Faculty Handbook

Faculty Handbook

The Towson University Faculty Handbook (PDF) presents important policies and procedures that faculty need to know. However, the Faculty Handbook does not amend, supplement, or constitute any part of the employment contract of any university employee. All provisions in the Faculty Handbook are subject to change at any time. Such changes will be made in accordance with all applicable established procedures. Please note, the Faculty Handbook is currently undergoing structural revisions to improve usability.

Table of Contents

 

Chapter 1: Towson University mission and strategic plan

I. Towson University Mission Statement and Goals 
        

Chapter 2: The University System of Maryland (USM) and Towson University (ΌͺΟιΒ齫) Governance structures

I. Governance of the University System of Maryland
II.
III. Organization of Towson University/Organizational Charts
IV. Responsibilities of the Deans
V. Academic Department Chairpersons’ Roles and Responsibilities (ΌͺΟιΒ齫 03-11.00)
VI. Constitution of the Council of University System Faculty (USM I-2.00)
VII. Policy on Role of Faculty in Development of Academic Policy (USM II.3.00)
VIII. The Academic Senate
IX. AAUP/Faculty Association Grievance & Mediation Committee

Chapter 3: Appointment, Rank, and Tenure; and Workload Faculty:

I. Towson University Policy on Appointment, Rank and Tenure of Faculty (ΌͺΟιΒ齫 02-1.00)
II. Policy on Appointment, Rank and Tenure of Faculty (USM II-1.00)
III. Towson University Comprehensive Faculty Workload Guidelines
IV. Policy on Faculty Workload and Responsibilities (USM II-1.25)
V. Policy on the Employment of Adjunct Faculty (ΌͺΟιΒ齫 02-01.07)
     i. Procedures for Promotion of Adjunct Faculty
VI. Academic Department Chairpersons' Roles and Responsibilities (ΌͺΟιΒ齫 03-11.00)
VII. Policy for Clinical Faculty Evaluation, Reappointment, Promotion and Merit (ΌͺΟιΒ齫 02-
        01.08)
VIII. Policy on the Employment of Lecturers (ΌͺΟιΒ齫 02-01.05)

Chapter 4: Faculty Leave policies and procedures

I. Policy on Annual Leave for Faculty (USM II-2.40)
II. Policy on Sick Leave for Faculty Members (USM II-2.30)
III. Policy on Family and Medical Leave for Faculty (USM II-2.31)
IV. Policy on Parental Leave and Other Supports for Faculty (USM II-2.25)
V. ΌͺΟιΒ齫 Policy on Leave Without Pay for Faculty (ΌͺΟιΒ齫 02-02.20)
          i. Implementing Procedures for ΌͺΟιΒ齫 Policy on Leave Without Pay for Faculty
          ii. Application for Faculty Leave of Absence Without Pay
VI. Policy on Sabbatical Leave (ΌͺΟιΒ齫 02-02.00)
          i. Implementing Procedures for ΌͺΟιΒ齫 Policy on Sabbatical Leave
          ii.  (Login to Forms Repository. The application is located under the 'Office of the Provost Forms' section)
VII. Policy on Transitional Terminal Leave for Faculty (ΌͺΟιΒ齫 02-02.10)
VIII. Policy on Jury Service for Faculty Members (USM II-2.50)


Chapter 5: Additional Faculty Benefits

I. Policy on Compensation of Faculty (USM II-1.21)
II. Towson University Policy on Outside Employment, Outside Professional Services,    
    Outside Teaching, and Offload/Overload Teaching by Full-Time Faculty (ΌͺΟιΒ齫 02-3.20)
          i. ΌͺΟιΒ齫 Full-Time Faculty Outside Employment, Outside Professional Services,  
              Outside Teaching, and Offload/Overload Teaching Form
III. ΌͺΟιΒ齫 Benefits Package for Faculty
IV. Policy on Tuition Remission and Tuition Reimbursement for Regular and Retired               Nonexempt and Exempt Staff and Faculty Employees of the University System of
      Maryland (USM VII-4.10)
V. Policy on Tuition Remission for Spouses and Dependent Children of USM Employees
     and Retirees (USM VII-4.20)
VI. Policy on Salary Advances for USM Employees (USM VII-4.30)
VII. Policy on Payment of Moving Expenses (USM VIII-16.00)


Chapter 6: Separation

I. Termination of Tenure and Tenure-Track Faculty Procedures (located within the
   Towson University Policy on Appointment, Rank and Tenure of Faculty, ΌͺΟιΒ齫 02-01.00)
II. Procedures for Appeals to University System of Maryland (USM) Board of Regents of
    Decision to Terminate Tenured or Tenure-Track Faculty Members (USM II-1.04)
III. Towson University Retrenchment Policy and Procedures


Chapter 7: Policies and procedures for the classroom

I. Academic Affairs' Procedures on Instructional Space
II. Towson University Policy on the Sale to Students of Instructional Materials from Which a Faculty Member May Earn Monetary Gain (ΌͺΟιΒ齫 03-10.01)
III. Copyright Resource Center/Cook Library Reserve Guidelines
IV. Towson University Guidelines on Double Sections
V. Towson University Guidelines for Team Teaching
VI. Faculty Members Must Meet Classes
VII. Faculty Absences from Class
VIII. Towson University Policy on Student Class Attendance/Absence
IX. Student Class Attendance (Drop/Add)
X. Undergraduate Academic Advising
XI. ΌͺΟιΒ齫 Internship Coordinator Handbook (Faculty/Staff)
XII. Accommodations for Students with Disabilities
XIII. Discrimination Policies
          i. Prohibiting Discrimination on the Basis of Race, Color, Religion, Age, National  
             Origin, Sex and Disability (ΌͺΟιΒ齫 06-01.00)
          ii. Prohibiting Discrimination on the Basis of Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity
              Expression (ΌͺΟιΒ齫 06-01.05)
          iii. Prohibiting Sexual Harassment (ΌͺΟιΒ齫 06-01.20)
XIV. Student Classroom Expression
XV. Syllabus Guidelines for Best Practices
XVI. Policy Concerning the Scheduling of Academic Assignments on Dates of Religious
         Observance (USM III-5.10)
XVII. Towson University Grades and Grading Policy
XVIII. Policy for Review of Alleged Arbitrary and Capricious Grading (USM III-1.20)
XIX. Towson University Policy on Final Examinations
XX. Towson University Faculty and Student Procedures Regarding Emergency Absence or
         Lateness of Faculty During Final Examinations
XXI. Towson University Policy on the Retention of Final Examinations and Grade Books
XXII. Policy and Procedures on the Disclosure of Student Education Records (ΌͺΟιΒ齫 03-
           06.30)
XXIII. Policy on Faculty, Student and Institutional Rights and Responsibilities for
            Academic Integrity (USM III-1.00)
XXIV. Student Academic Integrity Policy (ΌͺΟιΒ齫 03-01.00)
XXV. University-Sponsored Field Trips
XXVI. Towson University Policy for the Care and Use of Vertebrate Animals
XXVII. Towson University Policy on Notice to Students on Use of Animals in Instruction
XXVIII. Academic Affairs Guidelines to Address Student Complaints


Chapter 8: Additional faculty policies

I. Policy on Professional Commitment of Faculty (USM II.3.10)
II. USM Policy on the Regents Professorship (USM II-1.30)
III. USM Policy on Classified and Proprietary Work (USM IV-2.20)
IV. Towson University  Policy on the Use of the University’s Name by Members of the
      Faculty
V. Commencements, Convocations, and Faculty Meetings
VI. Towson University Policy on Named Chairs and Professorships


Chapter 9: Faculty development, grants, and sponsored research

I. Policies and Procedures of the ΌͺΟιΒ齫 Faculty Development and Research Committee
II. Office of Sponsored Programs and Research
III. Policy on Solicitations and Acceptance of Sponsored Projects (USM IV-2.00)
IV. Office of Sponsored Programs and Research: Grant Management Guidelines
V. Policy on Human Subjects of Research (USM IV-2.10)
VI. Policy on Patents (USM IV-3.00)
VII. Towson University Policy on Intellectual Property (ΌͺΟιΒ齫 04-03.20)
VIII. Procedures on Conflict of Interest for Faculty Interested in Sponsored Research or
        Development
IX. Policy on Misconduct in Scholarly Work (USM III-1.10)
X. Towson University Policies and Procedures for Inquiries and Investigations Concerning
     Allegations of Scholarly Misconduct


Chapter 10: Related university policies

I. Rights and Responsibilities of Members of the ΌͺΟιΒ齫 Community
II. Academic Freedom
III. Professional Ethics
IV. Consensual Relations with Students (ΌͺΟιΒ齫 07-06.30)
V. Employment of Members of the Same Family/Household and Consensual Amorous
     Relationships (Nepotism) (ΌͺΟιΒ齫 07-02.10)
VI. Policy on Campus Ministries (ΌͺΟιΒ齫 06-07.00)
VII. Policy on Sexual Harassment and Other Sexual Misconduct (ΌͺΟιΒ齫 06-01.60) 
VIII. Towson University Information Technology Policies
IX. Policy on Acts of Violence and Extremism (USM VI-1.10)
X. Policy on Threats and Violence (ΌͺΟιΒ齫 06-01.10)
XI. Weapons Prohibited (ΌͺΟιΒ齫 06-01.11)
XII. Disruptive Student Enrolled in Class
XIII. Policy on Emergency Conditions: Cancellation of Classes and Release of Employees
         (USM VI-12.00)
XIV. Towson University Policy on External use of the University’s Name
XV. Towson University Policy on Publications, Marketing and Communications
XVI. Towson University Policy on Non-Credit Activities
XVII. Towson University Policy on Solicitation of Advertising
XVIII. Collections and Donations
XIX. Towson University Policy on Fund Raising, Gifts, Voluntary Support, and Grants
XX. Gift Acceptance Guidelines for Faculty
XXI. Towson University Policy on the Preservation of Items of Historical Interest
XXII. Towson University Policy on Substance Abuse for Faculty, Staff and Students (ΌͺΟιΒ齫
           07-01.10)
XXIII. Smoke Free Campus Policy (ΌͺΟιΒ齫 06-14.00)
XXIV. Towson University Policy on Gambling and Raffling
XXV. Procedures for Reporting Suspected or Known Fiscal Irregularities (ΌͺΟιΒ齫 08-07.10)
XXVI. Policy on the Reporting of Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect (ΌͺΟιΒ齫 06-01.50)