Purpose

The purpose of this policy statement is to define the standards for assigning scholarship/practice hours to graduate and seminary programs. Hereafter the term “graduate” refers to both graduate and seminary programs.

Policy Statement

In order to provide for scholarly activity expected of graduate faculty, each graduate program will be assigned scholarship/practice hours (SP). The goal is to provide 1 hour of SP for each 3 teaching hours in all programs by fall 2009. Beginning fall 2006 all programs must assign a minimum of 1 hour of SP for each 6 teaching hours with the expectation of movement toward a 1:3 ratio over the next three years.

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SP hours must be applied to a particular project according to the definition of scholarship/practice attached to this policy (see Scholarship/Practice Procedures). Project plans are submitted to and approved by the graduate program director or seminary dean. Programs are encouraged to use an approval process that involves a departmental faculty committee.

Assumptions

1. Graduate faculty are not eligible for release time and mini-grants administered by the Faculty Scholarship Committee unless they teach at least 50% of their load in the undergraduate program.
2. Scholarship/Practice hours are not assigned for hours taught by part-time or adjunct faculty.  Nor are they assigned for hours for administration, undergraduate teaching, or teaching of courses prerequisite to graduate courses. Assignment of S/P hours for summer course offerings varies with the nature of the program.
3. Scholarship/Practice load hours are not assigned for activities for which faculty are being paid salary or consulting fees by an external source. Faculty may receive modest honoraria, stipends, or book advances.

Responsible Party

The Provost is responsible for this policy. Program directors assist with administration within the programs.

Policy Review

This policy is to be reviewed every 3 years.

Distribution

Faculty/Staff Handbook

Revised by University Graduate Council, November 12, 2007

Approved by President’s Cabinet, December 5, 2007

S/P REPORTS are due on July 31 and the S/P PROPOSALS are due on August 15

SCHOLARSHIP/PRACTICE PROCEDURES

Eastern Mennonite University expects its graduate faculty to engage in scholarly and practical activities that contribute to their disciplines and the world at large. Because this commitment is an essential part of the mission of the graduate programs, it is built into the faculty load structure. The following section serves to define these activities for the EMU context.

Definitions

Academicians generally think of scholarship as the pursuit of knowledge through observation, study and research. Scholarship is generally demonstrated through public presentations and written treatises aimed at the academic community, in which these are shared for discussion and critique.

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In addition, curriculum development activities are not generally considered for scholarship/practice hours.  These activities are expected of all faculty on a regular basis.

Proposal format

Cover page

Name

Project title

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Finally, the proposal could include a letter of support from a faculty colleague.

Publication and Reporting

It is intended that scholarship and practice activities will benefit the university as well as the broader community. In many instances faculty are expected to publish or present their work to the academic community outside of EMU. The program director also will invite faculty members to report their work to each other and publish it on the EMU web site when appropriate. Departments are encouraged to develop news releases regarding significant work. Other venues for presentation to the campus community also will be used. Faculty are encouraged to give credit for university assistance in published work when appropriate.

In addition to the publication or reporting described above, each faculty member is expected to provide a report of the project. See Report Format below.

Report Format

1. Cover page with a) Name, b) Project title, c) Project dates, d) Hours of scholarship/practice.
2. Brief summary of original project proposal and anticipated outcomes.
3. Status of project with degree of completion
4. Summary of what you accomplished and outcomes that were achieved—200 words or less. (This description should keep in mind that reports may be posted for sharing with students and colleagues.)
5. Description of ways in which this project has been shared with others—the university, the broader community, students.
6. Indication of broader SP category this project falls into: Publication, Presentation, or Practice.

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