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The freedoms of inquiry and expression are vital to the educational mission of the university; and are central to shared governance, and the discovery and dissemination of knowledge.  Consequently, mMembers of the University Community are free to examine and to discuss all questions of interest to them, and are free to express opinions ideas publicly and privately. They are free to support causes by orderly means, including any means of peaceful assembly or advocacy, that which do not infringe upon the rights or freedoms of others (see 4.2.1, 4.2.3, 4.2.4 & C.B.A. II).

Members of the University Community are allowed to invite, to hear, and to see speakers, creative performers, and artistic presentations of their own choosing. Guest appearances must not interfere with the University's regular instructional, research, and service programs. Except for ceremonial occasions, invited speakers and art presenters should be prepared for a reasonable public discussion of their expressed views.

Invited speakers and art presenters are accorded the full courtesy and protection appropriate to a university community. Individuals or groups who engage in actions designed to obstruct or in any way to prevent a the speaker from speaking and or the art presenter from speaking, presenting, or displaying any form of artistic expression are subject to discipline and to financial responsibility in the event of damage to property or person (see 4.2.4).

The institutional control of campus facilities is not to be used as a device of censorship. Sponsorship of guest speakers and art presenters does not imply approval or endorsement of the views expressed, either by the sponsoring unit or the University.  (Faculty Senate, 12/94) (revised 3/2019)

A one-year extension to the tenure/contract clock is granted to all tenure track faculty and continuing track faculty who are in their probationary period as of the 2019-2020 or 2020-2021 academic years. This extension will also affect the timing of 2- and 4-year reviews for contract renewal. Faculty members can elect to opt out of this one-year extension and undergo peer review and apply for promotion and tenure on their original contract schedule. To opt out, a faculty member must notify the department chair in writing and before the next scheduled review that they wish to continue on their original clock. This universal extension does not affect a faculty member’s eligibility to exercise “Stop-the-Clock” options; rather, it is in addition to those (rev. 2/23/21 corrected a typo for an amendment that was made on the floor of the senate)

3.1.4 Examinations and Tests

Faculty exercise academic judgment in determining appropriate methods of evaluation in courses. However, the University sets the academic calendar and includes an examination week as the final week in a semester. Except in unusual circumstances, faculty are expected to use the examination week for evaluation and instructional purposes. Faculty should give the last examination in a course during that week according to the printed schedule issued by the Registrar’s Office. Courses following very different instructional and evaluation formats (e.g., clinical experience, individual research, laboratory or student teaching) will not be restricted in this regard. If unusual circumstances exist, the department chair or dean will be informed of the method and timing of the final course assessment. Because the University does not operate with a formal honor system, faculty are responsible for proper monitoring of examinations and tests.

To minimize conflicts for students with other scheduled University courses and activities, a required examination, test or quiz (excluding make-up examinations for individuals and regularly scheduled final examinations) may be given only during regularly scheduled class or laboratory hours associated with that course, with the sole exception of common examinations given for multi-section courses when these various sections have different scheduled meeting times. For these permissible common examinations, the following will apply:

Common examinations will be scheduled only on Monday through Friday from 5:00 6:30 p.m. to 7:00 8:30 p.m., Monday thru Friday and Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Rev. 4/2013 2/2021)

The Registrar's office will insure ensure that there are no conflicts among the common examinations scheduled and will announce the dates and times of the common examinations in the Registration Booklet course schedule. Departments will determine the examination dates and times sufficiently far in advance that they will be printed in the Registration Booklet course schedule for that term.

In the few instances where it may be necessary for a student to schedule a course in conflict with a common examination, the instructor of the single section course will treat the student's absence from class on that day as excused.

Absences due to athletic participation or other extracurricular activities in which students are official representatives of the University will be recognized as excused when the student informs the instructor in writing during the first two weeks of the semester of these planned absences for the semester. Absences due to similar events that could not have been anticipated earlier in the semester will be recognized as excused absences upon advance notification of the instructor by an appropriate faculty advisor or athletic coach.

No examination, hourly examination, test, or quiz counting for 25 percent or more of the semester's grade for any class (except laboratory exams) shall be given during the last five class days of any regular semester. There shall be a break of at least 24 hours, designated Reading Day(s), at the beginning of Finals Week. No required examinations, tests, or quizzes may be given on Reading Day(s), to allow students to review for upcoming finals and to complete projects. Additionally, no student can be required to take any examination, test, or quiz on Reading Day(s). (Rev., Fac. Senate, 11/1/93; applicable only to Spring and Fall semesters beginning Spring '94; rev. Faculty Senate 5/3/99)

Religious Holidays: It is the policy of the University of Delaware not to cancel classes on religious holidays. However, students and faculty are encouraged to exercise their own judgment pertaining to their attendance on religious holidays. (Rev. 12/2020, 2/19/21)

In addition, faculty are encouraged not to schedule examinations or require the submission of special assignments on the following days: the evening before as well as the first two days of Rosh Hashanah, and Yom Kippur in the fall term, Diwali, Good Friday,  and the evenings before and the first two days of Passover in the spring semester., Eid-Al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha, and the evenings prior to these holidays. To facilitate planning for the potentially large number of absences on these days the University shall include the dates of these holidays in the academic calendar. Adjacent to each of these dates the academic calendar will include a reminder to consult the University policy on excused absences. The academic calendar will also include a link to a website that maintains interfaith calendars of primary sacred times for world religions. As retrieved on March 21, 2011, the address for this site is: http://www.interfaith-calendar.org.

Absences on religious holidays listed in University calendars are recognized as excused absences. Nevertheless, students are urged to remind the instructor of their intention to be absent on a particular upcoming holiday. (Rev. 12/2020, 2/19/21)

Student Class Attendance and Excused Absenses

By action of the University faculty, the responsibility for defining attendance expectations is left to the individual faculty member, subject to the guidelines given below. Thus, it is of great importance that early in each course the instructor makes clear to each the students what attendance expectations are, and how absences due to "relatively minor" illnesses, as described below, should are to be communicated. The use of the syllabus to list attendance expectations and means of communicating about illnesses is recommended. In order to be in compliance To be compliant with Federal financial aid regulations, the University requests that the instructor of record for each course identify, to the registrar's office, individual students who have never attended class or participated in any class activities by the last day to register or add courses each term or who fail to attend class after registering on the last day of the drop/add period. (Rev 11/18)

Inclement Weather: In inclement weather, when classes have not been are not cancelled, students who are unable to attend class should notify their faculty instructors promptly if they are unable to attend class, as described in the policies on Holding Classes and Inclement Weather.

Religious Holidays: It is the policy of the University of Delaware not to cancel classes on religious holidays. However, students and faculty are encouraged to exercise their own judgment pertaining to their attendance on these days religious holidays.

In addition, faculty are encouraged not to schedule examinations or require the submission of special assignments on the following days: the evening before as well as the first two days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur in the fall term, Good Friday and the evenings before and the first two days of Passover in the spring semester. To facilitate planning for the potentially large number of absences on these days the University shall include the dates of these holidays in the academic calendar. Adjacent to each of these dates the academic calendar will include a reminder to consult the University policy on excused absences. The academic calendar will also include a link to a website that maintains interfaith calendars of primary sacred times for world religions.  As retrieved on March 21, 2011, the address for this site is: http://www.interfaith-calendar.org.

Absences on religious holidays listed in University calendars are recognized as excused absences. Nevertheless, students are urged to remind the instructor of their intention to be absent on a particular upcoming holiday.

Athletic Participation: Absences on religious holidays not listed in University calendars, as well as absencesAbsences due to athletic participation or other extracurricular activities in which students are official representatives of the University, shall be recognized as excused absences when the student informs the instructor in writing during the first two weeks of the semester of these planned absences for the semester. Absences due to similar events which could not have been anticipated earlier in the semester will be recognized as excused absences upon advanced notification of the instructor by an appropriate faculty adviser or athletic coach.

Serious Illness/ Death in the Family: Absences due to serious illness or death within a student's family, or other serious family emergency, are recognized as excused absences. To validate such absences, the student should present evidence to the Dean's Office of his or her their college. The Dean's Office will then provide a letter of verification to all of the student's instructors for the term.

Absences due to serious personal illness (e.g., hospitalization, surgery, mental illness, or protracted medical illness or convalescence) shall also be recognized as excused absences. To validate such absences, the student should present evidence of the illness to the Dean's Office of his or her their college. Supportive evidence will be provided on the student's request by the Student Health Service, Center for Counseling and Student Development, or other health care provider directly to the respective Dean. Students who experience long-term absences of a week or more should consult with their Assistant Dean; in such cases, it may be possible to negotiate with faculty for the opportunity to take an incomplete grade, or a withdrawal may be more prudent. The student's Assistant Dean will give guidance in these matters.

Minor Illness: For relatively minor, short-term impacts on the health and wellness of students (e.g., colds and flu, where attendance in class is undesirable, or where a mental health challenge impedes attendance to class) or their immediate family, the University system depends upon reasonable communication between students and faculty. If possible, students should 1) report anticipated absences before the affected class or 2) provide supportive evidence from Student Health Services (SHS) or the Center for Counseling and Student Development (CCSD) or other health care provider if treatment is received, following the directions of the instructor provided at the start of the term (Rev. 5/96). SHS and CCSD staff members actively work with students on health concerns and provide excuses when appropriate.  Students should not be referred for excuses if they were not treated by SHS or CCSD for the illness. Faculty are encouraged to be understanding of these one day/minor illnesses. (Rev May 2019)

Military Duty: Absence due to short-term military duty in the National Guard or active reserve is recognized as an excused absence. To validate such an absence, the student should present evidence to the Dean's Office of his or her their college. The Dean's Office will then provide a letter of verification to all of the student's instructors for the term.

Students are not to be penalized if absent from an examination, lecture, laboratory, or other activity because of an excused absence. However, students are fully responsible for all material presented during their absence, and faculty members are encouraged to provide opportunities, when feasible, for students to make up examinations and other work missed because of an excused absence.

Authority for excusing all class absences rests with the instructor, subject to the abovementioned guidelines. (Rev. 4/87; 3/95; 5/99; 4/10, approved at 5/11 senate meeting)

By action of the University faculty, the responsibility for defining attendance expectations is left to the individual faculty member, subject to the guidelines given below. Thus it is of great importance that early in each course the instructor make clear to each student what attendance expectations are, and how absences due to "relatively minor" illnesses, as described below, are to be communicated. The use of the syllabus to list attendance expectations and means of communicating about illnesses is recommended. In order to be in compliance with Federal financial aid regulations, the University requests that the instructor of record for each course identify, to the registrar's office, individual students who have never attended class or participated in any class activities by the last day to register or add courses each term. (Rev 11/18)

In inclement weather, when classes have not been cancelled, students should notify their faculty promptly if they are unable to attend class, as described in the policies on Holding Classes and Inclement Weather.

It is the policy of the University of Delaware not to cancel classes on religious holidays. However, students and faculty are encouraged to exercise their own judgment pertaining to their attendance on these days. In addition, faculty are encouraged not to schedule examinations or require the submission of special assignments on the following days: the evening before as well as the first two days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur in the fall term, Good Friday and the evenings before and the first two days of Passover in the spring semester. To facilitate planning for the potentially large number of absences on these days the University shall include the dates of these holidays in the academic calendar. Adjacent to each of these dates the academic calendar will include a reminder to consult the University policy on excused absences. The academic calendar will also include a link to a website that maintains interfaith calendars of primary sacred times for world religions.  As retrieved on March 21, 2011, the address for this site is: http://www.interfaithcalendar.org/

Absences on religious holidays listed in University calendars is are recognized as excused absences. Nevertheless, students are urged to remind the instructor of their intention to be absent on a particular upcoming holiday.

Absences on religious holidays not listed in University calendars, as well as absences due to athletic participation or other extracurricular activities in which students are official representatives of the University, shall be recognized as excused absences when the student informs the instructor in writing during the first two weeks of the semester of these planned absences for the semester. Absences due to similar events which could not have been anticipated earlier in the semester will be recognized as excused absences upon advance notification of the instructor by an appropriate faculty adviser or athletic coach.

Absences due to serious illness or death within a student's family, or other serious family emergency, are recognized as excused absences. To validate such absences, the student should present evidence to the Dean's Office of his or her college. The Dean's Office will then provide a letter of verification to all of the student's instructors for the term.

Absences due to serious personal illness (e.g., hospitalization, surgery, mental illness, or protracted medical illness or convalescence) shall also be recognized as excused absences. To validate such absences, the student should present evidence of the illness to the Dean's Office of his or her college. Supportive evidence will be provided on the student's request by the Student Health Service directly to the respective Dean. Students who experience long-term absences of a week or more should consult with their Assistant Dean; in such cases, it may be possible to negotiate with faculty for the opportunity to take an incomplete grade, or a withdrawal may be more prudent. The student's Assistant Dean will give guidance in these matters.

For relatively minor, short-term impacts on the health and wellness of students (e.g., colds and flu, where attendance in class is undesirable, or where a mental health challenge impedes attendance to class) or their immediate family, the University system depends upon reasonable communication between students and faculty. If possible, students should 1) report anticipated absences before the affected class or 2) provide supportive evidence from Student Health Services (SHS) or the Center for Counseling and Student Development (CCSD) or other health care provider if treatment is received, following the directions of the instructor provided at the start of the term (Rev. 5/96). SHS and CCSD staff members actively work with students on health concerns and provide excuses when appropriate.  Students should not be referred for excuses if they were not treated by SHS or CCSD for the illness. Faculty are encouraged to be understanding of these one day/minor illnesses. (Rev May 2019)

Absence due to short-term military duty in the National Guard or active reserve is recognized as an excused absence. To validate such an absence, the student should present evidence to the Dean's Office of his or her college. The Dean's Office will then provide a letter of verification to all of the student's instructors for the term.

Students are not to be penalized if absent from an examination, lecture, laboratory, or other activity because of an excused absence. However, students are fully responsible for all material presented during their absence, and faculty members are encouraged to provide opportunities, when feasible, for students to make up examinations and other work missed because of an excused absence.

Authority for excusing all class absences rests with the instructor, subject to the abovementioned guidelines. (Rev. 4/87; 3/95; 5/99; 4/10, approved at 5/11 senate meeting)

General Education

This committee shall recommend academic policies and standards for the General Education Program. It shall evaluate on a regular basis the implementation of the General Education Initiative and its goals. It shall also have the ability to develop and recommend new general education initiatives and to bring forward resolutions seeking to improve the ways in which the University fosters the goals of general education.

This committee shall consist of 15 16 members, including the Provost or designee; a representative of the office of Educational Assessment; a Residence Life representative; an Undergraduate Studies Committee representative; two faculty representatives from the College of Arts and Sciences (one representing humanities and social sciences, the other representing natural and mathematical sciences); one faculty representative from each of the remaining colleges; colleges or schools governed by Deans in which faculty have primary appointments; one graduate student; and two undergraduate students.

The faculty representatives will be different from faculty members serving on the Undergraduate Studies Committee, and they will be selected by the Committee on Committees and Nominations (COCAN). These representatives will serve two year terms, and they may be reappointed. One of the faculty representatives will be designated chairperson of the committee by COCAN.

The chairperson of the Committee may request the appointment of up to two additional representatives of administrative offices (such as Admissions, Service Learning, Center for Teaching Effectiveness, Career Services, etc.) if such appointments would assist the committee in developing or evaluating particular general education initiatives. These additional representatives shall not have voting privileges.

All instructors/assistant professors are entitled to receive formal mentoring to support an orderly and timely progression to promotion. Each Department’s and/or College’s bylaws should include

Department and/or College shall maintain a formal mentoring protocol using available resources that is regularly appraised and updated for effectiveness. Chairs should consult with each assistant professor (mentee) in their unit to mutually identify a senior faculty mentor other than the chair. The minimum standard is one assigned mentor. The effectiveness of the mentor-mentee pairing should be evaluated by the faculty members at the end of each academic term. The main focus of formal mentoring is to support the mentee’s familiarity with departmental and institutional culture, timelines, and interpretation of policies and departmental practices. Formal mentoring begins as early as possible, once a faculty member accepts the position; it becomes especially important surrounding career development opportunities such as workload planning, learning about the cultural aspects of promotion and appraisal, etc. There should be regular formal meetings of the mentor and mentee, ideally several times a semester but at minimum once per semester. The mentor should be recognized by the chair for this service during appraisal and review.
 
The need for mentoring for the purpose of career development and promotion does not end after the probationary period. Therefore, each Department’s and/or College’s bylaws should

mentoring plan shall include formal mentoring protocols to provide advice for Associate Professors to support their advancement and growth. (Dec 2018)

UNDERGRADUATE STUDIES, COMMITTEE ON

This committee shall review and consider matters relating to undergraduate education and shall receive, and may stimulate and originate, proposals for its development.

This committee may initiate and shall consider and formulate specific recommendations to the colleges or to the Faculty Senate on undergraduate curricular changes and interdepartmental programs. It shall have the power to act on the alteration, addition or deletion of individual undergraduate courses recommended by college committees which do not involve curricular revision, in each case consulting the deans and department chairpersons concerned, and to delegate this authority to the individual colleges and Office of the University Registrar as it deems appropriate. It shall, further, review the academic standards of the several undergraduate colleges and review and prepare recommendations concerning procedures of undergraduate advisement. 
(Rev. fall 1988)

This committee shall have the responsibility for setting policies concerning academic deficiency. This committee shall receive and review for policy consideration from the Undergraduate Records and Certification Committee an annual summary report of its activities. This committee shall recommend, for final determination by the Faculty Senate, the undergraduate educational and academic admission policies, and, in consultation with the Committee on Undergraduate Records and Certification, the policies of academic standing of undergraduates. The committee shall advise the Associate Provost for Admissions and Financial Aid, the Assistant Vice President for Counseling and Student Development, and the University Registrar in implementing these policies. 
(Rev. 3/13/89)

This committee shall consist of the University Provost or his or her their designee; the Associate Provost for Admissions and Financial Aid or his or her designee; the University Registrar or his or her designee; three faculty members from the College of Arts and Science (if feasible, one from natural sciences and mathematics, one from arts and humanities, and one from social and behavioral sciences) and one faculty member from each other undergraduate college, one of whom shall be chairperson; one representative from the Associate in Arts Program, one representative of the Committee on Graduate Studies; and three undergraduate students. Non-voting members of the committee, who do not count toward a quorum, shall be the Chief Admissions Officer or their designee, the University Registrar or their designee, and he Vice Provost for Libraries and Museums or their designee.
(Rev. 5/21/90; 12/9/16 2/2020)

1. The Senate shall consist of the President of the University; the Provost; the Vice President for Research, Scholarship, and Innovation; the Vice President for Student Life; the Deans of the Colleges; the elected Senate officers; the elected faculty senators of the Units; the elected President of the University of Delaware Chapter of the American Association of University Professors; (Rev May 2019) the President of the University; the Provost; the Deans of the Colleges or Schools in which faculty have primary appointments; other Senators appointed by the President and Provost from the University’s Administration who hold faculty status; the Vice President for Student Life; two elected professional librarians; and four elected student senators (two graduate students and two undergraduate students) of the University. Each member of the Senate (hereinafter called a senator) shall have the right to vote. In no case shall the number of non-elected senators exceed twelve. For each upcoming academic year, the Senate office must be notified by August 15 as to the names/positions of those chosen by the President and/or the Provost for that academic year. (Rev May 2019)
   (Rev. of titles, 11/15/93; rev. Fac. Sen. 2/10/97; 9/15/97) (Rev 11/18)

Each Unit, with the exception of the Graduate College and Honors College, shall elect a number of senators equal to the whole number part of the ratio of fifty (50) times the number of voting faculty (defined in the Constitution, Section III, Item 2 above) for that Unit to the number of such voting faculty of the University, with the added proviso that each Unit shall be granted at least two (2) senators. Should application of this recipe yield other than fifty (50) elected senators, the Senate shall review and approve recommendations to adjust this total to yield fifty (50). (Rev. Fac. Sen. 9/15/97) 

16. Emergency Academic Regulations

On rare occasions, a significant disruption to the University of Delaware could occur, causing a temporary suspension of classes or extended closure of the University preventing academic work from progressing normally. This could occur for reasons such as a state of emergency declaration from the Governor’s Office, a natural disaster, civil unrest, pandemic illness, or other unforeseeable events.

 In the event of a significant disruption of academic activities during a University of Delaware’s academic session, the University Provost, acting in consultation with the University Faculty Senate Executive Committee, shall convene an Emergency Academic Regulations Task Force to consider whether or not temporary emergency academic policies are needed. The Task Force will be co-chaired by the Provost (or designee) and the President of the Faculty Senate (or designee). The Task force must include the chairs of the Committees on the Undergraduate Studies and Graduate Studies, the President (or designee) of the University of Delaware Chapter of the American Association of University Professors. Additional members may include student, faculty, and Dean representatives, as well as representatives from the Registrar's office, Student Life, and Student Financial Services, and other relevant representatives.

 Examples of temporary measures may include changes to the academic calendar, registration, assignments and examinations, teaching format, grades, teaching evaluations, procedures for accepting theses, awarding of degrees, and modifications to the schedule for promotion and tenure (See FacultyHandbook 1.2).

 All Task Force temporary recommendations that will affect the Faculty Handbook and Course Catalog must be considered and voted on by the Faculty Senate. The Task Force shall submit formal resolutions for immediate Faculty Senate discussion and vote. If the Senate Executive Committee determines it is not practicable for the Senate to consider the resolutions (in a timely fashion or a quorum is not reached), the Senate Executive Committee shall act on the Senate’s behalf. 

Any temporary measures approved by the Senate or the Senate Executive Committee shall be in force for the current academic term only.

Appeals are possible at every level (see Section 4.4.3 4for more information regarding the appeals process and schedule.)

Absences due to serious personal illness (e.g., hospitalization, surgery, mental illness, or protracted medical illness or convalescence) shall also be recognized as excused absences. To validate such absences, the student should present evidence of the illness to the Dean's Office of his or her college. Supportive evidence will be provided on the student's request by the Student Health Service directly to the respective Dean. Students who experience long-term absences of a week or more should consult with their Assistant Dean; in such cases, it may be possible to negotiate with faculty for the opportunity to take an incomplete grade, or a withdrawal may be more prudent. The student's Assistant Dean will give guidance in these matters.

For relatively minor, short-term impacts on the health and wellness illnesses of students (e.g., colds and flu, where attendance in class is undesirable, or where a mental health challenge impedes attendance to class) or their immediate family, the University system depends upon reasonable communication between students and faculty. If possible, students should 1) report anticipated absences such illnesses before the affected class or 2) provide supportive evidence from Student Health Services (SHS) or the Center for Counseling and Student Development (CCSD) or other health care provider if treatment is received, following the directions of the instructor provided at the start of the term (Rev. 5/96). SHS and CCSD staff members actively work with students on health concerns and provide excuses when appropriate.  Students should not be referred for excuses if they were not treated by SHS or CCSD for the illness. Faculty are encouraged to be understanding of these one day/minor illnesses.

SECTION IV:

1. The Senate shall consist of the President of the University; the Provost; the Vice President for Research, Scholarship, and Innovation; the Vice President for Student Life; one additional administrator holding a full-time faculty appointment designated by the President and/or the Provost;  the Deans of the Colleges; the elected Senate officers; the elected faculty senators of the Units; the elected President of the University of Delaware Chapter of the American Association of University Professors; two elected professional librarians; and four elected student senators (two graduate students and two undergraduate students) of the University. Each member of the Senate (hereinafter called a senator) shall have the right to vote. In no case shall the number of non-elected senators exceed twelve. For each upcoming academic year, the Senate office must be notified by August 15 as to the names/positions of those chosen by the President and/or the Provost for that academic year.
   (Rev. of titles, 11/15/93; rev. Fac. Sen. 2/10/97; 9/15/97) (Rev 11/18)

It is recognized that if faculty members are to teach and carry on research effectively, academic freedom is necessary.  Academic freedom is indispensable to effective teaching, excellent research/creative activities, exemplary service, and shared governance.  Academic freedom is the right of freedom of the faculty to examine and discuss all questions of interest to them, and to teach, publish, present, and speak out as the fruits of their research and scholarship dictate, without censorship or external interference, even though their conclusions may be unpopular or contrary to public opinion (see 3.1.1).  The methods, curricular choices, and grading procedures should be the prerogative of the faculty teaching a particular course, limited only by appropriate professional norms, the Faculty Handbook (see 3.1.8, 3.1.9, 3.1.10, 3.1.11, 4.2.14), and the Collective Bargaining Agreement (Article II).  Academic freedom also encompasses the freedom to discuss any matter of institutional policy or practice, without institutional sanction.  Respecting academic freedom means that faculty input should be sought on all academic matters germane to university life (see 4.5).   Both within and outside the classroom, the faculty members of the faculty should exhibit the accuracy, restraint, and respect tolerance for the opinions and ideas of others appropriate to educators and persons of learning.    In relations with the public, they should make it clear at all times whether they speak as private citizens, as experts on the subject in question, or as institutional spokesmen. In speaking as private citizens, faculty should make clear that they are doing so. In this connection, use of University titles should be permitted for identification purposes only, and it should be made clear that institutional endorsement is not implied.  [moved five paragraphs below]

The following statements were passed by the University Faculty Senate and were adopted as policy by the University administration and on May 31, 1979, by the Board of Trustees.  [moved to the end of the statement].

The teacher Faculty members are entitled to full freedom in research and in the publication of results, but research for pecuniary return should comply with relevant university policies (see 3.2.4, 4.1.13, 4.2.6, 4.2.7) )  be based upon an understanding with the authorities of the University. 

The teacher Faculty are entitled to freedom in the classroom in discussing his or her their subject but should be careful not to introduce content into his or her teaching matter that which has little or no relation relevance to the subject.

Classroom visitations for the purpose of teaching evaluations are compatible with academic freedom, but such visitation shall adhere to reasonable procedures contained in a written statement approved by a majority of department faculty.

The teacher faculty is an individual, a member of a learned profession, as well as a member of an educational institution. When speaking as an individual, he or she should be free from institutional censorship or discipline, but his or her special position in the community imposes special obligations. As a person of learning and as an educator, the teacher a member of the faculty should remember that the public may judge his or her profession and institution by his or her utterances. Hence the teacher faculty should at all times be accurate, should exercise appropriate restraint, should show respect for the opinions of others, and should make every effort to indicate that he or she is not an institutional spokesperson. In relations with the public, they should make it clear at all times whether they speak as private citizens, as experts on the subject in question, or as institutional spokesperson. In speaking as private citizens, faculty should make clear that they are doing so. In this connection, use of University titles should be permitted for identification purposes only, and it should be made clear that institutional endorsement is not implied.

Members of the University community are free to examine and to discuss all questions of interest to them and to express opinions publicly and privately. They are free to support causes by orderly means including any means of peaceful assembly or advocacy that do not infringe upon the rights or freedoms of others. Members of the University community are allowed to invite, to hear, and to see speakers, creative performers and artistic presentations of their own choosing. Guest appearances must not interfere with the University's regular instructional, research, and service programs. Except for ceremonial occasions, invited speakers and art presenters should be prepared for a reasonable public discussion of their expressed views.

Invited speakers and art presenters are accorded the full courtesy and protection appropriate to a university community. Individuals or groups who engage in actions designed to obstruct or in any way to prevent the speaker from speaking and the art presenter from presenting or displaying any form of artistic expression are subject to discipline and to financial responsibility in the event of damage to property or person.

The institutional control of campus facilities is not to be used as a device of censorship. Sponsorship of guest speakers and art presenters does not imply approval or endorsement of the views expressed, either by the sponsoring unit or the University.

(Passed by the University Faculty Senate, approved by the Board of Trustees, 5/31/79.  Revised 12/10/80).

This committee shall coordinate, facilitate, stimulate, and encourage international study. It shall make recommendations and advise the University on appropriate policies and procedures to further international educational activities.The Committee on International Studies shall have oversight of all international educational studies for students and faculty such as (but not limited to) short-term and semester study abroad programs, international scholarship opportunities, World Scholars, international service learning and research programs, and/or any academic program with an embedded global experience.  The committee will review, make recommendations, and advise on curricula, and on policies and procedures to promote international educational development and activities.  The committee will also provide oversight for programs for international students studying on the University of Delaware campus.

This committee shall consist of five faculty members, one of whom shall be designated the chairperson, the Foreign Student and Scholar Advisor, one appointment by the University Provost, one undergraduate student and one graduate student. The Committee shall consist of six faculty. Faculty shall be from at least four of the seven colleges. The Committee on Committees and Nominations shall appoint the faculty members for this committee for terms of three years. Appointments shall be scheduled such that the faculty member’s terms will expire in a staggered manner. The Committee on Committees and Nominations shall appoint annually the chairperson from the six faculty members. A seventh member of the committee shall be the Associate Deputy Provost for international programs or his or her designee, and this member shall serve to facilitate interactions between the committee and relevant administrative offices. The committee will also include one undergraduate and one graduate student.

Purpose

Annual evaluations provide administrators, faculty, professionals, and staff an opportunity to meet with their immediate supervisors for a personal review of activities and accomplishments and a planning session for future objectives and goals. Leadership at the unit level can have a most direct and significant effect.

Peer evaluations, which come less frequently, attempt to put wider resources into the review processes, resources that are represented by one's colleagues and their collective experience and wisdom. Since promotion and tenure recommendations are heavily dependent on peer evaluations, it is essential that candidates have early indications from their colleagues regarding their progress in the areas of teaching, research and creative activity, and service. The chair's role in these latter activities is to facilitate and coordinate the processes and to provide leadership wherever appropriate.

Annual Evaluation of Faculty

The intent of the annual evaluation procedure is to:

• Provide the faculty member and the chair with an opportunity for personal review
• Provide an accurate means of planning and evaluation of a faculty member's professional growth and development
• Provide each faculty member and the University with timely and documented information concerning the faculty member's achievements and goals.

In addition to the above, these appraisals form the basis for merit pay increases. Annual appraisals are not intended to take the place of either development or committee evaluations for promotion or tenure or of the periodic peer review of faculty.

Each year, the department chair meets in person with each faculty member in the department, including permanent part-time faculty, to discuss the faculty member's development during that year and plans for the coming year. The period covered in this meeting is the twelve-month period of time since the last appraisal.

Prior to their annual meeting, the chair and the faculty member complete a draft of the Faculty Appraisal and Planning Form. During the discussion, the faculty member is shown a copy of the mid-ratings (median) for the entire department as established by the chair's preliminary evaluation of the department's faculty. In some cases, the rating of an individual faculty member may be changed as a result of this discussion. After all faculty have met with the chair, final mid-ratings (median) for the entire department are calculated and recorded on each faculty member's form. If the faculty member takes exception to any of the chair's ratings, the faculty member's rating for that item is also recorded on the form. After the interview has been completed, the chair and the faculty member sign the final copy. The faculty member's signature does not indicate agreement or disagreement with the appraisal, but simply that it was discussed in detail with the chair.

The data required at the top of the form are self-explanatory. Full-time is checked if the person is full-time with the University and if all University responsibilities are being evaluated in the appraisal and planning form even though the individual may not be 100 percent funded by the department. Part-time personnel, or personnel whose appraisals and planning form covers only part of their University responsibilities, are designated by indicating the proportion that is devoted to the department and is being appraised. For faculty with joint appointments, their appraisals and plans are combined on one form, after the evaluating chair has consulted with the second chair. Otherwise, two separate forms, based on separate evaluations and requiring separate interviews must be prepared.

For each of the three areas (teaching, research and creative activity, and service), the percent of the faculty member’s workload assigned to that area is indicated. These percentages are very important because readers, in interpreting these appraisals, weigh each area according to the percent of effort assigned to that area for the individual faculty member.

For each area or item, the chair writes a narrative appraisal of the faculty member's relevant activities and then rates the person's performance on that activity. The criteria to be used as the bases for these judgments are the criteria for performance of faculty members at each rank as codified under the promotion criteria accepted by the department, college, and University promotion and tenure committees, and by the Provost's office, and should take account of the individual faculty member's particular responsibilities

A 9-point scale for the ratings anchored at the end points with the terms unsatisfactory and outstanding is utilized. N/A (Not Applicable) should be used only in those cases where there is no requirement for that individual to engage in that particular activity. In other cases, N/R (Not Rated) may be used. For example, a new Ph.D. might be given N/R in research and creative  activity because that individual's research program is too new to be evaluated meaningfully, but should not be given N/A because assistant professors, even new ones, are expected to engage in scholarly activity.

Faculty members may add other materials to support their ratings on their activities, especially where they believe that a different appraisal should have been given. Chairs also may add materials they consider appropriate. Along with a copy of the Faculty Appraisal and Planning Form, copies of additional materials should be provided to the faculty member, the chair/department, the dean, and the provost.

It is recognized that no chair or any single individual can duplicate the judgment of several committees, nor can performance during a single year determine one's promotion, nor can these procedures match the extensive and intensive evaluation that takes place when a person comes up for promotion. Faculty appraisal and planning sessions provide an opportunity: 1) for faculty members to inform their chairs more completely and accurately about their activities; 2) for chairs to give the faculty their best judgments on how well the faculty have fulfilled their responsibilities during the year prior to appraisal; and 3) for the faculty member and chair to discuss the faculty member's plans for the coming year. The intent is to determine mutually acceptable goals that develop the faculty member's strength or correct any weaknesses.

The three major areas of faculty scholarly activity are (1) Teaching and Instruction; (2) Scholarship and Research and Creative Activities; and (3), Professional, and University Service. Precise demarcation between the three major areas is often difficult and sometimes impossible; in any case, all activities of a faculty member must be considered as an integrated whole. Therefore, every department must maintain discipline- and departmental- specific descriptions of appropriate activities in each category of activity. Faculty activity in each of the areas may vary from year to year, or even semester to semester, according to the interests and abilities of the faculty member, and according to the needs of his or her department, college, or the University as agreed to by the chairperson and dean.

Teaching: Under this category, shall be included: examples may include but are not limited to the following: all scheduled classes (and academic advising involved therein), seminars, laboratories, thesis and research supervision, clinical and field activities, advisement and any other instructional activity.

• Facilitating the acquisition of knowledge through course delivery
• Community engaged educational programs including extension presentations
• Supervision of academic service learning activities
• Clinical teaching
• Study abroad programs
• Distance education and off-campus educational initiatives
• Continuing education
• Contract courses or programs for specific audiences
• Educational programs for alumni
• Participatory curriculum development
• Academic advisement for undergraduate students
• Academic advisement of graduate students
• Teaching and mentoring of undergraduate student researchers
• Teaching and mentoring of graduate student researchers
• Attendance at venues of teaching professional development
• Assessments of course effectiveness

Scholarship and Research Research and Creative Activities: Under this category, shall be the following: examples may include but are not limited to the following:

·         Research, usually presented through publication of scholarly work or through appropriate colloquia

·         Creative development in those fields in which the faculty member receives public recognition for his or her professional contributions to society or to the University. Included are such activities as plays (composition or production), music (composition or performance), art exhibitions, patents, etc.

·         Professional development involving the presentation of papers or chairing sessions at professional meetings, serving as an officer or committee member of a professional organization, editorial duties, professional consulting, and other similar activities. Alternatively, these activities can be considered under the Service section for those units that specify such professional development activities under Service in their P&T document.

• Dissemination of research (books, book chapters, and peer-reviewed journal articles), including basic and applied discovery, teaching pedagogy, and community-based, contractual, and patent discovery, etc.
• Creative activities such as plays (creation, production, and/or performance), poetry, fiction, music (composition and/or performance), art and dance exhibitions, etc.,
• Presentation of scholarly work at appropriate colloquia, seminars, conferences, and lectures,
• Grants and contracts awarded to conduct research,
• Translational and application of research for community engagement,
• Cooperative Extension and applied technical publications
• Creation of and contributions to software projects.

Public, Professional and University Service: Included in this category shall be: Under this category, examples may include but are not limited to the following:

·         University service, such as nonacademic advisement of students (career, professional, or personal); activities such as living/ learning experiences, for which no academic credit is given; departmental committees and special assignments; college senates, committees, and special assignments; University Senate, committees, and special assignments; service to the University of Delaware Chapter of the AAUP; administrative and quasi-administrative appointments; and participation in student affairs related activities (Rev. 5/02)

·         Public and Community service (local, state, regional, national, international), such as technical assistance or consultation for public or community organizations, election or appointment to boards, commissions, committees, legislative bodies, or the like outside the normal professional calling of the faculty member in the teaching or research function.

·         Professional service to the faculty members’ discipline and its organizations such as service for professional associations.

·         Creative activities outside the normal professional calling of the faculty member; for example, participation in orchestras or ensembles, shows of paintings, musical or literary productions, and the like, which enhance or improve the University as a community of learning.

• University service, such as a) nonacademic advisement of students (advising student groups or providing career, professional, or personal advisement), b) departmental committees and special assignments, c) college senates, committees, and special assignments, d) University Senate committees and special assignments, e) service to the University of Delaware Chapter of the AAUP, f) administrative appointments, and g) participation in activities related to student affairs
• Integrated scholarly service including chairing sessions at professional meetings, serving as an officer or committee member of a professional organization, editorial duties, grant reviewing, professional consulting, expert testimony and other similar activities
• Policy analysis
• Service to community-based institutions
• New business ventures based on scholarly knowledge
• Dissemination of results in public presentations and popular publications

4.1.1 Faculty Appointment Policy

This policy shall apply to all academic units for the appointment to an academic rank. The policy shall be applicable to all full- and part-time positions, permanent and temporary positions, joint, secondary, affiliated, and adjunct positions, regardless of funding source.

·         To appoint any person to an academic rank requires a positive recommendation from the faculty of the academic unit to which the person is to be assigned, and the rank shall be specified in the recommendation.
·         In the case of an appointment of an external candidate, the academic rank of such appointee must be approved by a favorable vote of those faculty in the academic unit who are eligible to vote under the department’s bylaws and/or promotion and tenure document in cases involving the promotion of an internal candidate for promotion; furthermore, appointments with tenure must be approved by the faculty in such academic unit who are eligible to vote under the department’s bylaws and/or promotion and tenure document in cases where tenure is granted to an internal candidate. Academic rank also must be approved by the Provost, and appointments with tenure must be approved by the Provost and President.
·         Departments may specify in their promotion and tenure documents what, if any, evidence is required to be submitted by a senior external candidate for an appointment to support the granting of tenure in cases where the candidate does not already hold tenure in his or her current academic position and/or a promotion in rank above that of his or her current academic position. Departments may require “mini-dossiers” that include less information and fewer external letters of review than are required of internal candidates for promotion and/or tenure.
·         There shall be a search committee for each new or vacant faculty position. The University of Delaware Recruitment Manual for faculty, professional and salaried staff members sets forth the policy governing the establishment of search committees and the search procedures for filling faculty positions.
·         The college dean and department chairperson act for the college and department faculty, respectively. It is understood that they consult with college or department faculty according to college and department policies and procedures in making their recommendations.

The full-time teaching assignment at the University of Delaware is twelve credit contact hours or 18 teaching contact hours per week per semester for the academic year. In practice, however, the University adheres to a policy of "administered" teaching loads. Under this arrangement, department chairpersons and deans are encouraged to vary the teaching loads of individual faculty members so long as the total teaching obligations are met with the teaching personnel available. This flexible arrangement makes it possible for the chairpersons to make assignments of individual faculty members on a semester-to-semester basis to stimulate research and scholarship or to provide for unusually heavy committee assignments.

A.    Student evaluations, properly tabulated and summarized. The procedures used in administering the evaluations should also be described. Where available comparable departmental evaluations and past measures of the candidate's performance should be provided. (Note: Student evaluations should only be used in conjunction with other indicators to measure teaching competence, not just popularity. The type and size of courses should be taken into account).

B.     Samples of student comments from student evaluations. The means by which these samples were selected should be provided.

C.     Testimonials from a selection of former and current undergraduate and graduate students. The procedures for drawing the sample should be clearly described.

D.    Course portfolio evaluation

E.     Student performance in later sequential courses

F.      Standardized test scores

G.    Self-evaluation

H.    Long-term follow-up of students

I.        In-person classroom observation and evaluation in courses taught by the candidate, done by university faculty and/or staff (such as from the Center for Teaching & Assessment of Learning), chosen for their pedagogical expertise.

J.       Teaching awards (e.g., Faculty Senate Excellence in Teaching)

• Teaching narrative with self-evaluation and teaching philosophy.
• In-person classroom observation and evaluation in course(s) taught by the candidate, done by university faculty and/or staff, chosen for their pedagogical expertise.
• A collection of recent syllabi, examinations, assignments, and/or other teaching materials. The candidate might annotate these materials to indicate what learning goals they address, how and why they are used, and their effectiveness.
• Attendance in teaching workshops, possibly with reflections on how the workshop informed and improved teaching.
• Incorporation of best practices (perhaps as evidenced in empirical studies) into the classroom.
• Evidence of student learning (e.g standardized test results, samples of student work, pre/post assessment).
• Testimonials from a selection of former and current undergraduate and/or graduate students. The procedures for drawing the sample should be clearly described.
• Teaching awards (e.g., Faculty Senate Excellence in Teaching).
• Sample comments from student course feedback (collected using institutional measures). The means by which these samples were selected should be provided.
• Quantitative student course feedback (collected using institutional measures) properly tabulated and summarized. The procedures used in administering the feedback should also be described in context. Where available, comparable departmental measures should be provided. Student course feedback can reflect unconscious bias and may not reflect student learning. Such measures should only be considered in conjunction with other indicators of teaching quality.

Peer Evaluation of Faculty

On recommendation of the Faculty Senate and approval by the administration, "faculty members at all ranks should be subject to periodic reviews at reasonable intervals of time." The recommended intervals are at least every two years for instructors and assistant professors, every three to five years for tenured associate professors, and every five to seven years for full professors. These reviews are to be conducted by duly established committees of faculty.

In addition, the department chairperson reviews annually each department member on a Faculty Appraisal Form. This review is discussed with the faculty member, and the form is signed by both the faculty member and the department chairperson.  

Principles Guiding the Peer Evaluation of Faculty Members: Faculty members at all ranks shall should be subject to periodic reviews at reasonable intervals of time.

Reviews of individual faculty members will normally originate with the individual department. (Since the academic organization of the University varies, references to department should sometimes read division or college, and references to chairperson should sometimes read director or dean.) Such reviews should involve a substantial number of faculty members but not the chairperson.

Faculty members under review have the right to supply such evidence that they feel may be necessary to a fair evaluation of their merits. This should not preclude departments or others properly involved in the review process from soliciting and using other evidence, but in every such instance, the faculty member should be informed of the source of that evidence.

Appropriate administrative officers may make independent evaluations within the review process.

Upon completion of the review, the faculty member will be apprised of the results. Faculty members shall be required to include their contract renewal reviews as part of their dossier for promotion and tenure; this should include the evaluations or reviews conducted by the established committees of the faculty and by the corresponding administrative office (e.g., department chair). (Rev. 5.10.07)

Faculty members are fully entitled to the rights of appeal. Reviews of individual faculty would not be a substitute for competency hearings of tenured faculty. They may serve, however, as a basis for instituting such hearings. In the event of a competency hearing, due process would be observed, with the burden of proof residing with those instituting the hearing.

Periods of Peer Evaluation: Instructors and assistant professors will should be reviewed at least every two years but normally no more often than once a year. Not later than the fall of the sixth year of service, assistant professors must should be reviewed for promotion.

Tenured associate professors should be reviewed at least once within every three to five year period of service but normally not more often than every two years. Non-tenured associate professors should be reviewed in the year prior to their eligibility for tenure.

Full professors should be reviewed at least once every five to seven year period of service, but normally not more often than every two years.

Departmental Responsibility: The department chairperson organizes and coordinates reviews of faculty.

Reviews of instructors and assistant professors should be conducted with the participation of associate and full professors in the department. In no case should faculty members be reviewed without the participation of at least two members of their department, one of whom, if possible, must be a rank at least one step higher than the person under review.

Associate professors should be reviewed by professors in the department. In those departments where fewer than two professors are available to conduct such a review, the chairperson of the department may request professors from other related departments to serve on the review body.

Full professors should be reviewed by a committee of at least three of their peers. In small departments, professors from other related departments may be asked to serve at the request of the chairperson.

These provisions specify minimum requirements. A department may choose to constitute the whole department, or any other designated authority, to serve as a review body. A department may choose to include in the review body faculty members at the same rank or lower rank of the person being evaluated so long as such persons do not constitute a majority of the body.

Submission and Evaluation of Documents and Other Evidence: The faculty member under review should assemble a dossier of materials that he or she regards as appropriate and convincing evidence of his or her abilities in the three major areas of evaluation (see below). The faculty member should be notified of the date that the dossier is required by the chairperson. This date should be in sufficient time before the review date, which should also be specified.

The review body or the chairperson of the department may request additional evidence from: (a) the faculty member under review; (b) other sources within the University, such as experts in related fields, committee chairpersons, and colleagues; (c) similar sources outside the University. In all instances under (b) and (c), the faculty member should be informed that such evidence is being requested. If any evidence is requested in confidence, the faculty member must be told the source of such confidential information. He or she may then communicate to the review committee in writing his or her position as to the qualifications of that source.

The review body should evaluate the evidence and the faculty member's abilities in each of the three major areas. A report summarizing the reasons for or against a favorable judgment should then be forwarded to the dean of the college along with the chairperson's independent evaluation. A copy of the report of the review body, of the chairperson, and of any other administrator may be delivered to the faculty member under review upon request.

Administrative Evaluations: Appropriate administrative officers, such as chairpersons, deans, provost, vice-provost, and president may review the dossier of each faculty member reviewed whenever a recommendation for sabbatical, promotion, and/or tenure is made by the department, or whenever there is a significant and substantial change in the status or conditions of employment of any faculty member. Further evidence may be solicited in accordance with the same procedures stipulated under "Submission and Evaluation of Documents and Other Evidence" above.

Reporting Results of Reviews: Each faculty member is entitled to a personal interview with the chairperson of the department and, upon request, a written report of his or her review. Wherever possible, the interview and report should carry specific indications where evidence has been satisfactory or, when it has not been, specific recommendations for improvement before the next review.

Appeals: A faculty member may appeal the decision of the review body by requesting another review within a semester of the first review, and he or she may request a new committee. This request may be rejected by the department, but is subject to appeal to the appropriate college and University committees.

6/95, Modified and approved by Provost and AAUP 12/3/04, 5/07

11. Eligibility and Election of Officers and Committee Chairs of the Senate

Eligibility for nomination, appointment, or service as Senate Officers or committee Chairs shall be restricted to full-time voting Faculty who are not appointed to serve in an official capacity for the Offices of the President, the Provost, any Vice President, or the Dean of any College, including but not limited to administrative officers of the University (including deputy, associate, assistant and vice provosts), academic deans (including deputy, associate and assistant deans), and department chairs or academic program directors (as defined in the Policy Guide for Department Chairs and Academic Program Directors).  Faculty who serve in a temporary capacity for an administrative office as a member of a search committee, standing committee, or ad hoc committee shall not be deemed ineligible because of this service.

Departmental documents should also include the procedure for choosing the departmental promotion and tenure committee and should specify what constitutes discipline- and departmental- specific standards within all areas of teaching, research/creative activities, and service in the context of assigned workload. required levels of achievement for each rank, such as excellence in research or teaching or in both. Faculty candidates for promotion and/ or tenure will be evaluated based on the criteria in their department’s approved promotion and tenure guidelines appropriately weighted for their workload for the period under review. (Rev. 3/4/08; Rv. 5/2016)

Section added December 2018

Added section

Section added

The use of analytics for evaluating faculty must be done judiciously and within the context of the individual’s work and field, and must be subordinate to long-accepted standards of peer review. Reviewers shall avoid over-reliance on third-party analytical data in making tenure and promotion decisions. The department/unit must clearly stipulate if, how, or whether analytics are to be used in the promotion process. Furthermore, any data and analytics to which candidates do not have access over the course of the review period cannot be used for evaluating faculty or included in reviews of the dossier. (Rev 3/2018)