About the Faculty Teaching Responsibilities Policy
The Faculty Teaching Responsibilities Policy is designed to meet the pedagogical and fiscal needs of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at Rutgers University–Camden. The policy is also designed to help tenure-track faculty meet minimum expectations for teaching within the tenure and promotion process, as well as to define minimum expectations for NTT faculty to earn reappointment and achieve promotion. Failure to meet minimum expectations for teaching responsibilities may contribute to a negative evaluation of teaching in the tenure-track or non-tenure track review process. The FASC Dean’s Office will work with department chairs and faculty to apply the policy equitably and in ways that also ensure the sustainability of academic programs.
At minimum, all FASC courses offered in the Fall and Spring semesters should enroll a minimum of 10 students for undergraduate courses and no fewer than 6 students for a graduate-level courses. Exceptions must be approved by the dean’s office. Enrollment in courses that include both undergraduate and graduate students may be combined in order to meet these minimums. An individual course may also be defined as a course that is cross-listed with more than one academic program.
It is the established practice of the college that when a faculty member who has an uneven teaching load (e.g., 2-1) has a semester off (e.g., sabbatical), that faculty member teaches the higher load during the semester he or she is in residence.
Exceptions may be appropriate when trying to meet pedagogical and/or curricular goals. The evaluation of faculty teaching for reappointment, tenure, renewal, or (if appropriate) merit increases will include assessment of a faculty member’s adherence to the Teaching Responsibilities Policy. The evaluation of teaching involves several factors including, but not exclusive to: 1) course syllabi that reflect clear expectations and assessment mechanisms, 2) student survey evaluations, 3) peer observation and assessment, and 4) history for adhering to the Faculty Teaching Responsibilities Policy.
Tenure-Track Faculty
Full-time tenure-track faculty are responsible for a 2-2 teaching load. In accord with the Academic Year Appointment provision of the Rutgers Faculty Employment Agreement (UPF-5) that each “faculty member be in attendance at the University from September 1 to Commencement,” all full-time faculty are required to teach at least one seated class per semester; online and hybrid courses do not satisfy this requirement.
Some already tenured faculty, in consultation with the department chair and the dean’s office, may be designated as research-inactive and carry a 3-2 teaching load. Requests for research-inactive status should be made to the dean’s office. Faculty may choose to be research inactive, or if recommended by the department chair, appeal the research-inactive designation to the dean. Determination of status will be made by the dean, but may change at a later date with clear evidence of research activity and outcomes.
An individual tenure-track faculty member may receive a reduced teaching load due to administrative responsibilities, grant funding, as part of a start-up or retention package, or other circumstance approved by the department chair and dean. All such situations must be approved by the dean’s office.
- Full-time tenure-track faculty are expected to teach at least 1 course per year that fulfills either an undergraduate general education requirement or academic major requirement at the undergraduate or graduate level.
- Full-time tenure-track faculty are expected to teach a minimum of 30 students each semester or at minimum a total of 50 students over the course of the academic year (Fall and Spring semester). It is understandable that some years it is not possible for all faculty to meet the minimum of 30 students each semester.
Exceptions may be made in order to meet academic curricular goals, but must be approved by the dean’s office.
Non-Tenure-Track Faculty
Full-time non-tenure-track faculty are responsible for a 4-4 teaching load or as outlined in individual appointment contracts. In accord with the Academic Year Appointment provision of the Rutgers Faculty Employment Agreement (UPF-5) that each “faculty member be in attendance at the University from September 1 to Commencement,” all full-time faculty are required to teach at least one seated class per semester; online and hybrid courses do not satisfy this requirement.
An individual non-tenure-track faculty member may receive a reduced teaching load due to administrative responsibilities, grant funding, as part of a start-up or retention package, or other circumstance approved by the department chair and dean. All such situations must be approved by the dean.
- Full-time non-tenure-track faculty are expected to teach a minimum of 2 courses per academic year that fulfill either an undergraduate general education requirement; or academic major, university, or college graduation requirement.
- Full-time non-tenure-track faculty are expected to teach a minimum of 40 students each fall and spring semester or a minimum of 80 total students over the course of the academic year. These numbers may vary for NTT faculty with reduced teaching loads due to extensive administrative responsibilities. (Minimums may be lowered in cases with a pre-approved reduced teaching load due to administrative responsibilities.)
Exceptions may be made in order to meet academic curricular goals, but must be approved by the dean.
Lecturer (formerly PTL) Faculty
Lecturer faculty are hired to teach individual courses. In general, a minimum of 10 students must be enrolled in an undergraduate course and no fewer than 6 students in a graduate-level course. Exceptions must be approved by the dean. Enrollment in courses that include both undergraduate and graduate students may be combined in order to meet these minimums. No Lecturer faculty may serve as supervisors for independent studies unless approved by the dean.
Revised 31 August 2023