| Employment of Part-time
Faculty |
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| Contents |
This P&P includes the following
main sections:
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Background
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Qualifications part-time faculty
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Administrative approval process
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Pay scales for part-time instructors
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Orientation, supervision, and evaluation
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Services provided to and by part-time
faculty
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| Background |
Part-time faculty may be employed
to teach courses when a sufficient number of full-time faculty are not
available to cover the classes offered by a program. When the need for
part-time faculty arises, the department chair provides justification for
this need to the dean. With the approval of the dean, the department chair
interviews, selects, and extends an offer of employment to an acceptable
candidate after all administrative approvals have been secured. |
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Qualifications of
Part-Time Faculty |
Acceptable candidates are individuals
who possess the following credentials:
| Teaching Level |
Qualifications |
| Undergraduate Level |
Candidates must meet one of the
following two criteria:
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Must hold a master’s degree in the teaching
discipline; or
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Must hold at least a master’s degree
and 18 graduate semester hours (30 quarter hours) in the teaching discipline.
In exceptional cases, outstanding professional
experience and demonstrated contributions to the teaching discipline may
be presented in lieu of formal academic preparations. Exceptional cases
must be approved by the dean and will be reviewed annually to ensure continued
compliance. |
| Graduate Level |
Candidates must meet one of the
following two criteria in addition to the third criteria:
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Must hold the terminal degree (usually
the earned doctorate) in the teaching discipline or a related discipline;
or
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In disciplines where a doctorate in
field does not exist, faculty must hold a master’s degree in the teaching
discipline and a related doctorate; and
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Must demonstrate a high level of competence
in teaching and scholarship.
In unusual cases, justification in lieu
of a doctorate may be made for faculty with
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Exceptional scholarly activity; or
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Exceptional creative activity; or
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Exceptional professional experienceThis
justification must be approved by the dean.
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Administrative
Approval Process |
Part-time faculty are hired on a
per-term basis as needed by the dean, with assistance of the department
chairs. All paper work pertaining to part-time faculty hires will
be reviewed during even numbered years by the VPAA to ensure compliance
with SACS criteria.
| No. |
Process Description |
| 1. |
An initial appointment package must
contain the Faculty Information Data form. The form must be signed and
dated by the department chair and dean, before forwarding along with all
official transcripts and any special justification cases to the VPAA for
transmittal to the Board of Regents. |
| 2. |
New appointees will not be paid
until all employment forms are properly completed in the Southern Polytechnic
Office of Human Resources. Since part-time faculty are employed on a per-term
basis, they are not eligible for fringe benefits. |
| 3. |
Subsequent appointment of part-time
faculty can be accomplished by submitting the part-time faculty reappointment
form and annually updating any justifications that were needed. |
| 4. |
Part-time faculty who wish to apply
for a tenure-track position at Southern Polytechnic may do so with no special
advantage or disadvantage relative to other job applicants. |
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Pay Scales for
Part-Time
Instructors |
Salary scales for part-time faculty
will be reviewed annually and updated as needed. These scales, along with
guidelines for their use, will be given to all department chairs and deans
to use. Exceptions to the announced rates may be made only upon recommendations
of the school dean, with approval by the VPAA.
An instructor who performs the teaching
duties only for a part of the term will be paid on a pro-rated basis. |
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Orientation,
Supervision, and
Evaluation |
Individual department chairs or
their designees are responsible for the orientation, evaluation, and supervision
of their part-time faculty. Orientation programs must at a minimum include
the following:
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Discussion of all pertinent personnel
policies and procedures
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Statement of duties and the condition
of employment, including compensation
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Discussion of P&P 304.0 (Course
Syllabi, Grading, and Final Exams) and P&P 304.5 (Grade Appeals) as
well as the university’s process for dealing with Academic Dishonesty
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Evaluation of teaching—to include visits
by department chairs, deans, and/or their designees
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Student Evaluations--how they are used
to improve teaching, and required submission
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Importance of curriculum and/or laboratory
development, where appropriate
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Importance of professional development
and/or scholarship, where appropriate
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Campus resources available for faculty
and students--such as the library, computer services, athletic facilities,
business office, counseling/career center, and student organizations
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Administrative structure of Academic
Affairs
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Services Provided
to and by Part-
Time Faculty |
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All part-time faculty members are provided
with access to office space.
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All part-time faculty are assigned a
mailbox.q All part-time faculty are provided with email accounts, upon
request.
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All part-time faculty are required to
provide a daytime phone number to their students.
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All part-time faculty are required to
post and maintain appropriate office hours
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