Published July 22, 2019
To: Academic Deans, Departments Chairs, Faculty
From: Charles F. Zukoski
Provost and Executive Vice President
for Academic Affairs
Date: July 22, 2019
We are all responsible for ensuring that our undergraduate, graduate, and professional students receive the highest quality education. To that end, it is important to reiterate specific teaching obligations and responsibilities of our faculty.
The Policies of the State University of New York Board of Trustees define the academic year obligation as “an annual obligation of service for the academic year, not to exceed 10 months.” The University at Buffalo’s 2019 - 2020 academic year obligation for faculty will commence on August 19, 2019 and will conclude on May 23, 2020. During that period, faculty members are expected to be available for service, consistent with their departmental assignments, program responsibilities, and the university calendar.
UB’s Faculty Teaching Responsibilities Policy states, “Final examinations shall be offered as officially scheduled, not during the final week of classes.” The university’s final examination week for the Fall 2019 semester is as follows: December 9-16, 2019. For the Spring 2020 semester it is May 11-16, 2020.
UB’s Teaching Assessment and Improvement Policy states, “Professorial faculty from each department should directly monitor and supervise all teaching by graduate teaching assistants. Moreover, each department should have in place a mandatory teaching-effectiveness program for its teaching assistants.”
Finally, UB’s Faculty Responsibility Policy states, “Faculty members are required annually to submit a report describing in detail their professional activities and accomplishments, for review by the chair and the dean. Based on this report and in consultation with the faculty member, the chair should ascertain that the performance of the faculty member is consistent with departmental guidelines and with the current needs of the unit.”
Thank you for your efforts on behalf of all UB students. Best wishes for a productive and rewarding semester.
