Part-Time Faculty Guide

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Introduction

Part-Time Faculty

Compensation

Evaluation

Special Benefits

Maximum Load

Qualifications

University Closings

 

 

Introduction

This Guide for Part-Time Faculty is intended to assist part-time faculty by highlighting information relevant to the appointment process, instructional and other responsibilities and opportunities and benefits. This guide complements the Faculty Handbook, the University Bulletin, and the University's Personnel Policies and Procedures Manual. Part-time instructors should familiarize themselves with these publications, which are available in departmental offices, but they may use this guide as a supplement for quick reference.

 

Part-Time Faculty

This is a special appointment for qualified individuals who are employed on a part-time basis to teach University classes.  The University's regular guidelines for faculty rank and tenure and the provisions of the retirement system do not apply to these employees.

 

Compensation

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Grade	Prior per Credit Hour Rate	Prior 3- Credit Hour Rate	New per Credit Hour Rate	New 3- Credit Hour Rate	Compensation Increase per Credit Hour	Compensation Increase per 3 Credit Hours
Grade 1	$ 564	$ 1,692	$ 734	$2,202	$ 170	$ 510
Grade 2	$ 614	$ 1,842	$ 799	$ 2,397	$ 185	$ 555
Grade 3	$ 712	$ 2,136	$ 926	$ 2,778	$ 214	$ 642
Grade 4	$ 760	$ 2,280	$ 988	$ 2,964	$ 228	$ 684
Grade 5	$ 1,600	$ 4,800	$ 1,600	$ 4,800	$ -	$ -

 

GRADE 1 - Persons compensated at Grade 1 should hold a bachelor's degree in the discipline and have a minimum of three years teaching experience* or demonstrated specialized experience/qualifications as appropriate for teaching the assigned course(s) or hold the master's degree in the discipline.

GRADE 2 - Persons compensated at Grade 2 should hold the master's degree in the discipline and have three to five years teaching experience* or demonstrated specialized experience/qualifications as appropriate for teaching the assigned course(s).

GRADE 3 - Persons compensated at Grade 3 should hold the master's degree in the discipline and have five years or more teaching experience* or hold the doctorate or terminal degree in the discipline, or hold other degrees, certifications, or specialized experience/qualifications (Ed.S., CPA,CPEE, etc.) as appropriate for teaching the assigned course(s).

GRADE 4 - Persons compensated at Grade 4 should hold a doctorate or terminal degree in the discipline and have a minimum of seven years teaching experience* or hold other degrees, certifications, or specialized experience/qualifications (Ed.S., CPA,CPEE, etc.) as appropriate for teaching the assigned course(s).

GRADE 5 - Persons compensated at Grade 5 should be current full-time faculty teaching summer/winter session courses or emeritus faculty teaching part-time. Other part-time faculty may also be compensated at this grade level at the discretion of the Dean.

*In the establishment of equivalent experience for purposes of compensation determinations, the teaching of eight courses (24 semester hours) as a part-time faculty member constitutes one year of experience.

 

Evaluation

Part-time instructors will be evaluated by their department heads, who may use combinations of any of these sources: student evaluations, personal interviews with the instructor and/or students, and examination of coursesyllabii, tests, handouts, and student work. Evaluations should be conducted following each semester or year of service and used in determining future appointment recommendations. Any such evaluation will be shared with the part-time faculty member.

 

Special Benefits

• I.D. card for Library and Bookstore privileges;
• eligibility for a faculty-staff parking permit;
• partial tuition waivers; and
• eligibility for membership in the Raymond B. Preston Health and Activity Center.

 

Maximum Load

Part-time personnel shall not be employed to teach more than nine (9) semester hours at the undergraduate or six (6) semester hours at the graduate level per semester.

 

Qualifications

The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, which is the regional accreditation agency for Western, requires the University to certify that all part-time faculty meet minimum requirements for educational preparation.

Part-time faculty teaching courses for regular credit at the associate and baccalaureate degree levels should have completed at least 18 graduate semester hours in their teaching fields and hold the master's degree. The employment of any faculty who do not meet these criteria must be justified, in writing, by the department head. In professional and technical fields, where job experience may be more valuable than academic preparation, and in various fields of the visual and performing arts, where training and experience other than graduate study may provide excellent preparation for college teaching, departments may employ instructors who do not hold the terminal degree. Nevertheless, the minimum academic preparation for faculty must be at the degree level being taught. The department head must keep on file documentation of work experience, certifications, and other qualifications if these are to substitute for or supplement formal academic preparation. All personnel records are on file in the Office of Academic Affairs and are available to individual faculty members.

Part-time faculty teaching at the graduate level should hold the highest earned degree in their disciplines, although in exceptional cases extensive professional experience or scholarly or creative activity may substitute for the highest earned degree. The department head should justify, in writing, the employment of faculty who do not hold the terminal degree in their fields, and shall keep on file documentation of work experience, certifications, and other qualifications if these are to substitute for or supplement formal academic preparation. In such cases, the faculty teaching graduate or professional level courses must, as a minimum, have earned a master's degree and completed at least 18 graduate semester hours in their teaching field. In addition, instructors who teach graduate courses approved by and under the authority of the Graduate Faculty must be approved by the Dean of The Graduate School.

 

University Closings

Scheduled Closings. Notices of official closings and holidays are presented in the University schedule of classes or provided through official channels.

Hazardous Weather. Only in the most unusual circumstances will the University cancel activities due to weather conditions. In those rare cases when inclement weather or other events should delay or cancel classes, official word is channeled from the Vice President for Academic Affairs to the academic deans and department heads. If in doubt, faculty may contact the appropriate departmental office between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.