Faculty Handbook Part 5
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Eastern Kentucky University
Faculty Handbook


PART V- INSTRUCTIONAL AND ACADEMIC POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

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CURRICULUM

Institutional Responsibility

The faculty of the University have the responsibility to provide a wide variety of high quality courses and degree programs consistent with the varied interests and abilities of the members of the student body and relevant to the changing nature of society. However, academic program development must be consonant with statutory limits, policies defined by the Board of Regents, financial resources, and faculty and facilities available.

Student Responsibility

Because the offerings of no university are unlimited, before enrolling at Eastern the student should be aware of what courses and programs are offered or being planned and recognize the necessity of making choices within this context.

 

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ACADEMIC ADVISING

Institutional Responsibility

The University has the obligation to provide for every student an academic advisor who has knowledge of the academic programs available and the institution's academic regulations. Faculty members accepting advisory duties shall regard them highly and conduct them in a conscientious and professional manner.

Student Responsibility

Students have an obligation to work closely with their advisors, striving to be cooperative in carrying out instructions and meeting obligations to the advisor with proper regard for advice received.

It is the students' responsibility to become familiar with all regulations and procedures required in the program being pursued. In no case should a student expect waiver or exception to published program requirements by pleading ignorance to the regulation or asserting that an advisor or other authority did not correctly present the information. All students should become familiar with the general academic information section of the appropriate Catalog and the specific college/departmental program requirements.


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INSTRUCTIONAL FACILITIES

Institutional Responsibility

The University should give high priority to the provision of instructional facilities, equipment, and materials which are essential for the success of the teaching learning process.

Student Responsibility

The student has an obligation to utilize instructional facilities, equipment, and materials in a mature and responsible manner free from abuse or wastefulness.

 

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INSTRUCTION

Institutional Responsibility

The University has an obligation to provide faculty members of the highest quality obtainable for each course and to teach each course with the person best suited for it. Each instructor should view the course as a means to a significant educational end; the instruction should relate to the catalog description of the course. The instructor is obligated to update continually the content of the course. The instructor should also strive to employ a variety of techniques for the development of good learning conditions, view each student as a unique individual, and insofar as possible provide for individual differences in abilities and interests.

Student Responsibility

The student has an obligation to perform at the highest level possible in all courses. The student should refrain from taking short cuts and should refuse to participate in any action that is commonly defined as cheating or plagiarism. The University regulations concerning student behavior prohibit disrupting the peace or interfering with classroom or other University activities.

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ACADEMIC CREDIT

The assignment of the amount of academic credit for a course is based on academic tradition, a tradition that is rooted in accreditation standards that at one time were expressed in quantitative terms. Such is the basis for a three semester hour lecture course meeting the equivalent of three fifty minute periods each week for approximately sixteen weeks. The model followed in science courses has the same basis recognizing that part of a course will usually be lecture and part will be laboratory. The amount of time apportioned to lecture and to laboratory will vary depending on the nature of the course. A third traditional model is found in such fields as agriculture, industrial education and technology, and home economics. For most three semester hour courses in these fields, students meet for "double periods," twice the number of contact hours required for a three semester hour lecture course.

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INSTITUTIONAL EXPECTATIONS FOR CLASS PREPARATION ON THE PART OF STUDENTS

Lower Division Courses: Minimum of two hours of outside preparation for every hour of lecture.

Upper Division Courses: Minimum of three hours of outside preparation for every hour of lecture.

Graduate Level Courses: Minimum of four hours of outside preparation for every hour of lecture.

Courses with laboratory or clinical components or lecture/laboratory courses that meet for "double periods" may have reduced expectations for outside preparation and study. Syllabi for such courses, as for all other courses, should indicate the minimum expectations for outside preparation and study.

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SYLLABUS POLICY

Each course and each section of each course must have a complete syllabus. A complete syllabus consisting of the elements listed below shall be placed on file in the office of the department chair and shall be distributed to students not later than the second meeting of the course. Multi section courses must have at least some common course objectives. Some instructors or some departments may prefer to rearrange the order or combine certain elements; for example, E. and F. could be effectively combined in some cases.

Elements for a Complete Syllabus

  1. Department, prefix, number, title, and credit hours.
  2. Catalog course description, including prerequisites. This element is necessary only if the course is new or the description has been revised since the publication of the latest Catalog.
  3. Text(s) with dates, supplemental text(s), other required readings and references.
  4. Course objectives.
  5. Course outline--a topical outline indicating subject matter, scope, contents, and an approximate time schedule.
  6. Course requirements--required activities, papers, quizzes, exams, oral reports, special projects, field trips, labs, etc. An approximate time schedule for these requirements must be included.
  7. Additional requirements for graduate students in 700 level classes taught concurrently with 500 level classes.
  8. Evaluation method(s) and relative weight of each course requirement.
  9. Student Progress - the syllabus will describe a mechanism by which the instructor will provide students with written information on their progress in the course at least once prior to the mid-point of the course.
  10. Attendance policy.
  11. Notification of the last day to drop the course if the course starts or stops on nonstandard dates.

All faculty should include the following standardized statement on the course syllabi. It is important to use this standardized statement in order to establish consistency between individual instructors, departments, colleges and other University offices.

If you are registered with the Office of Services for Individuals with Disabilities, please make an appointment with the course instructor to discuss any academic accommodations you need. If you need academic accommodations and are not registered with the Office of Services for Individuals with Disabilities, please contact the Office on the third floor of the Student Services Building, by email at disserv@eku.edu or by telephone at (859) 622-2933 V/TDD. Upon individual request, this syllabus can be made available in alternative forms.

It is important to keep in mind that at least one out of every ten students has some type of disability. Those students who request accommodations will need to self-identify with the Offices of Services for Students with Disabilities and provide appropriate documentation concerning the stated disability. Including the exact wording of the above statement in course syllabi is important because: 1) it invites students with disabilities to self identify, 2) it makes no promises for particular accommodations, but it allows a campus wide policy and process to take place concerning the determination of accommodations, 3) it discourages students from presenting documentation directly to faculty, and 4) it indicates that faculty are willing to work with students who are officially registered with the disabilities office. When students do make an appointment to discuss academic accommodations, faculty can and should ask for the "letter of accommodation" issued by the Office of Services for Students with Disabilities.

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STUDENT OPINION OF INSTRUCTION

  1. Each academic department shall be given primary responsibility of administering the IDEA Evaluation Program and/or another evaluation questionnaire for student opinion of instruction chosen by the department.
  2. Student opinion of instruction is required for all full time, tenured and nontenured faculty including administrators who teach.
  3. All full time, nontenured faculty members shall have the IDEA or other systematic student opinion questionnaire administered in at least two fall semester classes and two spring semester classes each year. These shall be four different courses when possible.
  4. All full time, tenured faculty members shall have the IDEA or other systematic student opinion questionnaire administered in at least one fall semester class and one spring semester class each year. These shall be two different courses when possible.
  5. Student questionnaires, in addition to those mentioned in Items 3 and 4 above, may be required by the academic department.
  6. Student opinion questionnaires shall be administered at a time chosen by the instructor, provided that it is after midterm and prior to final examination week.
  7. Student opinion questionnaires shall not be administered by nor in the presence of the instructor. The instructor shall have no access to the completed questionnaires or answer sheets (including any written student comments) until the semester has officially ended.
  8. The Office of Institutional Research shall be responsible for acquisition, distribution, and security of the IDEA evaluation forms and the appended questionnaire and for distribution of IDEA evaluation reports and appended questionnaire reports.
  9. Departments using the IDEA Program may decide to use either the long or short forms of that instrument.
  10. An additional sheet of paper on which students may add comments will be provided to each student evaluator.
  11. For departments choosing that instrument, IDEA shall furnish two copies of the Diagnostic Summary Report. The Office of Institutional shall distribute one copy to the instructor and one copy to the chair of the department in which the instructor teaches.
  12. Each department chair shall maintain a file on each instructor containing either IDEA diagnostic reports or other student opinion instruments for at least the last three years of employment, and this file shall be routinely submitted to departmental promotion and tenure and merit pay committees at the time for consideration of these matters. The file shall also be made available to the college promotion and tenure committee upon the request of either the instructor or the committee.
  13. Each instructor shall have access to his/her own student opinion file and each semester shall have the opportunity to add to the student opinion file his/her own written interpretation of the student opinion results.
  14. In addition to student opinion of instruction, each department shall use a systematic method of assessing teaching performance. This method shall include a consideration of the perspectives of students, colleagues, and supervisors and shall be clearly defined and communicated in the department merit pay policy -- for example, peer review, alumni survey, or administrative evaluation, etc.
  15. In addition to the student opinion or other systematic student questionnaire, each department shall use a systematic method of assessing teaching effectiveness for each instructor--for example, peer review, alumni survey, or administrative evaluation, etc.
  16. Each college shall establish procedures for aiding instructors who have been identified as having substandard instructional skills and for helping instructors who, although adequate in their teaching effectiveness, wish to improve.
  17. Matters relating to this evaluation system not covered in the above provisions are left to the discretion of the various departments.
  18. Funds for administration of the IDEA program and/or other student opinion questionnaires chosen by academic departments shall be provided, upon reasonable request, by the University through the Office of Institutional Research.
  19. Specific Procedures for IDEA Administration adopted earlier shall remain in effect for those departments choosing that instrument.
  20. Faculty with unusual teaching loads (e.g., those teaching predominantly private lessons) should work out a process of evaluation which is in keeping with the spirit of this set of policies. This must be done at the department level with the advice and consent of the dean of the college.

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FACULTY RESPONSIBILITY FOR ENGLISH COMPOSITION

To ensure that graduates of Eastern Kentucky University possess important communications skills, the faculty and Board of Regents have approved a University Writing Requirement. It is the responsibility of all faculty to include written work and to stress the importance of writing effectively (insofar as this is compatible with the objectives of the course and the limitations of time and physical resources).

It is the responsibility of every faculty member to require that written work be submitted in Standard English.

It is consistent with the objectives of the University and with fair grading practices that English usage be considered, to a suitable extent, in evaluating course work. Each instructor shall explain to each class the extent to which this policy will be applied.

It is the responsibility of all faculty to be attentive to obviously ineffective writers and advise such students to work on writing skills by self study; by work in the Writing/Reading Center; or by taking, retaking, or auditing courses in composition, such as English 106, Writing Workshop. This applies especially to students who may have passed their composition courses but who do not have the necessary skills or fail to apply them.

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ACADEMIC FREEDOM FOR STUDENTS

Institutional Responsibility

The faculty have the responsibility to develop a campus wide intellectual climate conducive to free expression and exploration of ideas. More specifically, academic freedom for students includes the following: freedom to read anything relevant to the intellectual task at hand; freedom to hear expressed a wide range of viewpoints; and freedom to express beliefs, to discuss, and to disagree with other students and with instructors on matters of opinion.

Each instructor is obligated to differentiate between fact and opinion; to strive conscientiously to introduce students to a wide range of viewpoints in readings assigned, presentations, audiovisual materials, and outside speakers; to develop within the classroom conditions which encourage students to express themselves without fear of embarrassment by the instructor or other students; to guard against intimidation and the creation of fear of reprisal which inhibits student expression of opinions differing from those of the instructor.

Student Responsibility

Because freedom of ideas is so basic and essential to the purpose of the university in a free society, student responsibility in this area is especially significant. If the provision of conditions which make possible free consideration of ideas is to have meaning, students must avail themselves of the opportunity to read, hear, and carefully consider various points of view and strive to reach at least tentative conclusions based on the best available evidence and consistent with a defensible and coherent system of values. Freedom to teach and freedom to learn are inescapable facets of academic freedom. The freedom to learn depends upon appropriate opportunities and conditions in the classroom, on the campus, and in the larger community.

Responsibility is a necessary corollary of freedom, and students should therefore exercise their freedom with responsibility. Any action which has the effect of stifling free expression of differing points of view or which is disruptive of efforts to present a wide variety of opinion is contrary to student academic freedom. Moreover, it should be understood that academic freedom implies the responsibility to treat all persons with courtesy and consideration.

Eastern Kentucky University provides a variety of laboratory experiences through student publications. The Student Publications Board and the Eastern Progress Advisory Board have been established to provide appropriate institutional and professional involvement in these activities. Academic and support units coordinate the institutional support of these publications, but do not govern the content. The courts have consistently held that where a tradition of student decision making exist in student publications, those publications are afforded Constitutional First Amendment protection as other publications. Concomitant with those rights, go certain responsibilities, which also accrue to the student publications.

Accordingly, the responsibility for the content of the publications is that of the student editors and writers, and not Eastern Kentucky University or its Board of Regents.

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EVALUATION

Institutional Responsibility

Each instructor has an obligation to evaluate the academic achievement of students in a manner consistent with the following statements of the purposes and principles of grading.

Purposes of Grading

The purposes of grading are to define and communicate the level of educational achievement, to motivate students to greater effort, and to appraise the effectiveness of teaching methods.

Principles of Grading

Grading should be directly related to the objectives of the course. Grades assigned should reflect the relative level of attainment of objectives. The grading system should take into account the emphasis given to the various objectives of the course.

Students shall be informed in writing, no later than the second class meeting, of the course objectives and the procedure to be used in determining grades.

Grades should be based upon a combination of several factors for higher validity and more effective evaluation. Every effort should be made to make measurement valid, reliable, and objective. Grading should be based on understanding rather than belief.

Evaluation should be consistent with accepted norms for the institution. Evaluation should be an integral part of the teaching learning process; hence, the necessity for students having knowledge of progress during the course. Student personality should not be a factor in grading except where clearly relevant to stated course objectives. In all sections of a multi section course, evaluations should be consistent with accepted norms for the course.


Grading System

Letter Grades
Grades, which are represented by letters, are given point values as indicated:

Grade
 Meaning
Grade Points Per Hour
A
Excellent
4.00
B
Good
3.00
C
Average
2.00
D
Poor
1.00
F
Failure
0.00
I
Incomplete
0.00
IM
Incomplete Due To Military Activation
0.00
P
Passing
0.00
S
Passing
0.00
U
Failure
0.00
W
Withdraw
0.00
WM
Withdraw Due To Military Activation
0.00
AU
Audit
0.00
CR
Credit Only
0.00
IC
Incomplete Correspondence
0.00
IP
In Progress
0.00
NC
No Credit
0.00
NR
No Reported
0.00

Specific grade requirements are to be interpreted precisely as stated. Thus, if a requirement specifies that a grade of at least "C" is required, a "C-" will not satisfy the requirement. If it is intended that "C-" is to be allowed, "C-" will be listed rather than "C." This applies to all specific grade requirements.

The grade point average (GPA) is based on those courses in which a student earned grades of "A," "B," "C," "D," "F," or "U." To calculate the GPA, one first figures the number of hours attempted in courses numbered 100 or above that award any of these grades. Next, one obtains the total grade points for each of these courses. This is figured by multiplying the grade points for each grade by the number of credit hours of the course. For example, a student earning a "B" in ENG 101, a three hour course, would earn nine grade points. Finally, the total grade points are divided by the hours attempted. To meet graduation requirements of at least a 2.0 GPA, students must earn at least twice as many grade points as they have hours attempted.

An instructor shall assign a grade of "I" if the instructor believes that the student has been unable to complete the course on time because of unavoidable conditions. The student must complete such a course by the end of the next full length (i.e., fall or spring) term. If the student does not do so, the "I" grade becomes an "F."

Instructors may assign a grade of "IP" in certain approved courses in which it might reasonably take students more than a single semester to complete all requirements. A student assigned an "IP" grade for internship, practicum, or self paced courses must complete requirements within the calendar year after the "IP" is awarded to receive credit. If requirements are not completed, the Registrar will change the "IP" grade to "NC" (NO CREDIT), and the student must register again for the course to receive credit.

The current edition of the Undergraduate Catalog, Section Four--General Academic Information, contains a detailed explanation of the pass fail option, credit by examination, and the policy on repeating courses.

Changing of Grades

The change of grade form now available on the "Q" drive must be used, and the signatures of the instructor, department chair, and dean must appear on the form, except for the change of an "I" grade, which requires only the instructor's signature. A grade of "I" must be made complete within one term. If the student does not complete the course within the next term (excluding intersession and summer terms), the "I" grade becomes an "F." It is the responsibility of the Dean of the College to verify that late changes are made only under unusual circumstances and to counsel faculty who do not adhere to the deadlines.

Once a degree has been posted to the transcript, changes will not be made to courses and/or grades earned prior to the posted degree.

All grade changes must be made by the following deadlines: for fall semester grades the last day of the following spring semester; for spring, and summer semester grades the last day of the following fall semester.

Grade change forms must be brought to the Registrar's Office by the instructors because these forms are accessible to students and because instructors' signatures cannot always be identified. An optional method may be for the dean of the college to have grade change forms mailed from the dean's office to the Registrar. Consult with the dean of the college for participation and procedures.

Drop and Withdrawal

Courses dropped during the first week of classes of a regular semester will not appear on the grade report sent to the student, nor will the courses be put on the transcript. However, the student must make schedule change via the web, or an "F" will be given in the course.

A student who drops a course after the beginning of the second week through the midpoint of the course (check the part-of-term dates list distributed to chairs) will be assigned the grade "W," which will appear on the student's grade report and transcript. A student who stops attending after the midpoint of the course will be assigned an "F."

A student who is assigned a grade of "F" in a course because of academic dishonesty will not be permitted to drop the course.

Mid-term Grades

Faculty will provide mid-term grades via the Banner system for all students in undergraduate credit full semester courses by the end of the seventh week, or one week before the withdrawal deadline. In the case of non-standard courses, faculty will enter mid-term grades by the midpoint of the course and before the course drop date. Mid-term grades are not required for 700 and 800 level classes.

Military Withdrawal

Any student called to active duty during a semester may give the Office of the Registrar (SSB CPO 58) a copy of the orders and a "Military Withdrawal" will be entered on the student's current enrollment that generates a 100% refund.

Should the student work with the professor to take an incomplete; there is a Military Incomplete that allows the student two years from deactivation to complete the course. A copy of the activation orders along with direct notification from the professor that s/he is willing to work with the student on the incomplete need to be submitted to the Office of the Registrar. It is recommended that an incomplete not be given unless there is just a small portion of the work to be completed (a paper or final for example). It should not be given in a situation where half the course is still to be finished. Additional information is available at www.academicaffairs.eku.edu/docs/sept2001/militarywithdrawal.php

Institutional Recourse in the Event of Student Failure

Academic penalty should not be imposed upon the student for nonacademic infractions of University regulations. This principle does not compromise the right of the University to suspend or dismiss a student for nonacademic reason.

  1. Meeting course and degree requirements

    Instructors have the responsibility to denote student failure to meet minimum course requirements by the assignment of a failing grade. College deans and faculties have the responsibility to refrain from recommending for a degree any student who does not meet the requirements thereof.

  2. Academic Honesty Policy

    Eastern Kentucky University faculty and students are bonded by principles of truth and honesty which are recognized as fundamental for a community of teachers and scholars. The University expects that students will honor and that faculty will honor and enforce these principles which contribute to a foundation upon which a quality education can be built. With this premise, the University affirms that it will not tolerate academic dishonesty

    1. Plagiarism
      Plagiarism is the act of presenting ideas, words, or organization of a source (published or not) as if they were one's own, without acknowledgment of the source. Since university instructors assume material presented by students is their own unless otherwise indicated, all quoted material must be in quotation marks, and all paraphrases, quotations, significant ideas, and organization must be acknowledged by footnotes or by some other form of documentation acceptable to the instructor for the course. Plagiarism also includes presenting material which was composed or revised by any person other than the student who submits it, as well as the deliberate falsification of footnotes. The use of the term "material" refers to work in any form including written, oral, or electronic (as in the case of computer files).
    2. Cheating
      Cheating includes buying, stealing, or otherwise fraudulently obtaining copies of examinations or assignments for the purpose of improving one's academic standing. During examinations or in-class work, it includes receiving information from others and referring to unauthorized notes or other unauthorized information. In addition, copying from others, either during examinations or in the preparation of homework assignments, is a form of cheating.

      Computers should not be used to acquire or provide information in conflict with the academic honesty policy. Furthermore, the Code of Ethics for Computing and Communications makes it the responsibility of computer users to keep information, data, and programs in their computer accounts secure from others.
    3. Co-Responsibility
      Anyone who knowingly assists in any form of academic dishonesty shall be considered as guilty as the student who accepts such assistance. Students should not allow their work to be copied or otherwise used by fellow students, nor should they sell or give unauthorized copies of examinations to other students.
    4. Institutional Procedures
      In instances of academic dishonesty, the instructor shall confront the student as soon as possible. The instructor may take any of four sanctions, depending on the seriousness of the infraction:
      1. The instructor may assign a failing grade for the assignment;
      2. The instructor may assign a failing grade for the course, in which case the instructor shall notify the chair of the department, the dean of the college in which the course is offered, the dean of the college of the student's major, the Dean of Graduate Studies and Research, if appropriate, and the Registrar;
      3. The instructor may refer the matter to the departmental committee on academic practices for consideration and possible referral to the Student Disciplinary Council;
      4. If the student is assigned a grade of "F" and the instructor thinks the matter is serious enough, the instructor may submit the case to the departmental committee on academic practices with the recommendation that the student, if otherwise eligible, not be permitted to graduate with honors. This recommendation shall be made no later than the date on which the faculty member submits to the Registrar the grade report on which the "F" for plagiarism or cheating is assigned. At the time the recommendation is submitted to the academic practices committee, the Registrar shall be informed that the recommendation has been submitted.

        If the departmental committee on academic practices decides that the offense is serious enough to prohibit the student from being graduated with honors, the case shall be submitted to the Student Disciplinary Council for review. If the Student Disciplinary Council concurs with the departmental academic practices committee that the student should be prohibited from being graduated with honors, the chair of the Student Disciplinary Council shall inform the Registrar in writing. The Registrar shall keep a list of students prohibited from being graduated with honors because of plagiarism or cheating and shall check the graduation list for names of such students.

    5. Further Actions
      Students who are assigned a grade of "F" in a course due to academic dishonesty will not be permitted to drop the course.

      If a student fails more than one course as a result of academic dishonesty, the dean of the college of the student's major shall refer the case directly to the Student Disciplinary Council for further action.

Recourse for the Student in the Event of Institutional Failure

Any student who has reason to believe that a member of the University faculty has failed to carry out institutional responsibilities should discuss the matter with the person most directly involved. Almost all such problems can be resolved in this manner.

  1. Recourse for Student Appealing a Grade
    1. If a student wishes to appeal a course grade, the procedure below should be followed:
      1. The student should consult with the instructor, seeking a satisfactory explanation.
      2. If, after consulting with the instructor, the student believes that a grievance exists, the student may present a complaint in writing outlining the basis of the grievance to the department chair within 30 days after the beginning of the next semester, exclusive of summer session. The department chair shall consider the matter in consultation with the instructor and the student and exercise influence towards mediation.
      3. If the grievance remains unsettled, the department chair shall as soon as practicable refer the matter to the departmental committee on academic practices composed of the department chair, two members of the department elected by the faculty thereof (with one alternate member to serve in the event that one of the regular members is the person against whom the complaint has been lodged), and one student member chosen by the department chair. All members of the committee shall have voting privileges. In cases where the department has an insufficient number of faculty members to make the above procedure workable, the Provost and Vice-President for Academic Affairs and the dean of the college in which the course is offered shall appoint an appropriate committee.
    2. Meetings of the departmental academic practices committee shall be scheduled at a mutually agreed-upon time, when all relevant parties can reasonably be expected to participate. A student who has agreed to a time for a meeting of the departmental academic practices committee and who does not appear at that meeting may forfeit the right to present evidence beyond that furnished in the original letter of appeal.
    3. After considering the evidence and any rebuttals submitted by the student and/or the instructor, the committee shall make a decision which shall be binding. All parties shall be informed of this decision within ten working days.
    4. Appeals from the committee's decision may be made on procedural grounds only and must be made within 20 days following notification of the departmental committee decision. Such an appeal should be made to the dean of the college in which the course is offered and, if necessary, then to the Provost and Vice-president for Academic Affairs.
  2. Recourse in the Event of Other Institutional Failure
    If a student believes there has been some type of breach of policy not covered above, the student should first attempt to resolve the matter with the person most directly involved. If the student is unable to gain satisfaction at this point, or if the matter so justifies, the student should register a detailed complaint, oral or written, with the immediate supervisor of the person in question.

In the event that satisfaction is not obtained, following established procedure, the student or faculty member may make a full report to the dean of the college or head of the other administrative unit and/or the Provost and Vice-president for Academic Affairs.

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ACADEMIC RECORDS

Institutional Responsibility

Accurate records of the academic performance of each student are to be maintained. Such records are to be regarded as confidential, with access on a "need to know" basis by the faculty advisor and appropriate administrative officials. Transcripts of a student's record are not to be provided to agencies outside the University without the consent of the student, except at the discretion of the Registrar in accordance with the ethical practices of the profession.

Confidentiality of Student Records

The University has developed a policy for the implementation of the Family Education and Privacy Act of 1974 (The Buckley Amendment). This policy appears in the Undergraduate Catalog. In summary, it provides that only directory type information about students, such as name, address, and dates of enrollment can be made public without the permission of the student. Consequently, the posting or other distribution of academic records, such as grades, may not be done in such a way that the identity of an individual student is discernible to anyone except the student.

Student Responsibility

Students have the responsibility to provide full and accurate information necessary for the maintenance of valid academic records. Submission of false information, failure to submit information, or alteration of official records are irresponsible acts subject to appropriate action by the University. Students are obligated to respect the confidentiality of the records of their peers.

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WAIVER OF ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS

Institutional Responsibility

To maintain the integrity of the University's academic programs, special criteria for admission to certain courses and curricula must be set, minimum requirements for retention of student status must be defined [see the UNDERGRADUATE CATALOG and the GRADUATE CATALOG], and requirements for completion of curricula and awarding of degrees must be set. For such standards to be meaningful, they must be realistic, and adherence to them is presumed. However, in recognition of the fact that there may be extenuating circumstances or compensating factors in a particular case, students may appeal through normal academic administrative channels.

Student Responsibility

So that academic standards may be protected and applied in an effective and reasonable manner, each student has the obligation to request an exception to the requirements only if the circumstances are extremely unusual and compelling. Likewise, the student is obligated to follow the appeals procedures specified and not seek to circumvent them.

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STUDENT REPRESENTATION ON ACADEMIC COMMITTEES

Institutional Responsibility

To provide for definite and effective student participation in the determination and continuing reevaluation of academic policies, students shall be represented on the major standing committees and councils concerned with academic matters, such as college curriculum committees, the Committee on General Education, the Committee on Teacher Education, the Graduate Council, and the Council on Academic Affairs. Student appointments shall be made according to the following procedure:

  1. There shall be two student members appointed to each committee by the President of the University for one year terms of office.
  2. Appointees shall be selected from a list of nominees submitted to the President of the University by the Student Senate. No fewer than two persons shall be nominated for each appointment to be made. The President of the University shall have the privilege of requesting additional nominations in the event that suitable appointments cannot be made from the original list.
  3. For those committees with limited curricular responsibilities, the students appointed shall be enrolled in programs over which the respective committees exercise jurisdiction (i.e., college curriculum committees shall have students enrolled in the appropriate colleges; the Graduate Council shall have graduate students appointed as members).

Student Responsibility

Students who accept appointment to committees assume the following obligations:

  1. To strive to discern and to reflect the concerns of the student body about academic matters;
  2. To become knowledgeable about matters under consideration;
  3. To participate actively and constructively in recommending and reviewing proposals; and
  4. To share responsibility for decisions which are made.

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UNIVERSITY ATTENDANCE POLICY

Regular class attendance is expected of all students. Each instructor must adhere to the attendance policy established by the department committee on academic practices and approved by the college dean.

Faculty members scheduling activities which will necessitate their students being absent from other classes shall:

  1. Secure approval of the activity by the department chair, college dean, and by the Assistant Vice President for Enrollment Management.
  2. Distribute to their students copies of the Students Absence for University Activity Form provided on the Q-drive/Department.

Students who are to be absent for participation in activities approved by the Assistant Vice President for Enrollment Management shall show their instructors the official notice of such approval. Such notice does not constitute an excuse from meeting course requirements, but rather it is an explanation of the fact that the activity has been approved as legitimate use of the school day. In the case of such absence, the student should be provided an opportunity to make up class work missed as is feasible.

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FINAL EXAMINATIONS

Final examination schedules are prepared in the Office of the Registrar. Faculty members are expected to adhere to the examination schedule. Any deviation from the printed examination schedule must have the approval of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs.

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RESCHEDULING OF A FINAL EXAMINATION

If a student is scheduled for more than three final examinations on the same day, the student may request through the college dean that the examinations in excess of three be rescheduled.

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PRE FINAL EXAMINATION WEEK POLICY

No major examinations or assignments shall be given during the week preceding final examinations. Exceptions must be approved by the department chair and be shown in the course syllabus.

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POLICY REGARDING CLASS MEETINGS

All classes, including the first, are expected to meet for the full scheduled period. Students should be aware that they will be held accountable for course work covered during all class periods.

For lecture type classes, at least 12.5 clock hours of contact are required per credit hour. Before the class formally ends, at least one calendar week per credit hour must pass to allow time for reflection and analysis.

At least 25 clock hours of contact are required per credit hour for laboratory courses (as identified in the catalog) or other courses in which emphasis is on experiential activity or skills development.

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PROCEDURES FOR DEALING WITH DISRUPTIVE STUDENTS

At Eastern Kentucky University, faculty are committed to providing a positive learning environment. Faculty are strongly encouraged to clearly communicate their guidelines for classroom behavior to all students. At times, students are disruptive in academic settings. In response to these situations, the following two policies set forth suggested guidelines faculty should follow to effectively deal with this disruptive behavior.

General Regulations Concerning Student Behavior, stated in the University Handbook for Students, specify possible disciplinary action for students who are endangering or harassing. Paragraph one states endangering or threatening to endanger life, health, safety or property is a violation of University regulations. The first policy deals with these types of situations.

General Regulations Concerning Student Behavior, Paragraph 13 states that a student cannot disrupt the peace or interfere with classroom or other university activities. The second policy noted below deals with these issues.

If there are any questions regarding these policies, please contact Office of Student Judicial Affairs, Turley House 1, Ext. 21500.

Eastern Kentucky University Faculty Guidelines for Dealing with
Disruptive Student Behavior in Academic Settings


**Paragraph 1 of General Regulations Concerning Student Behavior

Endangering or threatening to endanger life, health, safety, or property

Paragraph 3 of General Regulations Concerning Student Behavior
Engaging in a course of conduct which is intended to harass, seriously annoy or alarm another person

If faculty feel endangered or threatened by a student in an academic setting, the faculty should:

  1. Attempt to de-escalate the situation by calmly talking to the student;
  2. Request the student to leave;
  3. Dismiss the class;
  4. Walk out of the classroom with other individuals to a secure place (office, place with other individuals, main lobby, etc.);
  5. Call 911

After Public Safety arrives, they will:

  1. Assess the situation and take appropriate action;
  2. Conduct an initial investigation;
  3. Document the incident, including taking your statements and the statement of witnesses;
  4. Provide needed escort or other service;

After the incident:

Public Safety may take further action, including but not limited to:
  1. Continue the investigation.
  2. Case may be forwarded to Student Judicial Affairs Office. Your testimony may be required at a hearing.
  3. File criminal charges OR assist you in filing criminal charges.
  4. Document the incident and transmit copy to Student Judicial Affairs Office and to Department Chair. Documentation should briefly cover who, where, what, when, and witnesses.
Incidents such as these may result in administrative and/or criminal actions.

In the event that a student presents a clear and present danger to the University community, the President may impose such measures as are necessary to protect the student, the University Community, University property, and/or the ongoing activities of the University.

** The Minger Act requires reporting of all crimes to Public Safety covered by Paragraph 1 by faculty acting as agents of the University. Revised 7/9/03

Eastern Kentucky University Faculty Guidelines for Dealing with
Disruptive Student Behavior in Academic Settings


Paragraph 13 of General Regulations Concerning Student Behavior
Disrupting the peace or interfering with classroom or other University activities

If a student's behavior is disruptive and interfering with the learning process, the faculty should:

  1. Attempt to de-escalate the situation by calmly talking to the student;
  2. If the conduct persists, the faculty should document the behavior;
    1. Faculty have the option of removing student for one class period;
  3. If the conduct persists, a written report of behavior should be forwarded to the
    Department Chair:
    1. Report should briefly cover who, where, what, when, and witnesses;
    2. Only behavior should be documented;
    3. State what the faculty has done to set guidelines for future behavior.
  4. The Chair should promptly meet with the faculty and student separately;
  5. If the Chair believes that the situation cannot be remedied, the Chair has the following options, including but not limited to:
    1. Immediate removal of student from that class/lab for one class period;
    2. Transfer of student to alternative section/course;
    3. Referral to Counseling Center;
    4. Referral to Student Judicial Affairs for possible disciplinary action;
  6. The Chair needs to document the meetings with faculty and student and also document compliance with remedial options.
Note: The faculty always have the right to refer the situation to Student Judicial Affairs regardless of the Chair's decision.

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COUNSELING CENTER

The staff of professional psychologists and counselors offers consultation to faculty regarding mental health issues as it relates to their students. The counselors also offer psycho educational programs in the classroom for faculty upon request. Referral services are available to faculty who request psychological counseling.

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TEXTBOOKS

The Textbook Manager shall be notified by the department chair of textbooks to be used in all courses to be offered according to the following schedule:

Fall Semester April 1
Spring Semester October 1
Summer Session March 1

It is assumed that textbooks will not normally be changed after these dates.

The department chair shall approve a proposed change in textbooks. A textbook should be used at least two semesters before a change is made and then only for substantial reasons. Notice of intention to change a textbook should be sent to the Textbook Manager; EKU Bookstore Keen Johnson.

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USE OF FACULTY AUTHORED MATERIALS

Faculty are encouraged to develop texts and other materials for classroom use. To avoid a potential conflict of interest, faculty may receive profits or royalties for such materials used at Eastern Kentucky University only if the use of the material is approved by a department committee elected by the full time faculty in the department. The faculty member involved may not serve on the committee.

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LIBRARY SERVICES TO THE FACULTY

The John Grant Crabbe Library, with the Thomas and Hazel Little Addition, is centrally located on the campus in a complex that also houses the University Building, the Madison County & Eastern Kentucky Law Library, and a large computer lab. Branch Libraries are located in the Foster Building (Music) and in the Stratton Building (Justice & Safety).

The mission of EKU Libraries is to positively affect the success of students, faculty and staff at Eastern Kentucky University in reaching their educational and intellectual goals by providing timely and relevant instruction, resources, and services. The Dean of Libraries is the chief administrative officer of the library and reports to the Provost and Vice-president for Academic Affairs.

The University Library Committee is appointed by the President and acts as an advisory body to the Dean of Libraries. The committee represents the faculty and aids the Dean in the formulation of library policy, makes suggestions for improvements, and interprets policies and procedures to the faculty.

Information on the Collections and Services, plus links to many online resources, are found on the Web at www.library.eku.edu.

Faculty Book Loans

All books in general circulation check out to faculty for 120 days. However, should a book be requested by another patron, the item may be recalled by the library after 2 weeks. Popular reading materials circulate for 14 days. All books may be renewed (maximum of two times) in person, by phone, or via the online catalog (eQuest).


The Library has a no-fine policy. Enjoy it, but remember--faculty members will receive a bill for replacement charges if the materials are not returned or renewed within 4 weeks of the due date. A hold may be placed on the faculty member's record, preventing the individual from checking out library materials and withholding interlibrary loan privileges until the issue is resolved.

Proxy Borrowing

EKU faculty may authorize assistants to charge out Library materials on their behalf. These assistants must be employed by the University or be registered students. Under this arrangement, the faculty member agrees to be responsible for any materials borrowed on their behalf, including the return of all materials or the payment of replacement charges for items that are lost or damaged. Proxy authorization may be granted for up to one academic year, and may be renewed as necessary. The authorization form is on the library's web page or can be picked up at the Circulation Desk.

Borrowing privileges for spouses and children of EKU faculty

Spouses of faculty members and their children in the 8th grade and above can obtain a non-university borrower's card. Library materials will have a loan period of two weeks with a limit of three books. Spouses can obtain a borrower's card by presenting a picture I.D. at the Circulation Desk. To obtain a card for your child:

  1. You must sign a permission slip in which you acknowledge responsibility for any charges incurred by your child at EKU Libraries.
  2. If your child incurs charges sufficient to block his/her borrowing privileges, your library privileges will also be blocked until the matter is resolved.

Interlibrary Loans

Books and journal articles not held in the EKU libraries may be obtained from other libraries through Interlibrary Loan. Both students and faculty are eligible to request loans. The library absorbs all charges. Requests can be placed from the library's home page, by email, or in the library at the Research Desk or the Interlibrary Loan office. Full bibliographic details should be given to speed the processing of your requests.

Electronic Resources

EKU Library provides many online resources, including eQuest, our online catalog. Many journals are available full-text through the databases or as e-journals. For a complete list of journals we purchase in electronic formats, see the library's home page. All of these resources are available to off-campus users. Your library liaison can help you with the linking of these and other resources to your course pages.

Course Reserves

The EKU Libraries maintains a Course Reserve collection comprised of books, journal articles, and other class related materials in paper or electronic format. These items support the instructional requirements of specific courses and are placed on reserve at the request of the faculty member. Reserves may be checked out of the library for short periods of time, or accessed electronically, by EKU students, faculty, or staff. Information and forms may be obtained at the Circulation/Reserve desk or on the library's home page.

Library Liaisons

The Libraries have developed a liaison program to better serve academic departments. Each department or college has been assigned at least one member of the library faculty to provide tailored services to the faculty in the department. Services can include research consultation, development of research assignments for classes, assistance with linking library resources to course pages, classroom instruction, database tutorials for faculty members or their classes, collection development, and maintenance of regular hours within the department. A list of library liaisons is available on the library's web page.

Library Instruction

EKU librarians provide library instruction to acquaint faculty and students with library materials and services. The library's instruction program offers options that range from a basic presentation for freshman orientation classes to a hands-on introduction to electronic resources that specifically meet the needs of a research assignment. Librarians are available to assist faculty members with adapting these and other options to their particular courses. To schedule library instruction for a class, please contact your library liaison or the Library Instruction office.

Ordering Library Resources

Requests for the ordering of books, and other materials for the library should generally be cleared through the department chair or the designated faculty representative. Order forms are available on the library's web page, as are ordering tools such as Books in Print, useful for obtaining authors, titles, publication dates, pricing, and edition information. Faculty members are welcome to recommend book purchases outside of their own field of expertise.

Requests for new journal subscriptions may be submitted at any time but are generally ordered, funds permitting, in late summer or early fall. If an online version of a journal is available, the library will typically order that format. Duplicate subscriptions of print and online versions are usually not approved. Request forms are available on the web or from the Periodicals department or the Serials Acquisitions department. Because of their high cost, careful attention is given to the written documentation describing the faculty member's need for a new journal title.

Faculty Study

Reserved study areas are available in the EKU Libraries for private study or research by EKU faculty. Seating is limited - space is assigned for the academic year in the order that requests are received. Requests should be made to the Circulation Department staff by September 1, if possible.

Special Services to Off-Campus Faculty and Students

The Distance Education librarian provides informational and instructional support to faculty and students involved in off-campus classes at EKU Centers or at other locations. Students may request specific books, journal articles, or research assistance. The requested information is then mailed to the home or delivered (faxed or couriered) to their Center library at no cost to the student. Faculty are eligible for all services normally provided to support instruction, including the placement of reserved items in the Center library or on the web, library instruction sessions in the off-campus classroom, interlibrary loan services, etc.

EKU Library maintains a small collection of print resources in each Center, which includes basic reference books and periodicals. Almost all of the Library's electronic resources are accessible from computers in the Centers, as well as from the homes of students and faculty in the distance education programs. Details are available from the Distance Education librarian and on the library's web pages.

University Archives

Special Collections and Archives operate as a unit within the Eastern Kentucky University Libraries. Its mission is to collect and make accessible for teaching and research purposes selected publications, manuscripts, institutional records, photographs, film and other historical material of enduring value that document Kentucky history. The materials collected focus generally on Eastern's twenty-two county service region, and the history of Eastern Kentucky University, but also include published material by Kentucky authors and about Kentucky. Faculty should send two copies of their published monographs to the University Archives where one will be preserved and one will be made available for general circulation.

Special Collections and Archives at Eastern functions in three main areas: university records; rare books and selected monographs; and manuscript collections. University records encompass permanently valuable and historic official documents as well as publications, photographs and personal papers of faculty, staff and students. The Archives is responsible for the safekeeping of these permanent records and for coordinating a University-wide records management system. The book collection consists of rare, out-of-print, first editions, autographed and other published material about Kentucky. The manuscript collections contain a variety of material with topics ranging from local history to statewide athletic competitions to modern politics.

Faculty are encouraged to make use of the resources available in the Archives and to collaborate with Archives staff when creating student research projects. Hours and contact information is posted on the library's web page.

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MEDIA RELATIONS

The Division of Public Relations and Marketing coordinates institutional media relations and the preparation and dissemination of news and official University announcements. Working with members of the University community, the staff prepares materials that inform the various publics and promote institutional initiatives while accurately reflecting programs and services.

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INSTITUTIONAL ADVERTISING

The Division of Public Relations and Marketing designs and/or coordinates production and placement of marketing materials, informational announcements and public service announcements. Requests to advertise University programs and services must be approved by the appropriate area vice president and reviewed by the Division of Public Relations and Marketing. A copy of the University's advertising policy is available from the Public Relations and Marketing office. The Division of Human Resources coordinates the placement of job vacancy notices.

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USE OF UNIVERSITY SYMBOLS

The appropriate use of University symbols and marks, such as the Seal, logotype and EKU Colonel, is outlined in the University's Graphic Standards Manual. The Division of Public Relations and Marketing has primary responsibility for coordinating use of these visual images. Specific questions may be referred to the Public Relations and Marketing office.

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TRADEMARK LICENSING PROGRAM

Eastern Kentucky University's Trademark Licensing Program is designed to protect the University's good name and other identifying marks, contribute to a positive institutional image and generate new revenues. The Division of Public Relations and Marketing, in cooperation with the University's licensing agent, Licensing Resource Group Inc., Holland, Michigan, administers the program and has responsibility and sole authority to manage use of the University's trademarks, including all associated abbreviations, nicknames, slogans, symbols and other marks in accordance with federal and state statutes. A copy of the Trademark Licensing Policy is available from the Public Relations and Marketing office.

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DIVISION OF MEDIA RESOURCES

The Division of Media Resources provides a full range of services and media materials for use by faculty and students. The instructional media section, located in Crabbe Library, maintains a collection of over 3,500 videotapes which are accessible by the library on-line catalog. Videotapes may be rented from off-campus sources if appropriate materials are not available on campus. Individual carrel units and two multi-media presentation rooms (seating 50 and 120 people) are available for utilizing all media materials.

The instructional media section also offers photography services for the production and developing of slides. Graphic services designs visuals for faculty presentations using computer graphics software. These may be produced as 35 mm. slides, overhead transparencies, or computer presentations.

The division is responsible for the University's two-way compressed video distance learning classrooms located on the Richmond campus and at the extended campus centers in Corbin, Manchester, and Danville. The University is a regional hub site of the Kentucky TeleLinking Network (KTLN) which connects Kentucky universities, schools, and government agencies. The division is also responsible for aiding faculty and operating facilities for distance learning and video teleconferencing via satellite to locations in Kentucky or throughout the United States.

The division's television section, located in the Perkins Building, operates the television production center and offers assistance to the faculty and staff in the design and production of instructional and informational materials. In addition, the section aids faculty/staff in the acquisition of broadcast of satellite programs and teleconferences, and the distribution of video materials to the University's classrooms and/or residence halls via cable television systems. The division also offers information to residents of the area through its channel on the Madison County cable system. The studios of WEKU (88.9), WEKF (88.5) in Corbin and WEKH (90.9) in Hazard are also housed in the Perkins Bldg. The radio stations present a classical music and news to citizens in central and southeast Kentucky.

The division's engineering section provides designs for various media systems, equipment recommendations, and maintenance services for the University's media equipment and classroom cable television system.

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DISTANCE LEARNING

Distance learning is defined by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) as "that educational process that occurs when instruction is delivered to students physically remote from the main campus, the location or campus of program origin, or the primary resources that support instruction." (Guidelines for Planning Distance Learning Activities, SACS, December 1992). In addition to offering traditional classes at the extended campus centers and other locations in the state, Eastern offers classes delivered via the Kentucky TeleLinking Network (KTLN), the Kentucky Education Television (KET) Satellite, KET Telecourses, and Online (Internet) Classes.

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KENTUCKY VIRTUAL UNIVERSITY (KYVU)

The Kentucky Virtual University (KYVU), created with passage of the Kentucky Postsecondary Education Improvement Act of 1997, is "to be a student-centered, technology-based system for coordinating the delivery of postsecondary education that meets the needs of citizens and employers across the Commonwealth." The KYVU's primary functions are to serve as a clearinghouse for quality distance learning opportunities, and as a single point of access to statewide student, library, and academic support services. By serving in each of those roles, the KYVU will enhance and expand educational access and increase educational attainment across Kentucky, upgrade workforce skills and expand professional development through basic and continuing education, increase collaboration and foster efficiency and effectiveness in delivering courses and programs, and enhance educational quality.

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KENTUCKY TELELINKING NETWORK (KTLN)

The Kentucky TeleLinking Network uses compressed video to link Kentucky's eight university hub sites to a network of public sites and other locations into a statewide system. The system is a two-way interactive video and audio system which allows the delivery of classes as well as teleconferencing. Eastern uses the network to deliver classes to its extended campus centers, to public schools, teleconferencing, and workshops. A number of other agencies are also on the network such as the Kentucky Information Resources Management Commission, the Kentucky Department of Education, the Council of Higher Education, and the Department of Information Systems.

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WORLD WIDE WEB POLICY

The Eastern Kentucky University Internet connection/address identifies those who are accessed by it as constituents of Eastern Kentucky University, contributing to the public image and representation of the University. Information services provided by constituent users of the University Internet service are effectively published under the University's banner, as pages or chapters in a University publication. As provider of the publishing service, the University will maintain standards of general structure, organization, and appearance for included information services, and will ensure that information is accessible through a logical framework, with adequate capacity of facilities to serve those who wish to access it.

World Wide Web (WWW) pages are effectively means of communicating information both within the University and to the growing community of Internet users. Only web pages which have been reviewed and approved by the appropriate budget unit head may display the logo or any other symbol of Eastern Kentucky University, or use the name of the University in their title or any major heading. University Guidelines for Construction of WWW Pages, available from Academic Computing and Telecommunication Services, when carefully followed, will provide high quality home pages.

Personal web pages must include the name of the person or organization creating them in the page title, and they may not use the University's symbols or name in their title or any heading. Anonymous or pseudonymous authorship is not permitted. The name and electronic mail address of the individual responsible for the page must appear in the body or footer of the page.

Web publications using University computers or utilizing the University Internet connection or address may be used for instructional, research, or public service purposes. Use of University resources to maintain a Web publication in support of a profit entity is strictly forbidden.

Individuals and organizations are reminded that their pages may be viewed by any person with network access, on- or off-campus, and are subject to the University's Code of Ethics for Computing and Communications. Any statement, act, or offer which could lead to criminal or civil action if made in public, over a telephone, or through the mail, should be viewed as equally subject to legal action if made over the Internet.

The support of World Wide Web pages consumes disk space, communications capacity, and personnel time. University resources are subject to limitations and competing demands, and the top priority of reasonable support for web pages is University publications, professional research, and instructional usage. Thus, the University Information Technology Committee may find it necessary to establish limits. Questions or comments about Web policies or procedures should be directed to the Networking Strategies and Technical Issues Subcommittee.

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ASSIGNMENT OF WEB CONNECTIONS

All networked EKU faculty are approved for Web access. Building LAN administrators who have been certified for Netscape will install this for faculty and staff with computers adequate to support this application.

Student connections are limited to supervised lab settings and ResNet in residence facilities. Supervisors for such labs will be provided with a set of guidelines intended to protect the interest of the University, and will be responsible for implementing these guidelines.

In all cases, connections to the Web will be limited to those who have already been connected to the University Computing Network. Any applications not covered by the above or any exceptions to the above must be approved by the Networking Strategies and Technical Issues Subcommittee.

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PATENTS AND COPYRIGHTS

Faculty are the sole claimants to any income resulting from normal professional activities. This includes activities which require the use of resources normally granted faculty in the pursuit of academic excellence, such as travel funds, sabbatical leaves, released time, and facilities.

In the event that the University grants additional support for activities that may lead to the development of materials that may be issued a patent or copyright, the University may have claim on any income produced by such patents or copyrights. Members of the faculty are responsible for reading the "Patents and Copyrights Policy" prior to beginning such activities. A copy of this policy is available from the department chair or immediate supervisor.

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FACULTY WORKLOAD

Faculty workload consists of three major areas of responsibility: teaching, service, and research.

The standard teaching load of full time faculty members with the rank of assistant professor or above is 12 semester hours. Size and type of class, not simply number of credit hours, may be considered in establishing an equitable teaching load. Included in the teaching responsibility are such activities as class preparation, maintaining reasonable office hours, grading, and conferences with students.

While the teaching responsibility alone takes the bulk of the available time for faculty, they also have an obligation to carry a fair share of the service responsibility to the University (normally through committee service and student advising), to the community (related to one's professional expertise), and to the profession (through participation in appropriate professional organizations).

Teaching overloads are not permitted for full-time faculty except in emergency situations where student needs are not being met. In such emergencies, no more than one class (or three-hour equivalent) overload will be permitted for the August 15 - May 15 period (fall and spring semesters). No overloads are permitted for the summer terms. It should be noted that teaching overloads in some disciplines are prohibited by their accrediting agencies.

In addition, faculty members have an obligation to engage in scholarly activity beyond that required for preparation of classes. Scholarly activity is defined as research, artistic performance, or creative or technical achievement.

Because of the demands of the three parts of the faculty workload, it is desirable to reduce the teaching load for a faculty member carrying an exceptional service load (e.g., chair of a major committee, administrative duties, a heavy advising load, or comparable responsibilities). Faculty members who regularly engage in significant scholarly activity (including grant proposals) or who teach at the graduate level may also be considered for a reduced teaching load. All reduced teaching loads, including those of department chair, must be justified and approved through administrative channels.

Faculty responsibilities are not confined to the five day week, to the operating hours of the university administrative offices, or to the Richmond campus.

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EXTENDED CAMPUS CLASSES

Eastern Kentucky University has the responsibility to offer extended campus courses in a 22 county service region designated by the Kentucky Council on Post-Secondary Education. Academic departments, in cooperation with the Division of Continuing Education and Outreach, are expected to identify and meet the need for extended campus courses in this region. In certain program areas academic departments have the opportunity, in cooperation with other universities, to offer extended campus courses outside the service region. The 22 counties in the Eastern Kentucky University service region are Bell, Boyle, Casey, Clay, Estill, Garrard, Harlan, Jackson, Knox, Laurel, Lee, Leslie, Lincoln, Madison, McCreary, Owsley, Perry, Powell, Pulaski, Rockcastle, Wayne, and Whitley.


In accordance with the aims and standards of various accrediting associations, extended campus courses should be taught as a part of the normal load. However, additional compensation is provided when extended campus teaching is done in addition to an otherwise full teaching load. In either case, the University pays justifiable travel expenses.

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RESEARCH

Although Eastern Kentucky University is primarily a teaching institution, research is recognized as a necessary part of the professional life of faculty members, especially those whose major concern is with students at the upper division and graduate levels. Therefore, faculty are expected to engage in research on their own initiative and to seek outside support of their endeavors. In addition, a research project fund is budgeted to provide partial support for faculty research. The vice chair of the University Research Committee, the Director of the Division of Sponsored Programs, should be contacted for information on proposal format and deadline dates. Research funds may not be used to support faculty development activities (see section "Faculty Development Funds" in Part IV of the Handbook).

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MISCONDUCT IN SCIENCE

The principles that govern scientific research are well established and have long been applied toward the discovery of new knowledge. High ethical standards based on these principles are a critical responsibility of faculties and administrators of academic institutions, and accuracy in the collection and reporting of data are essential to the scientific process. Dishonesty in these endeavors runs counter to the very nature of research which is the pursuit of truth.

The academic community is ultimately responsible to the public, and public trust in the academic community is absolutely vital. It is in the best interests of both the public and academic institutions to prevent misconduct in research and to deal responsibly with instances where misconduct is alleged.

Copies of the complete policy are available in the offices of the deans, the offices of department chairs, the Division of Sponsored Programs, and the Crabbe Library.

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HUMAN SUBJECTS REVIEW

In accordance with federal regulations (Title 45, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 46), current policy at Eastern requires that faculty members, administrators, or students who will be conducting projects involving humans as research subjects submit their proposals to the Human Subjects Review Committee for review and approval. These procedures are to protect those individuals from unnecessary risk to their physical or psychological health or social well-being.

This requirement applies to all university research projects/activities in which a University Faculty, staff, or student investigates and/or collects data on human subjects, whether funded by internal or external sources.

These policies and procedures are not intended to discourage research or other scholarly activities; but rather, the purpose is to inform investigators of the dual institution--investigator responsibility for the protection of human subjects. The complete policy and procedures can be obtained in the department chair's office and the Division of Sponsored Programs.

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ANIMAL WELFARE

In accordance with federal regulations, any undertaking including testing, research and training in which Eastern faculty, staff, or students use animals (animal being defined as any living vertebrate) must be reviewed by the University's Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). This committee is charged with the responsibility for assuring the appropriate and humane care and treatment of all animals used in teaching and research activities at Eastern.

The complete policy and procedures can be obtained in the Department Chair's office and in the Division of Sponsored Programs.

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ASSIGNMENT OF SUMMER TEACHING

Faculty shall be assigned to teach in the summer session in accordance with the following order of priority:

  1. Faculty under contract to teach in the summer session.
  2. Faculty on nine month appointment whose teaching specialization is needed.
  3. Faculty on nine month appointment who have the appropriate terminal degree or faculty with tenure who have advanced study related to their teaching field in lieu of the appropriate terminal degree.

When the number of faculty who wish to teach in the summer exceeds the number of positions available, a rotation system shall be established. This system shall be based upon Items B. and C. above. If possible, courses shall also be rotated so that the same specialized courses shall not be offered every summer; although, some specialized courses may have to be offered each summer because of student need.

In following these guidelines, the chair of the department has the option of assigning summer teaching to faculty who excel in teaching and who are making significant contributions to the department. In making exceptions to the rotation system to reward merit, the chair must be able to substantiate the action.

Faculty who have not completed appropriate terminal degree requirements and who do not have tenure shall be employed to teach in the summer only if no other faculty are available or if they have special qualifications which are needed.

The chair of the department shall maintain a roster which shall show the dates of summer teaching by each faculty member. When necessary, a justification for faculty selected shall be included. The chair shall provide the dean of the college with a copy of the roster at the time the summer schedule is submitted. Based upon agreement within a department and with the dean of the college, faculty may be employed for the summer term on a half time basis.

Any modifications of these guidelines must have the approval of the dean of the college, the Vice President for Academic Affairs, and the President of the University.

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ALUMNI ASSOCIATION AWARD FOR TEACHING EXCELLENCE

In recognition of and appreciation for teaching excellence, the Eastern Kentucky University National Alumni Association has established the Award for Teaching Excellence.

Each year two members of the Eastern teaching faculty are recognized by the Alumni Association with a cash award of $750. A slate of faculty, selected from nominations made by students, is submitted to the Executive Council of the Alumni Association, which makes the final decision. Further information may be obtained from the Alumni Association.

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FOUNDATION PROFESSORSHIPS
Nomination, Evaluation, and Selection Procedures for 2004-2005

Foundation Professorships recognize those faculty members who have demonstrated outstanding performance as teachers and who have been recognized by their colleagues as exemplifying outstanding qualities relating to the University's stated missions in teaching, service, and scholarship. Selection of these professorships shall be based on the criteria listed under Section I.B below.

  1. Nomination
    1. All full-time tenured faculty members whose major responsibility is teaching and who have held the rank of Professor for at least five years at EKU are eligible for nomination.
    2. Full-time tenured faculty members may nominate any qualified faculty member. Self nominations are not accepted. Nominations will consist of the following items:
      1. Nomination Form: Include the completed nomination form as the first page of the nomination.
      2. Narrative: Describe the nominee's extraordinary successes in teaching, service, and scholarship by providing a three- to five-page (double-spaced) narrative that addresses the following criteria:
        • Outstanding teaching skills: using a variety of effective instructional techniques; motivating students to a high level of interest; and guiding students to a high level of learning and achievement;
        • Creativity and resourcefulness in fulfilling teaching responsibilities;
        • Self-motivation and enthusiasm for university teaching;
        • Expertise or distinguished accomplishment in the discipline;
        • Exemplary linking of service and scholarship to excellence in teaching;
        • Recognition by colleagues as making and having made significant contributions for the advancement of the department, college, and university; and
        • Acknowledgment as a leader and mentor for colleagues, students, and individuals in the professional community.
      3. Nominee's Vita: Provide a current curriculum vita.
    3. Nomination materials shall be submitted to the Chair of the Foundation Professor Selection Committee no later than the last Friday in October.
  2. Preliminary Selection
    The Foundation Professor Selection Committee shall give full consideration to all eligible faculty who are nominated and, based on these nominations, will select up to six candidates for Foundation Professor. Candidates will be notified of the Committee's selection(s) by the last Friday in November.
  3. Submission of Additional Information
    The Foundation Professor Selection Committee will request additional information, including but not limited to supporting recommendations from the department chair, promotion and tenure committee, and/or dean, for each of the candidates selected in Part II. This material shall be submitted to the Committee no later than the second Friday in January.
  4. Final Selection
    The Foundation Professor Selection Committee will review all materials submitted, conduct personal interviews with the candidates, and recommend a finalist or finalists to the Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs no later than the third Friday in February. The Provost will transmit the recommendation, along with his/her own recommendation, to the President, who will notify the successful candidate(s). The Provost will notify the unsuccessful candidates. Announcement of the award(s) to the university community will be made in a timely manner through appropriate university publications and the local news media.
  5. Expectation
    The Foundation Professor will serve as an exemplar for the academic community. The unique talents of the recipient(s) will be shared with colleagues, especially junior members of the University faculty. The salary supplement of $5,000 for a Foundation Professor assumes employment at full salary; the supplement shall be proportionately reduced for Foundation Professors who are not in full-time status at full salary (e.g., leave without pay for a semester or academic year sabbatical at one-half salary). Each successful candidate's department shall receive $2,000 per annum for two years to be used for enhancing the teaching effectiveness of the department. The Foundation Professor, the chair, and the senior faculty will develop the enhancement plan.

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INTERDISCIPLINARY AND TEAM TEACHING

"Team Teaching" is defined as a collaborative activity within departments, across departments and across colleges in which content is integrated and all participating faculty are involved in the planning, delivery and evaluation of the course. It is specifically distinguished from "multidisciplinary teaching" in which faculty may divide course content into separate units that are planned and delivered independently.

In the case of team-taught courses, the responsibility for determining student credit hour division and faculty workload assignments rests with the department(s) of the participating faculty mutually agree upon an alternate arrangement for credit hour distribution. Such agreements shall be spelled out in a memo for approval by the appropriate dean(s) signed by all faculty who teach the course and their chairs. Higher minimum enrollments may be necessary to sustain certain team-taught courses. Any adjustment in minimum enrollments to justify a team teaching model should be roughly proportional to normal faculty load expectations for viable courses.


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Revised August 2005

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