Teaching Assignments and Workload

Faculty Code of Professional Ethics. Faculty members of the Salem Campus are bound by the University policy regarding the Faculty Code of Professional Ethics, as set forth in the University Register. This code states faculty’s responsibilities to the students, the University, the subject, the profession, and the community. (See https://www.kent.edu/policyreg/university-policy-regarding-faculty-code-professional-ethics.)

Conflict of Interest. Faculty members of this campus are bound by the University policy regarding conflict of interest of University employees, as set forth in the University Register.

(See https://www.kent.edu/policyreg/university-policy-regarding-conflict-interest-university-employees.)

Outside Employment. Faculty members are bound by the University policy regarding outside enterprises, including employment, as set forth in the University Register. (See https://www.kent.edu/policyreg/university-policy-regarding-outside-enterprises-including-employment-faculty-and-academic).

In brief, University policy prohibits an employee from placing himself/herself in a position where private interests conflict with public duty because university employment is viewed as a trust conferred by public authority for a public purpose.  Therefore, a decision to engage in service outside the university with or without compensation must take into consideration an individual’s total commitment, responsibility, and accountability to Kent State University.

Human Subjects Research. Faculty members are bound by the University policy regarding academic research involving use of human subjects for investigation, as set forth in the University Register. (See https://www.kent.edu/policyreg/administrative-policy-regarding-research-involving-human-subjects. See also https://www.kent.edu/research/research-humans.  Policies governing research with animals can be found at https://www.kent.edu/research/research-animals.

Academic Year Work Load. The workload assignment for a tenured or tenure-track faculty member is 24 credit hours over the fall and spring semesters during a given academic year, and 30 hours for non-tenure track faculty. Teaching assignments for an individual are the responsibility of the Salem Campus Dean on a course and semester basis.

Each faculty’s workload statement, which should be issued at least 30 days prior to the beginning of each semester, must include workload hours designated in three areas: teaching, research, and university citizenship. Faculty with disputes may be reviewed by the Faculty Council for a recommendation to the campus dean. (See CBA, Article IX.)

The Dean may, with consultation of the affected faculty members, assign evening or Saturday classes as a portion of their contract load. Faculty may also be assigned to teach at other Kent State University campuses (including Kent) if a full workload at the Salem Campus is not possible.

Overload Policy. Compensation for teaching overload at the Salem Campus is governed by policy described in the appropriate Collective Bargaining Agreements. Assignment to such courses is made by the Dean of the Salem Campus. The order of consideration for teaching overload assignments is as follows:  First priority to resident full-time faculty at the Salem Campus, then full-time faculty of the Regional Campus system, and finally full-time faculty of the Kent Campus.

Summer and Intersession Teaching Policy. Summer teaching employment may be available for Salem Campus faculty (tenured, tenure track, and non-tenure track), and is governed by provisions described in the appropriate Collective Bargaining Agreements. This possibility depends on course demands and enrollment projections. Assignment to such teaching is made by the Dean of the Campus. Resident Tenure-Track Faculty will be given preference followed by Resident Faculty of the Regional Campus System.  If a summer class is to be cancelled, the affected faculty member shall be contacted prior to the start of classes and given an opportunity to teach a different summer class. (Article IX, Section IV).

Distance/Distributed Instruction. Distance Learning development and revision is addressed in the CBA Article XXI.

Annual Workload Summary Reports. All continuing tenured faculty members are required to prepare and submit to the Campus Dean, by the end of the spring semester, an Annual Workload Summary Report for the previous academic year. The purpose of this report is to document the workload, including utilization of the specified workload equivalencies, for the academic year. This report may be used in planning future workload equivalencies. Any other use of the report requires the consent of the Faculty member.  This report should be submitted electronically in Word format.  This Report includes the following items:

• An updated curriculum vitae.
• Course evaluations added by the Campus Dean and syllabi for each course taught.
• A brief summary of professional activities related to the workload (e.g., if a faculty member has a 3 hour assignment for program coordination, a brief summary of activities related to his/her work as a Coordinator should be provided).  This summary will be evaluated by the Campus Dean when determining future workload releases.

For tenured, tenure track, and non-tenure track faculty

Faculty members may request load equivalencies for a variety of activities. Each faulty member will submit to the Campus Dean a written request that documents the need for a load hour equivalent and justifies the amount. The Dean will respond to the faculty member in writing, approving or denying, in a timely manner. If the request is denied, the Dean should provide a rationale.

The load-hour equivalents appropriate to the Salem Campus shall include but are not limited to:

The policy regarding faculty travel and reimbursement for this travel is governed by University regulations as found in the University Register (https://www.kent.edu/policyreg/administrative-policy-regarding-travel-regulations-state-and-out-state.)

The faculty travel budget can be used to reimburse full-time faculty and program directors or coordinators who hold faculty rank. There are contractual agreements between the University and the AAUP regarding travel for University business. (See CBA, Article XIV, Section VI)

Faculty intending to travel for professional development activities should submit their travel proposal—which should include the travel proposal form and a brief rationale for their travel request—to the Salem Campus Travel Committee as early as possible in the academic year. All proposals should document in writing a travel destination, purpose for travel, estimated costs, and dates for proposed travel. The Travel Committee will evaluate submitted proposal forms and will submit a brief letter to the campus dean detailing the merits of the proposal. The campus dean determines whether a proposal will receive funding and at what level.   At the end of each fiscal year, the Campus Dean will review travel expenditures to determine whether travel funding levels are set appropriately and adjust if necessary.  If funds remain at the end of the fiscal year, they may be reserved for travel in future years.  After the decision is made, the campus dean is responsible for notifying faculty members of their expected level of reimbursement.  The travel committee only reviews requests over $300; requests below that amount should go directly to the business office.

Course Syllabus. Faculty members are required to prepare and distribute a course syllabus at the beginning of each semester, including the number and type of examinations, attendance rules, papers, assignments, due dates, office hours, grading standards, textbooks, reference material and the like. Statements about emergency procedures, students with disabilities, and plagiarism should be included. A copy of the syllabus should be filed with the appropriate secretary.    Faculty should follow the syllabus requirements as provided by their department, college, or school.

Class Attendance. According to University rules, classes are conducted on the premise that regular attendance is desirable. The individual faculty member has the responsibility for managing student attendance.  (See https://www.kent.edu/policyreg/administrative-policy-regarding-class-at…)

When students have prolonged or unexplained absences from class, the teaching faculty member is encouraged to work with the Student Academic Center to discover reasons for absences and to pursue courses of action. Faculty should use the on-line Early Alert and the NF and SF grading options throughout the semester to alert students of imminent course failure.

Faculty Absence from duty. Faculty members shall meet their classes and conduct final examinations at the scheduled times.  Normal practice is to notify the administration through the appropriate secretary when one is to be absent from class. Note that leaving voice mail is not sufficient.  Faculty members need to speak with the secretary or with the assistant dean or with the assistant dean’s secretary.  Faculty are advised to also notify their students of their absence.  Please make alternate plans for the class session when possible.  Faculty members must report absences using Leave Report in Flashline.

Office Hours. All full-time faculty members are expected to maintain a minimum of five (5) office hours per week for the purpose of advising and counseling with students on academic and instructional matters. If faculty are assigned to more than one campus, those hours must be split between the campuses. Faculty members should turn in office hours to the appropriate secretary. See: https://www.kent.edu/policyreg/operational-procedures-and-regulations-regarding-faculty-office-hours.

Commencement Duty. All full-time faculty members are expected to participate in annual commencement exercises, wearing academic dress.

Email. Email is the official method of communication at Kent State University.  Faculty members should check email regularly and respond to student email messages in a timely manner.

Course Assignments. The faculty member’s academic department has responsibility for approving faculty to teach particular courses. Requests for additional course approvals shall be processed through the Campus Dean to the academic department.  Decisions are noted in the faculty member’s campus personnel file. After consulting with the faculty member involved, it is the responsibility of the Campus Dean to assign faculty to courses and sections of courses.  These assignments are made upon consideration of enrollment demand and projections, faculty eligibility to teach, and other university needs. Whenever a faculty member is assigned to teach classes at more than one regional campus, the responsible Campus Deans confer in making the assignment. The individual faculty member shall be consulted with regard to assignment. The responsibility for assigning faculty members to teach specific classes rests with the Campus Dean and/or Assistant/Associate Dean, who should consult with faculty on the matter.  Last minute assignment changes may be unavoidable because of higher or lower student demand, faculty illness, and other such emergencies.

A special stipend of $1,000 applies for faculty members who have not been hired with joint appointments but are assigned to teach at another regional campus. If the faculty member is teaching at multiple campuses on the same day(s), travel may also be reimbursed.

Cancellation of classes is the responsibility of the Campus Dean.

The primary responsibility of Kent State University faculty members with appointments in the Regional Campuses is the delivery of undergraduate instruction. Faculty members are required to maintain twelve (12) load hours of instruction per semester. The Regional Campuses of Kent State University, however, recognize the need to allow faculty members the opportunity to continue and maintain research and/or professional development activities in their discipline. To meet that need, the University permits Tenured and Tenure- Track Faculty members with Regional Campus Appointments to periodically apply for Research/Professional Development Load Equivalency (RPDLE) to replace part of their normal instructional responsibility. The number of RPDLE’s that can be granted per semester is limited and will be granted on a competitive basis. The Campus Dean makes the final decision.

To be eligible for a RPDLE:

1.  Applicants must be Full-time Tenured or Tenure-Track Faculty.

2.  Applicants cannot teach over-loads during the semester for which a RPDLE has been granted.

3.  Applicants must submit two (2) copies of the completed Faculty Load Equivalency Request for review.  One copy goes to the Assistant Dean and one copy to the Salem FC Chair. Each request and accompanying Curriculum Vitae must be submitted by:

4.  Applicants cannot have more than one RPDLE per academic year.

5.  Preference will be given to untenured faculty seeking tenure, tenured faculty who have not received RPDLE’s previously, and to tenured faculty actively seeking promotion.

6.  RPDLEs cannot take an applicant’s teaching load to zero (0) for the semester.

Details on the proposal review and the application form are included in Appendix B.