greater amounts of support will be granted to meeting participants (i.e. those presenting a paper or chairing a session) than to faculty members who simply attend professional meetings.
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Faculty Sick Leave
The Chair is responsible for keeping complete records of faculty sick leave; however, faculty members are also required to submit the appropriate sick leave forms to the Chair. Sick leave forms should be completed and submitted to the Chair within forty-eight (48) hours after an absence. (See UPR 3342-6-11.1)
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Outside Employment and Other Outside Activities
Faculty members may engage in professional activities outside the university provided the activities do not interfere with the faculty member's teaching, research, or service responsibilities to the Program, Campus, College or University (See, University Policy Register 3342-6-24). These activities must not compete with University activity or the faculty member’s employment with the University and must be approved in advance by the Chair and the Dean. Each academic year, each faculty member must disclose and seek approval for all outside employment or other outside activities on the form provided by the University. Any outside employment or other outside activities are subject to the Faculty Code of Ethics and the University’s conflict of interest policies. (See, University Policy Register 3342-6-17 and 3342-6-23)
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Copyright Restrictions
All faculty members should be aware of current copyright laws which restrict the copying of published materials. For further information, contact the University’s Office of Legal Affairs.
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Academic Misconduct
The University policy regarding misconduct in research and scholarship and the Administrative policy and procedures regarding allegations and instances of misconduct in research and scholarship is included in the University Policy Register. (See, University Policy Register 3342-3-05 and 3342-2-05.01)