Academic Resources

Faculty Handbook

Table of Contents

CHAPTER ONE TOWSON UNIVERSITY MISSION AND GOALS

1. Towson University Mission Statement University Goals........................................... 1-1
2. University Goals ....................................................................................................  1-5

CHAPTER TWO THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF MARYLAND (UMD) AND TOWSON UNIVERSITY (TU) GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE

1. Governance Of the University System of Maryland ................................................  2-1
2. II – 6.00 USM Policy On Share Governance In The University System of Maryland.... 2-2               
3. Organization of Towson University .........................................................................  2-5
4. The Responsibilities Of The Deans Of Colleges With Faculty At Towson University ...  2-9
5. Academic Department Chairperson’ Roles and Responsibilities.............................. 2-11
6. Towson University Organizational Charts............................................................... 2-16
7. I - 2.00 USM Constitution For The Faculty Council Of The University System of
8. Maryland (CUSF).................................................................................................. 2-17
9. II – 3.00 USM Policy On The Role Of Faculty In The Development Of Academic Policy 2-18
10. The University Senate........................................................................................... 2-18
11. Faculty Association/AAUP..................................................................................... 2-19

CHAPTER THREE THE FACULTY PART I: FACULTY RANKS USED AT TOWSON UNIVERSITY

1. Faculty With Duties Primarily In Instruction At Towson University ............................  3-1
2. Non-Tenure Clinical Faculty Appointments .............................................................  3-2
3. Faculty Engaged Ranks At Towson University ..........................................................  3-5
4. Additional Faculty Ranks At Towson University .......................................................  3-5
5. Applicability .........................................................................................................  3-64

CHAPTER THREE PART II: RECRUITMENT AND APPOINTMENT OF FACULTY

6. Towson University Faculty And Professional Librarian Hiring Procedures .................  3-8
7. Towson University Procedures For Joint Appointments ........................................  3-17
8. Towson University Policy On Faculty Inter-Departmental Transfers and Temporary Inter-Departmental Assignments .........................................................................  3-20
9. Visiting Faculty .....................................................................................................  3-24
10. Inter-Institutional Appointments ..........................................................................  3-24
11. Towson University Procedures For Affiliate Appointments ....................................  3-24
12. Towson University Graduate Faculty Membership: Guidelines and Duties .............  3-26
13. Faculty Job Posting Form ......................................................................................  3-29
14. Faculty Position Search Procedures ......................................................................  3-31

CHAPTER THREE PART III: FACULTY WORKLOAD

15. Towson University Policy On Faculty Workload And Responsibilities ......................  3-34

CHAPTER THREE PART IV: FACULTY EVALUATION, REAPPOINTMENT, PROMOTION, TENURE, MERIT, AND LIBRARIAN PERMANENT STATUS

16. General Principles................................................................................................. 3-38
17. Criteria And Procedures For Evaluation, Promotion, And Tenure, And Permanent
    Status ................................................................................................................ 3-38
18. University Promotion, Tenure/Reappointment, And Merit Committee, Structure And
    Process ......................................................................................................... 3-39
19. Policy On Faculty Evaluation For Promotion, Tenure/Reappointment, And Merit .... 3-40
20. Towson University Guidelines For Development Of Departmental Standards And
    Expectations For Teaching, Scholarship, And Service ............................................. 3-49
21. Procedures For Promotion To Professor, Associate Professor, Or Assistant Professor Extraordinary Faculty Who Do Not Hold A Terminal Degree ................................................................................. 3-57
22. Comprehensives Review Policies And Procedures ................................................ 3-60
23. Towson University Promotion, Tenure/Reappointment, And Merit Calendar ........ 3-64
24. Librarian Evaluation ..............................................................................................  3-80
25. Procedures And Calendar For Promotional Review For Librarians ..........................3-81
26. The Librarian Promotion And Permanent Status Review Committee ...................... 3-84

CHAPTER FOUR FACULTY BENEFITS

1. Policy On Compensation For Faculty .......................................................................  4-1
2. Towson University Benefits Package For Faculty .....................................................  4-2
3. II – 2.40 USM Policy On Annual Leave For Faculty ....................................................  4-8
4. II – 2.30 USM Policy On Accident Leave And Creditable And Non-Creditable Sick Leave
   For Faculty Members .............................................................................................  4-9
5. II – 2.31 USM  Policy On Family And Medical Leave For Faculty ...............................  4-12
6. Towson University Policy on Leave Of Absence Without Pay .................................  4-21
7. VII – 4.10 USM Policy on Tuition Remission For Regular And Retired Faculty And
   Staff Employees ...................................................................................................  4-24
8. VII – 4.20 USM Policy on Tuition Remission For Spouses And Dependent Children Of
   Regular And Retired Faculty And Staff Employees .................................................  4-26
9. Towson University Statement On Sabbatical Leave ...............................................  4-30
10. Towson University Policy on Transitional Leave for Faculty ....................................  4-31
11. VII – 4.30 USM Policy on Salary Advances ..............................................................  4-33
12. VII – 4.40 USM Policy On Payment Of Moving Expenses ........................................  4-33

CHAPTER FIVE GRIEVANCES (Sections I  and II of this Chapter relating to the Faculty Grievance and Faculty Hearing Committees have been revised in their entirety and replaced by Policy 02.04.00 entitled Responsibilities and Procedures of the Faculty Grievance Committee and the Faculty Hearing Committee and now appear in the Faculty section of the Towson University Policy Repository)     

CHAPTER SIX SEPARATION

1. Termination Of Tenure or Tenure-Track Faculty Procedures ....................................  6-1
2. II – 1.04 USM Policy on Procedures For Appeals To The University System Of
   Maryland (USM) Board Of Regents Of Decision To Terminate Tenured Or
   Tenure-Track Faculty Members ..............................................................................  6-2
3. Towson University Retrenchment Policy And Procedures .......................................  6-4

CHAPTER SEVEN POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR THE CLASSROOM

1. Towson University Policy Statement On Instructional Space .................................. 7-1
2. Towson University Policy ON The Sale To Students Of Instructional Materials From Which A Faculty Member May Earn Monetary Gain ............................................................................................7-1
3. Towson University Guidelines For the Use Of Material Protected By Copyright .......  7-2
4. Towson University Policy And Guidelines  For The Reproduction Of Copyrighted Print Material For Classroom Use ..............................................................................................................................  7-2
5. Copyrighted Resource Center ................................................................................  7-3
6. Towson University Policy On Double Sections .........................................................  7-3
7. Towson University Guidelines On Team Teaching ...................................................  7-4
8.  Faculty Members Must Meet Classes ....................................................................  7-8
9. Faculty Absences From Class ..................................................................................  7-8
10. Towson University Policy On Student Class Attendance/Absence ............................ 7-8
11. Student Class Attendance (Drop/Add) ...................................................................  7-9
12. Towson University Policy On Undergraduate Academic Advising .............................  7-9
13.  Accommodations For Students With Disabilities ...................................................  7-11
14.  Student Rights ....................................................................................................  7-12
15.  Classroom Discrimination..................................................................................... 7-12
16.  Student Classroom Expression .............................................................................  7-12
17.  Course Syllabus ...................................................................................................  7-12
18.  III – 5.10 USM Policy Concerning The Scheduling Of Academic Assignments on
    Dates Of Religious Observance .............................................................................  7-13
19. Towson University: Grades And Grading Policies ...................................................  7-13
20. III – 1.20 USM Policy For Review Of Alleged Arbitrary And Capricious Grading ........  7-16
21. Towson University Policy Statement On Contract Grading .....................................  7-16
22. Towson University Policy On Final Examinations ....................................................  7-19
23. Towson University Faculty And Student Procedures Regarding Emergency Absenc
    Or Lateness Of Faculty During Final Examinations .................................................  7-19
24. Towson University Policy On The Retention Of Final Examinations And
    Grade Books ........................................................................................................  7-20
25. Final Grades .........................................................................................................  7-20
26. Posting Grades ....................................................................................................  7-21
27. Academic Records................................................................................................ 7-21
28. III – 1.00 USM Policy On Faculty, Student And Institutional Rights And  
    Responsibilities For Academic Integrity .................................................................  7-22
29. Cheating And Plagiarism .......................................................................................  7-23
30. Field Trips ............................................................................................................  7-23
31. Towson University Guidelines For Faculty/Staff Who Conduct University-
    Sponsored Field Trips ...........................................................................................  7-24
32. Towson University Policy For The Care And Use of Vertebrate Animals .................  7-30
33. Towson University Policy On Notice To Student On Use Of Animals
    In Instruction .......................................................................................................  7-34

CHAPTER EIGHT ADDITIONAL FACULTY POLICIES

1. II – 3.10 USM Policy On Professional Commitment Of Faculty ..................................  8-1
2. II – 1.30 USM Policy On The Regents Professorship .................................................  8-3
3. IV – 2.20 USM Policy On Classified And Proprietary Work ........................................  8-4
4. Towson University Policy On The Use Of The University’s Name By Members
   Of The Faculty .......................................................................................................  8-5
5. Towson University Policy On Jury Service For Faculty Members ..............................  8-5
6. Commencements, Convocations, And Faculty Meetings .........................................  8-6

CHAPTER NINE FACULTY DEVELOPMENT, GRANTS, AND SPONSORED RESEARCH PART I: FACULTY DEVELOPMENT

1. Policies And Procedures Of The Towson University Faculty Development And Research Committee          9-1
2. Policies And Procedures Of the Towson University Faculty Development- Teaching
   Enhancement Grants Programs ..............................................................................  9-4
3. Policies And Procedures Of The Towson University Summer Mini-Grant
   Program ................................................................................................................  9-6               
4. Policies And Procedures of The Towson University Grant-Writing Assistance
   Awards Programs   .................................................................................................  9-7               

CHAPTER NINE PART II: GRANTS AND SPONSORED RESEARCH

5. Office of University Research Services ....................................................................  9-9
6. IV – 2.00 USM Policy On Solicitation And Acceptance Of Sponsored Projects ..........  9-10
7. Towson University Policies And Procedures For Sponsored Projects ......................  9-11
8. Towson University Guidelines For Contracts Between External Agencies And Faculty Or
   Academic Departments .......................................................................................................9-14

CHAPTER NINE PART III: RELATED POLICIES

9. IV – 2.10 USM Policy On Human Subjects Of Research ...........................................  9-19
10. Towson University  Policy on Protections Of Human Participants In Research Conducted
    By Or With faculty, Staff, Students ........................................................................  9-20
11. Towson University Policy For research/Grant Contractual Personnel Employment .  9-21
12. Towson University Patent Policy ...........................................................................  9-23
13. Towson University Policy On Intellectual Property ................................................  9-24
14. Towson University Procedures On Conflict Of Interest For Faculty Interest In Sponsored
    Research Or Development ...................................................................................  9-24
15. Towson University Policies And Procedures For Inquiries And investigations Concerning allegations Of scholarly Misconduct ...................................................................................................9-31

1. Introduction: Rights And Responsibilities Of The Members Of The Towson University Community........................................................................................................ 10-1
2. Academic Freedom ........................................................................................  10-5
3. Professional Ethics .........................................................................................  10-5
4. Consensual Relations with Students ...............................................................  10-6
5. Towson University Policy On Campus Demonstrations, Picketing & Protests ....  10-7
6. Towson University Policy On Distribution And Solicitation ..............................  10-10
7. Towson University Guidelines On Use Of Prayer Or Other Religious
   Activities .....................................................................................................   10-11
8. Towson University Policy On Diversity And Equal Opportunity .......................  10-11
9. VI – 1.30 USM Policy On Sexual Assault .........................................................  10-29
10. Towson University Policy on HIV Infection and AIDS ......................................  10-32
11. Towson University Guidelines For Responsible Computing ............................  10-33
12. Towson University E-Mail Policy ....................................................................  10-36
13. Amendment to University E-Mail Policy ........................................................  10-37
14. VI – 1.10 USM Policy On Acts Of Violence And Extremism ..............................  10-39
15. Towson University Bomb Threat Procedure................................................... 10-39
16. Towson University Weapons Policy ...............................................................  10-47
17. Disruptive Student Enrolled In A Class ...........................................................  10-48
18. Towson University Policy on Suspension In Case Of Campus Disruption .........  10-48
19. VI  - 12.00 USM Policy on Emergency Conditions: Cancellation Of Classes And
    Release Of Employees  .................................................................................  10-49
20. Towson University Policy on External Use Of The University’s Name .............  10-51
21. Towson University Policy On Publications And Public Relations ......................  10-54
22. Towson University Policy On Non-Credit Activities ........................................  10-54
23. Towson University Policy On Solicitation Of Advertising .................................  10-58
24. Collections And Donations ............................................................................  10-58
25. Towson University Policy on Fun-Raising, Gifts, Voluntary Support,
    And Grants ..................................................................................................  10-58               
26. Towson University Policy On The Preservation Of Items Of Historical
    Interest  ....................................................................................................... 10-59
27. Towson University Policy On Substance Abuse For Faculty, Staff
    And Students ...............................................................................................  10-60                 
28. Towson University Policy On Smoking ...........................................................  10-67
29. Towson University Policy On Gambling And Raffling ......................................  10-67
30. Procedures On Reporting Suspected Or Known Fiscal Irregularities ................ 10-68