Ohio Administrative Code
Title 3359 - University of Akron
Chapter 3359-20 - Mission, Goals and Faculty Policies
Section 3359-20-04 - The faculty: personal matters and special instructions
Universal Citation: OH Admin Code 3359-20-04
Current through all regulations passed and filed through September 16, 2024
(A) Salary payments.
(1)
Salary checks are
distributed by the associate vice president/controller on the last banking day
of each month. For those regular or full-time auxiliary faculty who desire a
twelve months' pay schedule, options are available through the university and
selected financial institutions. The associate vice president/controller can
provide details. Salary checks for part-time day and evening teaching and
summer session teaching are distributed according to a schedule circulated by
the associate vice president/controller. Upon request, a faculty member may
have the salary check automatically deposited at a selected bank or other
financial institution.
(2)
Extra compensation earned for overload teaching during
the regular semester is included in two installments in the spring semester
salary checks.
(B) Salary deductions.
(1)
Withholding tax
and state and local income tax deductions are made each month as required by
law. Each faculty member is required to complete form W4, employee's
withholding allowance certificate, and have it filed in the payroll office of
the associate vice president/controller so that the proper number of allowances
are used. The faculty member should report any changes in allowances by filing
a new form W4 in the office of the associate vice
president/controller.
(2)
All full-time and most part-time faculty or
administrators are required by state law to contribute to an appropriate state
retirement system. A percentage of a faculty member's salary determined by the
state legislature is deducted from the gross salary, picked up by the
university, and credited to the faculty member's retirement account. The
university's contribution varies from year to year, as required by law, but
always exceeds the amount contributed by the member.
(3)
The state
retirement plans provide for survivor benefits to eligible designated
beneficiaries, for an income to a member of the plan who suffers a permanent
disability, and for a retirement income in accordance with age and service. A
detailed description of benefits is available from the office of benefits
administration.
(4)
If an individual ceases to be a member of the
retirement system-that is, ceases to be employed by a member institution of the
plan-all the money contributed individually to the account can be recovered,
but not the amount contributed by the university unless the same shall be
vested to the individual by law.
(C) Insurance.
The university has established an insurance program for the regular full-time faculty, auxiliary faculty and full-time staff. This includes group life, accidental death and dismemberment, long-term disability, and comprehensive medical and dental insurance plans. Complete information concerning the program may be obtained from the office of benefits administration.
(D) Attendance at professional meetings.
(1)
The university encourages faculty members to attend
such educational or professional meetings related to their fields of work as
will benefit both them and the university. To aid faculty members attending
these meetings, the university helps to pay their travel expenses, subsistence
costs, and special fees. The following instructions are included here so that
faculty members can make full use of the financial assistance offered them.
Faculty members should also consult the university travel
policy.
(2)
A faculty member wishing to attend an educational or
professional meeting should request approval from the department chair and the
dean of the college. The faculty member must provide information concerning the
nature of the meeting and an estimate of expenses. The dean, weighing the value
of the meeting to the faculty member and to the university, either approves or
disapproves the request. Within a reasonable time following the completion of
the approved trips, expenses incurred are submitted to the dean for approval.
Upon approval of the expense statement, the university reimburses the faculty
member to the extent agreed upon when the trip was approved.
(3)
Faculty members
should note that approval for such travel is necessarily governed by the
availability of funds, that they may be limited to one such trip a year, and
that they must be employees of the university at the time payment is made. At
times the president or the dean may request a faculty member to attend a
particular meeting or function. Such trips are considered "official visits,"
and the university bears the total proper expense of such
visits.
(E) Reporting illness or other absences.
If illness forces a faculty member to be absent from duties, the faculty member's department chair and dean should be notified as soon as possible. If a faculty member is to be absent from the university for more than a day, an address should be left with the dean or other appropriate administrative officer.
(F) Attending commencement exercises.
Participation in commencement exercises should be regarded as a professional responsibility of all faculty members.
(G) Attending faculty meetings.
Each college faculty meets at the call of its dean; each department faculty meets at the call of its head; each school faculty meets at the call of its director; and the university faculty meets at the call of the president. All faculty members are expected to attend all meetings of their department, their school, their college, and the university faculty.
(H) Professional responsibilities.
(1)
To the
students.
(a)
In-course grading.
(i)
In-course grading
procedures and standards shall be clearly formulated by the instructor and
these procedures and standards, including class attendance, shall be
distributed to the students in writing and be explained to each class at the
beginning of the course.
(ii)
All work performed by students in the course (including
oral participation where appropriate) shall be seriously considered and
evaluated; written work should be returned promptly.
(iii)
The instructor
shall provide opportunities for review of grades in order that students may
understand the reasons for particular grades and obtain guidance toward
improvement.
(iv)
All grades and graded work will be privately
distributed to the individual student. Grades cannot be publicly posted. Graded
work cannot be publicly disseminated.
(b)
Office
hours.
(i)
Hours shall be reasonable in quantity, time of day, and
campus location.
(ii)
Hours shall be posted near the instructor's office and
listed with the appropriate secretary.
(iii)
Provision shall
be made for special appointments wherever hardship or difficulty
arises.
(iv)
Scheduled office hours shall be
observed.
(c)
Classes.
(i)
The instructor shall prepare conscientiously for each
class session (including arrangements of teaching aids, guests) etc., whenever
applicable.
(ii)
The instructor shall meet classes promptly and shall,
out of consideration for both students and colleagues, dismiss not later than
the scheduled time.
(iii)
Whenever any change is anticipated in the scheduled
time or place of meeting, the instructor shall provide adequate notice to the
class. Where appropriate (e.g., small classes, evening classes which frequently
involve considerable travel for some students), some procedure should be
established for emergency notice to students.
(iv)
The instructor
shall provide valid means for course evaluation by students.
(v)
The instructor
shall strive continuously and conscientiously to improve teaching
effectiveness, and to this end should seek counsel and constructive criticism
from colleagues.
(d)
Tests and
examinations.
(i)
The instructor shall make clear in advance the areas
(lecture, text chapters, other) to be covered on any test or
examination.
(ii)
The instructor shall, by explicit word and implicit
classroom conduct, make clear to students what emphasis the instructor places
upon facts or data and what upon synthesis or thought.
(iii)
It is the
instructor's responsibility to promote high standards of linguistic expression
(e.g., spelling, general grammatical and syntactical clarity, organization, and
form).
(iv)
The instructor must assure before, during, and after
tests an atmosphere conducive to the highest standards of
honesty.
(e)
Counseling and advising.
(i)
While the
university provides both general and specific counseling services as a discrete
function, the instructor will often have more intimate knowledge of the
college, department, and field. Such knowledge provides the instructor with
unique insights and the instructor has, therefore, a right and an obligation to
counsel and advise students within the instructor's area of
competence.
(ii)
In general, the instructor is obligated to respect each
student as a human being, to recognize that the student has both human and
civil rights. The instructor is expected to adhere to the university's non
discrimination policies including the prohibition against sexual
harassment.
(2)
To the university
and to colleagues.
(a)
Records.
(i)
The instructor is responsible for maintaining adequate
records of student performance in courses as may be required by the university
and/or any accrediting authority.
(ii)
The instructor
is responsible for keeping adequate records of course content and
assignments.
(b)
The faculty member shall endeavor to maintain and
develop awareness and understanding of areas impinging upon the faculty
member's field.
(c)
The faculty member shall willingly serve on a
reasonable number of committees concerned with curricular development and
general university governance at departmental, collegiate, and university
levels.
(d)
The faculty member shall contribute to the continuance
and improvement of educational quality within the university through strong and
active participation in selection of new faculty, and in decisions on
promotion, tenure, and other recognitions of merit.
(e)
The faculty
member is obligated to promote, by precept and example, a general atmosphere
within the university of respect for knowledge, thought and inquiry, even
when--indeed especially when--such may be at variance with the faculty member's
ideas.
(i)
The
faculty member respects colleagues and students, without reservation or favor
because of age, color, creed, handicap, race, national origin, religion, sex,
sexual orientation, degree or rank, discipline, or political
sentiments.
(ii)
The faculty member contributes positively to reasonable
orderliness within the university community.
(3)
To
one's discipline.
(a)
The faculty member continues growth within the faculty
member's field and related areas.
(b)
The faculty
member shares concepts with others through teaching, creative endeavors,
research, and attendance at and participation in professional associations and
meetings.
(4)
To oneself.
(a)
The professional seeks continuously to improve in value
as a teacher and as a citizen.
(b)
The professional
seeks diligently to improve the teaching working environment within the
university structure:
(i)
By promoting a general atmosphere of intellectual and
social growth, and
(ii)
By seeking just and equitable compensation, including
the concept of released time for professional growth.
(c)
The
faculty member actively contributes to the education and development of persons
and groups outside the university proper, in order to promote improved
reciprocal understanding and acceptance of the roles of education, the
university itself, the individual discipline, and the profession in American
and world society.
Replaces: 3359-20-04
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