College of Business & Economics

Faculty Work Load Policy

                            Finalized--May 5, 2006

 

 

 

INTRODUCTION

 

Faculty members have varying work load philosophies and interests throughout their careers.  This document provides a process for faculty to do more of what they want to do over time and enhance the mission of the College of Business and Economics.

 

The key test for the success of the work load document is how faculty assignments are made, measured, and rewarded.  In all cases chairs will apply a reasonable test.  A fair system rewards faculty members based upon meeting expectations that they set with their department chairs. 

 

The College document is based upon the university work load document.  The COBE document defines and refines how the policy will work within the COBE, and does not replace the principles and guidelines in the university document.

 

Application of the COBE Work Load Policy

 

The College of Business and Economics Work Load Policy starts from the premise that a standard tenure track professor’s work load is evaluated on a weighting of 40% teaching, 40% intellectual contributions and 20% service.  The activities are also expressed in units, where one year's activities comprise 30 units.

 

Standard Teaching Model:

 

A 40% teaching weight presumes a 2- 2 teaching load (four 3-credit courses per year, 12 unit load) for the academic year, with the following stipulations:

• Regular instructional innovation and development.
• Teaching in both undergraduate and graduate programs.
• On average, teaching at least 150 students per year, depending on departmental needs and the nature of courses.  Upper division and graduate level classes are expected to be smaller than lower division classes.
• a maximum of three preparations per year
• at least one night/weekend course per academic year 
• off-site courses, when needed

 

These bullet stipulations set a standard for the department, but not necessarily for each faculty member.

Other considerations:

 

1.      Off-contract teaching (e.g., CPD, EMBA) is excluded from the standard teaching model.

 

2.      Department chairs should recognize courses identified in the University work load document, such as independent study courses, internships, courses taught by distance methods, thesis projects, etc.  Other considerations include courses with rapidly changing information, such as Networking, IS, and Tax, significant new preparations, teaching all graduate courses, etc. Although there may be a course release under a certain scenario, none of these examples implies an automatic course release.  They do require attention by the chairs so that a balancing occurs such that faculty with a 12-unit per year teaching load are treated equitably.

 

3.      Large sections do not necessarily imply an additional course release. 

 

4.      Course releases below 2-2 are not automatic for internship director assignments, student organization leadership, or for teaching two graduate courses.

 

5.      Significant assignments may result in a course load below 2-2. Examples might include editorship of a significant journal, director of a major event or ongoing major service commitment.  These assignments instead may result in a decrease of the service or research work load instead of the teaching work load.  Each significant case should be carefully examined by the professor and chair.

 

 

Service expectations:

 

There must be a direct connection between the service activity and building the COBE’s reputation within the professional or academic community.  The activity must primarily benefit the University (rather than self or family).  A 20% standard faculty weighting for service equates to a 6 unit load per year.  Chairs will evaluate quality of service provided by a faculty member, rather than accepting a listing of service assignments.

 

Sample expectations:

 

• Academic assignments:  Two units would normally equate to a department, college or university committee that meets > 2 times a month and requires about 2 to 3 hours per week of time by a faculty member.

 

• Professional/academic activities:  Participation in a professional or academic organization that requires 2 to 3 hours per week in attending meetings, lunches, or other related service also count as a 2 unit load. 

 

• Other academic or professional activities are evaluated using the same 2 to 3 hours per week measure.

Scholarship expectations:

 

The standard 40% weighting for scholarship is a 12-unit load.  A faculty member with a 12 unit load is expected to produce the equivalent of the following scholarship output over any 5-year period:

 

1. Journal articles:  Two B level refereed journal articles.  

 

AND

 

2. Scholarly Presentations:  Two paper presentations at leading academic or professional societies in the discipline, or sub-specialty.

 

AND

 

3. Service to the academy:  Research service on editorial boards; journal reviewing; journal editor; reviewer, discussant and/or chair at academic meetings.

 

The following guidelines provide further insights:

 

• Using objective criteria, such as acceptance rates, journal ranking, etc., departments will determine journal levels (A, B, or C) by discipline with oversight by the Executive Council.

 

• A first edition textbook (academic or trade book) equates to one refereed B journal article.

 

• Other scholarly activity equivalencies (e.g., conferences, journals) are determined by the chair, in conjunction with the dean.  Faculty should discuss equivalencies early in the research process and at least before the submission date.

 

It is expected that most faculty members will carry a standard load with twelve research and teaching units and six service units per year.  Departures from standard require approval from the chair and dean.

 

Occasionally, a faculty member who is highly productive in research may receive approval for an increased research load with a corresponding reduction in teaching.  Approval for these research enhancing modifications are based in part on the contribution of work to the COBE mission and not simply faculty member productivity.

 

Faculty members not meeting standard research expectations are subject to a reduction in their research units with a corresponding increase in teaching units.  Depending on the circumstances, the teaching load could range from 15 units (a 2-3 course load) per year to 24 units (a 4-4 load) per year.

 

A COBE faculty member must publish two refereed journal articles (A, B or C level) within a 5-year period to remain academically qualified (AQ) for AACSB-International accreditation.

 

 

Workload of Department Chairs and Associate Deans:

 

These positions administer the departments’ affairs and contribute to the administration of the College.  Teaching duties will consist of a standard of six units per year for chairs and a standard of three units per year for associate deans.  The stipulations of the standard teaching model do not apply to the chairs and associate deans.  An active research agenda that maintains AQ for AACSB is expected of the department chairs and associate deans.