INTRODUCTION
This Guide for Part-Time Faculty is intended to assist part-time faculty by highlighting information relevant to the appointment process, instructional and other responsibilities and opportunities and benefits. This guide complements the Faculty Handbook, the University Bulletin, and the University's Personnel Policies and Procedures Manual. Part-time instructors should familiarize themselves with these publications, which are available in departmental offices, but they may use this guide as a supplement for quick reference.
HISTORY OF WESTERN
As a public institution of higher learning, Western Kentucky University came into existence in 1906 when a bill was enacted by the Kentucky General Assembly creating a state normal school in Bowling Green, headed by Dr. Henry Hardin Cherry. The name of the institution was changed by the Legislature in 1922 to Western Kentucky State Normal School and Teachers College. In 1930 the school's name was changed to Western Kentucky State Teachers College, and in 1948 it was changed to Western Kentucky State College. It became Western Kentucky University in 1966.
From its beginning as a small state normal school with about 300 students and a dozen faculty members, Western has grown in both size and scope of academic programs. Enrollment has grown from less than 1,700 in the fall of 1955 to nearly 15,000 students in the fall of 1995. The faculty has grown from fewer than 100 in 1955 to over 550 in 1995 and the number of teaching faculty holding the earned doctorate or other terminal degree has advanced from under 25% to more than 70%. In 1955 Western conferred two undergraduate degrees and one graduate degree; currently the University offers three associate degrees, five baccalaureate degrees, six masters degrees, the specialist degree, and cooperative doctoral programs with the University of Kentucky and the University of Louisville. The number of fields in which students may pursue studies has increased substantially during the same period. (For more complete information on degrees and areas of study available see the current Western Kentucky University Catalog Issue and Graduate Studies Issue.)
The University physical plant likewise has undergone tremendous growth, expanding from a few classrooms and offices in one building in 1906 to a main campus of more than 66 modern buildings and approximately 200 acres. (For an up-to-date list and description of University physical facilities consult the Western Kentucky University Catalog Issue.)
Many of the ideals upon which the University was founded were expressed by Western's first President, Dr. Henry Hardin Cherry, and are still guiding principles today. For example, Dr. Cherry articulated these goals for Western:
I. To be a live school and to impart to its students a burning zeal to do and to be something.
II. To let the reputation of the school be sustained by real merit.
III. To lead the student to understand that a broad and liberal education is essential to the highest degree of success in any endeavor in life.
Through the years the school has striven constantly to provide its students with varied educational opportunities within an academic climate intended to promote the legitimate objectives of liberal education, democratic citizenship, character development, and the pursuit of excellence.
For an interesting and more detailed historical background of Western, read Lowell Harrison's book, Western Kentucky University (Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 1987).
MISSION
Western Kentucky University offers a broad spectrum of instruction, scholarly activity, and professional service within an academic climate encouraging intellectual excellence.
Western Kentucky University provides instruction at the associate, baccalaureate, and graduate levels in the liberal arts and sciences, traditional pre-professional programs, and emerging career areas and professional fields including agriculture, business, communication, education, health, and technology. The University supports diverse scholarship, including basic and applied research and creative activity, in order to expand knowledge, improve instruction, and serve its varied clientele. The University directly supports its constituents with professional and technical expertise, cultural enrichment, and educational assistance.
Western Kentucky University affords educational opportunities in a climate that recognizes human diversity. The University is committed to increasing access for both traditional and nontraditional students, and to improving education at all levels. Finally, Western Kentucky University recognizes that its mission continues to evolve in response to regional, national, and global changes.
PART-TIME FACULTY
Part-time faculty are valued members of the university community. The Western Kentucky University Faculty Handbook provides for the special appointment of "qualified individuals who are employed on a part-time basis to teach university classes." Because part-time faculty hold special appointments, university policies with regard to faculty rank and tenure do not apply. Nevertheless, the University recognizes the important, often unique, contributions of part-time faculty to the institutional mission and makes every effort to treat part-time faculty members in a collegial and professional manner. This Guide is an attempt both to regularize and to personalize the employment of part-time faculty.
It should be recognized that special appointments of part-time faculty can be beneficial to all parties if properly conducted. The University often finds itself in need of extra teaching help or specific teaching skills which cannot be met through the regular faculty, especially in periods of transitions created by shifts in enrollments or budgets. At the same time, part-time employment can prove helpful to individuals in their professional development, in enhancing their academic credentials, and in supplementing their income.
Qualifications
The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, which is the regional accreditation agency for Western, requires the University to certify that all part-time faculty meet minimum requirements for educational preparation.
Part-time faculty teaching courses for regular credit at the associate and baccalaureate degree levels should have completed at least 18 graduate semester hours in their teaching fields and hold the master's degree. The employment of any faculty who do not meet these criteria must be justified, in writing, by the department head. In professional and technical fields, where job experience may be more valuable than academic preparation, and in various fields of the visual and performing arts, where training and experience other than graduate study may provide excellent preparation for college teaching, departments may employ instructors who do not hold the terminal degree. Nevertheless, the minimum academic preparation for faculty must be at the degree level being taught. The department head must keep on file documentation of work experience, certifications, and other qualifications if these are to substitute for or supplement formal academic preparation. All personnel records are on file in the Office of Academic Affairs and are available to individual faculty members.
Part-time faculty teaching at the graduate level should hold the highest earned degree in their disciplines, although in exceptional cases extensive professional experience or scholarly or creative activity may substitute for the highest earned degree. The department head should justify, in writing, the employment of faculty who do not hold the terminal degree in their fields, and shall keep on file documentation of work experience, certifications, and other qualifications if these are to substitute for or supplement formal academic preparation. In such cases, the faculty teaching graduate or professional level courses must, as a minimum, have earned a master's degree and completed at least 18 graduate semester hours in their teaching field. In addition, instructors who teach graduate courses approved by and under the authority of the Graduate Faculty must be approved by the Dean of Graduate Studies.
Appointment
The university endeavors to maintain a pool of names of individuals qualified for part-time faculty appointments. When enrollment or other special needs necessitate a part-time appointment, a qualified candidate will be identified by the department head and recommended to the college dean. A special appointment will be recommended only after departmental needs are verified and adequate budgetary resources are identified.
The form, Terms of Employment and Assignment for Temporary Part-Time Faculty, must be completed for all part-time faculty each semester. The form must be signed by the part-time faculty member, the department head, and the dean. A copy of the form must be sent to the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs no later than one week after the appointment.
Evaluation
Part-time instructors will be evaluated by their department heads, who may use combinations of any of these sources: student evaluations, personal interviews with the instructor and/or students, and examination of course syllabi, tests, handouts, and student work. Evaluations should be conducted following each semester or year of service and used in determining future appointment recommendations. Any such evaluation will be shared with the part-time faculty member.
Compensation
Part-time faculty will be appointed and paid in accordance with the following qualifications:
GRADE I Persons employed in this category should hold at least a bachelor's degree and have a minimum of three years
related experience or hold the master's degree.
GRADE II Persons employed in this grade should hold at least the master's degree and have 3-5 years teaching experience or
have other special training and experience related to the teaching position.
GRADE III Persons employed in this grade should hold at least the master's degree and have 5 years or more teaching
experience, hold other degrees or certifications (Ed.S., CPA, CPE, etc.) or special qualifications, or hold the
doctorate.
GRADE IV Persons employed in this grade should hold the doctorate and have a minimum of 7 years teaching experience or
other special qualifications applicable to their teaching role.
Part-time paychecks are distributed bi-weekly through departmental offices beginning at the end of September for fall semester employment and mid-February for spring semester employment.
Employee Benefits
At present, part-time faculty benefits include Worker's Compensation and Social Security. In addition, part-time faculty may elect to join the Kentucky Retirement System under certain conditions. (Personnel Policies and Procedures Manual, Policy #4-36).
Each department has budgeted funds for professional travel, which may be available to part-time faculty on a limited basis. Authorization for travel must be made by the department head before the trip is made. Travel expenses are usually paid by the individual, who is later reimbursed after filing an expense voucher.
In the case of travel related to teaching in the Extended Campus Program, part-time faculty will be reimbursed for mileage if they are assigned to teach at a location other than their official university work station.
The University provides identification cards for all employees, including part-time faculty, through the I.D. Center in the Downing University Center. The card can be used for checking out books from the University Libraries, cashing checks at the Cashier's Office, University Bookstore discounts, and entry to certain recreational facilities. Part-time faculty members may purchase parking permits at the Public Safety office.
Part-time faculty may join Service One Credit Union with offices on the WKU campus. The Credit Union provides high-yield savings and low-cost loan services for faculty and staff. Faculty may invest in regular share accounts, share certificates, money market certificates, and holiday club accounts. Interest-bearing share draft (checking) accounts are available to members as well as ATM cards which can be used state-wide. Direct deposit of net paychecks is an optional service as well.
Part-time faculty are eligible for tuition discounts based on the percentage of a full load taught. The discount must be used during the semester when teaching. Spouses are entitled to half of this discount.
There is no formal sick leave or annual leave policy in effect for part-time faculty.
INSTRUCTION AND SUPPORT
Part-time faculty members receive the same support for instruction as full-time faculty. These support services include classroom supplies and equipment, which are available through departmental offices. Professional secretarial help is also available to part-time faculty members for typing, duplicating and printing of teaching and/or professional materials. The Divisions of University Libraries and Technology and Telecommunications are also ready to provide services to part-time faculty. (Faculty Handbook, pages 58-63).
Syllabus
Part-time faculty should develop a complete course syllabus consisting of the following elements.
Department, Course Number, Course Title and Credit Hours
Text(s); required and supplemental readings and references
Course Objectives
Course Outline
Course Requirements; including required activities, papers, quizzes, exams, oral reports, projects, field assignments, or laboratory experiences.
Additional requirements for graduate students in classes taught concurrently with undergraduate students (400 and 400G classes)
Evaluation methods
Attendance policy
Department heads will be able to supply relevant information and sample syllabi. The syllabus should be placed on file in the departmental office and should be distributed to students not later than the second meeting of the course.
Scheduling of Classes
Most three credit day classes meet five times every two weeks. The system works in the following manner: one week classes which meet on Monday and Wednesday will also meet on Friday. The next week classes which meet on Tuesday and Thursday will meet on Friday. This makes it possible to schedule Monday-Wednesday and Tuesday-Thursday classes at the same hour because the classes will meet at that time on alternating Fridays. This provides greater flexibility in the scheduling of classes. Because of this scheduling system, most day classes meet for 60 minutes per session. Laboratories usually meet for longer periods.
Many classes taught by part-time faculty will be offered through the evening, weekend or extended campus programs of the University. Classes in these programs may be scheduled on the basis of one extended meeting per week.
Evaluation of Student Performance
Each faculty member has an obligation to evaluate the academic achievements of students in a manner consistent with the statements of the purposes and principles of grading found in the Faculty Handbook (pp. 53-54).
Testing and examination procedures are left largely to the individual faculty member. However, University policy requires that, at the beginning of each course, the faculty member informs each student in writing regarding the factors to be considered in determining grades and the specific weight to be assigned to each of the factors.
Final exam schedules are printed in each University schedule. Examinations are expected to be held at the time and place scheduled.
Academic Advising
Part-time faculty members should be available to their students outside of class time for purposes of advice and consultation on class assignments. Faculty members should advise their students each semester when and where such consultations may take place.
Academic Offenses
The maintenance of academic integrity is of fundamental importance to the University. Thus it should be clearly understood that acts of plagiarism or any other form of cheating will not be tolerated and that anyone committing such acts risks punishment of a serious nature. (Faculty Handbook, pp. 56-57).
Student Complaint Procedure
The four-step procedure for resolving a student's complaint concerning an academic matter is found in the Faculty Handbook, pp 57-58.
Attendance
All faculty members have responsibility for recording the attendance and absence of their students. Faculty may be requested periodically to give information concerning attendance or verification of the last date of attendance. Therefore, faculty are advised to check the roll at each class meeting. Attendance policies may vary from department to department and, occasionally, from course to course. Faculty, thus, must know the appropriate policy and present it to the students in writing as part of the course syllabus.
Class Rolls
The day following registration, the Registrar's Office sends to each faculty member an official roll for each class. After the official drop-add period, the Registrar's Office issues an official roll for each class which, once verified by the instructor, is to be used to submit to the Registrar's Office any mid-semester deficiencies in accordance with instructions which will come from the Registrar. If a student is attending class and his or her name is not on the class roll, it is extremely important that the faculty member send the student to the Registrar's Office. A final class roll, issued just prior to the end of term, is used for reporting final grades.
Grade Reporting
It is the responsibility of each faculty member to assign and report a grade for each student who is enrolled in class within the specified time listed on the semester calendar. All grades are reported to the Registrar's Office on the official class roll and in accordance with instructions issued by the Registrar. Once a grade is reported it may be changed only by the appropriate faculty member with the approval of the department head. Such changes must be made on the official form provided by the Registrar's Office and available in the office of the department head.
Grade Books
Grade books are to be a part of the official class records of each faculty member. It is a policy of the University that an accurate account be kept in this book of the attendance, grades, and other data of the faculty member's choosing which will give an account of the progress of the student. Grade books should be submitted to the department head if work at the University is completed.
Student Records
The Registrar's Office maintains a current record of each student's academic progress at the University. These records are confidential but accessible to faculty for advisement or other professional purposes. A faculty member desiring to check a student's record should contact the Registrar's Office. Faculty should be familiar with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 and Western's guidelines. (See Appendix of Faculty Handbook)
Absence from Work
All faculty members are expected to meet their classes regularly and promptly at the scheduled time. The department head should be notified immediately of illness, death in the family, or other emergencies necessitating absence of the faculty member from class.
University Closings
Scheduled Closings. Notices of official closings and holidays are presented in the University schedule of classes or provided through official channels.
Hazardous Weather. Only in the most unusual circumstances will the University cancel activities due to weather conditions. In those rare cases when inclement weather or other events should delay or cancel classes, official word is channeled from the Vice President for Academic Affairs to the academic deans and department heads. If in doubt, faculty may contact the appropriate departmental office between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
Departmental Policies
In many cases, individual departments have developed policies and procedures specifically pertaining to part-time faculty. These may include attendance at faculty meetings, voting privileges, student conferences, office hours, or other necessary activities. The department head will communicate specific department policies to the part-time faculty prior to employment.
Orientation
Department heads are responsible for providing orientation and supervision for part-time faculty members. Special attention will be given to the orientation of part-time faculty members during their initial period of employment.
Forwarding Addresses
Part-time faculty should leave changes in addresses and telephone numbers in the departmental offices so that they can be reached easily, if needed, after the semester is completed.
UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES AND MUSEUM
Western Kentucky University Libraries is the third largest academic library system in Kentucky. It includes a central library, the Helm-Cravens Complex, the Educational Resources Center, located on the third floor of Tate Page Hall, the Kentucky Library and Kentucky Museum, both located in the Kentucky Building, the Glasgow Campus Library, located on the WKU-Glasgow Campus and an Extended Campus Library Service providing a toll free number, fax, and mail service to Extended Campus faculty and students throughout Western's service area.
The central library is open 94 1/2 hours per week during the regular fall and spring terms. For hours at branch libraries and during the summer term and interims, contact the specific library.
The University Libraries collections consist of approximately 600,000 books, 100,000 volumes of bound periodicals, 2.4 million microforms, one-half million federal and state documents, and many other materials. Each year the libraries add approximately 11,000 new books. Current serials subscriptions number 5,000. WKU Libraries has been a Federal Depository since 1934.
The libraries offer an array of electronic information resources through CD-ROM, networked and online databases. The Helm Library Electronic Reference area provides access to 65 CD-ROM databases spanning all disciplines. Many of these popular CD-ROM databases are available on WKUNet. FirstSearch, an online reference system comprised of over 50 databases, is available via the Internet and WKUNet to all faculty and graduate students. The libraries' Online Search Service can access over 300 online databases and provide tailored searches to faculty upon request. Call the libraries' Electronic Information Coordinator at 745-6122 for further information.
Access to the collections is provided at TOPCAT, the libraries' online computer catalog, which is accessible via WKUNet or remote Dial-up. For information call the Reference Center at 745-6125. Faculty members with WKU ID cards may check out books from the circulating collections for up to one semester, subject to recall after 14 days if requested by another patron.
Faculty may place materials on reserve for class use in the Helm-Cravens Complex, at the Educational Resources Center or at the Glasgow Campus Library. For information about reserves contact the circulation desk at the appropriate library.
Library faculty who specialize in specific disciplines work with professors to teach the use of the latest information retrieval sources. These resources may include print, non-print, and electronic. The libraries maintain several classrooms for teaching as well as a demonstration CD-ROM lab. For information about the libraries' instruction programs call 745-6168.
Other special services for faculty include: Interlibrary Loan, Document Delivery, a card-activated copier and faculty copy service located on the fourth floor of the Cravens building. Self-directed tours of the Helm-Cravens Complex can be undertaken using the libraries' printed "Walking Tour," or audio-tour. A video series highlighting various units of the libraries is also available.
The Department of Library Special Collections is located in the Kentucky Building and houses the Kentucky Library with 100,000 published rare, out-of-print and other items related to Kentucky and the Ohio Valley; Manuscripts and Archives has more than 3 1/2 million manuscript pages; the Kentucky Museum collection includes art, decorative arts, textiles, folk arts and crafts and Native American materials. These collections support many research and publication projects each year.
For more information or new services visit our World Wide Web page at http://www.msc.wku.edu/Library.
CONCLUSION
We hope part-time faculty will find their more general questions and concerns answered in this Guide. Relevant passages from the Faculty Handbook, the University Bulletin, and the Personnel Policies and Procedures Manual are referenced, and all faculty should familiarize themselves with these documents, which are available in departmental offices. Department heads will also provide information about the programs and policies of specific departments. They can also direct part-time faculty to the appropriate offices and/or officials of the University to receive further help with any concern.
