Teaching Load
X. Teaching Load
A. Teaching Load Defined
1. A lecture course or seminar, which meets for three 50-minute sessions per week during a 14-week semester, shall count for 3 Teaching Load Hours.
2. A laboratory or recitation session, which meets 50 minutes per week during a 14-week semester, shall count for two-thirds of one Teaching-Load Hour.
3. The Teaching Load for all full-time faculty is 18 Teaching Load Hours per academic year. This load may be allocated over the fall, interim, and spring semesters to meet instructional needs of the College and is prepared in consultation with the Department Chair. In the event that it is necessary, in order to assign a full teaching load, a faculty member may be assigned to courses offered in her/his field in any instructional program of the College as part of Teaching Load. Normally this load is fulfilled by three (3) courses a semester or six (6) per year. Less than two (2) courses or more than four (4) courses per semester require CAO approval.
4. Full-time faculty may, by agreement with the College, perform administrative or other College work in lieu of no more than 9 Teaching Load hours per year of a full-time Teaching Load.
5. Since full-time faculty are expected to devote their full time to the College, they may undertake no regular outside employment without permission of the Chief Academic Officer, with the exception of the summer months.
6. To teach overloads, consult IX.C.1.
B. Guidelines for Teaching Assignments
1. Department Chairperson
The department chairperson is expected to assume that portion of the regular teaching load, which he/she can reasonably carry in light of department responsibilities. Chairpersons of departments with fewer than three full-time persons are expected to carry a full 18-hour teaching load with additional compensation equivalent to one-quarter the part-time salary for one course. Chairpersons of department with three (3), four (4), or five (5) full-time persons may carry a 16.5-hour load per year or receive equivalent compensation of one-half course in part-time salary. This half course may be banked for two semesters and exchanged for either monetary compensation equivalent to one course overload, or one course release in that semester. In cases of larger departments, the chairperson may carry a 15-hour load or receive compensation equivalent to one course of part-time salary. In addition, the chairperson will receive an additional stipend for each FTE in the department, as calculated by the Registrar. The amount of the per FTE stipend will be determined by the Chief Academic Officer.
2. Teaching Hour Responsibilities
It is assumed that teaching hour responsibilities within a department may vary according to the nature of the courses involved. Such courses as advanced seminar classes and special project or research classes may require controlled registration. The weighing of the teaching responsibilities involved and the limits of numbers within the courses are to be determined by the department chairperson in consultation with the Registrar and the Chief Academic Officer.
3. Teaching Hours for Independent Study and Internships
A faculty member may be asked to teach independent study beyond the normal 9 hour load in any one semester. For each student, the faculty member shall receive one-third of a teaching load per student, up to a maximum of 3 teaching load hours. These will typically be considered and overload. However, with the permission of the department chair, they may be counted as “in-load” if needed. All independent study courses must be approved by the Chair of the department.
A faculty member may be asked to advise students doing an internship beyond the normal 9-hour load in any one semester. For each student, the faculty member shall receive one-third of a teaching load hour per student, up to a maximum of 3 teaching load hours. These will typically be considered as an overload. All internship supervision must be approved by the Chair of the department.
4. Teaching Load Credit for Interdisciplinary Studies Courses Taught By Two or More Faculty.
a. Interdisciplinary Studies (IDS) courses may be structured in various ways. For purposes of determination of Teaching Load credit, when two or more faculty representing differing disciplines teach such courses, all faculty are expected to be present at all sessions of the course.
b. The normal expectation is that IDS classes taught by two or more faculty will have no fewer than 10 students per faculty. Faculty Teaching Load credit for teaching IDS courses meeting these minimums shall be 3 teaching load hours.
5. Special Teaching Load Guidelines for Education
a. Elementary Education, Special Education, and Secondary Education Student Teaching Supervision Teaching Load Guidelines.
(i) The placement of elementary education, special education and secondary education student teachers in their student teaching assignments shall be the responsibility of the Director of Field Placement.
(ii) Teaching Load Guidelines for Supervising Elementary Education Student Teachers.
Faculty with full responsibility for the supervision of elementary student teachers for a full semester shall receive 3 teaching load hours for supervising four to five elementary education student teachers.
(iii) Teaching Load Guidelines for Supervising Special Education Student Teachers.
Faculty with full responsibility for the supervision of Special Education student teachers for a full semester shall receive 3 teaching load hours for supervising four to five special education student teachers.
(iv) Teaching Load Guidelines for Supervising Secondary Education Student Teachers.
Faculty with full responsibility for the supervision of secondary student teachers for a full semester shall receive 3 teaching load hours for supervising six secondary education student teachers. At least one member of the students’ major field shall observe secondary education candidates on at least one occasion during the student teaching practicum.
b. Early Field Experience Teaching Load Guidelines.
(i) The placement of students in early field experience along with the coordination of the early field experience seminar instruction will carry one and one-half (1.5) Teaching Load Hours.
(ii) Faculty with responsibility for supervising students enrolled in the early field experience shall receive 3 teaching load hours for the supervision of 12 students for a full semester. This credit includes team-teaching responsibilities for the on-campus early field experience seminars.
6. Class Size
a. Every attempt is made to maintain the following guidelines relative to class size. The optimum size of a standard lecture class is 25, and should not exceed 35. This is not to preclude special arrangements made within a department for larger lecture and discussion purposes, nor the privilege of any individual instructor to assume larger lecture sections.
b. Classes in English composition should not exceed 16.
c. Introductory and intermediate foreign language class size should not exceed 25.
d. Enrollment in advanced seminars should not exceed 15.
e. The normal minimum course size is 10 students. The Chief Academic Officer may make exceptions in cases where it is essential to provide course work for major requirements.
f. Wherever possible, small enrollment courses should be offered on an alternating year basis.
7. Contingency Plan for Teaching Coverage and Compensation in Emergency Situations
In cases of emergency situations of illness or the need for a a faculty member to take a short term leave of absence (no longer than two weeks), a faculty member’s department will work to try to cover the courses as best as possible. If it is determined that the faculty member will not be able to return to the classroom to complete the course, the department chair and the Provost will work together to hire an adjunct faculty member of find a replacement faculty member who can teach the course for the remainder of the term. If the course is taught by a replacement faculty member, they will be compensated overload pay. The faculty member taking the emergency leave will continue to receive pay and benefits from the College.
Special circumstances may occur with a department or program that may require faculty members to exceed their normal semester load. In all cases, every attempt should be made to incorporate this temporary imbalance into the annual full-time teaching load hours requirement. In cases in which this is not possible, arrangements will be made for compensation or a course release with the Provost.
C. Overload teaching in the Day Program, Accelerated Degree Program (ADP) and Summer Sessions.
All overload assignments shall be made according to the following guidelines:
1. Normally a limit of one regular course or two ADP courses of overload teaching per semester for full-time faculty whether such overload is in the ADP or in another educational institution. Faculty members should consult with the Chief Academic Officer before accepting offers to do overload teaching at another institution.
2. Normally four courses during the summer are considered a maximum teaching load, and no instructor is permitted to carry more than this.
3. Normally seven students shall be the minimum for full compensation in any Summer or ADP course. Any class of fewer than seven shall be considered as a tutorial arrangement and the compensation for such a course shall be prorated according to the number of students in the class. A copy of the current compensation schedule can be obtained in the Registrar’s Office. The decision to proceed with any course upon a tutorial basis shall rest with the instructor. Full teaching load credit will be assigned to any course deemed necessary by reason of catalog commitments as approved by the Chief Academic Officer.
4. Summer Instruction
a. Faculty members on a regular ten-month contract are free to determine the use of their services during the summer.
b. Opportunity to teach on the Albright Reading campus during the summer may be made available to some instructors. The departmental chairperson shall consult with the Registrar in offering those courses he/she deems advisable, and assignment of teaching responsibilities shall be made upon an equitable basis to those instructors available.
D. Employment of Part-time Faculty in the Day Program
Administrative Procedures Regarding part-time Faculty
1. Department chairs should work closely with the Administration during the hiring process.
2. The hiring process should consist of the following steps:
a. Determine need in a timely manner
b. Place ads
c. Review applicants/interview
d. Decide on applicants and hire
e. Department chair shall discuss textbook, course syllabus, mail pickup/delivery, office space/hours, and secretarial support at the time of the hire.
3. There shall be an initial orientation to the Department, its program(s), personnel and office procedures, for all new part-time faculty. The orientation program should consist of the following:
a. Book selection and ordering
b. Course plan/syllabus
c. Distribute Faculty Departmental Handbook. (Departmental Handbook could consist of excerpts From the Faculty Handbook as well as specific
departmental policies and expectations).
d. Review grading system, graduation requirements, other academic policies; and advising procedures.
4. A supervisory /support process shall include:
a. Faculty liaison assigned to each part-time faculty member
b. Classroom observations and opportunity for part-time faculty to observe classes held by full-time faculty.
c. Opportunity for informal collegial interactions, such as student-faculty department social functions
d. Participation in the course evaluation process with results available to the Department Chairperson
e. Yearly feedback with constructive suggestions from the department chair.
f. Invitation to part-time faculty to attend departmental meetings.
g. Distribution of department meeting minutes.
h. Dissemination of information about department participation in College-wide programs such as Fall and Spring admissions programs.
i. Sharing of all Department publications, such as mission statements, academic program materials, and student organization information to all part-time faculty on a continuing basis.
j. Requirement for part-time faculty teaching one course to schedule one office hour per week and those teaching two courses to schedule two such hours.
5. All part-time faculty should have a designated mail box and should have their own desk space assigned, as well as an area in which to hold private consultations with students.
6. Part-time faculty shall be given an order of march for academic processions according to traditional academic protocol.
7. The participation of part-time faculty in interdisciplinary programs shall be encouraged.
8. Part-time faculty are not obligated to serve on appointed committees but are not excluded from participation therein.
9. Part-time faculty are welcome to participate in all College programs generally open to faculty members.