TABLE OF CONTENTS
Statement of Shared Responsibility for the
Faculty Handbook.............. 1
I. PROLOGUE........................................................... 2-4
History...................................................................................... 1
Statement of Mission.................................................................... 2
Foundations for Learning.............................................................. 3
Learning Outcomes..................................................................... 3
II. ACADEMIC
POLICIES............................................................ 1-32
Faculty Organization.................................................................... 1
Faculty and Administrative Responsibilities..................................... 5
Vice-President and Dean of the College.................................... 5
Division Chairs................................................................... 6
Program Coordinators and Directors........................................ 8
Academic Advisory Council.................................................. 9
Faculty.............................................................................. 9
Committees
and Boards............................................................... 11
Academic Committees......................................................... 11
Academic Standards.................................................. 11
Athletics Committee.................................................. 12
Curriculum Committee................................................ 13
Faculty Council........................................................ 13
Faculty Grievance Committee...................................... 14
Library Committee..................................................... 15
Nominating Committee............................................... 15
Service Learning....................................................... 16
Student Affairs Committee.......................................... 16
Teacher Education Committee..................................... 17
Tenure, Promotion, and Honorary
Status Committee........ 17
Advisory and Regulatory Boards.......................................... 18
Communications Board.............................................. 18
Community Judicial Board.......................................... 18
Honor Board............................................................ 18
Integrated Programming Board.................................... 18
Administrative Committees.................................................. 20
Planning Budget, and Assessment
Committee................ 20
Assessment Sub-Committee............................... 21
Financial Planning Sub-Committee........................ 21
Technology Committee.............................................. 22
Special Committees............................................................ 22
Faculty Qualifications and Professional
Education........................... 23
Commitment to Teaching..................................................... 23
Community of Interests....................................................... 23
Criteria for Academic Ranking.................................................... 23
Selection Process for Faculty....................................................... 25
Academic Regalia....................................................................... 25
Office Hours............................................................................. 25
Class Records........................................................................... 25
Learning Environment................................................................ 25
Examinations............................................................................. 26
Grade Reporting and Incomplete Grades......................................... 26
(FERPA) Privacy of Student Educational Records............................. 26
Statement on Americans with Disabilities Act
(ADA)........................ 27
Ferrum Writing Program............................................................ 28
Policy - Student Military Reservists Called to
Active Duty................. 28
Faculty Professional Development ................................................ 29
Faculty Professional Development Fund................................. 29
Cheatham Fellowship Program.............................................. 30
Sabbatical Leave................................................................ 30
Appalachian College Association......................................... 32
III. EMPLOYMENT
POLICIES....................................................... 1-42
Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action.............................................. 1
Academic Freedom Statement........................................................ 1
Contracts................................................................................... 2
Compensation Adjustment Guidelines............................................. 2
Notification of Non-Renewal of Non-Tenured
Faculty.......................... 2
Resignation................................................................................ 3
Retirement and Tenure................................................................. 3
Phased Retirement Plan................................................................ 3
General Personnel Policies........................................................... 4
Pay Periods and Payroll Information........................................ 4
Direct Deposit of Payroll Checks............................................ 5
Advance Payment Policy...................................................... 5
Payroll Deductions.............................................................. 5
Premium Conversion - Section 125 Cafeteria
Plan....................... 6
Official Work Week............................................................. 6
Vacations (Holidays)............................................................ 6
Illness or Bereavement Time.................................................. 6
Employee Relationships........................................................ 6
Employment of Relatives....................................................... 7
Parking Regulations............................................................. 7
Bookstore.......................................................................... 7
Cafeteria............................................................................ 7
Campus Housing................................................................. 7
Children
in the Workplace..................................................... 8
Dress Code........................................................................ 8
Health Center..................................................................... 8
Identification Card............................................................... 8
Immediate Family................................................................. 8
Internet and E-Mail Service................................................... 8
Library.............................................................................. 8
Lost and Found.................................................................. 9
Notary Service.................................................................... 9
Parking Permit..................................................................... 9
Personnel File and Credential Files.......................................... 9
Political Activities............................................................... 9
Post Office....................................................................... 10
Programs and Events.......................................................... 10
Purchasing....................................................................... 10
Recreational Facilities......................................................... 10
Service Awards................................................................. 10
Faculty Grievance Procedure........................................................ 11
Evaluation Program.................................................................... 14
Faculty Teaching Load................................................................ 16
Advising................................................................................... 19
Promotions............................................................................... 19
Eligibility
for Promotion.............................................................. 21
Tenure..................................................................................... 21
Provisions for Tenure Agreement.......................................... 21
Qualifications for Tenure..................................................... 21
Procedures of the Tenure and Promotion
Committee................. 22
Termination of Tenure........................................................ 23
Deficient Performance......................................................... 24
Procedures for Termination or Appeal of
Denial of Tenure......... 25
Procedures for Reduction of Tenured
Faculty.......................... 27
Part-Time Faculty...................................................................... 28
Standards of Professional and Personal Conduct.............................. 29
Outside Employment................................................................... 29
Insurance Plans......................................................................... 30
Health and Dental Insurance................................................ 30
Life Insurance................................................................... 31
Short-term
Disability Insurance............................................. 31
Long-Term Disability Insurance............................................ 31
Flexible Spending Accounts Plan.......................................... 31
Social Security.................................................................. 32
Unemployment Insurance.................................................... 32
Worker's Compensation Insurance........................................ 32
Employee Assistance Program...................................................... 32
Retirement Plan TIAA-CREF....................................................... 33
Employee Leave.......................................................................... 33
Family Medical Leave......................................................... 33
Leave of Absence.............................................................. 35
Military Leave................................................................... 36
Civil/Jury Duty Leave......................................................... 36
Tuition Waiver.......................................................................... 36
Tuition Exchange Program.......................................................... 39
Independent Study for Regular Session.......................................... 40
Overload Pay............................................................................. 41
Summer School Salary................................................................ 41
Faculty Supervision of Student Internships..................................... 41
Program Coordinators................................................................ 41
IV. OPERATING
PROCEDURES....................................................... 1-19
Curriculum................................................................................ 1
General Policies................................................................... 4
General Procedures.............................................................. 4
Course and Program Approval Process........................... 4
Guidelines for Proposing New
Courses........................... 4
Guidelines for Restoring a
Previously Dropped Course or
Changing and Existing Course..................................... 5
Guidelines for Proposing New
Programs.......................... 6
Guidelines for Revising Any
Academic Program............... 8
Guidelines for Dropping Any
Academic Program.............. 9
Regular and Systematic Evaluation of the
Curriculum................ 11
Course Syllabi................................................................... 11
Record Keeping................................................................. 11
Grade Appeal Process......................................................... 11
Credit By Examination......................................................... 11
Statement of Policy................................................... 11
Procedure to Challenge a Course
for Credit.................... 12
Criteria for Credit by
Examination................................. 12
Other Information..................................................... 12
Procedure for Complaints Related to a
Faculty Member's
Performance.................................................................... 13
Academic Violations: The Honor Board................................. 13
Field Trips and Other Class-Connected
Events Which May
Conflict with the Normal Class Schedule............................... 19
Special Programming Procedures........................................... 19
V. INSTITUTIONAL
POLICIES..................................................... 1-17
Drug Free Workplace.................................................................. 1
Substance Abuse Policy................................................................ 1
Alcohol Policy............................................................................. 2
Policy Against Sexual Harassment................................................. 2
Policy Against Sexual Assault....................................................... 4
Policy Against Racial Harassment.................................................. 6
Statement on Aids........................................................................ 9
Intellectual Property Rights Policy................................................ 12
Confidentiality........................................................................... 14
Conflict of Interest..................................................................... 14
Accident and Emergency Procedures............................................. 15
Media Calls
and Crisis Situations................................................. 15
Inclement Weather Policy............................................................ 15
Smoking................................................................................... 16
Communication Equipment Use Policy............................................ 16
Use of Vaughn Chapel................................................................. 17
Solicitations.............................................................................. 17
APPENDICES......................................................................... A-D
Administrators' Position Descriptions.............................. Appendix A
Ferrum College Organizational Charts............................. Appendix B
Affirmative Action Plan - Ferrum College.......................... Appendix C
Federal Trafficking Penalties.......................................... Appendix
D
Virginia Criminal Code
Legal Classifications of Drugs................................. Appendix D
Classification of Offenses....................................... Appendix
D