Updated Fall, 2012

V.  UNIVERSITY FACULTY FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM, RESEARCH GRANTS, AND AWARDS

A.  University Faculty Fellowships

1. The purpose of the University Faculty Fellowship Program is to enhance the professional skills of the faculty member through further education, study, research, or creative work. It is the spirit of the program to permit the faculty member maximum flexibility in planning, in his/her way, his/her professional development. Both faculty and students as well as the public will benefit from such improvement in professional competence.

2. At the end of each seven-year teaching period at Ohio University, each tenured faculty member having faculty status shall be eligible for a University Fellowship leave. Department chairpersons accrue time toward eligibility in the same way as other members. All academic service to Ohio University will count toward eligibility regardless of the rank, campus, or overseas program at which it was performed. Every faculty member who has taken a University Fellowship leave shall complete another seven years of service at Ohio University before he/she shall become eligible for another University Fellowship grant ^[1]. When an approved leave is deferred for one year in order to maintain curricular integrity, eligibility starts after seven years of service from the date of original approval^[2]

3. Leaves of absence supported by other programs, such as Baker Awards, research grants, foundation fellowships, etc., and leaves for the purpose of employment by another school or company will not be considered as substitutes for a University Fellowship. However, the period spent on such special leaves of absence will not count as part of the accrual period for a University Faculty Fellowship.

4. A University Fellowship leave may consist of one semester at full pay, or two semesters at two-thirds pay. These rates are to be applied to the pay the faculty member normally would receive during the semester(s) in which he/she is to be on leave.

5. A University Fellowship leave may be granted for a maximum of two semesters. Faculty on nine-month contracts will be granted leave only during the semesters covered by a contract. A University Fellowship leave may not be taken during the summer or other off terms, though such terms do count toward eligibility for a University Faculty Fellowship. Faculty members on twelve-month contracts will be granted leave at any time during the twelve-month period of the contract, with the combined summer sessions considered to be one semester.

6. A faculty member on a University Fellowship will not hold a paid position unless that position can be shown to assist him/her professionally. Should he/she hold such a paid position during the period of the leave, however, the sum of the University Fellowship salary and additional funds in the form of grants, stipends, gifts, or pay shall not exceed the salary the faculty member would have received for that year without leave, excluding such funds as are applied to the special expenses of the leave for equipment, books, professional travel, services, higher cost of living elsewhere, etc. Should the sum exceed that amount, the University's contribution to his/her University Fellowship salary may be reduced accordingly.

7. A faculty member who does not wish to apply for a University Faculty Fellowship the year he/she becomes eligible or who is denied a University Fellowship for any reasons, will not lose his/her eligibility and may apply in the following years. If a faculty member is denied a University Fellowship for the convenience of the department, in spite of the fact that his/her proposal merits approval, every effort will be made to ensure that this denial is not continued another year. In the case of a one-year deferral of an approved leave for purposes of curricular integrity, the next eligibility starts after seven years of service from the date of original approval.

8. Upon completion of a University Fellowship leave, a faculty member starts accruing time toward eligibility for the award of his/her next University Faculty Fellowship as of the date of his/her resumption of normal academic duties. Except under the circumstance noted above in the case of deferral for one year for the purposes of curriculum integrity (in which case the eligibility starts after seven years of service from the date of the original approval.) He/she does not begin to accrue time toward another Fellowship while the Fellowship for which he/she is already eligible is delayed either voluntarily or through denial of leave.

9. A University Faculty Fellowship shall be considered as part of University service. No faculty member shall, by virtue of being on a University Fellowship, suffer a reduction or termination of his/her regular employee retirement or insurance benefits or of any other benefit or privilege he/she receives as a faculty member at Ohio University. Whenever such a benefit would be reduced because of a reduction in the faculty member's salary during the period of the University Fellowship, the faculty member shall be given a chance to have the benefit increased to its normal level. Ohio University will continue to pay its portion of pension and insurance policies.

10. Faculty members will be expected to teach at Ohio University for at least two semesters after completion of their University Fellowship leave.

11. Application for a University Faculty Fellowship is to be made in writing to the department chairperson ordinarily no later than the first day of the Spring Semester preceding the summer and/or academic year in which the leave is to be taken. The decision by the President on his/her application is to be made known to the faculty member in writing no later than March 1, though this decision is subject to approval by the Trustees at their next meeting. The application must include a well-considered plan, presented with a reasonable degree of specificity, showing how the Fellowship leave will contribute to the professional effectiveness of the applicant and the best interest of the University, e.g., teaching efficacy, research, and creativity.

12. The department will evaluate the faculty members' applications and the chairperson will send all the applications and his/her recommendations to the appropriate dean. The dean will review all applications in the college and send them and his/her recommendations to the Provost, who will review them and make recommendations to the President for final approval or disapproval, subject to confirmation by the Board of Trustees. If the evaluation process results in a decision not to approve the application, the faculty member will be given, no later than March 1, written notification of the action and all reasons for the action. The written statement will be made by the person in the review process who first recommends disapproval of the application.

13. If a faculty member believes that his/her leave proposal has been denied unjustly, he/she will have the right to appeal the decision to his/her chairperson, to the dean, to the Provost, and then to the Professional Relations Committee of the Faculty Senate. This committee will normally interview the faculty member, his/her chairperson, and his/her dean, and then make recommendations to the Provost for final action. The grounds for the appeal may be allegations of (a) inadequate consideration, (b) denial of due process, or (c) personal bias or discrimination.

14. A report on the completed University Fellowship leave shall be submitted in writing through the same channels as the request for leave within three months following the return of the faculty member to his/her teaching duties at Ohio University. The department will evaluate the report. Evaluation of this report will play a significant role in the granting of future University Fellowships.

15. No University Fellowship leave may be granted that requires a corresponding addition to the permanent faculty of Ohio University. Departments and regional campuses are expected to arrange for University Fellowship leaves on a "break-even" or "no-cost" basis; in some cases a "no-cost" program may be desirable on a college-wide basis. Duties of persons on Fellowship leave normally will be assumed by the remaining faculty. If a faculty member is on leave with less than full salary, the remaining part of his/her budgeted salary may be used toward replacement of his/her services. The department chairperson will describe how the proposed loss of teaching services will be compensated for, without impairment of the quality of the department's work. Faculty members of small instructional units and other singularly specialized faculty shall have equal opportunity for leave with all other faculty.

16. Regional campus faculty members shall submit requests for a University Faculty Fellowship to the division coordinator. The division coordinator may forward the faculty member's application to the appropriate department at the Athens campus or to the most closely related department if no corresponding department exists. He/she shall take such action at the faculty member's request. The Athens department shall give advice on the merit of the faculty member's proposal and return it to the division coordinator in making his/her recommendations to the regional campus dean. The regional campus dean shall review all applications at his/her campus. He/she will send applications and his/her recommendations to the Provost, who will review them and make recommendations to the President for final approval or disapproval, subject to confirmation by the Board of Trustees. If the evaluation process results in a decision not to approve the application, the faculty member will be given written notification, no later than March 1. The written statement will be made by the person in the review process who first recommends disapproval of the application. The appeal procedure shall be through the division coordinator, the regional campus dean, the Provost, and then to the Professional Relations Committee of the Faculty Senate.

17. When more applications are received than a department can recommend for implementation for the coming year, it is suggested that decisions on which faculty members shall be recommended for leave be based on: (a) the merit of the proposal and (b) the longevity of service to Ohio University since the last University Faculty Fellowship or since the beginning of employment at Ohio University if the faculty member has had no previous University Fellowship.

18. Precedence over the above guidelines may be given in the following exceptional circumstances: (a) a previously approved proposal that could not be implemented for the sake of departmental convenience or because of the discontinuation of a previous sabbatical leave program should be given the highest priority if resubmitted, (b) special programmatic needs of a department, and (c) special opportunities available to a faculty member at a particular time.

B.  The John C. Baker Fund

The John C. Baker Fund, endowed as an "incentive to quality" in the name of former Ohio University President Dr. John C. Baker, is the gift of University alumni Mr. and Mrs. Edwin L. Kennedy.

The Baker Fund provides: (1) Distinguished Professorship Awards, initiated in 1959 for faculty members who have made significant contributions in their fields, (2) The Edwin and Ruth Kennedy Lecture Series, and (3) grants supporting faculty research projects upon which a substantial beginning has already been made and for which there is a definite need in terms of the University's programs.

C.  Distinguished Professor Award

A committee of at least four Distinguished Professors appointed by the President reviews candidates for the Distinguished Professor award and makes its recommendations to the President. Although the committee meets annually, the award(s) need not be made every year.

Recipients of the Distinguished Professor award will be chosen on the basis of outstanding artistic, literary, historical, or scientific achievement, or other worthy accomplishments attaining wide recognition. Funds for the leave and honorarium are donated to Ohio University by Mr. and Mrs. Edwin L. Kennedy.

No set amount will be established for the honorarium, and a recipient may receive a cash stipend or a leave of absence of one semester with full pay or both. In addition, every Distinguished Professor has the right each year to appoint one undergraduate to a one-year, full-tuition scholarship.

To be considered for the award, a faculty member must have tenure and a minimum of five years' service at the University. In addition, only projects already completed will be considered in the committee's examination of distinguished achievements. If a leave of absence is granted, the time when the leave is effective must be approved by the department chairperson, the appropriate dean, and the Provost.

Faculty members are invited to submit the names of candidates for the award to the President's Office.

D.  Leaves of Absence and Reduction of Teaching Load for Support of Research

The University supports a program of leaves of absence, including professional leaves, either full-time or part-time, for research and productive scholarship.

Chairpersons of departments and deans of colleges may recommend to the Provost reduction of teaching loads and/or leaves of absence for faculty members who have a research or writing project under way that requires a concentration of time and effort for its completion. Summer appointments for conducting research may be provided.

E.  Ohio University Research Committee

The Ohio University Research Committee provides support for research or creative effort in any field of study. The Committee provides such support in response to formal proposals that are invited periodically during the academic year. Funds can be awarded for any bona fide research expenditure, including salary for the principal investigator, stipends or wages for graduate and undergraduate students, equipment, supplies, and travel.

A restricted number of discretionary awards of up to $500 can be provided by the chairperson of the Committee at any time without going through the formal, periodic review process.

Guidelines for proposal preparation may be obtained from the chairperson of the Committee or from the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs.

F.  Emeritus Status

Except in very unusual circumstances, emeritus status is conferred only upon retiring or retired members of the faculty. Emeritus status is conferred upon a faculty member if, in the judgment of his/her department or regional campus, and with the concurrence of appropriate administrative officers, some special recognition has been earned. This judgment should be based on many or all of the following factors: (1) length of service, (2) quality of teaching, (3) quality of research, (4) contribution to the University in administrative and committee work, and (5) services to society beyond the University. Except in unusual circumstances, emeritus status shall be conferred only on someone who has taught at Ohio University ten or more years.

An emeritus faculty member is granted library privileges as if he/she were an active faculty member, and during any academic term when he/she is on duty will have appropriate office space, parking privileges, and similar perquisites. During periods when he/she is not on duty, parking privileges and the use of other facilities such as office space and laboratory space may be offered when and where they are available.

G.  University Professor

1. To acknowledge outstanding undergraduate teaching, students of Ohio University participate in the naming of from one to six University Professors each year. University Professors are Group I faculty who have demonstrated superior teaching ability and who have insight into the educational process. Students suggest to the University Professor Selection Committee the names of faculty members who they believe should serve. The Committee screens the suggestions and nominates from the suggested faculty members those who best exemplify the concept of the University Professor. The Provost appoints the University Professors from among those nominated by the Committee. Each Professor is given freedom to teach two courses of his or her choosing and is awarded a $2,000 honorarium during the academic year of the appointment. This program is operational only on the Athens campus.

2. Procedures used by the University Professor Selection Committee are outlined in the Undergraduate Catalog and the University College Bulletin. Additional information may be obtained from the office of the Dean of University College.

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Endnotes

[1] See Board of Trustees' policy amendment of October, 1977 providing implementation guidelines, Appendix A.

[2] For purposes of official record keeping, when an approved leave is deferred for one year in order to maintain curricular integrity thereby triggering the start of the next eligibility at seven years after the date of original approval, the Chair/Director is required to provide both the Dean’s office and the Provost’s office with an official memo indicating that this action has been taken.

Updated Fall, 2012