Summer Office Hours Guideline
Adopted by the Academic Deans Council on May 14, 2008
The long standing process within the University is that each course has office hours attached to it (number of office hours is determined by each college/unit). While the CBA notes that employees can carry out their duties in an appropriate manner and place, there is also the expectation that faculty be available for office hours and other duties and responsibilities that are requested to be performed at specific times and place. Additionally, the CBA requires that summer instructional assignment includes normal activities as per the academic year:
9.4 Summer Assignment.
A. The summer instructional assignment, like that for the academic year, includes
the normal activities related to such an assignment as defined by the department/unit
and the nature of the course, such as course preparation, minor curriculum development,
lectures, evaluation of student efforts, consultations and conferences with students,
and minor committee activities not to exceed more than 12 hours of committee work
for each course taught during summer session.
The following guidelines were created as a tool for implementing the language of the CBA regarding office hours and other duties in the summer for faculty on nine-month contracts.
On Campus Classes
Summer A & B classes – generally meet twice weekly for six (6) weeks. Faculty should be available on campus a minimum of two hours per week (either one hour per class day or two hours once per week) and by appointment. Faculty are expected to consult with their direct supervisor regarding alternative arrangements for office hours due to extenuating circumstances.
Summer C classes – generally meet once per week for ten (10) weeks. Faculty should be available a minimum of two hours per week (either one hour per class day or two hours once per week) and by appointment. Faculty are expected to consult with their direct supervisor regarding alternative arrangements for office hours due to extenuating circumstances.
Distance Learning Classes
By their nature, purely distance learning classes are not required to have on-campus office hours provided that the faculty member is available to students by e-mail and by phone at designated times (either one hour per class day or two hours once per week) or on campus if an appointment is requested. However, if there are specific other duties and responsibilities that are requested to be performed at specific times and place, then the faculty must be available to perform such duties. Consultations and conferences with students, including advisees, may be requested on campus regardless of the format for classes taught.
Other Summer Work
Summer committee work is different from office hours. Faculty shall be available for up to 12 hours of committee work for each course taught during the summer.
