DUS, DGS, and Directors

The following procedures should be followed in making departmental or College-wide administrative appointments for faculty:

• A letter of appointment by the chairperson for departmental appointments or by an Associate Dean for College-wide appointments
• A fixed term for the appointment (normally a three-year term with no more than two consecutive terms)

TPAC faculty have term limits that are defined by their contract and regulated by their rank. Guidelines for their appointments should follow the standard procedures for TPAC faculty and include a description of their responsibilities. In order for a TPAC to serve in an administrative role (e.g., DUS), the faculty member must also teach. If a person does not teach, he or she should be appointed as a member of the staff.

Semesters with zero course offerings are not permitted; faculty members with course reductions must teach at least one course per semester.

Directors of Undergraduate Study (DUS)

In some small departments or programs, the department chairperson or director serves as the DUS; in some smaller departments as well as in some moderate-to-large departments or programs, a T-TT faculty member serves as the DUS; and in some moderate-to-large departments or programs, a TPAC serves as the DUS.

• It is reasonable for a department chairperson to serve as the DUS when there are fewer than 15 faculty in the department or fewer than 50 majors/minors.
• The DUS in a department or program with fewer than 100 majors/minors should consider the advising to be part of his or her regular service obligation. This heavy service obligation should be taken into account when making committee assignments and when reviewing the faculty member for annual raises.
• The DUS in a department or program with 100-250 majors/minors should receive a one-course reduction.
• The DUS in a department or program with more than 250 majors/minors should have a two-course reduction. At no time should the teaching schedule be reduced to zero in a semester.
• If a unit has a large number of non-majors/minors that create a substantial amount of work for the DUS, the unit may appeal to the respective divisional Associate Dean for special consideration.

Directors of Graduate Studies (DGS)

Only T-TT faculty may serve as DGS. 

• The DGS in a department or program with fewer than 20 graduate students should consider their role to be part of the regular service obligation. This heavy service should be taken into account when making committee assignments and at the time of annual salary review.
• The DGS in a department or program with 20-50 graduate students should receive a one-course reduction.
• The DGS in a department or program with more than 50 graduate students should receive a two-course reduction. At no time should the teaching schedule be reduced to zero in a semester.

Directors of Interdisciplinary Minors

Directors of new interdisciplinary minors should be supported for a minimum of four years with an annual research stipend of $3,000 and an annual working fund for the program of $1,000. The four-year commitment represents the College’s support for creative interdisciplinary programs. It is intended to allow for innovation without making a permanent commitment. The program should be reviewed at the end of the four years.

• If a program is continued after four years but serves fewer than 20 students, the level of support will change. Directors of programs that fail to demonstrate a sustained trajectory after four years and have fewer than 20 students will have the research stipend reduced to $1,500 per year and the working fund reduced to $500. If the number of students is fewer than 10, the research stipend will be $1,000 per year and the annual working fund $250.
• Programs that fail to create and sustain interest among undergraduates will reviewed by the Undergraduate Studies Committee or the College Council and may be discontinued.
• Directors of programs that fall below the guidelines noted above but are vital for the educational enterprise of the College or whose directors are exceptionally active may appeal to the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies for special consideration.
• Course reductions for interdisciplinary minors should follow the guidelines above for Directors of Undergraduate Studies.

Directors of Institutes, Programs, and Centers

The standard compensation for a director of such a unit is a $5,000 research stipend or a one-course reduction. In a few instances, both may be appropriate.

When faculty members receive course reductions as compensation for serving as directors of institutes, programs, and centers, the home department’s ability to meet course-offering demands can be challenging and significant senior faculty teaching and leadership is lost. Thus, the College and department should negotiate a reasonable compensation with the center or institute to compensate for lost courses and the void felt by the department due to the center or institute appointment.  This compensation may vary from the cost of replacing the faculty member’s courses to a pro rata amount of the faculty member’s base salary based on overall loss to the department or even a complete buyout of the faculty member’s salary and benefits.