1. All faculty have responsibilities appropriate to teaching; research, scholarship and creative activities; and service with respect to their assignment; academic discipline; and achievement of tenure and promotion and individual annual plan of performance, where applicable.
   
2. Curriculum Development:

   a. The primary responsibility for the quality of the educational program resides with the faculty. In developing programs and curriculum, the faculty will follow standards of good practice and guidelines established by the Texas A&M System, The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, and the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

   b. Faculty Senate review is required on all curriculum and program changes and may be expedited in a number of ways. Details of the curriculum change approval process are in A&M-Commerce Procedure A03.01 and assistance is offered by the Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs.

   c. Faculty members are responsible for the development of course proposals for the core curriculum and for processing proposals through normal curriculum change channels. The philosophy of the core curriculum at A&M-Commerce is explained in Appendix A.

3. Instructional Techniques and Methods

   a. Faculty must select instructional techniques in accord with the purpose of the institution and appropriate to the specific goals on an individual course. A&M-Commerce Procedure A12.08.

   b. Faculty members are responsible for selecting instructional methods and delivery systems that provide students with the opportunity to achieve the stated objectives of each course. They must assure that the methods of instruction are appropriate to the goals of the course, capabilities of the students, and at the specified level of study; i.e., baccalaureate, master's or doctoral. A&M-Commerce Procedure A12.08.

4. Content and Distribution of Syllabi:

   a. Faculty members must provide the following written information to students:

   • The goals and requirements of each course
   • The nature of the course content (course description), and
   • The methods of evaluation to be employed

b. Except in extenuating circumstances, faculty must provide a copy of the syllabus specific to the respective course section to the Department Head prior to the first class meeting. Such written information should be made available to the students on the first day of instruction.

c. The specific course section syllabus must be in line with the common course syllabus on file in the department office

d. Course syllabi are designed to support program plans supportive of the University mission. Texas A&M University-Commerce nurtures and educates for success through access to academic, research and service programs of high quality. A&M-Commerce Procedure A12.08

e. Suggested format for course syllabi may be found in A&M-Commerce Procedure A12.08

f. Faculty are required to include in their course syllabi the following statement: Requests from students with disabilities for reasonable accommodations must go through the Academic Support Committee. For more information, please contact the Director of Disability Resources and Services, Hallady Student Services Building, Room 303D, 903-886-5835.

g. Faculty are required to include in their course syllabi the following statement: All students enrolled at the University shall follow the tenets of common decency and acceptable behavior conducive to a positive learning environment." (A&M Commerce Procedure A12.08, Policies and Procedures, Conduct)

5. Evaluation of Instruction:

a. Faculty must evaluate their instruction regularly and use the results to insure quality instruction. A&M-Commerce Procedure A12.08.

b. Faculty experimentation with methods to improve instruction must be adequately supported and critically evaluated. A&M-Commerce Procedure A12.08

6. Office Hours

a. Faculty must inform students of their accessibility for out-of-class advisement and professional consultation relative to course performance and academic achievement. (SACS Criteria)

b. Office hours, a minimum of which are required for each full-time and part-time faculty, should be maintained pursuant to A&M-Commerce Procedure A12.25

7. Teaching Load:

a. Each full-time person employed for instructional purposes is expected to teach classes and to assume a reasonable workload of related activities that constitute a full-time instructional load. Persons employed on a part-time basis from instruction funds are expected to assume a workload proportional to the percentage of employment on these funds. System Policy 12.03

b. The normal long-term teaching assignment for a faculty member is twelve (12) semester credit hours for a faculty member teaching any combination of master's/undergraduate courses, and nine (9) semester credit hours for a faculty member teaching ONLY graduate courses. A&M-Commerce Procedure A12.02 and System Policy A12.03.

c. Faculty members are expected to engage in those commonly accepted duties which will enhance the teaching/learning process and the quality of the institution's programs. Recognized duties include:

• Classroom teaching
• Scholarly study
• Basic and applied research
• Professional development
• Student advising and counseling
• Course and curriculum development
• Continuing education
• Public service
• Assistance in the administration of the academic program
• Similar activities

  These duties are inherent in the life and work of a faculty member and are taken into account in consideration for promotion, tenure and salary. System Policy A12.03

8. Records

a. Faculty will maintain a student record of excused and unexcused absences for reference since certain financial assistance and other programs may require attendance records (Undergraduate Catalog).

b. Faculty should maintain records such as grade books, student attendance reports, class handouts and course syllabi for a reasonable time.

9. Duty:

a. Faculty are expected to abide by applicable State and Federal laws, as well as policies and regulations of the Texas A&M University System and rules and procedures of the University (Letter of Appointment)

b. Faculty are expted to be on duty per dates on the letter of appointment (Letter of Appointment)

c. University procedure provides guidelines, definitions, and limitations relating to outside activities of faculty in professional consultation, contract research and private business activities. More information is provided in the Employment Procedures section of this document. A&M-Commerce Procedure A31.01

d. No regular external teaching responsibilities may be accepted by faculty without prior written approval from the Provost and Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs and/or the President. A&M-Commerce Procedure A31.01

10. Professional Development

a. Individual faculty members are to take the initiative in promoting their own growth as teachers, scholars and, especially in professional and occupational fields.. A&M-CommerceProcedure A12.20

b. Faculty Development Leave is described in the Employment and Procedures section of this document. System Policy 12.99.01 and A&M-Commerce Procedure A12.99.01.

11. Faculty Awards

a. Faculty recognition is provided through several awards including the Regents' Professor Service Award, William L. Mayo Professorship Awards, Paul W. Barrus Distinguished Faculty Award for Teaching, H. M. Lafferty Distinguished Faculty Award for Scholarship and Creative Activity, Neill Humfeld Distinguished Faculty Award for Service, Professional Achievement Awards, and the Minnie Stevens Piper Foundation Nominee. A&M-Commerce Procedure A12.26 and A&M-Commerce Procedure A12.27

12. Helpful Publications:

a. Faculty should be familiar with University publications such as the Undergraduate Catalog, Graduate Catalog, Schedule of Classes, Student Guidebook, Strategic Plan and other published guidelines.

b. Section VI of this Handbook presents expectations regarding the faculty-students relationship including a faculty guide to services available for students.

A Faculty Advising Handbook (Advisement Services) and Mentor Program Resources Guide (Orientation Office) are also available to faculty to help as they nurture and educate students.

13. Early Intervention:

a. Early intervention for freshmen is designed to communicate the University's interest in their success and a willingness to participate fully to help students accomplish their academic objectives. The University, through Advisement Services, faculty and mentors, will assist students who may be experiencing difficulty to focus on improvement and course completion. The procedure will allow students to be knowledgeable about their academic progress early in the semester and will provide faculty and staff with useful data for assisting students and enhancing retention.

b. Faculty who teach freshmen will include in their course syllabi a statement explaining the Early Intervention Procedure and will schedule assignments and exams before the fifth week of classes so that grades may be reported. A&M-Commerce Procedure A11.28