Published on Sep. 23, 2021

Updated on Aug. 21, 2023

In Fall 2020, the Office of the Provost convened a task force to recommend university-level guidance on workload expectations. This task force included representation from members of Faculty Council, Teaching for Learning Center, the Office of Research and Economic Development, The Division of Inclusion, Diversity and Equity, and the Office of Extension and Engagement. The recommendations of this University Workload Expectations Task Force on expectations for faculty workload in each area of teaching, research, and service, provide guidance on a university standard for all workload policies, while recognizing the disciplinary diversity that must be reflected in unit level policies. The report of the Task Force also provides a framework that can be used to embed our commitment to inclusive excellence and extension and engagement.

We are currently engaging in a review of workload policies for all faculty (Tenured/Tenure-Track as well as NTT) on 9-month appointments. It is important to emphasize that the goal of this exercise is to address inequities and to create a fair and equitable work environment. To this end, this process must consider input from faculty at all levels. Faculty will have the opportunity to work with each other, as well as with their chairs and deans, to evaluate current practices of workload equity, and recommend modifications as needed, that ensure equity, and accountability in workload. This document provides a set of guiding principles to frame these discussions, resources to guide the review, and a timeline for this process.

Given the Faculty Council resolution on September 9th, the Office of the Provost recognizes that Faculty Council does not endorse this process nor was asked to do so.