PURPOSE/SCOPE:
Provide guidelines for the benefits and the roles and responsibilities of full-time, part-time, adjunct, and visiting faculty staff.
POLICY:
Full-time Faculty
Full-time faculty status may be granted to faculty working a minimum of twenty (20) work hours per week and who hold academic ranks of instructor, assistant professor, associate professor and professor. Unless expressly agreed to in writing, full-time faculty status shall in no event apply to temporary or contract positions. Full-time faculty members have duties and responsibilities that include teaching, scholarship, service and clinical activity as applicable. Faculty are contracted to further ICOM’s academic mission through administration, teaching, scholarly activity, service, and/or clinical efforts as stipulated by the ICOM Dean consistent with the requirements of the college, the President, and the Board of Trustees, as set forth in the administrative policies and regulations of the college currently in force and as amended in the future and outlined in the Employee Handbook and their employment contract. Full-time faculty may also participate in the college's program of fringe benefits for employees as set forth in the ICOM Benefits Package as may be amended from time to time. Terms of employment and benefits are defined in the employment agreement.
Faculty performance is subject to annual review (see Employee Handbook). The Dean, appropriate Assistant or Associate Dean, and the Department Chair negotiate the specific duties for teaching, scholarly activity, clinical activity and service.
Full-time faculty status will not be granted to those persons who incidentally contribute to the academic programs of ICOM in the course of performing other duties. Voting privileges at ICOM Faculty Senate meetings will be afforded to those with full-time faculty status possessing a rank of instructor or higher. Full-time status is not granted to visiting faculty. Asout.ined in the Consulting policy, ICOM does not allow other outside activities that substantially interfere with the faculty member’s classroom teaching schedule, student interviewing and counseling role, scholarly activities or other teaching responsibilities unless approved by the Dean for those faculty members who are employed by ICOM as full-time faculty. Clinical salaries and duties paid from a clinical site are not considered outside employment, as ICOM students are at the site for educational purposes. When full-time faculty members who are employed by ICOM are invited to provide their academic expertise to outside institutions, or to provide precepting for outside students, prior approval for such activities must be provided by the Dean.
Part-time and Adjunct Faculty
Part-time faculty, adjunct faculty and guest lecturers are hired by the Dean on a per course basis as recommended by the Course Director or appropriate Assistant or Associate Dean within budgetary guidelines. All Hiring shall be conducted in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws, rules and regulations as well as the applicable policies of ICOM.
Adjunct Faculty and Guest Lecturers
Annually, Course Directors are asked to prepare a proposed course budget for the upcoming academic year which includes part-time faculty, adjunct faculty and guest lecturer needs for their course. Submitting the proposed budget does not authorize actual payment of funds. The proposed budget must be approved, and all expenditures authorized through ICOM’s established policies and procedures.
Once a Course Director has selected an adjunct to lecture for the course, the Course Director must verify that the adjunct has been reviewed and appointed by the Academic Appointment and Promotion Committee and funds are available within the approved budget.
Employment as a Visiting Faculty Member
Time served, as a visiting faculty member at ICOM shall not constitute a year or years of service for purposes of ICOM policy.
Faculty Workload
The faculty workload will be designed and adjusted to ensure each faculty member will make meaningful and significant contributions to the mission of the institution. It will also provide flexibility to emphasize faculty strengths and interests. Faculty workload is divided into four (4) broad categories: Teaching, Scholarly Activities, Clinical Activity and Service.
Teaching
Faculty teaching activities include development and delivery of didactic content, laboratory-based instruction, facilitation of small group activities, writing and grading examinations and other complementary educational efforts.
Each member of the faculty is expected to meet classes at the scheduled times and be adequately prepared. Classes should not be postponed for personal convenience, and when postponement is required, the faculty member shall post appropriate notice.
Scholarly Activities
Faculty are expected to engage in scholarly activity. Biomedical science research, clinical research, research of osteopathic principles and practice, medical education and health policy research are particularly encouraged.
Contributing to the existing body of knowledge in the biomedical sciences, clinical medicine and osteopathic principles and practice is recognized as an important component of effective osteopathic medical education. To this end, ICOM provides opportunities to support faculty and student research whenever possible. Faculty members should make reasonable use of these opportunities by engaging in and completing projects of scholarly research.
Service
Faculty members are expected to actively participate in both curricular and co-curricular activities of ICOM. This includes, but is not limited, to the following responsibilities:
- Accept and carry out committee assignments
- Attend the White Coat Ceremony
- Attend graduation exercises of ICOM in full academic regalia
- Complete reports and the Faculty Evaluation and Annual Review or other activity report as directed by the Department Chair
- Submit an annually updated curriculum vitae to the Dean’s office
- Serve as Course Director, Co-Course Director, or Course Medical Director as assigned
- Cooperate fully with colleagues, staff and students so as to contribute to the advancement of the educational and administrative affairs of the institution
Membership, participation, and leadership in ICOM committees is required. Faculty are encouraged to advise student organizations, participate in community activities and medical mission trips, and be active in professional organizations at both the local and national level.
One of the most important activities of faculty is to assist in the recruitment and selection of future students. ICOM interviews a substantial number of applicants in order to assess their personal and professional qualities in addition to their academic qualifications for admission. All faculty and staff members are expected to participate in the applicant interview process.
Academic counseling and individual attention to student needs are an important component of the teaching mission of ICOM. Faculty members should post office hours to facilitate meeting with students. Providing guidance to students during all four years of their education is an essential role of ICOM faculty. All faculty members are expected to serve as student advisors.
All ICOM courses will have a Course Director, assigned by the Curriculum Committee. Depending on the needs of the course, a Co-Course Director and/or a Medical Course Director may be assigned by the Curriculum Committee to assist the Course Director in the course.
POLICY OWNER:
Associate Dean of Academic Affairs
Assistant Dean of Clinical Affairs
BOARD APPROVAL: