Faculty Handbook

Version 27.0

June 2023

Approved
June 2, 2023

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Preface

This Faculty Handbook is the collaborative effort of Faculty, Administration, and Trustees. Thus, while the Handbook is the Faculty Handbook, approved and adopted by the Faculty, the procedural and substantive provisions governing the Faculty and set forth in the Handbook are not proclamations issued unilaterally to itself by the Faculty but are rather expressions of the Faculty’s, Administration’s and Trustees’ commitment to a commonly understood process of collegial governance that at once recognizes the primacy of Trustee authority to govern Albright College, the discretion delegated by Trustees to the senior officers of the Administration, and the expertise of the Faculty to judge the quality of Faculty performance in teaching, scholarship and service to the College and to oversee the curriculum of the College. The College in each of its constituencies is bound to the rights and responsibilities enumerated in this Faculty Handbook. Accordingly, the Handbook is subject to change by the Board of Trustees after consultation with College Faculty and administration constituencies. Changes to this Handbook may not be made without Board of Trustees approval.

To the extent that any provision of the Faculty Governance and Policy Guide is inconsistent with any provision set forth in this Faculty Handbook, the applicable provision in the Faculty Handbook shall, in all such cases and in all respects, supersede, govern and control the corresponding provision in this Faculty Governance and Policy Guide.

Note: A simple majority of the voting faculty is required to amend this handbook provided that the amendment was proposed at the previous faculty meeting and that it was distributed in writing to the faculty at least one week prior to the meeting at which it was voted upon.

I. FACULTY RESPONSIBILITIES AND RIGHTS

A. Academic and Artistic Freedom

Faculty members at Albright College shall have full freedom in the choice of research topics and in the publication of the results of their research, subject only to the performance of their other duties. Research for monetary return may be undertaken with the prior approval of the Chief Academic Officer.
Faculty members at Albright College shall have full freedom of expression in the classroom, but they have the responsibility to discuss topics, and use teaching materials that are relevant to their subject matter. Moreover, faculty shall recognize and encourage diversity of student opinion in the classroom.
Faculty members are citizens, members of learned professions, and responsible teachers and mentors within an educational institution. When they speak or write as citizens, they shall be free from College censorship or discipline, but, as persons of learning and as teachers at an institution of higher learning, they should remember that the public may judge their profession and the College by their utterances. Hence, they should at all times strive to be accurate in factual utterance, should exercise reasonable restraint, should show respect for (which does not require agreement with or absence of opposition to) the opinions of others and should indicate that they are not College spokespersons.
Albright College acknowledges that academic freedom, responsibly exercised, governs the choice and presentation on the campus of artistic productions, exhibits, and programs designed to contribute positively to intellectual inquiry on the campus. The inherent difficulty of arriving at any statement of absolute or normative standards in this area is clearly recognized, and the exercise of good judgment, taste and sensitivity is strongly urged on all who sponsor such events. Appropriate administrators shall be consulted well in advance of such events in those instances in which it appears that controversy may result or in which conflicting standards of evaluation are clearly recognized. In all such cases, the sponsoring organization should be clearly identified, an objective and clear statement of the character of the program made known in advance, and whenever possible, opportunity for competent and representative analysis made available to students and faculty alike. In the event of a disagreement, the Administration will make the final decision.

B. Political Activity

Albright College encourages student participation in partisan activities. In order that the commitment of the College to its many constituents may be combined with its dedication to the educational development of students, the following areas of concern are enumerated:

It shall be clear that all activity is completely voluntary except for students selecting Political Science as a major and for those enrolled in a course in political parties for whom active participation in political campaign work is part of course requirements.
In any situation, the student has complete freedom of choice of candidate, committees or party.
Student participation in election-day activities coordinated with course requirements shall be treated as field trips and, provided they are germane to course work and have the approval of the instructor, they shall be considered a legitimate excuse for absence from that course.
Every instructor may feel free to invite any candidate or spokesman of any political party or committee to appear as a guest on the campus to present that party or committee’s viewpoint on the political situation, event or campaign. In each instance, a similar opportunity shall be available to representatives of opposing or differing viewpoints.
No individual shall appear for any political address or activity on the Albright campus unless (a) in response to a written request by a properly constituted student group through usual calendar procedure and with the approval of the advisor to the group, or (b) on the specific invitation of a faculty member in keeping with number 4 immediately above.
There is an additional caveat to be observed because Albright College is a corporation, and the direct support of candidates and political parties is forbidden to corporations by law. The educational activities contemplated in the foregoing paragraphs would not be contrary to this law. However, the limitations upon direct political activity involving College resources of all kinds should be borne in mind.

C. Additional Political Activity

Albright College desires that students develop into politically informed and socially minded citizens who are aware of the needs of society and who will fulfill individual responsibilities of citizenship. The College aims to provide an academic climate conducive to teaching and learning so that students may achieve maximum intellectual development. In the course of achieving these objectives we encourage members of the student body, faculty and administration to participate individually in responsible political activity and social welfare action so as to fulfill duties of citizenship and contribute to political, social and economic policies and programs at the local, state and national levels. Such participation is to be supplementary to the academic program. It is, however, the declared policy of Albright College to adhere to the College calendar of regularly scheduled classes for courses of study, including the prescribed academic program of lectures, work assignments, laboratories and examinations as applicable, with no moratorium, postponement or elimination of or deviation from such classes or prescribed program, either collectively or individually, for students enrolled in the respective courses of study. Participation in political activity or social welfare action is to be in addition to, and not as a substitute for, performance of the regularly scheduled academic program of Albright College.

D. Faculty Governance and Policy Guide

Faculty must be familiar with and abide by the policies and procedures as set forth in the Faculty Governance and Policy Guide.