Common use of Academic Responsibility Clause in Contracts

Academic Responsibility. The concept of academic freedom must be accompanied by an equally demanding concept of academic responsibility. The concern of the College and University and its members for academic freedom safeguards must extend equally to requiring responsible service, consistent with the objective of the Montana University System. Every person in the bargaining unit is at one and the same time (1) a teacher, (2) a member of the faculty of the University, and (3) a scholar. By virtue of his/her position in the University, the individual shares all three of these functions, each of which is of great importance. As a member of a faculty, each person is expected to relate in a professional manner with colleagues in the academic community. Similarly, each faculty member is expected to participate in the work of the unit and of the institution. As a teacher, every person in the bargaining unit is responsible for effective instruction, including evaluation, of students of the College. In keeping with this, all faculty members shall prepare a syllabus for each course they teach. A current copy of each syllabus will be placed in an electronic data base for access by students. Each faculty member shall provide an electronic copy of their current syllabi within thirty (30) days of the start of the semester to the College’s chief academic officer. Aspects of effective instruction include teaching classes in accordance with official descriptions and meeting classes in accordance with published schedules at on- campus locations, off-campus locations germane to the subject matter, or at other locations approved by the xxxx or his/her designee. No classes may be taught off-campus or at unscheduled locations during any concerted activity by any College employee without prior approval of the College’s chief academic officer. The faculty member shall have both a depth and breadth of knowledge in his/her chosen field and be able to communicate this knowledge to the students. The faculty member shall maintain an active interest in the advances and current thinking in his/her subject and be able to relate such information to his/her teaching in an organized manner through incorporation into course materials. Moreover, the faculty member shall maintain a critical attitude toward his/her teaching and should strive continuously to improve it. Obviously, the faculty member shall avoid persistent intrusion of totally unrelated material into classroom presentations. The effective teacher feels and exhibits enthusiasm for his/her subject and creates an environment that stimulates imaginative thinking. The faculty member should have a deep interest in the students’ progress and welfare, which includes counseling and advising assigned advisees as well as other students on their program of study and other academic matters, and maintaining a responsible, professional relationship with the students. Both faculty member and advisee share responsibility for making the advising relationship successful. The advisor and advisee should discuss the educational objectives suited to the advisee’s demonstrated abilities and expressed interests. The advisor helps the advisee to understand the relationship between academic programs and undergraduate research opportunities, internships, study abroad programs, and other academic experiences provided by the College. The faculty member will carefully ensure equal application of class standards and requirements. Faculty shall preserve the records necessary to compute final grades for one academic term. For one full semester following the semester a student receives a grade, faculty will retain all academic course materials used as the basis for a student’s semester grade (papers, tests and/or other written or printed materials) which are not returned to the student. Fall semester grade records and course materials will be kept until the end of the next spring semester; while spring semester and any summer course grade records and course materials will be kept until the end of the next fall semester. Each faculty member has obligations and responsibilities to assist in the proper administration of College affairs. It is therefore to be expected that he/she will serve on committees, attend College functions, and render public service in the area of his/her professional competence. As a scholar, the person is responsible to the College and to society to keep informed about advances in knowledge and to engage in an active program of research or creative activities as judged by peers. This part of his/her activity, though in general not formally scheduled, is nevertheless essential. In large measure the welfare of society depends on it. Creative work in a faculty member’s discipline-specific area(s) ranks equally with research and scholarly publications. These functions and responsibilities shall not be thought of as mutually exclusive, but as overlapping and complementary. Thus, active participation in the work of learned societies is related to a person's work as both scholar and member of the faculty. Similarly, preparation of papers for publication, which is an example of a person's function as a scholar, may well grow out of his/her work as a teacher.