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Appendix C: General Expectations of Faculty

The following list of expectations is not all-inclusive and is intended to serve as a guide. Please talk with your dean if you are unsure about expectations or institutional policies.

Faculty are expected to comply with UHV's general Employee Standards of Conduct as found in UHV Policy C-08.

General Expectations

  1. Effective teaching.
  2. Responsiveness to students.
  3. Continued participation in the intellectual life of one’s discipline and profession.
  4. Participation in college and institutional governance, as need and opportunity arise.
  5. Contribution to public service related to one’s professional expertise, as feasible.
  6. Ability to work constructively in a collegial environment and contribute to collective efforts.
  7. Compliance with the established policies and procedures of the institution, including timely completion of duties.
  8. Faculty members are expected to carry out their responsibilities ethically, complying with federal, state, and other applicable laws and regulations and without conflicts of interest including behavior in relations with students, in the use of institutional resources, in scholarly activities, and in the discharge of all professional responsibilities.
  9. Faculty members do not discriminate against or harass colleagues. They respect and defend the free inquiry of associates, even when it leads to findings and conclusions that differ from their own.  Faculty acknowledge there are different expectations by discipline in academic endeavors and strive to be objective in their professional judgment of colleagues at all levels and in all situations.

Specific Expectations

  1. Meet classes on time and use the full period.
  2. Conduct exams as scheduled during the regular examination period (or notify your Dean of any departures).
  3. Check class rosters carefully and report discrepancies to the Registrar's Office.
  4. Post a curriculum vitae on the university website by the seventh day after classes start. The CV should not contain the faculty’s personal information, including home address or home phone number.
  5. Have a syllabus for each course and distribute it at or near the beginning of the term, as well as post it appropriately on the university website by the seventh day after classes start.
    1. Stick to the syllabus (especially grading procedures) unless you provide advance notice, preferably in writing, to the class.
    2. Have at least one graded assignment early in the term (prior to the withdrawal deadline).
  6. Post and keep regular office hours (a minimum of one hour per course per week.)
  7. Get book orders in on time and consider cost to students. Check to see whether your texts are in. Do not ask the bookstore to order texts that are optional.
  8. Get final grades in on time.
  9. Check your UHV email account on a regular basis.
  10. Change a final grade only in case of a clerical error in calculation or well justified student appeal. Final grades should represent your best, carefully considered judgment. Changing them after the fact may be unfair to other students in the class and to your colleagues.
  11. Provide appropriate notification and, as applicable, seek approval if you are:
    1. Unable to meet your classes (as soon as possible in cases of emergency).
    2. Going to be absent for conference travel or other reasons.
    3. Changing classrooms (the Registrar’s office should also be informed).
    4. Taking students on a field trip.
    5. Engaging in outside employment (a form and instructions are distributed each year).
    6. Missing or changing office hours.
  12. Take reasonable precautions to prevent academic dishonesty and follow up on instances of it that can be documented or otherwise corroborated (it is a good idea to consult with your dean before taking any action).
  13. Become reasonably familiar with the contents of the college catalog, schedule booklet, Student Handbook, and Faculty Manual.
  14. Become acquainted with institutional effectiveness documents on planning, assessment, and budgeting and with the Administrative Policies and Procedures Manual.
  15. Be mindful of student diversity. We have students who are full-time and part-time; who commute near and far; who are employed and not; who are old and young; who are of different races, nationalities, genders, sexual preferences, and family backgrounds; and who have different physical and learning abilities and disabilities.
  16. Be prudent about personal relations with students or with employees who are directly or indirectly under your supervision. Also, be prudent about the use of possibly offensive language, allusions, or humor in the classroom or workplace. The university seeks to maintain an environment in which there is freedom of inquiry and expression but also freedom from discrimination and intimidation. It has policies and processes related to students’ rights, ADA requirements, sexual harassment, identity discrimination, professional ethics, and other important issues. These policies and processes are intended to protect students and employees from unjust treatment, as well as from unjust allegations.
  17. Keep in mind that you are an officer of an institution of higher education, a teacher, and a member of a learned profession. Your words and conduct are influential.