/Institutions/Keuka-College/json/2025-2026/Faculty-Handbook-local.json

/Institutions/Keuka-College/json/2025-2026/Faculty-Handbook.json

Article III - Faculty Development

Keuka College invests in faculty and their development in multiple ways at both the individual and institutional level.

SECTION 1 - Faculty Development Committee

As noted previously in this handbook, the Faculty Development Committee (FDC) serves to increase opportunities for faculty growth and development through sabbaticals and disbursement of professional development funds, among other programming to assist and recognize faculty efficacy in teaching, scholarship, and service. The FDC collaborates with the Center for Teaching and Learning to plan new faculty orientation and ongoing professional development opportunities. The FDC coordinates with the Office of the Provost in the awarding of professional development funds, awards, leaves of absences, and sabbaticals. See Appendix B for the application processes for the College's Faculty Development Grants and Awards.

1. Faculty Development Grant
   1. Purpose - The Faculty Development Grant offers financial support to faculty members to enhance their roles as teachers, scholars, and members of the College community. This opportunity is meant for engagement in scholarly or creative activities that further the mission and values of Keuka College to enhance the three pillars of teaching, service, and scholarship. Possible proposals may include, but are not limited to, the following:
      1. Research the design and preparation for a new course
      2. Development of some skill or expertise
      3. Development of a group Field Period®
      4. Development of a workshop for faculty
      5. Establishment of faculty scholarship projects
   2. Description of Funding - The FDC has allotted a maximum of $5,000 per academic year to support faculty development grants, pending and subject to the annual institutional budget ($2,500 per term). Individuals can apply for up to $1,000 per academic year. These awards will be applied for and given in two grant cycles. For award distribution and specific dates, please see Appendix B. Applications posted after the deadline will not be reviewed. If awarded a grant, the recipient must disseminate the results at a college-wide venue during the same academic year. Failure to comply with any of the grant requirements or condition will affect future FDC applications and may result in further sanctions including repayment of the Faculty Development Grant.
   3. Eligibility - The Faculty Development Grant may be awarded to any faculty member who has completed one year of full-time equivalent teaching service at the rank of instructor or higher at Keuka College. Applicants may only apply for one Faculty Development Grant per year, no exceptions. Faculty cannot combine a Continuing Education Grant with a Faculty Development Grant,
2. Continuing Education Grant
   1. Purpose - In support of the Boyer Model of Scholarship, the Faculty Development Committee has funds available to assist faculty with the cost of attending academic conferences for the purpose of delivering scholarly papers or presentations and engaging in scholarly exchange. Additionally, there are funds available to support other professional development endeavors, which will be evaluated on an individual basis.
   2. Description of Funding - The allotted amount for this award will vary year to year pending Academic Affairs funds and institutional budget availability.
   3. Eligibility - The Continuing Education Grant may be awarded to any faculty member who has completed one year of full-time equivalent teaching service at the rank of instructor or higher at Keuka College. Applicants may apply for more than one Continuing Education Grant per academic year; preference will be awarded to applicants who have not previously been awarded funds during the same academic year.
3. Student-Faculty Research Award
   1. Purpose - The purpose of the Faculty-Student Research Award (FSRA) is to facilitate collaborative faculty-student research between full-time faculty and undergraduate students. Research collaboration is understood to include faculty-mentored undergraduate scholarly projects in any discipline. The Class of 1965 endowment fund has provided funding for this initiative.
   2. Description of Funding - The allotted amount for this award will vary year to year subject to endowment funds available. Funds can only be awarded at the beginning of the fiscal year. Funds must be utilized by the end of the fiscal year. Any funds awarded and not utilized during that fiscal year must be returned.
   3. Eligibility - FSRA funds may be awarded to any full-time, tenured, or tenure-track faculty member who has completed one year of full-time equivalent teaching service at the rank of instructor of higher at Keuka College. The proposal must be a faculty-led project and must directly involve undergraduate students. Back-to-back applications will be accepted; however, past receipt of funds does not guarantee future receipt of funds or any guaranteed renewal in any program or research funding.
4. Faculty Development Awards
   1. Purpose - The purpose of these awards is to recognize Keuka College faculty members who have demonstrated excellence in experiential learning activities, teaching, academic achievement, and advising. They are described as follows:
      1. Excellence in Experiential Learning Award - Awarded to faculty members who have demonstrated innovative, structured experiential learning practices or activities effectively in the classroom, in co-curricular settings, in the workplace, or in the community. In addition, it aims to promote the development of lifelong learning and career skills students use to transform experience into knowledge. Nominated faculty must submit descriptions of their unique approaches to the experiential learning process, including a clear explanation of the method or strategy used to prepare students, to the Faculty Development Committee chair.
      2. Excellence in Teaching Award - Awarded to faculty members who have demonstrated to their colleagues a teaching method that is unique and particularly effective in enhancing the delivery of course material. Nominated faculty must submit to the Faculty Development Committee chair descriptions of a unique method used in teaching, including a clear explanation of how this teaching method is assessed. Submissions should not exceed three pages.
      3. Excellence in Academic Achievement Award - Awarded to faculty members who have demonstrated to their colleagues exceptional commitment to advance the knowledge base of their academic or professional field. Nominated faculty must submit a one-page description of their achievement and supporting materials, which may include a copy of the work involved to the Faculty Development Committee chair.
      4. Excellence in Academic Advising Award - Award to faculty members who have demonstrated an academic advising practice or methodology that is impactful in the following areas: (1) availability and accessibility; (2) knowledge and helpfulness; (3) approachability and personability; and (4) guidance and mentorship. In addition, this award aims to recognize advisors who help promote students' cognitive skills in problem-solving, decision-making, and critical thinking with respect to present and future educational choices. 
   2. Eligibility - FDC awards may be awarded to any faculty member who has completed one year of full-time equivalent teaching service at the rank of instructor or higher at Keuka College.
5. Policy of Sabbatical Leave
   1. Sabbatical leaves for professional development may be made available to members of the faculty who meet the requirements set forth below. A sabbatical leave is granted to further the professional growth and effectiveness of a faculty member and thus increase the value of their subsequent service to the College. Upon completion of the sabbatical, the faculty member must return to Keuka College to complete one year of full-time service. See Appendix C for the application process and review guidelines for sabbatical leaves. 
   2. Purpose - The purpose of sabbatical leaves are for research, writing, study, planned travel, formal education, or other experiences of professional value.
   3. Eligibility - To be eligible for sabbatical leave, the faculty member must be tenured and have completed six years of full-time equivalent teaching service at the rank of instructor or higher at Keuka College. If the faculty member has previously had a sabbatical leave, they must have completed six years of full-time equivalent teaching service since that time.
   4. Terms and Conditions - Sabbatical leaves may be granted for a period of up to one year at rates not to exceed one semester at full pay or two semesters at one-half basic annual salary. The president may adjust sabbatical leave salary to reflect income supportive of that sabbatical that the faculty member receives. If a faculty member on sabbatical receives financial assistance from sources other than Keuka College, that person's combined income, minus anticipated project expenses, shall not exceed the individual's salary for the project's duration. When combined income, minus anticipated project expenses, does exceed the individual's salary for the project duration, Keuka College's share shall be reduced by a proportionate amount. In no case shall the College's commitment be reduced if total earnings are less than full salary for the project duration.
   5. The faculty member must agree in writing to return to Keuka College for a full academic year following the academic year in which the sabbatical is taken. Failure to comply with the sabbatical agreement may result in the College taking action to recover full or partial payment that was provided during the sabbatical, to the extent permitted by law. For leave of absence policies, please refer to the Employee Handbook.
   6. Upon returning to the College after a sabbatical leave, the faculty member will submit a written evaluative report of their activities to the provost and the Faculty Development Committee within one semester. The report should relate back to the proposal and include any products of the sabbatical. The faculty member will also present a report to the College community within one academic year, as applicable. If a faculty member fails to fulfill these responsibilities within the required time period, they may be subject to disciplinary action and sanctions up to and including termination, and will also be ineligible for future FDC funding, including FDC awards, until the responsibilities are completed.

SECTION 2 - Center for Teaching and Learning

1. Keuka College's Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) provides support and resources to the faculty in numerous ways.  The CTL encourages, supports, promotes, and enhances teaching effectiveness through a climate of continuous improvement and assessment. It fosters dialogue, scholarship, innovation, and excellence in learning-centered teaching, and promotes superior teaching and scholarship that mutually enhance one another for the benefit of students, faculty, and the community.
2. The CTL is led by a faculty coordinator, who is an annual appointment and serves at the pleasure of the provost. The CTL is served by a voluntary faculty and staff advisory board with membership from the FDC and uses de-identified development themes gleaned from the faculty evaluation process and emerging higher education teaching and learning best practices and trends to inform its offerings. It offers an annual retreat as well as regular and periodic workshops. The CTL advisory board and coordinator make recommendations to the provost for the distribution of mini grant awards and other opportunities offered to faculty.

SECTION 3 - Academic Administration Leadership Positions

1. A variety of academic administration leadership roles exist at the College to help faculty develop their skills, explore administrative work, and gain a broader and deeper understanding of the work of Academic Affairs and the College. These roles are compensated for beyond the primary compensation related to a faculty member's primary role and include:
   1. Division Chairs
      1. Description - The chair of a division serves as the chief representative of their division. Division chairs do not have tenure in their office; their tenure as a faculty member is a matter of separate right. Faculty should all bear in mind that the division chair has a special obligation to build a division strong in scholarship and professional development and teaching capacity. The division chair serves as mentor to their divisions' faculty colleagues, collaborates with other College administrative officers, interprets College policy, advocates for their division from the perspective of the best overall interests of the College, leads faculty in important processes that shape the curriculum and have an impact on the learning of students, and effectively articulates division and College mission to internal and external constituencies.
      2. Promotion and Tenure Considerations - Because of the workload and focus required to manage a division, promotion and tenure clocks may be frozen by mutual agreement with the provost and in consultation with the Professional Standards Committee while an individual serves as division chair (even though this may extend the probationary period beyond the listed maximums). An appointed division chair may apply for promotion and tenure at their discretion if they feel that their portfolio of evidence justifies consideration.
   2. Program Directors
      1. Description - The program director serves as an administrator of the academic program they are assigned to oversee. The program director serves the needs of the assigned division by leading and directing the day-to-day academic activities of the assigned program in coordination with the division chair. The program director works collaboratively with academic departments, faculty, and staff to ensure academic quality. This person does not have tenure in their office; this person may or may not be a faculty member. Program directors may be hired into the position. Program directors report to and serve at the pleasure of, the division chair in which their program resides. Program directors are generally only assigned to accredited academic programs.
   3. College-Wide Program Coordinators
      1. Description - A College-wide program coordinator serves as an administrator of the College-wide academic program they are assigned to oversee. College-wide program coordinators provide leadership and operational support for academic initiatives that span the College curriculum. Examples of these initiatives include General Education, First-Year Writing, the Honors Program, and the Center for Teaching and Learning.
   4. See Appendix D on Academic Leadership Positions for full descriptions, responsibilities, eligibility, selection and evaluation processes, and other details related to these compensated academic administration leadership roles.
2. Program Experts and Program Review Leads are additional academic administrative opportunities with which all full-time faculty can engage.
   1. Program experts regularly act as disciplinary content, curricular, and student points of contact for division chairs in academic programs; sharing this expertise in division meetings and in conversations with division chairs is considered work under the service pillar of evaluation.
   2. Program review leads assist division chairs in non-accredited programs with the preparation of their academic programs regularly scheduled institutional effectiveness review; this is a compensated role;
   3. See Appendix D on Academic Leadership Positions for more information about the responsibilities of these two roles.

SECTION 4 - Faculty Governance

1. A variety of faculty governance roles exist at the College to help faculty network outside of their division, develop skills related to shared governance, and gain a broader understanding of the College's academic enterprise and regulatory contexts. These roles are not compensated for beyond a faculty member's primary role but can be applied to the service pillar of the faculty evaluation process and include:
   1. Committee officers
   2. Committee members
2. Eligibility - Refer to Part B of this handbook.

SECTION 5 - College-Wide Committees

1. A variety of committee service opportunities exist at the College to help faculty network outside of the Academic Affairs Division, develop skills related to higher education administration, and gain a broader and deeper understanding of the College. These service opportunities are not compensated for beyond a faculty member's primary role but can be applied to the service pillar of the faculty evaluation process. There are several presidentially appointed College-wide committees that are seated each summer. If interested in serving on one of these committees, faculty should share their interest with their division chair or the provost.

SECTION 6 - Other Development Opportunities

1. The College's Office of Human Resources regularly offers professional development opportunities on campus and through online training.
2. The Office of the Provost offers various professional development opportunities for individuals, groups, and divisions on an as needed or as requested basis. Faculty are encouraged to suggest topics to the provost based on individual interest and program need.