Faculty Workload (A-18)
Original Implementation:
Last Revision:
1.0 - GENERAL POLICY
The mission of Stephen F. Austin State University (SFASU) is to provide students a foundation for success, a passion for learning and a commitment to responsible global citizenship in a community dedicated to teaching, research, creativity and service.
SFASU maintains a faculty workload policy in accordance with section 51.402 of the Texas Education Code. When allocating workload, chairs and deans should make assignments within available funding and resources and in consideration of the needs of the students, faculty, department, college and university as a whole. The Provost has the authority to approve departures from established standards where considered necessary for the academic advancement of the university.
Faculty members have an institutional and professional obligation above and beyond organized teaching. All faculty are expected to be engaged in individual research, scholarship, creative work and professional service activities. These responsibilities are an integral part of the faculty member's obligation in his/her fields. In addition, recognized activities include classroom teaching, standard office hours, student advising and counseling, student recruitment, course and curriculum development, supervision of graduate student research, assistance in academic administration, and other academic commitments that contribute to the overall enrichment of the faculty members, students and university community. Professional responsibilities may also include committee service, continuing education and other service to the university.
2.0 TEACHING LOAD STANDARDS AND EQUIVALENCIES
The standard full-time load at SFASU is 24 Teaching Load Credits (TLC) for the combined (fall and spring) semesters. In certain circumstances, a faculty member may teach fewer than 12 TLC in one semester. Normally, a faculty member should teach no more than 18 TLC in one semester.
Credit hours and contact hours used in the calculation of teaching load credits should be based on the university reporting system course inventory on file in the Registrar's office. Inventoried course contact hours should reflect the faculty-to-student interaction time.
The 12th class day enrollment is used for calculating teaching load credits that are based on enrollments.
Lecture, seminar and laboratory course types are considered 'organized' classes.
Section 3.0 addresses possible exceptions from the standard teaching load.
2.1 Teaching Load Credit (TLC) Equivalencies
2.11 Lecture, seminar and laboratory course types
When the credit hour value of the course is equal to or more than the contact hour value: undergraduate courses generate 1 TLC per semester credit hour (SCH) value of the course; graduate courses generate 1.5 TLC per SCH.
If the contact hour value of the course exceeds the credit hour value of the course, contact hours are used for the calculation of teaching load credits. Undergraduate courses with these characteristics generate 0.667 TLC per contact hour; graduate courses generate 1 TLC per contact hour. The maximum value for this type of course is 6 TLC per course.
In undergraduate courses where the student enrollment is 100 to 119 in a given section, a rate of 1.5 TLC per SCH value of the course will be used. When enrollment is 120 or more in a given section, a rate of 2.0 TLC per SCH value of the course will be used. With available funding, a department chair may choose an alternative, such as a teaching assistant, in lieu of additional teaching load credit for a large class size.
Recital attendance courses, modern language laboratories and military science courses are exceptions where no TLC is generated.
2.12 Practicum course types
Due to the varying nature of practicum course types, TLC generally should be based on the following provisions; however, each department chair and dean should exercise judgment when allocating credit for practicum course types based on number of students, contact hours, and other variable factors.
Music, art and nursing practicum courses generate 0.667 TLC per contact hour value of the course. Undergraduate and graduate rates of accumulation are the same.
Supervision of student teaching and internships (pre-kindergarten - 12) is based on the number of students enrolled. Undergraduate and graduate courses generate 0.5 TLC per student. Each student will count only once per semester under each supervising faculty member.
Other practicum and internship courses generate 0.5 TLC per undergraduate course contact hour and 0.75 TLC per graduate course contact hour.
The maximum value for these types of courses is 6 TLC per course.
2.13 Private lesson course types
Private lesson course types use a combination of contact hours and student enrollment for the production of TLC. For each course, the contact hours (at a rate of 0.667 per contact hour) are multiplied by the number of students enrolled to equal the TLC generated. Faculty teaching private lessons are required to meet an additional hour each week with their collective group of private lesson students. Therefore, an additional 0.667 TLC will supplement the total workload of each faculty member teaching these course types.
2.14 Master's thesis and dissertation course types
Master's thesis courses generate TLC at rate of 0.6 TLC per student enrolled. The maximum TLC for these course types is 3 TLC per semester. For a specific master's requirement, a single student may count no more than twice (one time for two different enrollment periods) toward a faculty member's teaching load.
Dissertation course TLC generation varies by discipline. Chairs and deans of doctoral programs will assign TLC based on the discipline-specific needs and available resources.
Master's thesis and dissertation course type credits may be granted with available funding and without adverse effect on the academic department teaching responsibilities.
2.15 Variable credit courses
Teaching load credits for variable credit courses will be counted once per semester course assignment using the maximum credit hour value for which a student is enrolled.
2.16 Cross-listed or composite courses
Courses approved for cross-listing will count as a single course accumulating teaching load credits. In cases where differing TLC values are generated per course listing, proportional weight will be calculated using total enrollments by listing and reported as a weighted TLC value per course.
Courses assigned to multiple instructors will generate TLC proportional to the percent of assigned responsibility for each instructor.
2.17 Independent Study
Independent study course enrollments should be approved by the chair and dean prior to student registration.
Independent study courses generate TLC based on the course credit hour value and number of students enrolled. If the course meets the minimum class size requirement (ten students for an undergraduate course and five students for a graduate course), the TLC is equal to the credit hour value for the course. In courses where the minimum class size is not met, TLC is calculated by a proportion weight based on the minimum class size requirements (described above). The undergraduate factor is determined by the course credit hour value (up to 3) divided by 10; the graduate factor is determined by the course credit hour value (up to 3) divided by 5. The calculated factor is further multiplied by the number of students enrolled to generate the final weighted TLC for the course. The maximum TLC for these types of courses is the maximum credit hour value for which a student is enrolled per course. Faculty providing independent study instruction must be assigned as the faculty of record in order to receive TLC for the course.
2.18 Summer teaching
When summer teaching load assignments are granted or required (SFASU policies A-18A Summer Teaching Appointments and E-7A Chair Teaching Load), the standard summer full time teaching load is typically two organized classes generating 6 TLC for one term or four organized classes generating 12 TLC for both summer terms combined. Chairs and deans may approve varying summer TLC assignments based on specific program needs and available funding.
3.0 TEACHING LOAD EXCEPTIONS
Planned standard teaching load reductions or exceptions for the academic year may be requested by faculty members through their respective academic chair and dean. All exceptions must be approved prior to the census date of the semester for which the exception is requested. These exceptions must be noted on the annual Faculty Activity Report. Emergencies or unexpected teaching load changes should be approved by the appropriate chair and dean and reported to the Provost.
The dean may request either a change in the teaching load OR additional compensation for teaching load exceptions in accordance with section 3.1 below.
3.1 Teaching Load Exception Types
Exceptions to the standard teaching load may be granted under the following categories:
3.11 Administration
A reduction in teaching load may be granted to a faculty member who is the academic department chair (SFASU policy E-7A Chair Teaching Load).
3.12 New Faculty
An academic dean may recommend to the Provost release time for a tenure track faculty member teaching in his/her first year as a part of the initial written contract with the new faculty member. The recommendation for release time may include both or either of the first two semesters (fall and spring) of employment to develop new course material or further his/her research agenda. A maximum of three teaching load credits per applicable semester may be granted.
3.13 Other Exceptions
Reductions in teaching may be granted upon the recommendation of the appropriate chair and academic dean. The dean or Provost may award credits to faculty for extraordinary assignments in teaching, research, administration, select committee appointments, programmatic or accreditation requirements or other instructional activities. Unusual exceptions may also be approved by the Provost.
3.14 Teaching Overloads
Overload assignments may be considered for approval from the chair and dean. Overloads assignment will be approved based on the needs of the department and available funding. (See SFASU policies A-37 Overload Assignments and E-9 Compensation in Excess of Base Salary.)
4.0 COMPLIANCE
4.1 Department Chair/Program Director
Each department chair or program director will assign faculty a fair and reasonable workload in accordance with this policy and approve an official faculty workload report for each faculty member.
4.2 Dean
Academic deans will monitor faculty workloads under their authority in accordance with this policy and approve official reports submitted by respective chairs. The dean must ensure entry of initial faculty workload data and approved data updates into the University's reporting system.
4.3 Provost
The Provost must monitor the procedures for reporting and certifying faculty workloads. In addition, the Provost must ensure that the official Faculty Workload Reports are prepared for review and action by the SFASU Board of Regents. The Provost is also responsible for handling an appeal process regarding workload from faculty members who have not been able to resolve issues within their department or College.
4.4 President
The President of the University shall submit the official Faculty Workload Reports to the SFASU Board of Regents for their review and action.
Source of Authority:
Cross Reference: SFASU policies A-18A Summer Teaching Appointments, A-37 Overload Assignments, E-6A Chair Appointments, E-7A Chair Teaching Load, and E-9 Compensation in Excess of Base Salary
Contact for Revision: Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Forms: Faculty Activity Report