[Promulgated by the Administration as Policy or Procedure, except for Section 3.6.]
{For the Wesley J. Howe School of Technology Management see Appendix 3.}
The term Chief Academic Officer refers to the individual responsible for all academic [educational and research] programs. The specific title of the Chief Academic Officer may change from time to time [Dean of the Faculty and Provost have been the most common in the past]; at present the Chief Academic Officer is the Chair of the Deans' Council. The term regular faculty member refers to a full-time member of the teaching faculty with an appointment carrying the rank of Instructor, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, or Professor; the individual must be either tenured or on tenure-track No person enrolled for a degree at Stevens may be a regular faculty member. An individual whose rank contains any of the words "Affiliate," "Adjunct," "Research," "Visiting," or any other modifier of "Instructor" or the three professorial ranks will not be considered a regular faculty member.
A faculty member, in accepting an appointment, has a principal obligation to identify his/her professional welfare with the welfare of Stevens. His/Her responsibilities include the specific items listed below. No priority of importance is implied by the ordering, and all items are not necessarily expected to the same degree from each faculty member.
3.1.1 Effective teaching and counseling.
This involves adequate and timely preparation for classes, maintenance of high professional standards of quality, participation in the Institute's course evaluation program, counseling students on curricular and professional matters, and seeking outside support for the development of educational programs.
3.1.2 Conducting basic and/or applied research or improving an art. This includes advising thesis and dissertation students, seeking financial support from outside sources, and keeping abreast of professional developments.
3.1.3 Writing and publishing professional papers, textbooks or other scholarly works.
3.1.4 Participating in outside professional activities appropriate to the above responsibilities at other academic institutions, professional societies, and/or industrial and government agencies.
3.1.5 Participating in Stevens' institutional and departmental committee work and in regular Institute official functions such as faculty meetings, convocation, and commencement.
3.1.6 Devoting at least five days per week during the academic year when regular classes are in session to discharge the above listed responsibilities. At least four days a week shall be on campus unless absence is required [as in item 3.1.4 above] in which case the individual's Department Director's approval shall be obtained. Such approval shall not be unreasonably withheld.
In addition to teaching, research and/or the development and implementation of special educational programs, the workload includes the participation in departmental or institutional committees and other professional activities as cited in Section 3.2.1. Each individual's workload shall be assigned by his/her Department Director and reviewed by the Dean of the individual's School.
The maximum teaching load averaged over the academic year shall be twelve contact hours per week. It is expected that
members of the regular faculty performing research and/or other appropriate scholarly activities would not be assigned the maximum teaching load. The maximum teaching load would be assigned only in those cases where there is no evidence of research activities such as submission of proposals, publication of research papers in refereed journals, publication of textbooks, and presentation of research papers at professional society meetings. A reduced individual teaching load for research and other scholarly activities is granted by the Department Director with the approval of the Dean of the School, such reductions to be commensurate with the individual's level of research and other scholarly activities.
Consulting with or without additional compensation is recognized as an appropriate professional activity to the extent that it enhances the professional stature and vitalizes the teaching and research capabilities of the Institute and the unit member.
Off-campus consulting shall not interfere with the unit member's primary professional responsibilities, as defined in Section 3.1.
Off-campus consulting, during the academic year when regular classes are in session, which is in excess of two [2] days per month must be approved by the Department Head and Dean of the individual's School. Such approval shall not be unreasonably withheld.
3.3.1 Government Sponsored Grants/Contracts
Since the state and federal governments have strict guidelines regarding internal consulting, a principal investigator wishing to employ a consultant from within the Stevens faculty must contact the Director of Sponsored Projects to insure that charges for internal consultants are allowable.
Consulting, whether done through the Institute or outside the Institute, may not exceed two days per month without written permission from the Dean of the appropriate school. Consulting may not exceed one day per week.
The consultant will apply to his/her Department Director for permission to consult, to indicate the time required, and to determine the potential consultant's willingness to serve at the appropriate salary.
If the Department Director approves of the consulting, he/she must submit a written justification to the Dean of the potential consultant's School about the consulting arrangement and have the Dean's approval before any work is performed. The written justification must include the number of days per month, the total number of days the consulting will take, and the reason why the consulting cannot be done on load relief [i.e., charging a percentage of the consultant's regular salary to the grant/contract]. In addition, if the proposed consulting is for more than two days per month, a statement that the consultant's obligations to the department are fully met must be included.
Compensation will be paid at a daily rate equal of 1/195 of the individual's nine-month salary.
3.3.2 Non-Government Grants/Contracts
Consulting, whether done through the Institute or outside the Institute, may not exceed two days per month, one day per week with written permission from the appropriate Dean.
The consultant will apply to his/her Department Director for permission to consult, to indicate the time required, and to determine the potential consultant's willingness to serve at the appropriate salary.
If the Department Director approves of the consulting, he/she must submit a written justification to the Dean of the potential consultant's School about the consulting arrangement and have the Dean's approval before any work is performed. The written justification must include the number of days per month, the
total number of days the consulting will take, and the reason why the consulting cannot be done on load relief [i.e., charging a percentage of the consultant's regular salary to the grant/contract]. In addition, if the proposed consulting is for more than two days per month, a statement that the consultant's obligations to the department are fully met must be included.
The daily rate charged by the consultant should be reasonable.
Institute facilities, services and support staff are provided the faculty to carry out their teaching, research and other Institute responsibilities, as described in Section 3.1.
The facilities, services and support staff may be used for other purposes, with the approval of the appropriate individual responsible for the facility, provided that the costs associated with such use shall be paid by the user.
Members of the faculty may use the gymnasium and other recreational facilities, for appropriate purposes, provided that such use does not conflict with the curricular activities of students.
Leaves of absence without pay may be granted at the discretion of the Institute. Faculty members seeking a leave of absence without pay must apply in writing to his/her Department Director. The Department Director shall review each application and forward his/her recommendation to the Dean of his/her School. The Dean shall review each application and forward his/her recommendation to the Chief Academic Officer. Each applicant for a leave of absence without pay, provided the application for leave has been made not later than November 15th of the year prior to the proposed leave, shall be notified by February 1st by the Chief Academic Officer whether his/her request has been approved or denied3.5.3 Medical Leaves
Medical leaves of absence with full base pay shall be granted by the Institute to faculty members upon prior presentation of medical evidence sufficient to support the claim that the member is unable to perform his/her duties for medical reasons. Such leaves of absence shall not exceed four months, except that such leaves may be extended by the Institute at its discretion. An extension of a medical leave of absence may be with or without pay.
[Promulgated by the Administration as Policy or Procedure]
Each year eligible faculty members are evaluated for salary adjustment and reappointment where appropriate; eligible faculty members are considered for promotion and tenure. Faculty eligibility for promotion and tenure is discussed in Section 3.6. Procedures for faculty evaluation and reappointmnet are outlined below.
{For the Imperatore School of Sciences and Arts, see Appendix 1.}
Each year all continuing faculty members are evaluated for salary adjustments and reappointment [where appropriate]. Salary changes are based solely on merit, and as a consequence, the annual faculty evaluation process plays an important role in these decisions. The annual faculty evaluation criteria include all areas in which a faculty member is expected to function, with heavy emphasis on current performance and most recent achievements.
Evaluations are performed relative to planned goals and objectives. The entire process driven by the strategic and tactical plans of the Institute. They translate into specific plans for the individual schools. They, in turn, help to determine the plan for each department in each school and the department plan determines the plans for its faculty members.
Since the faculty salary adjustments and merit salary increases are effective January 15 of each year the reporting scheme is adjusted accordingly. The procedure used in carrying out the faculty evaluation follows:
Faculty Evaluation
September 1 -- The Department Director sends a memorandum to the members of his/her department who are eligible for a salary review informing them that a Faculty Activities Report is to be submitted to him/her by September 30. The Report should detail the individual's activities in the areas of teaching, research, and participation in governance for the period September 1 of the previous year through August 31 of the current year.
September 30 -- The last day for submitting a Faculty Activities Report to the appropriate Department Director.
October 1 through October 31 -- The Department Director meets with each eligible faculty member in his/her department to review and evaluate the individual's performance during the previous academic year and immediately preceding years. The Department Director's evaluation and the faculty member's rebuttal are committed to writing and attached to the Faculty Activities Report. Copies of the reports are forwarded to the appropriate Dean.
November 1 through November 15 -- The Deans meet with their Department Directors to review their evaluations of their faculty. The Deans may then add their comments to the Faculty Activities Reports.
December 1 -- The deadline by which time the Deans Council shall have met to decide the salary changes for all eligible members of the faculty.
.December 7 -- The deadline by which time the Deans shall have met with the President to review their recommendations for faculty salary adjustments.
December 10 -- The deadline by which time the Deans shall have notified their Department Directors of their decision..
December 15 -- The deadline by which time the Department Directors shall have notified their faculty of the Deans decision regarding the faculty salary adjustments.
December 20 -- The information on faculty salary adjustments is sent to the appropriate member of the Finance Office
At the end of the first year of the two-year appointment, the candidate for reappointment will submit a report to his/her Department Director. It must contain a curriculum vitae, a summary of activities at the Institute, a plan of activities for the next three years and any other information deemed pertinent for a reappointment decision. Deadline for submission is September 30.
The Department Director working in concert with the department Promotions & Tenure Committee will evaluate the portfolio of the candidate and provide a written report to the Dean of the School containing its recommendation[s] by mid-October.
The Dean of the School will communicate his/her decision to the Department Director and to the candidate by January 15. There will be no appeal process.
At the end of the first year of the current two-year appointment, the candidate for reappointment will submit a report to his/herDepartment Director. It must contain a curriculum vitae, a summary of activities at the Institute, a plan of activities for the next three years and any other information deemed pertinent for a reappointment decision. Deadline for submission is September 30.
The Department Director working in concert with the department Promotions & Tenure Committee will evaluate the portfolio of the candidate and provide a written report to the Dean of the School containing its recommendation[s] by mid-October.
The report of the candidate will be evaluated by a panel composed of two tenured faculty members in the School, but external to the department, and one tenured faculty member from each of the other two Schools. The panel will submit its report and recommendation[s] to the Dean of the School before the end of October.
The Dean of the School, in consultation with the Department Directors of the School, will communicate his/her decision to the candidate by January 15. There will be no appeal process.
At the end of the second year of the three-year contract, the candidate will submit a report to his/her Department Director. It must contain a curriculum vitae, a summary of activities at the Institute, a plan of activities for the next four years and any other information deemed pertinent for a reappointment decision. Deadline for submission is September 30.
The department director working in concert with the departmental Promotions & Tenure Committee will evaluate the portfolio of the candidate and provide a written report to the Dean of the School containing its recommendation[s] by mid-October.
The report of the candidate will be evaluated by a panel composed of two tenured faculty members in the School, but external to the department, and one tenured faculty member from each of the other two Schools. The panel will submit its report and recommendation[s] to the Dean of the School before the end of October.
The Dean of the School, in consultation with the Department Directors of the School, will communicate his/her decision to the candidate by January 15. There will be no appeal process.
[Promulgated by the Administration as Policy or Procedure]
An individual personnel file shall be maintained for each faculty member. It will originate at the time of appointment by the Board of Trustees. It shall contain all the relevant material from the time the individual was an applicant for a faculty position at Stevens.
The office of the Dean of the faculty member's School shall have custody and control of the individual's personnel file. Department personnel files shall also be maintained.
Information relating to payroll and fringe benefits shall be maintained in the Payroll and Personnel Offices.
Each faculty member has the right to know of the existence of each and every personnel file maintained on him/her by the Institute and shall be so informed by the individual's Dean upon written request.
The individual faculty member, on giving reasonable notice, shall have reasonable access to his/her own files during normal business hours under conditions which protect the integrity of the files, and shall have the right to copies of material in his/her files. At the time the file is examined, a member may be accompanied by a representative of his/her choice, subject to the approval of the Institute which shall not unreasonably withhold such approval.
On the written request of a faculty member, the Dean's Office shall make available the personnel file of the individual for examination by the individual and/or a representative designated by the faculty member and approved by the Institute. The Institute shall not unreasonably withhold approval of such a representative.
A faculty member has the right of reasonable inspection during normal business hours of information relating to payroll and fringe benefits which apply to the individual making the request.
The Institute will not divulge any professional, medical or evaluation data or information from the files relating to any identified faculty member without the express written consent of the individual. This provision shall not prohibit thepublication of statistical information or other use of data in which no individual is specifically identified.
Written recommendations and comments pertaining to a faculty member's professional performance obtained on a confidential basis from sources outside the Institute may be kept confidential.
[Approved without Section 4.5 by the Faculty at a regular meeting March 3, 1993; Committee Membership Amended March 2, 1994; Promotion and Tenure Committee Amended March 1, 1995; Review Panel Amended March 1, 1995; Undergraduate Students Affairs Committee Amended October 9, 1996]
Particular rules governing membership on each faculty committee are given below. In addition, no more than one member from any department may serve on any single faculty committee.
The Faculty Council can waive the exclusion of two members of one department serving on one committee at the request of the Committee on Committees. Any such waiver will be granted only under extraordinary circumstances. No such waiver should be granted for:
Each faculty committee will submit to the Committee on Committees an annual report and a written plan of action for the next year for distribution to the Faculty prior to the last Faculty meeting in May. Each committee will also present a verbal summary report to the Faculty no later than the last faculty meeting of the academic year. The annual report shall include the actions taken by the committee in question during the year as well as recommendations for future studies and actions. Other written or verbal reports may be submitted or presented to the Faculty as each committee sees fit. In addition, each committee chairperson or a designee will review the committee's plans for the academic year at a meeting called by the Faculty Council early in the fall semester.
This committee will monitor and report on planning and financial matters for the Faculty and play a key participatory role in planning for the Institute at large. It will represent Faculty opinion on planning and financial matters to the larger Institute community and, insofar as possible, serve as an integral part of the Institute's planning and budgetary processes. To accomplish its charge, it is imperative that this committee work closely and cooperatively with the Administration, the Board of Trustees, the Deans, Department Directors, student representatives and other Faculty and Institute committees. The Academic Planning and Resources Committee must be given the information necessary to accomplish its tasks. All items coming before the Faculty regarding academic planning endeavors should be reviewed by this committee.
This committee will review and assist in the development of strategic plans for the Institute and assess necessary financial support required for their implementation. The committee will review all major academic initiatives and existing programs from these viewpoints. Its activities will include reviews of the needs for academic and research programs, staffing requirements, and existing and required resources.
This committee will be concerned with financial items related to the responsible functioning of the academic programs at Stevens and the financial plans and assumptions related to new programs. It will include reviews of salaries and benefits, library resources, laboratory support, academic structures, and development, start up, and maintenance costs.
The committee will be empowered to form subcommittees as required to accomplish its tasks. Each subcommittee will consist of two elected members and one appointed by the Faculty Council.
Membership: The committee will consist of six tenured members of the Faculty, at least one from each school, but no more than three from any given school. Four members will be elected, and the Faculty Council will appoint the other two. Terms will be for three years and staggered.
Charge: This Committee will concern itself with all aspects of academic research, both funded and unfunded. For example, it may encourage and support faculty members wishing to undertake research that provides opportunities for professional development, as well asin areas of importance to the Institute. Research that is not currently subject to funding will not be discouraged.
Membership: The voting membership will consist of regular faculty, and the Vice President for the Graduate School andResearch. . Others may be invited by the Committee to attend without vote. Four members of the regular faculty will be chosen by the Chief Academic Officer from names proposed by the Faculty Council. The Committee will elect its chairperson from these four members.
Charge: This Committee will hear appeals by students on any action taken by the offices of Dean of Student Life and/or Dean of Student Development and the Chief Academic Officer, the Dean of the Graduate School, the Undergraduate Promotions Committee and the Honor Board or any other undergraduate or graduate juridical group relating to academic matterswith the exception of the Academic Appeals Committee. It will not deal with non-academic matters.
It may affirm or reverse an academic action, modify a decision, or return the matter to the body having original jurisdiction with an explanation of its reasons for doing so. The Committee shall be responsible for its own standards and procedures, subject to faculty rules, but continuity is to be encouraged. The committee will file its detailed actions with the Chief Academic Officer.
The Chief Academic Officer has the authority to affirm, reverse or modify an action of the Committee and shall inform the Committee of all actions resulting from appeals of its actions.
Membership: The voting membership will consist of regular faculty. Four members of the Committee will be elected by the faculty and two regular faculty will be appointed by the Chief Academic Officer. The committee will elect its chair.
Charge: This Committee will solicit and propose nominees from the regular faculty for the standing committees of the Faculty and conduct the elections, and shall from time to time review election procedures. In cases where the previous Committee Chair is unavailable to convene the first meeting of the newly elected committee this committee will be responsible for convening the meeting before the graduation Faculty meeting.
By the graduation faculty meeting, the Committee shall compile a list of members, including the chairperson of each committee and distribute the list to the Faculty. The Committee will verify that the voting members of each committee are regular faculty members.
This Committee will collect, compile, and distribute annual reports from each faculty committee before the last faculty meeting of each academic year. In its own annual report, the Committee on Committees will summarize the actions taken by other faculty committees during the year as well as their plans and recommendations for future studies and actions. [see Critical Dates Summary].
Membership: The voting membership will consist of regular faculty. Four members will be elected by the Faculty. The Committee will elect its chairperson from its members.
Charge: The Faculty Council may investigate and make recommendations regarding any matter of concern to the Faculty. It shall consult with the Faculty and advise the President and other Institute officials or administrative groups as it deems appropriate. It may appoint ad hoc committees to aid in its work.
Membership: The voting membership will consist of regular faculty. Others may be invited by the Council to attend without vote. Four tenured regular faculty [excluding department directorsand members of the administration] with the rank of professor will be elected by the Faculty. The Council will elect its chairperson from those members who are regular faculty.
Charge: This committee will evaluate the qualifications and recommend faculty members for promotion and for the award of tenure. This committee is bound by the Promotion and Tenure Policy of the Institute, Section 3.6.
Membership: The committee shall consist of six tenured faculty members of the rank of Professor, with department directors and members of the administration excluded, serving two-year staggered terms. This committee will include three members elected by the Stevens Faculty with vote and three appointed by the Provost in consultation with the Faculty Council. At least two of the Institute’s four schools and college must be represented on the committee. In addition, in the interest of respecting the diversity of academic disciplines within Stevens, every effort will be made to exceed this requirement. No committee member may serve two consecutive, full two-year terms in the Committee.
The committee shall select its chairperson each year.
Members of the committee may serve as members of the Nominating Committee of their academic unit but are ineligible to serve on their School/College Promotion and Tenure Committee.
Charge: The Panel shall carry out those functions set forth in the Policy on Promotion and Tenure, 3.6.5.
Membership: The Review Panel shall consist of five members. The Institute Promotion and Tenure Committee will select one of its members to serve on the Review Panel. The Provost or his/her representative will also serve on the Review Panel. The Provost or his/her representative and the Institute Promotion and Tenure Committee representative will each appoint a member. The two appointed members will then select the fifth member of the Review Panel. The faculty serving on the Review Panel shall be tenured and hold the rank of Professor. Department Directors, Deans, Associate Deans, and other members of the Institute or School/College Promotion and Tenure Committees are ineligible to serve on the Review Panel.
Charge: This Committee will be concerned with maintaining the strength of graduate education at Stevens. The Committee will review academic standards, graduate curriculum, financial aid and the academic status of graduate students. The Committee will approve specific courses and programs, formulate policy and the details of its implementation subject to existing faculty rules, and recommend policies governing the awarding of financial aid to graduate students. The Committee will assist the Dean of the Graduate School in the award of financial aid. Membership: The voting membership will consist of regular faculty. The non-voting membership will consist of The Dean of the Graduate School, the Registrar, and graduate students. Others may be invited by the Committee to attend without vote. One regular faculty member will be appointed by the Department Directorfrom each department that offers a graduate degree, and two Graduate students will be appointed or elected in a manner determined by the students. Each faculty member will serve for a period of time determined by the Department Director. The Committee will elect itschair. [from those members who are regular faculty but not a member of the administration.]
Charge: This Committee will have jurisdiction over the activities and constitutions of all graduate student organizations. It will make recommendations for the improvement of graduate community life to any appropriate body.
Membership: The voting membership will consist of regular faculty, the Dean of Graduate School, the Dean of Student Life, and graduate students. Others may be invited by the Committee to attend without vote. Three regular faculty will be elected by the Faculty and four graduate students will be appointed or elected in a manner determined by the students. One faculty member will be appointed by the Committee to attend the Undergraduate Student Affairs Committee. The Dean of the Graduate School will be the chair person.
Charge: This Committee shall work with the Librarian and the Academic Planning and Resources Committee to ensure that the library is capable of meeting the present and future educational and scholarly requirements of students and faculty.
Membership: The voting membership will consist of the Librarian, three elected faculty members, two members appointed by the President and four students [two graduate and two undergraduate students]. Of the three elected faculty, one faculty member shall come from each of the three schools
The two graduate students are appointed by the Dean of Graduate Studies in consultation with GRAB. The two undergraduate students are appointed by the Dean of Students in consultation with the Student Council. The Committee will elect its chair from those members who are regular faculty.
Charge: This Committee will investigate, consult with the Administration, and propose to the faculty, standards of scholarship, education, grading, tests, examinations, attendance, admissions, and the award of advanced standing and transfer credit in the undergraduate school. The Committee shall concern itself with the Honor System insofar as it affects academic standards.
Membership: The voting membership will consist of regular faculty. The non-voting membership will consist of undergraduate students. Others may be invited by the committee to attend without vote. Three regular faculty will be elected by the Faculty, one regular faculty will be appointed by the Chief Academic Officer, and one undergraduate student appointed or elected in a manner determined by the students. The Committee will elect its chair person from those members who are regular faculty.
Charge: This committee is responsible for the quality and revision as needed of the undergraduate curriculums. It will bring all proposals for revision of core courses of each curriculum to the Faculty as needed; approve elective courses within each curriculum; and establish rules for guiding the operation of each curriculum, subject to rules established by the faculty. The Chief Academic Officer will bring to the Committee for discussion and advice all matters affecting undergraduate curriculums coming to his/her attention, even when the decision-making responsibility does not rest with the Committee. The Committee, or subcommittees or special committees established by it or through its recommendation or through curriculum committees of the individual Schools shall conduct periodic reviews of each undergraduate curriculum. All proposed revisions of the curriculums will be brought to the Committee for its consideration and recommendations before being brought to the Faculty for approval. When a proposed curriculum revision requires substantial resources, advice shall be sought from the Academic Planning and Resources Committee.
The Committee has oversight responsibility for all curriculums. It will report to the faculty annually on the condition of the various curriculums.
Membership: The voting membership will consist of regular faculty and undergraduate students. The non-voting membership may consist of not more than one member appointed by the Chief Academic Officer as well as not more than one member appointed by each Dean of a School. The Registrar will be a non-voting member. Others may be invited by the Committee to attend without vote. Each Department Director will appoint one regular faculty member, and two undergraduate students will be appointed or elected in a manner determined by the students. Each faculty member will serve for a period of time determined by his/her Department Director. The Committee will elect its chair from those members who are regular faculty but not members of the administration.
Charge: This Committee will determine the academic status of each undergraduate student at the end of each regular or special grading period. The Committee will be responsible for its own standards and procedures, subject to whatever rules and regulations are established by the Faculty, but continuity is to be encouraged.
Membership: The voting membership will consist of regular faculty. The non-voting membership will consist of a member of the administration appointed by the Chief Academic Officer. Others may be invited by the Committee to attend without vote. Six regular faculty will be elected by the Faculty. The Committee will elect its chair from those members who are regular faculty but not a member of the administration.
Charge: This Committee will have jurisdiction over the activities and constitutions of all undergraduate organizations, including fraternities. It shall make recommendations for the improvement of undergraduate community life at Stevens to any appropriate body. The Committee shall invite the Director of Financial Aid to meetings, as appropriate, and shall advise the Director on financial aid. The Committee shall establish general guidelines for the maintenance of discipline on the campus. Its function is advisory and the Dean of Student Life and/or theDean of Student Development enforces discipline. Membership: The voting membership will consist of regular faculty, the Dean of Student Life and/or theDean of Student Development and undergraduate students. Others may be invited by the Committee to attend without vote. Three regular faculty will be elected by the Faculty and four undergraduate students appointed or elected in a manner determined by the students. One faculty member will be appointed by the Committee to attend meetings of the Graduate Student Affairs Committee. The Dean of Student Life and/or theDean of Student Development will be the co-chair[s].
To be eligible for election as a representative on one of the standing committees listed, a nominee must be a regular, i.e., tenure track, faculty member, have stated a willingness to serve, and: The candidate must have been a member of the Stevens faculty for at least one full year.
Candidates may be nominated without restriction to prior service.
The candidate must be nominated and elected according to the procedures described in Sections B and C which follow.
The Committee on Committees shall have the final decision on all questions of eligibility of members.
The Committee on Committees will make an announcement at a meeting of the faculty, and by mail, on or before March 15 of any year, that it would be pleased to receive volunteers or recommendations for candidates to the various committee posts which have to be filled.
The nominees of the Committee on Committees will be announced by mail on or before April 1.
Nominations shall remain open for one week following the announcement of the slate by the Committee on Committees. Additional nominations shall be in writing, supported by two signatures of faculty members.
The Committee on Committees will conduct an election by mail ballot. This election may be combined with the election to the Faculty Council and the Committee on Faculty Promotions and Tenure. The ballot will contain the candidates' names in alphabetical order.
All members of the regular faculty with vote may choose from among those nominated. The person getting the highest number of votes will be declared elected. In case of a tie, the decision will be made by lot.
No name or signature should appear on the ballot or ballot envelope. Each voter must, however, sign the envelope in which the ballot envelope is placed for mailing to the Committee on Committees, who will act as tellers; otherwise the vote will be invalid.
The results of the election will be announced by mail no later than May 1.
Special Elections. The Committee on Committees will conduct special elections as required to fill vacant elected positions on faculty committees. Special elections will be conducted at faculty meetings. All normal eligibility rules apply. The Committee on Committees will make nominations and solicit additional nominations from the floor. Election will be by anonymous ballot. [2] and [3] apply. Results will be announced by mail following the faculty meeting. Winners of special elections will be elected for unexpired terms.
To be eligible to represent the faculty on the Faculty Council a nominee must be a regular, i.e., tenure track, member of the faculty with the rank of Professor.
The candidates must have been a member of the Stevens faculty for at least two full years.
The candidate must not have been a member of the Council for a two-year term immediately preceding the one for which the candidate is being nominated.
The candidate must be nominated and elected according to the procedures described in Sections 2 and 3 which follow.
The Committee on Committees shall have the final decision on all questions of eligibility.
The Committee on Committees shall nominate two times the number of candidates as there are positions to be filled. This slate shall be announced by mail on or before April 1.
Additional nominations from the faculty may be made in writing and such nominations, each supported by the signature of four members of the faculty, must be in the hands of the Committee on Committees within one week after the announcement of the slate.
The Committee on Committees will conduct an election by mail ballot. The ballot will contain the candidates' names in alphabetical order.
All members of the regular faculty may choose from among those nominated for the positions on the Faculty Council.
The person getting the highest number of votes will be declared elected to the Council. In case of a tie, the decision will be made by lot.
No name or signature should appear on the ballot or ballot envelope. Each voter must, however, sign the envelope in which the ballot envelope is placed for mailing to the Committee on Committees, who will act as tellers; otherwise the vote will be invalid.
The results of the election will be announced by mail before the spring commencement.
A representative to the Faculty Council will be elected for a two-year term of office. As the Council is composed of four representatives from the faculty, two will be elected each year to serve a term of two years. Unexpired terms will be filled by special election or at the next regular election.
The elected representatives will hold office until the first meeting of the Council after their successors are announced.
[Promulgated by the Administration as Policy or Procedure, except for Section 4.5.2]
This section contains descriptions of committees that are not standing faculty committees of the Institute. They include committees made up entirely of regular faculty members and committees on which regular faculty members are required to serve.
[Promulgated by the Administration as Policy or Procedure, Revised 22 July 2008 by the Office of the Provost in consultation with the Academic Council, the Faculty Council and the Policy Task Force]
Patent Committee
Charge: The Patent Committee shall carry out the duties assigned to it in the patent policy, a copy of which is contained herein.
Membership: The Patent Committee will be composed of the Vice President for the Graduate School and Research Services, the Dean of the Faculty, the Treasurer, and two members of the faculty appointed by the President from among the regular faculty and professional research staff. The Vice President for The Graduate School and Research Services will act as chairperson of the Committee. The appointed faculty members will serve two-year terms.
Professional Practices Committee
Charge: The Professional Practices Committee shall carry out the duties assigned to it in Section 3.7.
Membership: The Professional Practices Committee is composed of three tenured faculty members appointed by the Chief Academic Officer from a slate of six names prepared by the Faculty Council. Term of service will be for three years. The Committee will select its own chair.
Members of the Committee who are parties to any case before the Committee shall excuse themselves from serving on the Committee during the progress of that case. The Chief Academic Officer, with the approval of the Faculty Council, will appoint any replacement required.
The Board of Trustees and the Stevens Faculty Council agree that representation on selected committees of the Board of Trustees is in the best interest of the Institute and seek to encourage such participation.
Each year when the Board of Trustees reviews its committee memberships it shall seek Stevens Faculty representatives as per the schedule below. The Board shall provide the Faculty Council a list of Board Committees that include Faculty members, namely: The faculty of a School consists of the faculty of the departments within the School and of other faculty .
BOT Committee
Faculty
Faculty Development
Three faculty; one from each school serving two-year staggered terms.
Curriculum and Student Development
Three faculty; one from each of the following faculty committees. - Institute Undergraduate Curriculum Comm. - Institute Graduate Committee - Undergraduate Student Affairs Committee
Enrollment
Two faculty, one each of the following faculty committees - Academic Planning and Resources Committee - Academic Standards Committee
Institute Facilities
Two faculty, one each from the following groups: - Civil or Mechanical Engineering Department - Academic Planning and Resource Committee
All faculty representatives shall be regular voting members of the faculty and not full-time administrators.
Elections will take place at the same time as other faculty committees and the process will be the responsibility of the Faculty Committee on Committees. Where the faculty is chosen by a committee or department, it is assumed that these individual committees and/or groups of departments will conduct elections and report to the CoC. School elections will be conduced by the CoC. In any event the faculty members must be chosen before the annual meeting of the Board in October.
Faculty representatives are appointed for one-year terms, except as noted for membership on the Faculty Development Committees.
The following guidelines apply to all Stevens faculty members serving on BOT committees:
1.Faculty membership on the above committees implies full voting membership. In all cases, the faculty will be non-trustee members and will be referred to as Faculty Liaison Members. It is recognized that should sensitive issues arise in the affairs of any of the committees for which faculty presence would be inappropriate, the Faculty Liaison Member could be asked to withdraw from those deliberations.
2.The Faculty Liaison member may propose Board agenda items falling within the purview of his/her Committee. Any member of the faculty may submit relevant agenda items to the appropriate Board committee through the Faculty Liaison Member.
3.The Faculty Liaison Members on BOT committees are required to provide an annual report [at the April or May Faculty meeting] of his/her activities. It is recognized that should sensitive issues arise, the Faculty Liaison Member will clear the release of any information thereon with the appropriate Board of Trustees committee Chair.
The Institute may form new standing committees for legal or other reasons. If faculty participation is appropriate, reasonable notice will be given to the Faculty Council. The Faculty Council will be consulted on the selection process by a member of the Board of Trustees or by a member of the Administration.
The Institute may form ad hoc committees from time to time. The administration will, on a timely basis, provide the Faculty Council with the names of the faculty involved. Faculty members on these committees must report to the entire faculty on a timely fashion.
Each member of the faculty shall receive a base annual salary for carrying out his professional responsibilities, as more fully described in Section 3.1 of this Handbook, throughout the academic year commencing on or about September 1 and ending May 31 of the following year.
Faculty members are paid once a month. The checks are issued on the last working day of the month except in those instances where the last day of the month falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or Holiday, in which case payment is made on the preceding scheduled work day. A statement of earnings for the pay period showing the gross earnings, itemized deductions and the net sum of the check is also provided. [The last negotiated agreement between faculty and administration specified that payment should be made on the 23rd of the month.]
Faculty members may elect either a nine or twelve-month pay option. Faculty members choosing to receive their salaries over a nine-month period will have their fringe benefits for the Summer months deducted from the May paycheck. Faculty members wishing to change from one option to the other may do so by notifying the Dean of Faculty on or before July 1 of the proceeding academic year in which the change is to take place.
Upon the recommendation of the Department Head and with the approval of the Dean of Faculty, salary increases will be granted effective January 15 for the period of January 15 to January 14 of the following year to those faculty members found meritorious for such increases.
The Institute may, at its discretion, make upward salary adjustments for those members of the faculty whose salaries differ substantially from the mean salaries of other members of the same rank with the same ' professional competence, length of service, and extent of commitment to the Institute.
Faculty members will be asked to serve as academic advisors typically at both the undergraduate and graduate student levels. Thus, it is absolutely essential that all faculty members who serve as academic advisors be familiar with current Institute requirements and policies. Basic current information can be found in the Institute catalog. The Dean of Students, the Dean of Faculty, the Dean of Graduate Studies, the Department Director or the departmental graduate advisor will provide additional information as needed.
Each academic department designates a number of faculty members to serve as advisors. Every effort will be made to match students with appropriate faculty advisors.
Counseling for personal problems and educational and career concerns are available to all students through confidential sessions for which there is no charge. Stevens retains a psychological and career counselor who is available for student counseling. The counselor also conducts assessments to help students better understand themselves, their abilities and interests, and their options. If a student is in need of services not available at Stevens, the counselor will help locate convenient and affordable off-campus assistance.
In addition to counseling and assessment, the counselor, in conjunction with the Office of Student Life, offers workshops and individual assistance in developing more effective study habits and coping with test anxieties, problems of procrastination and time management. This office and the Office of Career Services also maintain a well-stocked reference room to assist students seeking career information or information about graduate or undergraduate programs at other schools.
The Schedule of Classes is prepared and distributed each term prior to the start of classes. This master schedule is prepared by the Registrar and includes data furnished by the Department Directors and includes the time, room assignment and instructor for each course. Deviations from the published schedule [additions, deletions, time changes, etc.] must be approved by the Department Director and the Registrar before they may take place. Changing regularly scheduled examination periods must be cleared with the Registrar before any changes are made.
Faculty members are expected to conduct each of their classes for the full amount of time that is scheduled. In the event of sickness or a necessary absence from the scheduled class or laboratory, the Department Director must be notified. Classroom work missed because of a faculty member's absence should be made up as soon as possible and in the manner deemed most appropriate by the instructor or course coordinator in the case of multiple sections of a course.
Faculty members are required to maintain some type of grade records. No official grade book is issued, but different types are available through the bookstore and can be ordered through the departmental offices.
The office of The Graduate School and Research Services provides many services and performs many functions of importance to the faculty. It is the primary source of information on academic matters pertaining to the operation of graduate programs at Stevens. It is also an important contact point for information on non-academic matters affecting graduate students.
The Research and Educational Development office headed by the Assistant Dean includes a Manager of Research Contracts and Grants. Because of the essential relationships between research and graduate study, all components interact frequently with the faculty and with each other.
This component of the Graduate Studies Office processes applications to the various graduate programs from initial inquiry to formal acceptance or rejection of admission applications. The admissions process includes coordination and interaction with departmental personnel and other pertinent offices. The admissions process also involves the approval of the Department Directors.
This component monitors the progress of enrolled students through the academic program. Most of the documents that are required at various times during a graduate student's academic career are processed by this component. This component also monitors a number of graduate scholarship, fellowship and other financial aid sources. The records of the Graduate Committee and other sources of official graduate studies procedures are maintained by the Graduate Academic Programs component. All questions regarding regulations and procedures should be directed to the Graduate Academic Programs staff or the Dean.
This component, supervised by the Manager of Continuing Professional Development, handles development and operation of non-credit continuing professional education programs and assists in many aspects of off-campus credit-bearing graduate programs. Responses to outside surveys and institutional research studies pertaining to graduate education, research and continuing education are also handled by this department. Students in credit-bearing off-campus graduate programs generally interact with the Admissions and Academic Programs components in a similar manner as those in on-campus programs.
This manual is written for graduate students, their advisors, and Department Directors. All faculty responsible for graduate courses and/or graduate students are urged to get a copy of the Graduate Student Manual and become familiar with the policies and procedures contained therein.
The bulk of the material in this section is from the Freshman Handbook or from the Advising Handbook and is included here for easy access by the faculty.
Every undergraduate student at Stevens has a Faculty Advisor throughout his/her career at Stevens. The Faculty Advisor is available to counsel students with problems or questions, and to review and sign various administrative and academic forms. An advising FAQ is available from the web page of the Office of Undergraduate Academics. The FAQ contains questions and answers to many questions that arise in the course of academic advising for undergraduates.
Every entering student is assigned a Freshman Faculty Advisor upon his/her arrival at Stevens. The student's Freshman Faculty Advisor will be his/her faculty advisor until the student formally enters a concentration field of study. This occurs when the student completes a Study Plan after conferring with a Concentration Advisor. This takes place during Term 3 for Engineering students [Term 5 for students in the Engineering Five-Year Plan], and during Term 2 for all students in Science, Computer Science, and Liberal Arts. Study plans may be submitted earlier if the student wishes
Students who are transferring into Stevens into the Engineering curriculum and are undecided about their Engineering concentration are also assigned a Freshman Faculty Advisor upon their arrival at Stevens. These students must complete a Study Plan with their Concentration Advisor during the semester prior to taking their first concentration elective. All other transfer students are assigned their Concentration Advisors upon arrival at Stevens, and must complete a Study Plan during their first semester.
During the semester when a student is required to submit a completed Study Plan, the student selects a Concentration Advisor from the list of Concentration Advisors and meets with the advisor to complete his/her Study Plan. This faculty member will be the student's Concentration Advisor for the remainder of the student's undergraduate career at Stevens. Students enrolled in more than one degree program must submit a Study Plan for each degree. The list of Concentration Advisors is available from the Registrar's Office or from the Office of the Dean of Undergraduate Academics.
If a student wishes to change his/her Freshman or Concentration Advisor, he/she should contact the Dean of Undergraduate Academics or the Assistant Dean of Undergraduate Academics either in person, by phone, or by e-mail, so that he/she can make the change in the Student Information System [SIS].
In preparing an individual study plan, the advisor first attempts to determine the student's educational and professional objectives. Certain electives then become essential to meet those objectives.
The study plan should indicate all the non-core courses a student expects to take throughout his or her four years at Stevens, including extra courses for undergraduate credit and courses which may later be used for graduate credit. Early in the eighth term, each student must file an application for degree candidacy, showing exactly how each course is to be regarded.
Study Plans are due at the Registrar's Office two weeks before the end of the semester indicated in the table below, and may be submitted earlier if the student wishes. The Study Plan must be approved by a Concentration Advisor. The student selects a Concentration Advisor from the list published each semester by the Registrar's Office; copies of this list are also available from the Office of the Dean of Undergraduate Academics.
Any change in technical elective courses must first appear on the student's study plan. A student changing courses or withdrawing from a course must submit the proper form to the Registrar. Courses can be dropped during the ADD/DROP period in the first two weeks of each semester [one week in summer sessions] by submitting a Change of Enrollment Form to the Registrar's Office. When a course is dropped, it disappears from the records; it's as if the student never enrolled in it.
A student may withdraw from a course up to one week before the end of the semester. When a student withdraws from a course, a grad of W is recorded for that course. This grade does not affect the student's GPA.
Withdrawing from a course does not jeopardize a student's status as a full-time student [at least 12 credits]. Technically, the student is still enrolled for the same number of credits.
Graduate courses selected either as electives or as extra courses and taken for undergraduate credit bear the same number of credits that they normally carry. Such courses will be handled on a course-for-course substitution basis. The authority to use one or more graduate courses to satisfy an undergraduate requirement rests with the student's Concentration Advisor.
With the advisor's approval, any student [except for students on the Five-Year Plan] with an average of 2.5 or better for the previous semester, may enroll in an extra course at no charge, provided he or she is already enrolled in a full program. Upperclassmen with a GPA of 3.0, or better, in the preceding semester may, with his/her Advisor's permission, take a second extra course at no charge. Juniors and seniors with a GPA of 3.5 or better in the preceding semester may, with his/her Advisor's permission, take a third extra course at no charge.
Tutorial help is available at no charge from the Academic Support Center on the 10th floor in the Stevens Center. Students may sign up either in person at the Academic Support Center or over the web at the Academic Support Center's home page at http://www.stevens.edu/asc/request1.html.
Free writing tutoring is available through the Humanities Department in two different ways. Students enrolled in a Humanities course may sign up in the Department Office for an appointment with a professional writing instructor. Also, the students who staff the Humanities Resource Center are available on a drop-in basis.
In addition to the standard way students earn credits for courses successfully completed [by attending classes regularly throughout the semester and awarded a passing grade], there are a number of other alternatives. The student may take a course by application, may take a course pass/fail, or may obtain course credit by examination.
If a particular course is not offered through the regular schedule, the course may be taken by application with the approval of the instructor, the Department Director, and either the Dean or the Assistant Dean of Undergraduate Academics on a Permission for Course by Application form. Regular enrollment is required, and arrangements are made for the student to study the material and be tested during the semester. A letter grade is issued at the end of the semester.
This option is open to students with a GPA of 2.5 or better either in the previous semester or overall, and is limited to one per semester. Permission to take a course by examination must be obtained on an Application for Course by Examination form from the student's advisor and from the department offering the course.
If the examination is successfully completed, the instructor who administered the examination issues a letter grade in the course. The examination must be taken prior to the start of a semester, and if the examination is not passed, the unsuccessful attempt is recorded as part of the student's permanent record, and the student must enroll in that course in the following semester.
A junior or senior with either a 3.0 GPA for the previous semester or a cumulative GPA of 3.0 may elect one course a semester to be taken under a pass/fail grading system, subject to the advisor's approval and the following conditions. The course must be an undergraduate course that is either a technical elective outside the student's area of concentration or a course that is clearly designated on the Study Plan or the Application for Candidacy as an "extra" course not to be used to satisfy the requirements for the degree. No graduate course may be taken under a pass/fail grading system.
Pass/Fail Permission Forms are available from the Registrar's Office, and must be approved and submitted to the Registrar's Office before the midterm date.
The two freshman Physical Education courses PE 115 and PE 116 are automatically taken under a pass/fail grading system. Sophomores and juniors, regardless of their GPA, have the option of taking any or all of their last four Physical Education courses under the pass/fail grading system. Pass/Fail Permission Forms are not needed to take Physical Education courses on a pass/fail basis; arrangements for this are made directly with the Physical Education Department.
Several departments offer courses under PSI, an alternative to the conventional lecture/recitation method of instruction. Under PSI, a student attends no classes. Instead, the student works at his or her own pace with the self-study materials, and the help of a tutor to answer questions and explain points that are unclear.
The material is divided into short units, each with instructions and a study guide. As each unit is completed, a test is given and rated on a "pass" or "no pass' basis. If the test is passed, the student moves on to the next unit; if not, the unit is restudied and the test repeated. The number of times a test is taken has no bearing on the final grade. Rather, the student is evaluated on the basis of the number of units passed, the quality of any laboratory work completed and performance on the final exam.
A student wishing to receive credit for a Stevens course by taking the course at another school must get an Application for Transfer Credit form from the Registrar's Office and bring it, together with a course description for the course at the other school, to the appropriate academic department for approval by the designated transfer credit faculty member. The form then needs the signature of either the Dean or the Assistant Dean of Undergraduate Academics, and is returned to the Registrar's Office. When the student completes the course at the other school, he/she must have an official transcript sent to Stevens. Usually, a grade of C or better is required for the course to be acceptable for transfer.
In general, grades for courses taken at other schools are not recorded or used in computing a student's GPA. The only exception to this occurs when a student receives transfer credit for a course for which they have previously received a grade at Stevens. In that case, a grade of C is used for that course in the student's GPA computation regardless of the actual grade received either at Stevens or at the other school.
Written examinations are required at the end of each semester for all major required core courses. These include: the electronics elective [Ch 362 or Ph 330] in the junior year of the Science Curriculum; and the energy conversion elective [ChE 421, PhE 421 or ME 421] in the senior year of the Engineering Program.
Examinations in all elective courses, including technical electives, engineering electives, junior and senior electives, humanities electives, and management electives, are at the discretion of the individual department.
Each regular term examination may not exceed four hours. All term examinations and written tests are conducted under the rules of the recognized student Honor System. Students are expected to familiarize themselves with all facets of the honor system.
Additional Items:
1] Instructors shall provide students the opportunity to see their graded examinations and reports.
2] Instructors should provide what they feel to be an appropriate explanation of how the problems should be solved and of how the grades were arrived at.
3] To this end, all examinations or reports not returned to students should be kept for at least one semester after course grades are published.
The grade of Incomplete, or "Inc." may be given only when a student has failed to complete any or all of the required course work, such as term papers, laboratory reports and hourly exams, but not including the final examination. In order to receive an "Inc." grade, a student must file a written request indicating an acceptable reason, such as prolonged illness, for his or her delinquency, and must present a plan for completion of the work. Any such request must be approved by the instructor and the Department Director at least one week prior to the day on which the grades are due in the Registrar's office.
The grade of Absent, or "Abs." will only be issued if a student misses the final examination; it is not appropriate in any other case. Permission to take a final examination at a later date may be given only if the reason stated for missing the original is deemed acceptable by the instructor; in some cases documentation may be requested. However, if the explanation is judged unacceptable, a final grade based on a zero for the final examination will be given.
Work to upgrade the "Inc." or "Abs." notation must be completed prior to the fifth day of the following semester. Failure to do so will result in a final mark based on a grade of zero for either the final examination or the uncompleted work. However, extension of the deadline may be granted on an individual basis with the approval of both the department and the Dean of Undergraduate Academics.
A grade of "D" or "F" may be improved by repeating the course and doing additional acceptable work. This may be done either at Stevens or by taking a similar course at another college, provided advance approval is obtained in compliance with the rules for transfer of credit. For a repeated course, the second grade replaces the first grade. ["W" is not considered a grade in this case.]
Other methods of improving grades are available as well. Freshmen earning a grade of 'IC" or better in term II of a continuation course may take a special exam for the preceding term's work to improve a "D" or "F" grade. However, the grade can be raised only to a maximum of "C" and the exam must be taken before summer session begins.
Seniors, with the permission of their instructor, may take make-up exams for any two senior examination courses in which they received a "D" or "F.' Seniors attempting to upgrade a mark for a fall semester course must complete the make-up exam within two weeks of the begriming of the spring semester; and for the final term, by two days before Commencement. Sophomores and juniors do not have an opportunity to take make-up exams for grades of "D" or "F."
If an "F" grade is received in a technical elective course, the course may or may not need to be repeated. An "F" in a technical elective may not need to be removed, as long as the minimum number of electives is maintained at a passing level. The student's advisor will advise on specific circumstances.
During intersession, intensive two-week make-up courses are offered for some freshman and sophomore classes given during the first semester. Classes are scheduled from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday, for the last two weeks before the spring semester. Eligibility standards differ from course to course, so it is very important for all interested students to check with their professor before enrolling.
The undergraduate degree with Honor is conferred if an average of 3.2 for courses applied toward the undergraduate degree requirements is achieved. The degree with High Honor is conferred if a cumulative grade point average of 3.6 is attained.
Students may apply for candidacy for the degree with Thesis in either semester of the junior year or in the first semester of the senior year. Any candidate for a degree with Thesis must report the title of the thesis and the name of the advising professor to the Dean for Undergraduate Academics no later than December 15 of the senior year, on a form obtained from the office of Undergraduate Academics.
To be eligible for the Dean's List, a student must be in good standing, with no outstanding deficiencies in requirements, and have an overall "B" [3.0] average for the term. The Office of the Dean for Undergraduate Academics prepares the Dean's List at the beginning of the following semester.
Any student satisfactorily following an approved study plan that departs from a standard study plan outline may move on to the next Semester. Examples of students in this category are transfer students, as well as those on decelerated programs. Such students are considered to be in good academic standing.
A student with an unsatisfactory record at the end of the semester will be placed on probation by the Faculty Committee on Undergraduate Promotion, and will be notified by the Dean for Undergraduate Academics. If all deficiencies have been made up and a "C" [2.0] average attained, the student will be removed from probation. A student on probation may, if lack of responsibility to academic work continues, be asked to withdraw by the Dean for Undergraduate Academics at any time without refund of tuition, room rent or other charges for the current term.
A student with an unsatisfactory record at the end of a semester may be allowed to continue on probation, taking less than the normal number of courses. The Dean for Undergraduate Academics must approve this decelerated program.
A student in this category has some irregularity in his other academic program, usually work not completed for the current semester. Barring special circumstances, all such work must be completed by the fifth day of the following semester, and the Dean for Undergraduate Academics must be notified of plans to complete the work prior to the start of the new semester.
A student who is not promoted, according to an action taken by the Faculty Committee on Undergraduate Promotions must meet with the Dean of Undergraduate Academics before continuing his/her studies at Stevens.
Each course that is part of a Bachelor's degree program must be passed in no more than three attempts. A grade of "W" or "F" constitutes not passing. Students unable to meet this requirement must select a program for which the course in question is not a requirement or they must withdraw from Stevens. Courses taken during intersession are not counted for the purpose of this rule.
The Faculty Committee on Appeals serves an appellate function on cases arising from academic actions of the Faculty Committee on Undergraduate Promotions, or disciplinary actions of the Dean for Undergraduate Academics or of the Honor Board.
The Appeals Committee does not consider requests for grade changes and does not grant appeals based on circumstances over which the student has control, such as voluntary absence from class, failure to complete a required assignment, or concentration on extracurricular activities to the detriment of academic requirements. Extraordinary circumstances are usually prerequisites for the granting of an appeal by the committee. Under special circumstances, the President of the Institute, after receiving a written petition, may review the decision of the Appeals Committee and either confirm or amend its action. Instructions for the proper procedure on appeals are mailed with the Promotions Committee's actions.
Undergraduate students who are promoted but wish to withdraw for personal reasons may receive an official Leave of Absence from the Dean for Undergraduate Academics which will become effective at the end of the present semester. Leave of Absence status allows for unconditional readmission after one calendar year. After that, if the student doesn't reapply for an additional Leave of Absence, his or her status will be changed to withdrawal.
Students applying for an additional year's Leave of Absence should be aware that restrictions and pre-conditions may be placed upon readmission.
To be eligible for graduation, a student must have a cumulative average of "C" [2.0] for eight terms of work, and must not have an "F" grade in a core course or main line elective. All senior year courses require a 1.75 grade point average.
Class rank is computed from grades earned in all courses for undergraduate credit. When a student repeats a course to upgrade his or her mark, both grades will be averaged to compute class rank. But the 2.0 average required for graduation will be based only on the last grade received in a course.
Examinations at the Institute at the undergraduate level are conducted on an honor system. This means that the instructors are not expected to be present to proctor quizzes or examinations. The students are required to write a pledge on each quiz or examination or outside assignment accordingly.
Undergraduate students who wish to withdraw from the Institute may do so without prejudice until the last day of each semester, provided that a properly completed withdrawal form is filed with the Office of the Dean for Undergraduate Academics.
A grievance is a complaint in writing to the Faculty Council concerning a decision made by a person or group of persons acting in an official Institute capacity that is perceived to directly and adversely affect the grievant in his/her professional or academic capacity. This policy describes internal Institute procedures and does not preclude other legal options outside of Stevens.
A grievance may be filed through the grievance appeal process by any member of the regular faculty, affiliate instructor, or other full-time faculty defined in Section 8 of the Faculty Handbook.
Individuals, whether members of the faculty or administration [excepting the President of Stevens], who are part of the grievance process and who have a conflict of interest, must recuse themselves from the Grievance Process as described below, and be replaced by suitable designees chosen by the Faculty Council [for faculty], or by the Deans Council [for administration].
Grievances must be submitted in writing to the Faculty Council, with copies to grievant's department director and dean, within ten business days of the incident or administrative action [or lack of action]. If the grievable issue is not known to the grievant at the time of occurrence, then the grievant has ten business days from the time of discovery to file a grievance.
Within ten business days of the grievance filing, the respondent [object of the grievance] must provide a written response to the grievant, the Faculty Council, and his/her direct report [a department director, dean, etc.]. If the grievant is dissatisfied with the response, then, within ten business days of receiving the response, the grievant shall appeal in writing to the Faculty Council with copies to all appropriate parties [ respondent, department director, dean].
The Faculty Council will review the grievance and the written response. Within ten business days of receiving the appeal, the Faculty Council will respond to all parties indicating its decision either to close the matter, after having found no basis upon which to carry the issue forward, or to convene a review panel within ten business days.
The review panel shall be composed of two members of the Faculty Council, a department director and school dean not parties to the grievance, and an independent arbitrator acceptable to the four panel members. The review panel has the authority to call witnesses. Within ten business days of completing its deliberations, the review panel will make recommendations to resolve the grievance. If either the grievant or the respondent [object of grievance] is dissatisfied with the panel's recommendation, or the response of the other to the recommendation, then either party may appeal to the President within ten business days of the panel's response.
The President, after convening a hearing attended by the grievant, the respondent, [object of grievance], and one of the Faculty Council on the review panel [designated by the Faculty Council], shall, within ten business days of the hearing, respond to both parties to the grievance in writing, with copies to the Faculty Council, and the appropriate dean and department director detailing his/her decision. The President's action at the conclusion of these procedures is final.
The titles Assistant Research Professor, Associate Research Professor and Research Professor are given to members of the faculty whose primary responsibility is research. A candidate for one of these positions must be recommended by a principal investigator on a grant or contract that has sufficient funds to support the position and must be approved by the corresponding Department Director. These individuals are appointed by Chief Academic Officer based on the recommendation of a Department Director. The individuals appointed to such research faculty positions report to a Department Director and may be assigned some teaching duties by that Director. These professionals are expected to participate in the academic programs and department affairs as required and requested by the Department Director.
Research professionals who are not expected to participate in the academic programs of the department are given non-faculty titles such as research engineer, research scientists, or research associate as appropriate to their field and level of appointment. A candidate for one of these positions must be recommended by a principal investigator on a grant or contract that has sufficient funds to support the position and must be approved by the Department Director concerned.
Appointments for these positions are approved by Chief Academic Officer and issued by the Director of Human Resources.
Introduction
The category of Research Professional employee is for persons who are primarily engaged in research activities as members of an academic department or research steeple. The faculty ranks consist of :
Research Professor
Research Associate Professor
Research Assistant Professor
The staff ranks consist of : Senior Research Engineer - at least 8 years' experience
Senior Research Scientist - at least 8 years' experience
Research Engineer - at least 3 years' experience
Research Scientist - at least 3 years' experience
Post Doctoral Research Associate - Ph.D.
Visiting Scholar
Research Faculty Appointments
All appointments to the research faculty are for a specific term that depends upon the nature of the activity to be undertaken. The appointments may be part-time or full-time. All research appointments are non-tenure track and time spent in research appointments does not count toward tenure.
The basic qualifications for appointment and the determination of research faculty rank generally parallel those for the regular faculty. Written confirmation of the appointment must explicitly convey the terms and the conditions thereof. All appointment letters will be issued by the appropriate Dean after receiving the President's approval. -
Research faculty and staff are subject to the availability of funds which must be sufficient to support both salary and fringe benefits. In the event that funding is not available or is not sufficient to support the position, the appointment may be terminated before the stated expiration date of the appointment and Stevens is under no obligation for any unpaid salary or fringe benefits. This condition should be reflected by the appropriate wording in the offer letter.
Reappointment may be made in either a different category or different rank, but there is no continuing right to reappointment and reappointment is solely at the discretion of Stevens Institute of Technology.
Conditions
There must be a member of the regular faculty who sponsors the individual and under whose aegis the individual works. Exceptions to this condition require the approval of the President. The sponsor is expected to provide the individual with laboratory space, equipment, supplies and other support as needed. If the Research Professional becomes the Principal Investigator of a project as the result of having written a proposal for which the Institute receives a grant, lie/she will be responsible for providing the support required [salary, equipment, clerical assistance, travel funds, etc.] to carry out the proposed research. All equipment acquired under the terms of the grant become the property of Stevens Institute of Technology.
A qualified Research Faculty member may act as co-advisor on a graduate student's dissertation committee as long as the other co-advisor is a member of the Regular Faculty.
The individual must sign the patent agreement and the copyright agreement as a condition of employment. If the individual has a currently active patent agreement with an organization other than Stevens, he/she must divulge that fact, in writing, to the director of the department or steeple in which the individual is working and to the appropriate School Dean.
All proposals, where a Research Professional is the principal or co-principal investigator, must be approved by the appropriate School Dean prior to submission to an outside agency. If the Research Professional receives an SBIR grant as a principal in an independent organization, he/she must meet with the Vice President of the Graduate School and Research to discuss an intellectual property agreement between Stevens and the company receiving the SBIR. If the parties are unable to reach an agreement, the Research Professional is required to take the SBIR project off-campus to a facility outside of Stevens' jurisdiction.
The research performed using Stevens facilities must be supported by grants and/or contracts awarded to Stevens. No other research or other activities may be performed using Stevens facilities without prior written approval of the President.
A copy of this policy shall be transmitted to a Research Professional together with the employment offer.
Stevens Institute of Technology prohibits sexual harassment in any form by any member of the Stevens community. Such conduct as defined by state and federal laws may result in disciplinary action up to and including dismissal.
For purposes of Institute policy, sexual harassment is defined as unwelcome advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature when [1] submission to such conduct is made either explicitly or
implicitly a term or condition of an individual's employment or academic status, [2] submission to or rejection of such conduct by an individual is used as a basis for employment or academic decisions affecting an individual, or [3] such conduct has the purpose or effect of interfering with an individual's work performance or academic performance or creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive working, living, or learning environment.
Specifically, no person shall imply or state, either directly or indirectly , to any individual, that an individual's refusal to submit to sexual advances will adversely affect any term or condition of a person's employment or academic status [e.g. continued employment, compensation, grades, professional future]. Moreover, no supervisory employee or faculty member shall promise or suggest, either directly or indirectly, that a person's submission to sexual advances will result in improvement in any term or condition of employment or academic standing.
Other sexual harassing behavior, regardless of how conducted or communicated, even if done in the guise of humor, is also prohibited. Such behavior includes, but is not limited to, verbal abuse of a sexual nature [e.g. cat calls, sexual/sexist jokes, comments regarding a person's attire, body or reputation]; offensive touching [e.g. brushing, grabbing, pinching]; propositions; offensive sexual flirtations: displaying lewd or graphic material; or displaying or discussing materials pertaining to males or females in a demeaning manner.
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity commission has issued guidelines which treat sexual harassment as illegal sex discrimination under the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Stevens Institute of Technology agrees with the intent of these guidelines because effective relationships among faculty, staff and students must be based upon mutual respect.
Stevens has a Sexual Harassment Committee whose members have been trained to respond to complaints from any member of the Stevens community. The following procedure outlines the process any member of the community is encouraged to follow if you believe you have been subjected to sexual harassment.
Select the Sexual Harassment Committee Member with whom you feel most comfortable discussing your situation. All Committee Members will adhere to a strict level of confidentiality. [Any Committee Member who is the subject of a complaint will not participate in that particular case]. The Committee Member will help you determine whether the problem can be handled informally. Informal avenues include a variety of approaches such as helping you talk with or write a letter asking the person to stop the harassing behaviors. Often an informal approach will stop the behavior to your satisfaction and the case can be closed without taking further action.
If the harassment is severe or an informal approach does not stop the problem, the situation will be handled formally. You will then select another Committee Member to help conduct an investigation into your complaint. To insure an effective investigation, the team should consist of a male and a female Committee Member.
Within 30 days of your initial complaint, the investigation team will present its results to the Sexual Harassment Committee for a hearing and determination. Both you and the accused will be present to answer any additional questions and/or make a statement. The Committee will make a determination and recommend appropriate actions.
If all parties are satisfied with the findings and recommendations of the Committee, a disposition form is forwarded to the Affirmative Action Officer for review and final determination.
If either party is dissatisfied with the Committee's decision, an appeal can be filed within 14 days to the Affirmative Action Officer. The Officer can either determine that either party did not receive fair treatment and ask the Committee to review its findings, or determine that the Committee's suggested action was inappropriate and ask it to reconsider its suggested action. The Committee then meets again to either confirm or revise its original recommendations and forwards another disposition form to the Affirmative Action Officer for determination.
If still dissatisfied, either party may make a final appeal to the President after completion of the procedures above. At this stage, an advisor or legal counsel may be present. The President may either accept or reject the Committee's and/or Affirmative Action Officer's recommendations.
When the case is closed, whether it is handled informally or formally, the final disposition form will be kept by the Affirmative Action Officer. In so doing, any repeat offender can be tracked for future reference but no copy will be added to his/her personnel/student file. If the situation is criminal in nature, outside authorities will be informed and case records will be added to the offender's personnel/student file.
A college or university in a free society must be devoted to the pursuit of truth and knowledge through reason and open communication among its members. Academic communities acknowledge the necessity of being intellectually stimulating where the diversity of ideas is valued. Its rules must be conceived hr the purpose of furthering and protecting the rights of all members of the university community in achieving these ends.
The boundaries of personal freedom are limited by applicable state and federal laws and institutional rules and regulations governing interpersonal behavior. In creating a community free from violence, sexual assault and non-consensual sexual contact, respect for the individual and human dignity are of paramount importance.
The state of New Jersey recognizes that the impact of violence on its victims and the surrounding community can be severe and long lasting. Thus, it has established this Bill of Rights to articulate requirements for policies, procedures and services designed to insure that the needs of victims are met and that the colleges and universities in New Jersey create and maintain communities that support human dignity.
to be notified of existing campus and community based medical, counseling, mental health and student services for victims of sexual assault whether or not the crime is formally resorted to campus or civil authorities
to have access to campus counseling under the same terms and conditions as apply to other students in their institution seeking such counseling
to be informed of and assisted in exercising:
any rights to confidential or anonymous testing for sexually transmitted diseases, human immunodeficiency virus, and/or pregnancy
any rights that may be provided by law to compel and disclose the results of testing of sexual assault suspects for communicable diseases.
to have any allegation of sexual assault investigated and adjudicated by the appropriate criminal and civil authorities of the jurisdiction in which the sexual assault is reported
to receive full and prompt cooperation and assistance of campus personnel in notifying the proper authorities
to receive full, prompt, and victim-sensitive cooperation of campus personnel with regard to obtaining, securing, and maintaining evidence, including a medical examination when it is necessary to preserve evidence of the assault.
Each campus must guarantee that this Bill of Rights is implemented. It is the obligation of the individual campus governing board to examine resources dedicated to services required and to make appropriate enforcement authorities.
requests to increase or reallocate resources where necessary to ensure implementation
each campus shall make every reasonable effort to ensure that every student at that institution receives a copy of this document
Nothing in this act or in any "Campus Assault Victim's Bill of Rights" developed in accordance with the provisions of this act, shall be construed to preclude or in any way restrict any public or independent institution of higher education in the State from reporting any suspected crime or offense to the appropriate law enforcement authorities
Experience of the academic world indicates the desirability of reducing to writing the principles and policies relating to on-campus expressions of opinions or demonstrations. The following are set forth in the interest of ensuring due consideration of the privileges and obligations of all members of the Stevens community - undergraduate, graduate, faculty and staff:
10.4.1 Responsibility for the administration of these principles and policies.lies with the President, or his designated representative
10.4.2 Stevens Institute of Technology's central functions of teaching, learning, research, and scholarship depend upon an atmosphere in which freedom of inquiry, thought, expression, publication, and peaceable assembly are given the fullest protection. Expression of the widest range of viewpoints is encouraged, free from institutional orthodoxy and from internal or external coercion. This freedom, however, must be exercised within the restraint that freedom of any one individual must not intrude upon or limit the freedom of others. Coercion in any form is not acceptable.
10.4.3 Full and open communication of points of view is welcome. For this reason there exist many channels and many forums on campus. All members of Stevens community are expected to use these established channels to promote ideas, air grievances, and effect changes.
10.4.4 Requests by student organizations or individual students for the use of Stevens property must go through the Student Government Administration for approval. Similar requests from faculty or staff members are to be sent directly to the Stevens Center office with the approval of the appropriate department head.
10.4.5 If an incident arises in violation of the above stated principles and policies those participating will be asked to cease and desist their actions, or leave the premises. Upon their failure to comply with the request, the Institute will use appropriate disciplinary actions including the full resources of the civil authorities to effect such compliance.Any member of the Stevens community, student, faculty, or staff involved in a civil or criminal proceeding resulting from participation in a demonstration or incident on campus may, after due process, be subject to disciplinary action on the part of the Institute to include such serious consequences as suspension or dismissal. Established appeal procedures will apply. 10.3.7 Non-members of the Stevens community participating in a proscribed demonstration or incident on campus will be considered trespassers and treated accordingly.
10.4.8 Nothing contained in the above policy and procedures is intended or shall be construed to limit or restrict the right of freedom of speech or peaceful assembly by any member of Stevens community.
10.4.9 The holding of an appointment at Stevens Institute of Technology should in no way affect a faculty member's rights assured by the Constitution of the United States. Research Proposals,
Although various policies regarding conflict of interest appear in other sections of this handbook, there are other aspects of conflict of interest that are covered in this section.
The Institute has a vested interest in preventing conflicts of interest in 1.] conducting government-sponsored research [federal, state and committees] and industry-sponsored research and 2.] dealings in general with corporations and private individuals. This Section includes the Institute's statement of the conflict-of-interest policy with regard to government-sponsored research and other Institute policies designed to help avoid conflict of interest situations.
The Institute fully endorses the principles set forth in the joint ACE-AAUP statement on preventing conflicts of interest in government sponsored research at universities. The following is the joint ACE-AAUP statement and is fully applicable to Stevens Institute of Technology with the word "Institute" substituted for the word "University".
"On Preventing Conflicts of Interest in Government-Sponsored Research at Universities"
The increasingly necessary and complex relationships among universities, government, and industry call for more intensive attention to standards of procedure and conduct in movement-sponsored research. The clarification and application of such standards must be designed to serve the purposes and needs of the projects and the public interest involved in them and to protect the integrity of the cooperating institutions as agencies of higher education.
"The government and institutions of higher education, as the contracting parties, have an obligation to see that adequate standards and procedures are developed and applied; to inform one another of their respective requirements; and to assure that all individuals participating in their respective behalves are informed of, and apply, the standards and procedures that are so developed.
"Consulting relationships between University staff members and industry serve the interests of research and education in the University. Likewise, the transfer of technical knowledge and skill from the University to industry contributes to technological advance. Such relationships are desirable, but certain potential hazards should be recognized.
A. Conflict Situations
1. Favoring of Outside Interests
"When a University staff member [administrator, faculty member, professional staff member, or employee] undertaking or engaging in government-sponsored work has a significant financial interest in, or a consulting arrangement with, a private business concern, it is important to avoid actual or apparent conflicts of interest between his/her govemment-sponsored university research obligations and his/her outside interests and other obligations. Situations in, or from which, conflicts of interest may arise are the:
a] undertaking or orientation of the staff members, university research to serve the research or other needs of the private firm without disclosure of such undertaking or orientation to the University and to the sponsoring agency.
b] purchase of major equipment, instruments, materials, or other items for university research from the private firm in which the staff member has the interest without
disclosure of such interest.
c] transmission to the private firm or other use for personal gain of government- sponsored work products, results, materials, records, or information that are not made generally available. [This would not necessarily preclude appropriate licensing arrangements for inventions, or consulting on the basis of government-sponsored research results where there is significant additional work by the staff member independent of his/her government-sponsored research.]
d] use for personal gain or other unauthorized use of privileged information acquired in connection with the staff member's government-sponsored activities. [The term "privileged information" includes, but is not limited to, medical, personnel, or security records of individuals; anticipated material requirements or price actions; possible new sites for government operations; and knowledge of forthcoming programs or of selection of contractors or subcontractors in advance of official announcements.]
e] negotiations or influence upon the negotiation of contracts relating to the staff member's government-sponsored research between the University and private organizations for whom he/she has consulting or other significant relationships.
f] acceptance of gratuities or special favors from private organizations for whom the university does or may conduct business in connection with a government-sponsored research project, or extension of gratuities or special favors to employees of the sponsoring government agency, under circumstances which might reasonably be interpreted as an attempt to influence the recipients in the conduct of their duties.
2. Distribution of Effort
There are competing demands on the energies of a faculty member [for example, research, teaching, committee work, outside consulting]. The way in which he/she divides his/her efforts among these various functions does not raise ethical questions unless the government agency supporting his/her research is misled in its understanding of the amount of intellectual effort he/she is actually devoting to the research in question. A system of precise time accounting is incompatible with the inherent character of the work of a faculty member, since the various functions he/she performs are closely interrelated and do not conform to any meaningful division of a standard work-week. On the other hand, if the research agreement contemplates that a staff member will devote a certain fraction of his/her effort to the government-sponsored research, or he/she agrees to assume responsibility with regard to such research, a demonstrable relationship between the indicated effort or responsibility and the actual extent of his/her involvement is to be expected. Each university, therefore, should - through joint consultation of administration and faculty develop procedures to assure that proposals are responsibly made and complied with.
3. Consulting for Government Agencies or the Contractors
When the staff member engaged in government-sponsored research also serves as a consultant to a Federal agency, his/her conduct is subject to the provisions of the Conflict of Interest Statutes [18 U.S. C. 202-209 as amended] and the President's memorandum of May 2, 1963, Preventing Conflicts of Interest on the Part of Special Government Employees. When he/she consults for one or more government contractors, or prospective contractors, in the same technical field as his/her research project, care must be taken to avoid giving advice that may be of questionable objectivity because of its possible bearing on his/her other interests. In undertaking and performing consulting services, he/she should make full disclosures of such interests to the University and to the contractor insofar as they may appear to relate to the work at the University or for the contractor. Conflict of interest problems could arise, for example, in the participation of a staff member of the university in an evaluation for the government agency or its contractor of some technical aspect of the work of another organization with which he/she has a consulting or employment relationship or a significant financial interest, or in an evaluation of a competitor to such other organization.
B. University Responsibility [While the following is a responsibility of the university administration, faculty members should be aware of those responsibilities to ensure compliance. - Ed.]
Each university participating in government-sponsored research should make known to the sponsoring government agencies:
1. The steps it is taking to assure an understanding on the part of the university administration and staff members of the possible conflicts of interest or other problems that may develop in the foregoing types of situations.
2. The organization and administrative actions it has taken or is taking to avoid such problems, including:
a] accounting procedures to be used to assure that government funds are expended for the purposes for which they have been provided, and that all services that are required in return for these funds are supplied.
b] procedures that enable it to be aware of the outside professional work of staff members participating in government-sponsored research, if such outside work relates in any way to the government-sponsored research.
c] The formulation of standards to guide the individual university staff members in governing their conduct in relation to outside interests that might raise questions of conflicts of interest.
d] The provision within the university of informed source of advice and guidance to its staff members for advance consultation on questions they wish to raise concerning the problems that may or do develop as a result of their outside financial or consulting interests, as they relate to their participation in government-sponsored university research. The university may wish to discuss such problems with the contracting officer or other appropriate government official.
