SBS Course Reduction Policy
Circumstances arise where faculty members wish or need to reduce the number of courses they are assigned to teach. This document offers general guidance governing course reductions in the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences.
Whenever possible course reductions ought to be carefully planned in advance, and fully discussed with the Chair, to minimize negative curricular effects. In practice, this means that course reduction arrangements should be approved, if at all possible, well before the ensuing semester’s initial course schedule is due in the Registrar’s office. The Chair may have to impose some constraints on the timing of course reductions to maintain curricular integrity.
Course reductions anticipated in the course of sponsored research activities should be approved by the Associate Dean for Research as a part of the regular IPF submission process. Such course releases should be clearly identified as released time, with the compensation noted, when submitting an IPF for approval by the Associate Dean for Research. If such arrangements are not apparent in budgets submitted, a note attached to the IPF should seek specific approval.
Course reductions may also be negotiated at the time of hiring faculty. Whenever possible such negotiations should inform new pre-tenure faculty of the wisdom in banking a course reduction for later use in the tenure process. Negotiated reductions at the time of hiring which exceed a total of two course releases should receive prior approval from the Dean.
For a course reduction to further the personal interests or needs of the faculty member, the per course cost is 25% of the academic year salary. Any alternative arrangements must be negotiated with the Dean.
Course buyouts for sponsored research that are charged to a research account will be at a rate set by the Dean—currently the default rate is $15,000 per course plus fringe (the fringe rate is based on what percentage of your salary $15k comprises). Alternative arrangements for sponsored research can be negotiated with the Associate Dean for Research when the sponsor or circumstances demand. At a minimum, the negotiated rate will be sufficient to cover replacement instruction in the department.
The Chair may grant course reductions for significant professional duties, schedule management, or any reasonable administrative rationale. This practice should not be used as a replacement for personal or sponsored research course reductions.
Programs and Centers authorized by the Dean my negotiate course reductions with Chairs to facilitate participation in their programs. Such programs, at a minimum, must provide the department with sufficient funds to hire replacement instruction at a rate negotiated with the Dean. Agreement to such awards must typically be given, in advance, by the Chair.
Revised 04/04/07 and Approved by Chairs
