Purpose
The purpose of this Policy is to delineate the responsibilities of full-time faculty members of Lynn University.
Policy
The University’s Mission guides service, scholarly activity including research, and ongoing professional development to allow the faculty, in conjunction with the entire University community, to fulfill its purposes: facilitating student-centered learning and fostering the intellectual life of the University. Since it is the faculty who most directly determine, implement and execute academic policies, their role in this area is a vital one. The primary vehicle for initiation of academic action is the Academic Council. It is each faculty member’s duty, responsibility, and privilege to work actively and, energetically, and strive for academic excellence through ongoing evaluation of academic policy.
I. Professional Responsibility
All faculty are expected to support and advance the mission and goals of the University and to maintain high standards in their professional related activities. The professional responsibilities of full-time faculty members are generally evaluated according to the broad categories of teaching, scholarship and creative activity, and service. While the relative emphasis given to these activities may vary during an individual’s career, these responsibilities require that faculty members teach students, colleagues, and members of the broader community.
The University faculty members should provide teaching, service, and scholarly activity, based on individual expertise, to their students, their department, fellow departments and units within the University, in addition to their profession, and community. These activities include academic and other advising, sponsoring of students and other organizations; laboratory and facility management; involvement in departmental, college and University committees; participation in faculty governance bodies; involvement with local, state, national and international bodies, and such other incidental professional services as, in the judgment of the Vice President for Academic Affairs, the needs of the University require.
II. Educational Responsibilities
The responsibilities of the faculty center on the University’s commitment to quality education as expressed in its Statement of Purpose. These responsibilities may be generally defined as:
- Sustaining a close relationship with students to provide the necessary academic counsel;
- Providing a model of professional development to encourage students’ personal intellectual development;
- Assuming an active involved role in the life of the University community as well as the community at-large;
- Assuming personal responsibility for creating an appropriate academic environment by enforcing academic policies and standards; and
- Supporting the University’s commitment to teaching and learning.
Teaching Faculty’s Responsibilities also include:
- Maintaining high academic standards within the classroom;
- Devising and revising curricula designed to prepare students to obtain rewarding work and to lead meaningful lives;
- Carefully and conscientiously advising students, on an ongoing basis, as to their academic program and career goals;
- Fulfilling day-to-day responsibilities to facilitate the work of academic administrators;
- Promoting and developing the academic programs in one’s area of expertise; and
- Energetically contributing to the work of academic committees in formulating academic policy.
Another aspect of professional conduct associated with teaching effectiveness is the willingness to meet deadlines and adhere to established academic procedures. It is expected that requests for syllabi, grades, and other assignments will be met with a timely response. All assignments (including homework, classwork, quizzes, tests, projects, papers, etc.) must be assessed and feedback provided to students in a timely fashion: within 7 days for assignments of 5 pages or less; and within 10 days for all other assignments.
All University-related email communications are to be done through your assigned Lynn University email account. Email to students are to be directed to their Lynn email address. During the academic year, when classes are in session (all terms included), faculty are required to respond to work-related emails within 48 hours of receipt. Exceptions to the policy include:
- When classes are not in session, such as holiday, Spring and Fall breaks, emails should be checked at least once per week, and answered if a timely response is required.
- When there are extenuating circumstances, such as health or travel; emails should be answered upon return.
- When not teaching during the Summer break, emails should be checked at least once per week, and answered if a timely response is required.
All faculty are expected to exhibit professional conduct and performance of their assigned tasks, a desire for professional growth and development, interest in community and public service, and desirable personal qualities. The specified duties of each faculty and administrative staff member may include teaching assignments in day and evening courses as well as academic advisement.
It shall also be noted that no full-time faculty member or academic administrator shall engage in any occupation, activity or endeavor which will interfere with or detract from the regular punctual discharge of their assigned duties. Acceptance of an outside teaching position for remuneration requires written approval from the Vice President for Academic Affairs. Please refer to the Outside Employment policy below for additional information.
All faculty are expected to know and conform to all rules and regulations of the University concerning their assigned responsibilities and duties, including but not limited to University Policies, rules and regulations. In addition, said faculty and staff shall be expected to perform their assigned duties in a manner appropriate to their professional status so as not to bring discredit upon themselves, their colleagues, the students, or the University.
The administration invites attendance and active participation of all faculty members at social, academic, civic and other events sponsored by the University. It is recognized that part-time faculty members may be prevented by other duties from taking part in many University activities, but they are urged to attend whenever possible.
III. Recording Attendance
Faculty are encouraged to record student attendance on a daily basis, however attendance must be recorded by each Monday to reflect the past week. There are three options when reporting student attendance: Present, Absent and Excused.
Face-to-face classes: Present is to be selected when the student is physically present in class at the designated time and place. Excused is to be selected when the University officially excuses a student. This is typically done through an email from the Academic Vice President, Dean of Students, or athletic coach announcing an away game. It is not up to the faculty to decide if a student’s absence is Excused or not. If a student is not physically present, and no official communication from the University has excused the student, then the student must be marked Absent.
Online classes: a similar procedure is to be followed for online classes, except that attendance is taken on a weekly basis, and is to be entered by Monday to reflect the prior week. Present is to be used when the student shows some recorded sign of activity in the online platform in the prior week. This can be a discussion board post, quiz, submitted assignment, or other recorded activity. Excused is used when there is an official communication from the University excusing the student. Absent is to be selected when there were no recorded signs of student activity for the past week, and the student was not officially Excused by the University.
Holidays and Cancelled Class
If a regularly scheduled class falls on a holiday for which the University is closed, such as Labor Day, do not enter any attendance for that day. Similarly, if a class is cancelled, no attendance is to be entered for that day.
IV. Academic Unit Monthly Meetings
Punctual attendance and participation at all monthly meetings scheduled by their academic unit is required of all full-time faculty members.
V. Academic Council Meetings
Punctual attendance and participation at all Academic Council meetings are required of all full-time faculty members.
VI. Attendance at University Functions
Faculty presence is required at the annual Convocation and at Graduation. Faculty attendance in proper designated garb (usually cap and gown) is required for convocations and graduation.
VII. Committee Service
It is a tradition at the University that faculty participate continually with each other and with other members of the University community in meeting the shared needs of their discipline, their College and/or the University as a whole. A full-time faculty member is expected, not only by the University but also by his or her colleagues, to be available for group involvements and willing to contribute productively to them. When invited to share in the work of an ad hoc group, faculty make a decision to join or not to join in light of this tradition and also in light of their other University commitments.
Definitions
Not Applicable.
Procedures/Guidelines
Not Applicable.
To learn more about this policy or the supporting procedures, please contact Academic Affairs.