HFA Research Intensive Semester

Research and Creative Work Funding

Overview

The Research Intensive Semester (RIS) is provided under Article 15.17 of the MSP Collective Bargaining Agreement. It gives eligible pre-tenure faculty a one-semester teaching release to focus on research, scholarly, or creative work related to tenure.

RIS is a teaching release rather than a leave or sabbatical. Faculty ordinarily remain available for limited service and advising duties.

The program gives HFA departments the ability to offer pre-tenure faculty members who meet the eligibility requirements a “research-intensive semester” during which they can focus on those projects critical to their upcoming tenure review. In this context, we use the word “research” to include a broad range of creative and scholarly work. HFA faculty generally take RIS in their third year. The faculty member discusses the timing of their RIS with their department chair and reports the plan through this HFA RIS Intent Form.

How the Process Works

The HFA RIS Intent Form is part of the broader RIS planning process in HFA:

  1. In September of a faculty member’s second year, the department chair consults with eligible faculty about their RIS plans and how the department will cover courses affected by the RIS teaching release. 
  2. After consulting with their department chair, the faculty member submits the HFA RIS Intent Form by November 1st. If the RIS plan later changes, no revision or new submission is needed. The faculty member will report the RIS actually taken through the post-RIS report at the end of their RIS year.
  3. The department chair receives the submission for review. The deadline to review is November 10th.
  4. After departmental review, the submission is routed to the Dean’s Office.  
  5. After departmental SIA meetings are held in late winter/early spring, the department chair confirms RIS plans with faculty.
  6. At the end of the RIS year, InfoReady will notify faculty to report completion. 

The program gives HFA departments the ability to offer tenure-track junior faculty members who meet the eligibility requirements a “research-intensive semester” during which they can focus on those projects critical to their upcoming tenure review. In this context, we use the word “research” to include a broad range of creative and scholarly work. 

Who to Contact

For more information, please contact:

  • Amy Fleig, Director of Faculty Development and Programs, afleig [at] umass [dot] edu (afleig[at]umass[dot]edu)

  • Rebecca Dingo, Associate Dean for Faculty and Academic Affairs, rdingo [at] english [dot] umass [dot] edu (rdingo[at]english[dot]umass[dot]edu)