Criteria, Performance Expectations, and Academic Unit Procedures Relating to Faculty Excellence Awards

Salary and merit increases for full-time, tenure-track, and term faculty are negotiated by the University and AAUP-KSU.Salary and merit increases may be specified as across-the-board percentages, fixed amounts, and/or adjustments based upon merit or other factors identified in the CBA.Merit procedures are established by the University. Such factors as the quality of research and teaching, the nature of the courses taught, and the quality and level of service to the Department, College, University, and community will all be considered when evaluating faculty performance for purposes of salary and merit increases.

Each time there are Faculty Excellence Awards (FEA), the FAC will review the criteria and Department procedures and modify said procedures, subject to approval by the Chair.

Currently, university guidelines specify that Faculty Excellence Awards will be in three broadly defined categories: 1) Teaching, 2) Service, and 3) Research. The weights given to each are 30 percent for teaching, 20 percent for service, and 50 percent for research.  

It is the Faculty member's responsibility to develop an adequate file to provide evidence of meritorious performance in any category.  Only evidence included in the file can be considered; missing evidence may result in a lower rating.

The chair is to distribute all relevant material to all regular full-time continuing tenure-track Faculty.  Faculty are to submit materials by the announced date for review, evaluation, and assessment of achievement using the Faculty Excellence Awards submission form of the Department of Finance.  

In considering teaching, the department will examine the quantity and quality of a) courses taught, b) involvement with dissertations particularly, but also in theses/honors theses/independent studies, c) teaching awards/honors, d) teaching grants, e) instructional innovations/teaching development activities/significant curricular revisions, f) published scholarship of teaching, g) presentations, h) academic advising of students, i) efforts in support of student recruitment and retention, and j) other.

In considering service, the department will examine the quantity and quality of a) service on committees, b) professional/public service, and c) other. 

In considering research, the department will examine the quantity and quality of a) research published or accepted for publication, b) research grants, c) presentations, d) research awards/honors, e) work in progress, and f) other.

Using the total dollar figure of funds available in each Faculty Excellence Awards category, individual FAC TT Faculty members are to review, evaluate, and make recommendation as to the appropriate Faculty Excellence Award for all eligible Faculty members who have applied, excepting themselves, to the Department Chair.  The chair will provide summary statistics of these recommendations to all regular full-time continuing tenure-track Faculty.  The chair will then make recommendations for Faculty Excellence Awards to the dean, a copy of which is provided to all department tenured and tenure-track Faculty.

If a faculty member requests a special salary review as specified in the CBA, a documented request must be presented to the Chair and Dean in writing. These requests shall be reviewed by the FAC, which will make a recommendation to the Chair. The Chair then makes a recommendation to the Dean.If a faculty member receives an external salary offer, potential counter offers may be considered by the FAC. The FAC would make a recommendation to the Chair, who would then make a recommendation to the Dean.