General Duties and Responsibilities
The following guidelines address some of the most common and most
important issues that confront faculty during the academic year. Additional
details on any of these topics can be obtained from department chairs, the
Associate Deans, and the Dean.
Scholastic Dishonesty
All faculty should inform students at the beginning of each semester that
scholastic dishonesty will not be tolerated and that incidents of dishonesty
will be reported. When a faculty member suspects a student of scholastic
dishonesty, published guidelines should be followed. Guidelines and
reporting forms are available in the Undergraduate Office in your
department, the Office of Student Affairs, or the Office of the Dean of
Students. The faculty should review Appendix C, subchapter 11 in the General
Information publication of the University. Faculty can virtually eliminate
cheating by specifying the ground rules, by challenging students to practice
engineering ethics, and by creating a testing environment that discourages
cheating.
Advising
ll faculty are expected to participate in the advising process for both
graduate and undergraduate students. Advising procedures differ among
departments and may change from time to time, hence it is important to
contact the designated Undergraduate Advisor for your department to
determine your specific responsibilities for each registration period.
Attention to students outside the classroom can enhance their educational
experience and, in many cases, boost their morale and performance.
Other Outside Work
Work for remuneration that falls outside obvious consulting arrangements
should be discussed with the Dean. Faculty involvement with outside
companies, partnerships, etc. are particularly sensitive and must be
approved by the Dean.
Consulting
Professional consulting is encouraged as long as it contributes to the
professional development of the faculty member and does not interfere with
teaching, research, and other duties at The University. Prior approval using
the official form must be obtained for all consulting.
Center for Lifelong Engineering Education (CLEE)
The CLEE program in the School provides opportunities for the faculty to
serve the continuing education needs of the Austin area and the larger
engineering community. By participating in this program, faculty can also
develop teaching and research areas that often lead to consulting and
research support from contacts made through the program. Faculty are
encouraged to participate as instructors.
Friends of the School
We are very fortunate to receive advice and support from sources outside the
School and The University. Prominent among these sources are ex-students,
the Engineering Advisory Board (EAB), and departmental external advisory
committees. All faculty are encouraged to work with these groups for the
benefit of the school and its faculty and students.
Graduation Ceremonies
Each faculty member is expected to participate in her/his share of
graduation ceremonies that are most important to our students, their
families, and their friends. The Cockrell School of Engineering will hold
two graduation ceremonies this year, in December and May. Each faculty
member is required to participate in at least one graduation ceremony per
year. Faculty are also encouraged to attend The University’s commencement
ceremony in May.
Professional Licensing
Each faculty member should become licensed in Texas at the earliest possible
date. Licensing sends a message to our students about the importance of
professionalism. Licensing information can be found on the Texas Board of
Professional Engineers’ website at http://www.tbpe.state.tx.us/
Research
Research is an essential component of the graduate educational experience
and the principal activity through which a faculty member maintains
professional competence. Hence, all faculty are encouraged strongly to
participate in active research programs, present their research results at
regional, national, and international meetings, and publish regularly in
recognized professional publications. This activity will do much to further
the professional stature of the faculty member, enhance the national and
international reputation of the School, and improve the faculty member's
teaching effectiveness.
Leave from the Instructional Budget or Leave Without Pay
A faculty member may request a leave from the instructional budget or leave
without pay for one or both semesters of an academic year. During the period
of leave a part or all of the faculty member's salary is paid from research
funds or an outside funding source and the minimum required teaching load is
reduced accordingly. When contemplating a leave from the instructional
budget or leave without pay, a faculty member should first consult with
his/her department chair to be sure that the teaching load planned for that
faculty member can be adequately covered. While on leave the faculty member
must be engaged in activities that contribute significantly to the
professional development of the faculty member and to the education and
research programs of the School. A Faculty Request for Leave form must be
submitted through the department chair and Dean for their endorsements and
transmission to the Provost’s Office for approval. Requests for a leave from
the instructional budget or leave without pay during the fall semester or
both fall and spring semesters are due in the Provost’s Office on August 1.
Requests for a leave during the spring semester only are due to the
Provost’s Office by December 1. If you are unsure about availability of
funds for a leave, make the request contingent on the availability of funds.
Faculty who accept Faculty Research Assignments agree to provide one year of
service to the University upon completion of the assignment. The University
requires that year of service or monetary reimbursement of salary paid.
Signature Delegation and Account Responsibility
A faculty member may delegate signature authority to an office manager, for
either paper or electronic documents, but this does not relieve the faculty
member of his/her fiscal responsibility and accountability for accounts
under his/her control. All faculty are encouraged to develop adequate
accounting systems that meet these requirements. Rules regarding the
delegation of signature authority are found in President's Policy Memorandum
7.215 (dated March, 1992) and in Chapter II, Section 2, of Part Two of the
Regents Rules and Regulations:
R.R. 2.4 Each person directly responsible for a department or other
administrative unit (hereinafter called “department head”) shall keep an
account of funds and property for which he or she is responsible, as
detailed as necessary to supplement the business office records.
Special Programs
The School engages in many programs and activities outside of the mainstream
classroom/research effort: industrial associates; cooperative education;
career assistance (placement); graduate research internships; Equal
Opportunity in Engineering Program; Women in Engineering Program;
undergraduate scholarships and loans; graduate fellowships and loans; Bureau
of Engineering Research; and others. These efforts enhance the quality of
our education and our ability to attract and retain better faculty and
students. All faculty are encouraged to learn more about these programs.
Over a period of time, most faculty will develop first-hand knowledge of
some of these programs by serving on the corresponding School committees.
Student Organizations
The School has over sixty student engineering organizations including
student chapters of professional and honorary societies for each of the
disciplines, and organizations that cover the entire engineering profession.
By being active in these organizations, students develop a sense of
professional service, develop organizational and leadership skills, and
provide valuable services to the Cockrell School of Engineering. Faculty are
encouraged to promote membership in these organizations and to participate
as sponsors and advisors.
Teaching Loads
The minimum teaching load for full-time faculty involved in teaching,
research, graduate student supervision, and committee work or administration
is nine (9) teaching load credits (TLC) per semester. The minimum teaching
load for faculty involved in formal classroom teaching only is twelve (12)
TLC.
Deviations from these guidelines occur for those faculty with endowments,
salary buyouts, etc. or for faculty on unbalanced teaching load assignments.
Travel
An approved Request for Travel Authorization (RTA) is required for all
travel by faculty (prior to travel) during periods that they are on the UT
payroll (including grants and contracts). Teaching responsibilities during
travel must be carried out by qualified substitutes. Class hours should not
be changed because of travel. Registration and final examination periods are
particularly sensitive times, and other than essential travel should not be
undertaken during these times. Travel will generally not be approved during
a scheduled final examination and for a reasonable grading period
thereafter. Faculty must turn in all grades before leaving town.