Faculty Information
1. The Institutional Approach to the Professional Work Load
Because Central is devoted to full student development, a variety of institutional responsibilities may go into a single work load. The VPAA/Dean of the Faculty, in consultation with department chairs, is responsible for consideration of “equivalent workload” for faculty members. The following are common components:
A. The "typical" course – A full course (3-4 credit hours), with average enrollment of 20-30 students
B. Course preparation – The work required to organize and outline the course, prepare handouts, and get ready for daily classes. Time and effort required will vary according to the faculty member's experience and course content.
C. Course grading – The work required to prepare and grade examinations, evaluate papers and reports, and consult with student This will vary according to type of materials to be graded and class enrollment.
D. Contact hours – The work spent in face-to-face, scheduled contacts with students in classes, laboratories, studio, lessons, library instruction, etc.
E. Administrative tasks – A variety of departmental or college-wide assignments, such as serving as department chair, conducting in-service programs, editing departmental brochures or web pages.
F. Research assistance – Aiding students and faculty colleagues with their research projects and other interests, creating bibliographies and web pages to improve use of library and other resources, providing research material.
G. Student advising – Work involved in advising an assigned number of students on their academic programs and related issues.
H. Faculty committees – Service on faculty committees to which one is elected or appointed requires attendance and participation in scheduled meetings, background study and reading, and sometimes the preparation of position papers and special reports.
I. Faculty Meetings – Attendance is expected at the fall workshop, usually two days prior to the start of the fall semester, the January workshop, and at scheduled monthly meetings. In addition, Ad hoc retreats, workshops, and special sessions may be scheduled occasionally throughout the year, where participation is strongly encouraged.
2. The Teaching Load
A faculty member offers three or four “typical” courses per semester, and six or seven “typical courses”, or equivalent, during the academic year. The teaching load equivalent decisions may be made by the VPAA/Dean of the Faculty in consultation with the
department chair to reflect lab or other assignments. Chairs of departments housing seven or more FTE faculty members (regular and adjunct) will receive a teaching load reduction of one course equivalent per year.
3. Employment outside of Central
No regular faculty member should accept outside employment which interferes with thorough and efficient performance of responsibilities of the faculty appointment. The faculty member must secure permission from the VPAA/Dean of the Faculty to teach concurrently at another institution. Certain kinds of outside employment are possible, particularly in the summer.
4. The Summer Session
Central operates a modest summer schedule of classes. Faculty participation is voluntary. During January, the Office of Academic Affairs asks faculty to submit proposed course offerings for the coming summer session. Minimum enrollment is set at five (5) students and if the course does not enroll this number of students it will not be offered. The salary for teaching in the summer session is over and above the compensation for the regular academic year.
5. Meeting Classes
Faculty members are expected to meet their classes at the time and place scheduled. Changes in time and place can be made only with permission of the Registrar. Latitude is provided for what happens within the scheduled class period. A faculty member may use the time for review, examination, laboratory, or practice, as well as for lectures or discussions. A faculty member may, with discretion, use less time than is scheduled, but not more.
6. Class Regulations
The individual instructor sets the expectations for class attendance, excused absences, personal appearance, and behavior.
7. The Class Schedule
The Registrar schedules time and place for classes. Early in the spring semester, the Department Chair gives the Registrar the proposed class offerings for the next year and a desired schedule. In conference, the Registrar, Associate Dean, and Chair iron out differences and preferences. Any change in the final published schedule must be first cleared with the Registrar.
Most classes are scheduled from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and a few are taught from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. Major co-curricular activities are scheduled in the late afternoon and evening.
8. Office Hours
Faculty are encouraged to establish and post a reasonable schedule of open office hours. Generally, the minimum is five hours per week, so distributed that students have an opportunity to meet with the faculty member with or without appointment. Many faculty also meet informally with students before and after class or in the Maytag Center.
9. Faculty Absences
If a faculty member becomes ill (see Sick/Medical Leave), has a family emergency or other legitimate reason to cancel a scheduled class, including participation at a conference or other professional development opportunity, he/she should contact the Office of Academic Affairs and his/her Department Chair. If class is to be cancelled, the Chair or faculty member will notify students by email of the cancellation. If a faculty member anticipates an extended absence, he/she must contact the VPAA/Dean of the Faculty to move to Short Term Disability.
10. Grades
Each instructor of record is responsible for course grades. The basis for course grades should be periodically reviewed within each department and clearly outlined to students early in each course.
To ensure the proper academic progress of our students, faculty will submit midterm grades to the Registrar via WebAdvisor (http://webadvisor.central.edu) for the following student groups each semester by the deadline established by the registrar’s office: (1) all first year students, (2) all transfer students in their first academic year at Central, (3) all students with a cumulative GPA less than 2.0. Submission of grades for ALL students is very strongly encouraged since these grades are strong predictors of success and retention and assist class deans and academic advisors in directing students to appropriate resources.
A final grade must be reported to the Registrar via WebAdvisor (http://webadvisor.central.edu) for each student on the final class list, within the time period specified by the Registrar. Any change in a grade submitted to the Registrar must be initiated by the faculty member who reported the grade and should be based on a discovered error, rather than a shift in feeling. Prudent practice suggests that the faculty member keep a record of all grades from which the final grade is derived and preserve that record for a year or more after the course ends.
For policies on giving incomplete, withdrawn, or pass/no record grades, consult with the Registrar.
Instructors will have ten class days, from the date on which grades are posted by the Registrar, to request grade changes. In cases where faculty are unavailable and cannot be reached, an extension of the deadline may be made. In cases of fraud, there will be no limitations or restrictions on grade changes. A grade obtained as a result of fraudulent work may be changed at any time following documentation of the fraud in question.
11. Baccalaureate, Commencement, Convocations
Faculty members are expected to participate in formal academic occasions such as matriculation convocation and the graduation ceremonies of Baccalaureate and Commencement.
Faculty are encouraged to attend other convocations and campus events throughout the year.
12. Advising Students
A. Academic advising resource documents are available through myCentral. (See Academic Advising at Central). From this site you can access an advising handbook, study abroad advising guides, four-year plans for each major, and general information.
B. The goals of academic advising are to:
1. Provide accurate information about educational options, requirements, policies, and procedures.
2. Assist students in keeping accurate records of progress toward graduation. However, the student has the ultimate responsibility of keeping track of records and requirements.
3. Assist the student in understanding and reaching the goals of a liberal education as defined in the Mission and Goals of the college.
4. Develop in the student a sense of responsibility for educational progress.
5. Help the student clarify personal values and goals.
6. Assist in planning educational programs consistent with the student's interests and abilities.
7. Direct and guide the progress of each student within an academic major.
13. Students with Disabilities
Faculty are requested by the VPAA/Dean of the Faculty to place the following paragraph at the top of the syllabus for each class. It is to remind students who need accommodations or assistance due to a disability that assistance is available.
Central College abides by interpretations of the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 that stipulates no student shall be denied the benefits of an education “solely by reason of a handicap.” Disabilities covered by law include, but are not limited to, learning disabilities, hearing, sight or mobility impairments, and other health related impairments. If you have a documented disability that may have some impact on your work in this class and for which you may require accommodations, please see your class dean so that such accommodations may be arranged.
While it is the student’s responsibility to request classroom accommodations, faculty must be prepared to allow the accommodations that may be necessary. Such accommodations might include allowing tape recording of lectures or use of other auxiliary aids in the classroom, rescheduling classes to a different room or building to permit access for disabled students, adapting equipment or devices used in the classroom, or providing alternate testing and evaluation methods.
If a faculty member has a self-identified student with disabilities in class, or suspects that a student may have a learning or other disability which he/she has not disclosed, and which may be an obstacle to his/her success in class, please contact the Class Dean for assistance.
Central offers the following services: assessment of services needed; advocacy with campus personnel; referrals to appropriate campus resources; coordination of classroom accommodations including note takers, extended time for test taking, testing assistance via a scribe or computer technology, computer use for testing and note taking; and assistive technology.
14. Academic Alert
Faculty members who are concerned about a student with failing grades and/or excessive absenteeism are asked to confer with the appropriate Class Dean. Intrusive intervention will be attempted; advisers and referring faculty will be provided with feedback whenever possible.
15. Student Grade Appeal Process
See Grade Appeals.
16.Student Absences
See Attendance Policy. When a student is chronically absent, the instructor should be in touch with the student’s class dean in order to provide the appropriate support if needed.
17. Goals for Faculty
A. To develop a community of scholars in which teaching and learning are the activities with highest priority.
B. To be models and mentors who support the development of students as independent learners, responsible citizens, and morally responsive persons.
C. To participate in governing the college, developing its academic programs, and enriching its cultural environment.
D. To grow professionally, spiritually, and personally while contributing to the college and the larger academic community through research, creative expression, innovative teaching, and interdisciplinary dialogue.
18. External Resources
A. AAUP Statement of Principles of Academic Freedom and Tenure
http://www.aaup.org/report/1940-statement-principles-academic-freedom-and-tenure
B. AAUP Statement of Professional Ethics
http://www.aaup.org/report/statement-professional-ethics
C. AAUP Statement of Freedom of Expression and Campus Speech Codes
http://www.aaup.org/NR/rdonlyres/CCB4207F-81FA-4286-8E25-40185AD74519/0/OnFreedomofExpressionandCampusSpeechCodes.pdf