In order to meet staffing demands caused by enrollment increases or the need for certain areas of expertise, it is sometimes necessary to employ temporary, part-time faculty and/or to employ full-time MUW faculty to teach overload classes beyond their contractual obligations.  The following guidelines apply to the employment of part-time/overload personnel.

1. The Chief Academic Officer must approve all requests for class sections that require part-time or overload staffing as part of the normal scheduling process and determine the availability of funds in the budget to cover staffing costs.

2. Part-time, retiree, and adjunct faculty must have the same academic qualifications as full-time faculty according to the guidelines set forth in the Criteria of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.  MUW requirements may exceed these guidelines according to the needs of the University.

3. Division Heads will interview candidates for all faculty positions and recommend personnel to staff classes on a part-time or overload basis to the Chief Academic Officer, who will then make recommendations to the President.

4. Part-time faculty are those who teach at least six but less than 12 semester hours.  Their primary focus is teaching effectiveness and competent advising, and they are not expected to fulfill the obligations of scholarly and professional activities and service to the university and community to the same extent as full-time faculty.  They are benefits-eligible and receive a written contract.  These positions are non tenure-track positions.  Part-time faculty must hold “office hours” for at least 30 minutes per week per 3-hour course at a time that will assure student access.  Faculty teaching evening and weekend classes, on campus or off campus, may schedule individual student conferences immediately before or after class.

Retiree faculty are those who have retired and been rehired as permitted by State Retirement System guidelines.  Their primary focus is teaching effectiveness and competent advising.  The amount of time they work (full-time or part-time) depends on the option selected under State Retirement System guidelines.  They are not expected to fulfill the obligations of scholarly and professional activities and service to the university and community to the same extent as full-time faculty.  Their eligibility for benefits depends on the option selected under State Retirement System guidelines.  They will receive a written contract and these positions are non tenure-track positions.  Retiree faculty must hold “office hours” for at least 30 minutes per week per 3-hour course at a time that will assure student access.  Faculty teaching evening and weekend classes, on campus or off campus, may schedule individual student conferences immediately before or after class.

Adjunct Faculty are hired or appointed on an as-needed basis and those that teach are paid based on course load.  The maximum someone can teach in this status is six semester hours per semester.  They are not benefits-eligible and do not receive a written contract.  Their focus is teaching effectiveness and they are not expected to fulfill the obligations that contract faculty have for advising, scholarly and professional activities, and service to the university and community.  Adjunct faculty must hold “office hours” for at least 30 minutes per week per 3-hour course at a time that will assure student access.  Faculty teaching evening and weekend classes, on campus or off campus, may schedule individual student conferences immediately before or after class.

5. Full-time faculty will teach no more than one overload class per semester (three or four semester hours).  Full-time faculty who have released time for administrative or other duties may not teach overload courses for additional compensation.  Full-time faculty are those who teach a full course load (12 semester hours), or receive equivalent release time for administrative duties, and are expected to fulfill the obligations of teaching effectiveness and competent advising, scholarly and professional activities, and service to the university and community.  They are benefits-eligible and receive a written contract.  They may serve in either a tenure-track or non tenure-track position.  The applicable track for each full-time faculty member will be designated in that member’s contract.  Full-time faculty are expected to schedule, at a minimum, six specific office hours per week in addition to their regular teaching loads.

6. Compensation for adjunct and overload sections will be at the same rate as summer school pay.  Exceptions to this rate for faculty who travel long distances or have other extenuating circumstances must be approved by the Chief Academic Officer.

7. Twelve-month faculty (including staff with faculty rank) may not receive compensation for overload teaching.

8. Exceptions to these guidelines for unusual circumstances must have the approval of the President and, when deemed necessary by the President, the Board of Trustees of Institutions of Higher Learning.