A. Full-Time Status as a Faculty Member
Upon the signing of her or his contract by the president and provost of the University, a faculty member teaching twenty-four (24) or more credit hours, or the equivalent, per academic year, and performing advising/ research/administrative duties achieves full-time status. An individual may, without losing full‐time status, teach fewer credit hours if granted an alternative assignment by the recommendation of the chair of the department and of the dean with the provost’s approval.
The Faculty Senate recognizes that various formulae tied to contact hours, load and discipline standards are used across the university in order to define full time faculty status. These formulae must be developed and reside within individual colleges through collaboration of the affected departments and their respective deans. Deans must notify the Senate of any changes to formulae on an annual basis no later than the January meeting of the Faculty Senate.
A faculty member who holds full‐time status and teaches more than twenty‐four (24) credit hours per academic year will receive compensation at the prevailing University pay scale for the number of hours taught over twenty‐four (24).
The University does not encourage externally funded commitments that would take faculty members out of the classroom for more than one year.
B. Advising Responsibilities of Faculty Members
At The University of Tampa, advising responsibilities rest primarily with faculty members. Additional assistance with advising is provided via professional advisors located in the Academic Success Center or by the Office of Graduate and Continuing Studies.
Every fulltime tenured/tenure track faculty member is assigned as an advisor to students, and term faculty may be assigned advisees as appropriate. These advisees are assigned to the individual faculty member in one of two ways:
- Under the direction of the University Academic Success Center and in consultation with department chairs incoming freshmen/first year students are assigned faculty advisors at the end of their second semester, upon completion of the UTAMPA 101/102/103/104/Pathways to Honors 101/102 sequence; continuing and/or transfer students are assigned a faculty advisor upon declaration of major.
- A student may solicit a faculty advisor using the Change of Advisor form provided they are not currently enrolled in or have completed UTAMPA 102, 103/104 or HON 102.
The role of the advisor requires that the faculty member be accessible to assigned students, especially during pre-enrollment and registration periods. The University faculty advisor may also make recommendations for more individualized advising for students, such as assessing student needs and referring students to the appropriate administrative offices.
The primary responsibilities of the assigned faculty advisor include:
- Reviewing and approving selection of courses;
- Assisting with the completion of forms required for registration, declaration of majors and/or minors, and application for the degree;
- Providing information on an informal basis regarding career options and advanced studies.
C. The Faculty Workday and Faculty Office Hours
Faculty members are expected to be available to their students and to the University during the weeks of instruction of the fall and spring semesters. The University recognizes that research and public service may occasionally require absence from campus. The department chair(s) should be informed of such absences ahead of time. The dean of the appropriate college must approve any commitments that will result in long‐term absence in advance.
Faculty members who teach in the evening may determine with the dean of their college a schedule for being on campus to accommodate their teaching hours so that no one need have an early morning class or other obligation after a late evening of instruction.
During the fall and spring terms, faculty members are expected to keep a minimum of five office hours per week. Scheduled office hours must be included in all course syllabi.
D. Course Syllabi
In accordance with good academic practice and the regulations of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, each faculty member is required to prepare, distribute to students, and file in the appropriate college office, a syllabus for each course taught. Copies of course syllabi must be available by the conclusion of the first week of classes in any given term. The syllabus functions as a reference to course content and agenda. Syllabi must therefore be carefully prepared. In the case of multi‐sectioned courses, a committee of faculty in the program may prepare the syllabus, but in most cases the preparation of the syllabus is the responsibility of the individual instructor.
The contents of syllabi may vary according to the nature of the course but the following points should be addressed: All syllabi should show at the top of the first page the course number and title as it appears in The University of Tampa Catalog. Syllabi should also include the instructor’s name, office number, office hours, UT email address, and campus telephone number(s). The syllabus should also announce the goals and learning objectives of the course. Each syllabus should also contain the ADA student information clause informing each person to contact the appropriate University representative if they desire reasonable accommodations for certified disability. Faculty may also wish to add the Classroom Disruption Policy in the syllabus. (See Chapter Six of this Handbook for the full policy.) (Updated 2/5/2016)
The syllabus should include an outline of the major subjects to be covered in the course; a list of required materials and books, indicating author’s name, the full title of the work, the edition and year of publication; a list of materials that have been placed on reserve in the Macdonald‐Kelce Library; a description of any required papers, assignments, and other activities connected with the course; and any specific formats and deadlines for the submission of required coursework. Any information pertinent to laboratory requirements, studio requirements, and/or excursions and assignments away from campus should be given. The syllabus should also set course policies for grading and state the faculty member’s expectations for students’ attendance and participation in the class. (Approved April 8, 2015)
New faculty are encouraged to develop their syllabi with the involvement of their department chair. Content of course syllabi, as well as their circulation and filing in department and college offices, is of importance both to the student, to whom a clear and complete statement of learning expectations is owed, and to the University for its continued accreditation.
The syllabus should include a disclaimer that indicates the faculty member has the right to adjust readings and other learning requirements at his or her discretion with appropriate notice.
E. Grading Procedures and Practices
Each faculty member is expected to abide by the grading procedures and practices defined under "Academic Policies and Procedures" in the current edition of the Catalog. In submitting grades to the Registrar, the faculty member is expected to comply with the deadlines announced by the Registrar's Office.
F. Maintenance of Academic Integrity
All faculty members are expected to endorse and, when necessary, to enforce the academic integrity policy posted at www.ut.edu/provost. The oversight responsibility for academic integrity issues resides in the Office of the Associate Provost and Dean of Academic Services.
G. Conducting a Final Examination
Unless the dean of the college authorizes an alternative, each instructor is required to:
- give a final examination in every course; and
- administer it on the date published in the semester course schedule.
The dean will approve alternate arrangements, upon notification, for courses that for good academic reasons do not require a final examination.