The professional responsibilities of the faculty are determined by our common commitment to learning in all of its various aspects.
The college expects faculty to be dedicated teachers with a significant commitment to scholarly development and to active participation in the life of the community. Contributions by faculty in these areas will be evaluated at regular intervals and will affect decisions related to compensation and to reappointment, tenure, promotion, as specified in legislation.
Responsibilities of Tenured and Tenure-Track Faculty
Teaching
The goals of teaching are to transmit knowledge, encourage critical thought, and engage students in the process of inquiry. Energetic engagement in the classroom and serious commitment to the intellectual growth of students are essential ingredients of an effective teacher. Faculty are therefore expected to:
- meet all classes as scheduled and maintain regular office hours;
- teach at all levels of the curriculum and at a variety of times and days across the class schedule;
- challenge students, by setting high academic standards;
- mentor and advise students throughout the term, including the reading and examination periods;
- direct student independent work, such as 350s, 360s, and 370s;
- provide timely and discriminating evaluations of student work; and
- write letters of recommendation for students, when appropriate.
Scholarship and Professional Activity
The goals of scholarship are the production of new knowledge, the encouragement of a sustained intellectual life, and the use of this intellectual engagement to enliven discussion in the classroom and within the college community and beyond. Faculty are therefore expected to:
- demonstrate scholarly growth and achievement by publication of original research or by exhibition/performance of creative work;
- present the results of their research at professional meetings; and
- engage students as active partners in their scholarship, when appropriate.
An additional hallmark of scholarship is involvement in professional life within and beyond the boundaries of the college. Faculty are therefore expected to contribute in such ways as the following:
- engage in service on visiting committees, peer review of scholarship, or tenure and promotion reviews; and
- contribute to their area of expertise through intellectual leadership, presentations, book and literature reviews, or other forms of professional activity.
Service
The goals of service are to create an inclusive, cohesive community of scholars and to sustain and enhance the central role that faculty governance plays in the liberal arts tradition. Furthermore, service to the college sustains and enhances the quality of the faculty and the excellence of the academic program. Faculty are therefore expected to:
- serve on departmental and college-wide committees;
- be willing to assume departmental duties, including serving as chair; and
- be active in the various forums and activities that constitute extra-curricular learning or contribute to the governance and well-being of the college.
Faculty are ordinarily expected to be on campus at least four days a week during the academic year. This common obligation of all faculty members avoids placing an undue burden on those who willingly assume these responsibilities and helps to insure the achievement of our educational goals.
Human Resources maintains a Work/Life page of resources that may also be helpful.