University Faculty Handbook Full

The terms and conditions of every appointment, including credit for the previous academic appointment and specification of the year in which tenure procedures will take place, shall be stated in writing, which shall be in the possession of both Kent State University and the faculty member before the appointment is finalized. Academic unit specific criteria for appointment are contained in the academic unit’s section of the University Handbook.

All tenure-track faculty members hold probationary appointments for one year subject to annual renewal.  The general policies and procedures governing reappointment of tenure-track faculty are described in University Policy and the Collective Bargaining Agreement.  More specific criteria for reappointment and tenure are contained in the appropriate academic unit section and, where applicable, appropriate regional campus section of the University Handbook.

Collective Bargaining Agreement, Article XI: Promotion, Tenure and Reappointment, Section 3

After successful completion of the specified probationary period and the tenure evaluation, a faculty member is granted indefinite tenure. The general policies and procedures governing tenure are described in University Policy and the Collective Bargaining Agreement. More specific criteria for tenure are contained in the appropriate academic unit section and, where applicable, appropriate regional campus section of the University Handbook.

Collective Bargaining Agreement, Article XI: Promotion, Tenure and Reappointment, Section 2

Promotion is viewed as recognition of a faculty member’s sustained and distinguished scholarship, teaching and service. The general policies and procedures governing promotion for tenure-track faculty are described in University Policy and the Collective Bargaining Agreement. More specific criteria for promotion are contained in the appropriate academic unit section and, where applicable, appropriate regional campus section of the University Handbook.

Collective Bargaining Agreement, Article XI: Promotion, Tenure and Reappointment, Section 1

From time to time, personal and/or family circumstances arise such that an untenured faculty member may need to request that his/her probationary period be extended. Granting such an extension of the probationary period has been traditionally called “tolling” or “stopping the tenure clock.”  The policies and procedures governing tolling are described in University Policy.

Any faculty member whose reappointment or tenure has been disapproved at any level has the right to appeal the decision to the next higher academic administrative officer in the process. University Policy and the Collective Bargaining Agreement provide for specific appeals processes and deadlines for notifying probationary faculty of non-reappointment or non-tenure. 

Collective Bargaining Agreement, Article VII: Grievance and Appeals Procedure, Section 2

Collective Bargaining Agreement, Article XVIII: Notification of Non-reappointment and Resignation, Section 1

University Policy and Procedures Regarding Faculty Reappointment, Section K
University Policy Regarding Faculty Tenure, Section K
University Policy Regarding Faculty Promotion, Section I

All full-time faculty are expected to work full-time for the University. The teaching load for tenured and tenure-track faculty is the equivalent of twenty-four credit hours of teaching and shall include formal class teaching, appropriate credit for advising of individual investigations, seminars, research, theses, and dissertations. Workload expectations and specification of workload equivalents of classroom instructional assignments are incorporated into each academic unit’s or campus’ section of the Faculty Handbook.

Faculty Workload

Summer and Intersession Workload

The University provides benefits related to medical issues (health insurance, prescription drugs, dental and vision coverage, sick leave, and life insurance) and other issues (non-academic leave, travel reimbursement, retirement, and fee remission). Tuition benefits in the form of fee waivers are granted to full-time University employees, their spouses, domestic partners and/or dependent children as well as to selected part-time employees. All recipients must meet the eligibility requirements.

TT Collective Bargaining Agreement, Article XIII: Medical Benefits

TT Collective Bargaining Agreement, Article XIV: Other Benefits

The Collective Bargaining Agreement stipulates terms for regular academic year salaries, salary adjustments, Faculty Excellence Awards, promotion increments, salary minima, and compensation for summer employment.

TT Collective Bargaining Agreement, Article XII: Salary

TT Collective Bargaining Agreement, Article IX: Faculty Workload, Section 4: Summer and Intersession Workload

TT Collective Bargaining Agreement, Article IX: Faculty Workload, Section 6: Overload Assignments and Payments
 

Both the Faculty member and the University contribute to the Faculty member’s account in the STRS of Ohio or to an Alternative Retirement Plan according to current percentages. University Policy also provides information on the process, conditions, and guidelines for early retirement.

HR Policy

Notification of Non-reappointment and Resignation, Section 2

University Policy Regarding Retirement

Administrative Procedure Regarding Early Retirement of Regular Full-Time Members of the Faculty

Ohio 457 Site

HR Site

Outside activities of a professional nature are encouraged if the activities are consistent with the individual's responsibilities to the University.  However, no individual may accept any employment or pursue other activity, whether professional or nonprofessional, which compromises his or her responsibilities to the University.

A grievance is a claim based on an event or condition that affects the terms and conditions of employment as governed by the Collective Bargaining Agreement.  The timelines and processes governing the adjustment of grievances are provided for in the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Article VII: Grievance and Appeals Procedure

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.  The process governing sanctions for cause as well as the due process rights for faculty facing sanctions are provided for in the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Article VIII: Sanctions for Cause

A faculty member who is resigning or retiring from the University must notify in writing the Provost at least sixty days before the end of the regular academic year.

Article XVIII: Notification of Non-reappointment and Resignation, Section 2

Administrative Policy Regarding Conversion of Sick Leave
Administrative Policy and Procedure Regarding Court Leave
Administrative Policy Regarding Military Leave of Absence

Kent State follows a semester academic year. In addition, Intersession classes may be offered at the end of fall and spring semesters.  Summer courses are offered during one of three segments: summer I and III, which run 5 weeks, and summer II, which runs 8 weeks.

Each faculty member is required to have stated office hours published in the departmental office. Instructors should notify each class of hours during which they are available for conferences. It is expected that each faculty member will hold a minimum of five office hours per week.

Classes are conducted on the premise that regular attendance is expected. The individual instructor has both the responsibility and the prerogative for managing student attendance. If students anticipate an absence, they should consult with the instructor individually. In the event the absence was due to illness or injury, verification from the medical professional treating the illness or injury should be presented to the instructor.

Teaching, research and public service are greatly enhanced through the use of computing systems and software, access to the World Wide Web, and other technology resources. Authorized users of campus computing and network resources shall be faculty, staff, students and other affiliated individuals or organizations authorized by the vice president for information services.

An overview of computing resource uses can found in the Policy Register, Chapter 9-01 University policy on responsible use of information technology.

The University has the responsibility to protect student information as it pertains to educational records. Educational records are defined as those records, files, documents, and other materials (for example, official academic records, advisement records, student conduct records, health records, and placement bureau records) which contain information directly related to the student and are maintained by a college, school, department, office or other University organizational subdivision, or by a person acting for the University or any of its subdivisions.

The University shall make reasonable accommodations in its academic requirements to ensure that such requirements do not discriminate on the basis of disability against a qualified individual with a disability, whether applicant or student. To this end, specific accommodations can be made for students appropriately evaluated by Student Accessibility Services or other certified or licensed provider.

The Graduation Planning System, or GPS, tracks student progress to graduation. GPS includes all requirements for earning a degree in the declared program. It also includes a student's individualized plan of study, which is created in consultation between the student and an advisor and which outlines semester by semester, what the student must complete to graduate.

Advising at the College level takes place at the Office of Advising & Academic Services, which is responsible for academic advising, assistance with registration issues, probation/dismissal, and graduation for all undergraduate students.

Office of Advising & Academic Services

Faculty help by meeting with students to advise them on courses to take, course topics, and solutions to particular problems in their major. 

Information about the Office of the University Registrar may be found at About Us

All curricular approval processes start at the academic unit level by a faculty member submitting a basic data sheet (BDS) that contains the subject matter of the intended process (a course/program revision, approval, or inactivation). The proposal is reviewed and approved by the following faculty committees as appropriate:

Program Curricular Group
Regional Campuses Faculty Councils
Departmental/School Curriculum Committee
College Curriculum Committee (CCC)
Educational Policies Council (EPC)
Faculty Senate

A detailed flowchart of the curricular approval process is presented in Curriculum Services' Curriculum Guidelines.

The Educational Policies Council is concerned with conceptual and structural aspects of long-range academic and curricular planning. The Council consists of two bodies, one responsible for undergraduate education called the Undergraduate Council and the other responsible for graduate education called the Graduate Council.

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) is a federal law that sets forth requirements regarding the privacy of student records. FERPA governs the disclosure of student records maintained by an educational institution as well as access to those records.

All Kent State University students are expected to demonstrate responsible behavior.  The Code of Student Conduct translates these expectations into specific policies and describes the process through which claims of violations are resolved.

Plagiarism School and Information for Faculty

Instructors have both the responsibility and prerogative for managing student attendance. The policy provides a procedural framework for both faculty and students to address an absence from class.

Unit Handbooks will be available.

The Student Financial Aid office administers all federal financial aid programs for all Kent State University campuses.

Academic advising at Kent State University supports the teaching and learning mission of the University. All freshman and sophomore students are required to meet with an advisor once per semester. Students at junior standing and beyond will be required to meet at least once per year.

The FLASHcard Office is located on the Kent Campus at the Bursar's Office in the Michael Schwartz Center, Room 138. Regional Campuses also produce FLASHcards for the faculty and students. The FLASHcard is the University I.D. for faculty, staff, and students.  It doubles as a meal card and debit card. A FLASHcard is needed to check materials out of the library.

It is the URC’s charge to foster and stimulate research efforts and creative projects by providing financial support for artistic and scholarly work.

The mission of the Student Accessibility Services (SAS) office is to ensure access to a post-secondary education to qualified students with disabilities at Kent State University.    

The Early Alert system helps instructors to reach out to students in their courses who are experiencing difficulties.  The Early Alert system is a referral tool in Flashline.  This system allows instructors a way to share the information with the Student Success Program staff so that additional interventions can be provided.

Ashtabula Campus
East Liverpool Campus
Geauga Campus
Salem Campus
Stark Campus
Trumbull Campus
Tuscarawas Campus

The primary goal of the Office of the Student Ombuds is to provide students confidential consultation in assisting with the possible resolution of any University-related concern, grievance or appeal.

University Health Services (Kent Campus) provides non-emergency outpatient care to all eligible students, faculty and staff. It is also a full-service primary care medical facility.

Psychological Services is staffed by licensed psychologists and provides high quality, personalized care to all KSU students, while also providing consultation to the University community regarding mental health concerns.

The Counseling and Human Development Center provides confidential counseling.  Located at 325 White Hall on the Kent Campus, the Center offers individual and group counseling services.  All services are provided free of cost to Kent State students, staff and faculty and at very little cost to the community.

The Information Services Helpdesk at Kent State University can assist students and faculty with a variety of computer-related problems.

Kent State University has over 200 student organizations.  The Center for Student Involvement (CSI) offers an array of resources that provide opportunities for leadership and participation in student-initiated projects and organizations.

Kent State University engages students in their communities in a wide variety of ways, such as student service organizations, University service programs, service-learning classes, and interactions with our community partners.

The Office of Global Education plans, coordinates, sustains, and monitors the University's global initiatives, exchange programs, and support services for international students and scholars.

Kent State University’s athletics program, NCAA Division I, includes baseball, basketball (women’s), basketball (men’s), cross country, field hockey, football, golf (women’s), golf (men’s), gymnastics, soccer, softball, track and field, volleyball, wrestling.

This office encompasses comprehensive recreational services housed in the Student Recreation and Wellness Center. The Kent State Ice Arena includes two rinks, which are used for learn-to-skate, hockey, broomball, and open skating programs for the community.

Kent State University’s Women’s Center exists to advance and enhance the educational experience and professional life of women students, faculty and staff at all campuses. The Women’s Center serves as a resource for advocacy by providing education, information, and referral programs and services.

The Student Multicultural Center develops and implements holistic retention programs, shares information and ideas that assist individuals in embracing diversity, and encourages mutual respect through educational, cultural and social programming.

The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Questioning (LGBTQ) Student Center was created to provide resources and support for LGBTQ students and their allies.   The Center educates the campus community (students, faculty, and staff) about sexual orientation and gender identity in order to make Kent State University a Safe Space for all of our students.

SRVSS Office (pronounced "serves"), The Office of Sexual and Relationship Violence Support Services at Kent State University, offers resources and education for students on personal safety, sexual assault and rape, relationship violence, and stalking.

The Center provides specialized services and resources, such as academic advising, career guidance, Adult Student Orientation, advocacy, and referrals to meet the needs of adult students and veterans.

Students applying for graduation should complete the online graduation application available through Flashline by the published deadlines. The online graduation application is used for all degree and certificate programs.

Questions regarding faculty roles in the commencement ceremony, where to line up, and when to arrive are best answered by senior colleagues or administrative staff within a faculty member’s respective department, academic unit, or regional campus.

Academic standing designations include President’s List, Dean’s List for Full-Time Students, Dean’s List for Part-Time Students, In Good Academic Standing, Midterm Warning, Semester Warning, Selected Academic Program Warning, Not Permitted to Continue, Academic Probation, and Academic Dismissal.

The forms library contains a collection of paper work and application forms for faculty, staff, and students (prospective and current). From application to registration to thesis and dissertation documents.

The Graduate Student Senate (GSS) is comprised of senators from all departments and programs on campus that have graduate programs on the master and doctoral level. Through regular meetings, the senate seeks to improve graduate student life and research on campus through student initiatives and research grant funding.

Black Graduate Student Association’s (BGSA) purpose is to meet the professional, social, and academic needs of Black graduate students.  BGSA recognizes graduation with Masters or Ph.D. as a top priority. Subsequently, this organization is dedicated to the promotion of academic excellence, mentoring, professional guidance, and social support that will enhance the scholarship of Black graduate students at Kent State University.

The Division of Graduate Studies offers professional development workshops for KSU graduate students of all academic programs. The free, one-hour Graduate Professional and Academic Development (GPAD) workshops are offered during a one-week block in the Fall and Spring semesters.

This award is given to a faculty member each year, based on his/her research and/or creative activities, by the Provost’s office after recommendation from the URC.

Types of Support sponsored by the URC include Speaker Support; Research Travel Support; Publication of Research; Scholarship and Creative Activity; Page Charge Support; Subvention; Conference Travel Support; Reprint Support; Copy Support; Computer Equipment Support; Development of Extramural Funding; Undergraduate Research Supplement for Conduct of Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity; Undergraduate Research Scholars Program; Summer and Academic Year Research Appointments; Interdisciplinary Research Projects

Fact Sheet

Funding Opportunities

TT Collective Bargaining Agreement Article XVII Association Rights

Faculty Parking Fees

Faculty at the following campuses may wish to consult these sites as well:

Ashtabula Campus
Stark Campus
Trumbull Campus