About the EMS Fixed-Term & Research Faculty Handbook

About the EMS Fixed-Term & Research Faculty Handbook
For much of their history, Penn State and other research universities have employed
people who could be categorized as either faculty (tenured or tenure-track) or staff.
Faculty were expected to participate in all three parts of the University mission (teaching,
research, and service), while staff were essentially expected to maintain the environment
in which the faculty did their jobs. These two groups still exist, of course. In recent
years, however, a third category of employees has appeared on the University landscape
– individuals hired on fixed-term appointments who specialize in either teaching or
conducting research. While these fixed-term and research (FT&R) faculty play a
significant role in carrying out the University’s mission, their fixed-term, non-tenuretrack appointments distinguish them from the traditional, tenure-track (TT) faculty.
Some FT&R faculty hold professorial titles and are viewed as equals by members of the
TT faculty, while at the other end of the spectrum are some FT&R faculty whose roles
more closely resemble those in staff positions. Unfortunately, most of the policies that
govern the University were written long before this third category of employees existed.
Thus, when interpreting University policy it is not unusual for FT&R faculty to be left
wondering, “Am I faculty or am I staff?”
This handbook was developed by the College of Earth & Mineral Sciences (EMS) FixedTerm & Research Faculty Advisory Committee in an effort to clarify some of the
confusion surrounding University and College policies and their application to FT&R
faculty. It is our hope that this document will serve as a helpful quick reference; any
FT&R faculty member looking for definitive answers to policy questions should consult
with his/her supervisor, unit head, and/or human resources representative.
Finally, readers may note similarities in format between this document and the University
Faculty Handbook. While there is a bit of redundancy in the information provided by the
two documents, this handbook is geared specifically toward EMS FT&R faculty and
provides College-level details that are not found in the University handbook.
The College of EMS Fixed-Term and Research Faculty Advisory Committee
http://www.ems.psu.edu/facstaff/FTRF/
Contents
I. THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY AND THE COLLEGE OF EARTH &
MINERAL SCIENCES
University Governance
Board of Trustees
Organizational Chart
Faculty Senate
Graduate Council
College Governance
Dean
Advisory Committees
College Council
Executive Council
EMS Departments, Institutes, and Alliances
Map of EMS Administrative Units
Academic and Research Support Services
University Libraries
Information Technology Support
University Outreach
II. ACADEMIC POLICIES
Academic Freedom
Academic Appointment
Appointments and Ranks in EMS
Special Faculty Titles
Endowed Chairs, Professorships, Fellowships
Service Plans and Payroll Information
Salary Payment Information
Extra Compensation for University Service
Faculty Service
Promotion and Evaluation
Faculty Development
University Teaching Resources
College Teaching Resources
Research Grant Opportunities
Faculty Recognition
Grievance Procedures
Leaves of Absence
Paid Absences
Unpaid Absences
Sabbatical Leaves
Leaves of Absence without Salary
Retirement, Resignation, and Termination of Employment
III. INSTRUCTION
Undergraduate Education
TOTEMS
Ryan Family Student Center
EMS Baccalaureate Degrees
EMS Minors
Undergraduate Education Resources
Graduate Education
EMS Graduate Degree Programs
Graduate Faculty Membership
John A. Dutton e-Education Institute
Teaching by Research Faculty
IV. RESEARCH, SCHOLARSHIP, AND CREATIVE ENDEAVORS
Research Administration
Technology Transfer
Research Policy Issues
Freedom to Publish
Intellectual Property—Patents and Copyrights
Conflicts of Interest
Entrepreneurial and Consulting Activity
Credit for Scholarly Works—Co-authorship
Integrity in Research
Export Control Regulations
Office for Research Protections
V. BENEFITS AND PERSONNEL POLICIES
Mandatory Programs
Voluntary Programs
Continuation of Medical Benefits
Continuation of Benefits at Retirement
College Human Resources Information
Human Resources Services
Disability Services for Faculty
Personnel Policies
Travel/Transportation Services
Business Travel
Fleet Operations
Campus Bus Service
Campus Shuttle
Parking
I. The Pennsylvania State University and the College of Earth &
Mineral Sciences
University Governance
Penn State is governed by a Board of Trustees composed of 32 members. Five of the
Trustees are ex-officio members (including the University President and the Governor of
the Commonwealth), six are appointed by the Governor, nine are elected by alumni, six
are elected by agricultural societies in the Commonwealth, and six are elected by the
Board itself to represent business and industry.
The Board of Trustees delegates the day-to-day operation of the University to the
President. Just beneath the President in the administrative hierarchy is the Executive
Vice President and Provost. Reporting to the provost are a number of vice provosts and
the deans of the various colleges and schools of the university, including the dean of
EMS:
University organizational chart
The main legislative body of the University is the Faculty Senate. Its membership is
composed of one senator per 25 faculty in each of the University’s academic voting units.
Each college/school at University Park is a voting unit, as are the various non-UP
colleges/schools. The College of EMS is currently represented by 8 senators. At this
time, fixed-term representation within the Senate is unclear and is being reviewed.
Another legislative arm of the University is the Graduate Council. This body establishes
general policies and procedures pertaining to graduate programs and graduate research
within the University. Its membership is proportional to the number of graduate faculty
in each college/school. The College of EMS currently has two faculty members serving
on Graduate Council. Only those fixed-term and research faculty who are also members
of the Graduate Faculty may participate in Graduate Council elections.
College Governance
Each College and School within the University has its own Dean, who is appointed by the
Board of Trustees. Assisting the Dean of EMS in carrying out the day-to-day operations
of the College are the Associate Dean for Education and the Associate Dean for Graduate
Education and Research.
The EMS Constitution stipulates the rules of organization and governance within the
College. The Dean is advised by a number of committees representing the various
constituencies within the College: the Faculty Advisory Committee (for tenured and
tenure-track faculty), the Fixed-Term and Research Faculty Advisory Committee, the
Staff Advisory Committee, the Student Council, and the Graduate Student Council. The
membership of each of these committees and councils is composed of one elected
representative from each of the College’s academic departments (5). The faculty and
staff committees also include members from each of the College’s institutes (3) and
alliances (1).
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The chairs of the advisory committees and student councils meet periodically with the
Dean as a body referred to as the College Council. College Council membership also
includes a College Faculty Senate Council representative, a College Graduate Council
representative, the College Ombudsman and the College Diversity Officer.
The Dean also meets regularly with the Department Heads and Institute/Alliance
Directors, a body referred to as the Executive Council. Executive Council membership
also includes the Associate Deans, the chair of the Faculty Advisory Committee and the
College Diversity Officer.
EMS Departments, Institutes, and Alliances
The College is presently home to five academic departments and four institutes/alliances:
Academic Departments
Institutes/Alliances
Energy and Geo-Environmental
Alliance for Earth Sciences, Engineering,
Engineering
and Development in Africa
Geography
Energy Institute
Geosciences
Earth and Environmental Systems Institute
Materials Science and Engineering
e-Education Institute
Meteorology
The locations of these EMS administrative units are shown in the clickable map below:
Academic and Research Support Services
2
University Libraries
The University Park campus is home to the Pattee and Paterno Libraries, which contain
nine different subject libraries, as well as five branch libraries including the Fletcher L.
Byrom Earth & Mineral Sciences Library.
Information Technology Support
All students, faculty and staff at Penn State are eligible for a Penn State Access Account.
This account provides access to a number of Internet services including electronic mail,
the eLion academic records system, the ANGEL course management system, off-campus
Internet access through dial-up modem, personal Web space, and much more. The
following are useful links for setting up an access account and getting answers to other
information technology questions:
Applying for a Penn State Access Account
E-mail
eLion
Dial-up modem access
Personal Web space
ANGEL (PSU’s course management system)
Wireless networking
Computer Store
Videoconferencing
The College of EMS Computer and Network Services group located on the third floor of
Earth & Engineering Sciences Building is among the best computing groups within the
University. Their website provides a number of resources that may be of use to FT&R
faculty.
Computing support questions should be directed to your unit’s system administrator.
System administrators in the College are:
EGEE: Robert Byers, 318 Hosler
Energy Inst: Ron Nargi, C211 Coal
Utilization Lab
GEOG: Bob Hibbert, 230 Walker
EESI: John Miley, 317A EES Bldg
GEOSC: Tom Canich & Damian Futrick,
e-Ed Inst: Marty Gutowski, 420 EES Bldg
332 Deike
MATSE: Frank Driscoll & Scott
Henninger, 12-J Hosler & 2 Steidle
METEO: Chuck Pavloski, 624 Walker
University Outreach
Penn State Outreach shares faculty scholarship through a number of programs:
Continuing Education – unit devoted to providing classroom learning opportunities to
non-traditional students
Conferences and Institutes – unit that sets up conferences at The Penn Stater Conference
Center and The Nittany Lion Inn.
Distance education/The World Campus – unit responsible for delivering course content
via the Internet.
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Cooperative Extension – unit devoted to delivering locally tailored educational programs
and resources to the Commonwealth’s 67 counties.
The College of EMS also has its own group of faculty and staff whose mission is in part
to spread EMS educational opportunities beyond the University Park campus. The John
A. Dutton e-Education Institute now offers a Master of Oil and Gas Engineering
Management degree through partnership with EGEE, a certificate and Master of
Geographic Information Systems degree through partnership with Geography, and a
certificate in Weather Forecasting through partnership with Meteorology. All of these
programs are delivered online to adult professionals studying at a distance.
II. Academic Policies
Academic Freedom
The faculty member is a member of a learned profession, a member of the community,
and a representative of the University. When faculty members speak or write as members
of the community, they are free from institutional censorship or discipline, but they are
expected to remember that the public may judge the profession and institution by their
utterances. For further information, see University Policy HR-64, "Academic Freedom,"
(discusses academic freedom in research and publications, as well as in the classroom)
and University Policy AD-47, "General Standards of Professional Ethics."
Academic Appointment
The University recognizes 4 types of faculty appointments: standing, fixed-term multiyear, fixed-term I, fixed-term II. They are defined as follows in the University Faculty
Handbook:
Standing appointments are those that are full time and with no specified ending
date. For an academic appointment, a Memorandum of Personal Service form
outlining the terms of appointment is sent to the faculty member by the dean.
Fixed-term multiyear appointments are full-time appointments for a minimum of
thirty-six weeks per year, with an ending date specified. Fixed-term multiyear
appointments are renewable and may be made for up to five years for a single
appointment.
Fixed-term I appointments are full-time appointments for a period of at least six
months, with a specified ending date. Such appointments are discontinued at the
stated ending date, but may be renewed.
Fixed-term II appointments are either full-time appointments for less than six
months or less than full time. Fixed-term II appointments are discontinued at the
stated ending date, but may be renewed.
Individuals on standing, fixed-term multiyear, or fixed-term I appointments are
covered by employee benefits. Those on fixed-term II appointments are not
covered. All types of appointments and benefits are more fully described in
University Policy HR-6, "Types of Appointments."
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Appointments and Ranks in EMS
Academic appointments for FT&R Faculty in EMS are described in detail in the EMS
policy document entitled, “College of Earth and Mineral Sciences, FT&R Faculty Policy,
For the conditions of appointment, evaluation and promotion for research and
instructional faculty members who are not subject to the provisions of tenure,” January
17, 2005. The ranks and career paths for FT&R faculty in EMS are illustrated below.
Excerpt from the January 2005 Fixed-Term Policy document:
TITLES AND CATEGORIES OF FIXED-TERM NON-TENURE TRACK
FACULTY
The categories for titles and appointments reflect a division based on significant
differences in duties, appointment process, and evaluation procedures.
CATEGORY 1: CONTINUING, MISSION-DEFINED
I. Research:
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Terminal degree and/or substantial relevant experience + advancing
reputation:
Research Associate
Senior Research Associate
Senior Scientist
II. Instruction:
Master’s degree minimum + experience:
Lecturer
Senior Lecturer
Terminal degree or significant experience and/or advanced
reputation
(proposed):
Professor of Practice
III. Joint (Research, Teaching and Service):
Ad hoc teaching assignment, terminal degree, advancing reputation:
Dual title, annual designation, adds
Research Associate and Assistant Professor
Senior Research Associate and Associate Professor
Senior Scientist and Professor
On-going, mandated responsibilities, terminal degree, advancing
reputation:
Assistant Professor
Associate Professor
Professor
CATEGORY 2: TEMPORARY MISSION-DEFINED
I. Research:
Temporary appointment (Terminal degree)
Post-doctoral Fellow
II. Instruction:
Temporary appointment (e.g. single class, short course) Master’s degree
and/or
experience:
Instructor
Senior Instructor
CATEGORY 3: MISSION-SUPPORTING
I. Research:
Master’s degree and/or experience:
Research Assistant
Senior Research Assistant
Appointments of Fixed-Term, Non-Tenure Track Faculty will be made by the
hiring Department or Institute in accordance with definitions found in HR-21 and
this guideline, and written departmental or institute standards. Research ranks
and Instructional ranks are intended for individuals who are engaged primarily in
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research or teaching respectively, and are always Fixed-Term in nature. A
secondary administrative title is feasible. The awarding of a professorial job title
is feasible for individuals engaged in both teaching and research on a fixed-term
appointment. However, in cases where someone principally engaged in
instruction on a standing appointment becomes involved in research and wishes to
be granted a professorial rank, this will be possible only if the individual
relinquishes the standing appointment and moves to a Fixed Term I or Fixed
Term Multi-Year appointment type. The professorial ranks are not available for
individuals who have been denied tenure but remain at Penn State. Individuals
appointed prior to the implementation of this procedure may opt to grandfather
their current arrangement or may change into accord with these guidelines.
Faculty wishing to adopt one of the standardized ranks described above (e.g., to adopt the
title of Lecturer in place of Instructor) should contact the administrative staff in their unit
to obtain the necessary form.
For many faculty, their rank and title are the same. However, some faculty have longer
titles that indicate additional responsibilities (e.g., Senior Research Associate, Director of
XXX Center).
As described above, the College recognizes post-doctoral scholars and fellows as
members of the FT&R faculty. However, the University does not. Post-docs who are
looking for policy information should consult the Postdoc Information page from the
Office of the Vice President for Research website.
Special Faculty Titles
Endowed Chairs, Professorships, Fellowships
The University has received endowments to fund chairs, professorships, and fellowships.
All of these are open to FT&R faculty, according to the designated qualifications listed in
the relevant HR policies. The nominations for these positions are made by the colleges.
These positions may provide additional research funding, staff support, graduate student
funding, or released time to pursue research/creative projects (see University Policies
HR-81, "University-Named Professorships," HR-82, "University-Named Chairs," and
HR-83, "University Endowed Fellowships").
The titles of Distinguished Professor and Evan Pugh Professor are granted to the
University’s most outstanding faculty. FT&R faculty holding the rank of Professor are
eligible for these titles (see University Policies HR-10, "Distinguished Professorships”
and HR-87, “Evan Pugh Professorships”).
Service Plans and Payroll Information
Salary Payment Information
Excerpt from the University Faculty Handbook:
Regular full-time members of the FT&R Faculty are, in general, hired on fortyeight-week contracts, but are paid in twelve monthly installments. Each pay
period consists of a calendar month. The last day of each month is payday;
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however, if payday falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or a holiday, salary checks are
issued on the preceding workday. Employees may make arrangements to have
their salary checks deposited directly in any financial institution within the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania that is a member of Automatic Clearinghouse.
Mandatory deductions made automatically from payroll checks include federal,
state, and local income taxes, Social Security, retirement plans, and life insurance.
Optional deductions include health benefits, annuity plans, voluntary accidental
death and dismemberment (VADD), long-term disability (LTD), parking, United
Way charity fund, Penn State Federal Credit Union, and contributions to the
Alumni Association and to the Office of Development and Alumni Relations.
Of particular note for academic appointments is the fact that the University has no formal
vacation/sick leave policy for faculty. Faculty hired on forty-eight-week contracts have
four weeks per year that may be used for vacation at times that have been arranged with
their supervisor.
Extra Compensation for University Service
University policy allows for the payment of faculty for services that go beyond those
specified in the faculty member’s contract. Such arrangements must be approved by
both the unit head and the dean. Research faculty who are funded by an outside agency
and foreign nationals in country on a visa must be especially careful before taking on
additional duties because of the legal ramifications.
Faculty Service
While FT&R faculty members are typically contracted to focus on either teaching or
research, this does not preclude them from making contributions in other areas of the
University’s tripartite mission of teaching, research, and service. Contributions to service
for FT&R faculty can include participation on departmental, College, or University
committees, involvement in professional organizations, review of journal articles, and
participation in training workshops. As noted in the discussion of extra compensation, it
is important that FT&R faculty members’ efforts in the areas to which they were assigned
do not falter, particularly for research faculty supported by extramural funds. Further
discussion of service expectations of FT&R faculty may be found in departmentalspecific guidelines for promotion and evaluation.
Promotion and Evaluation
Promotion and evaluation procedures for FT&R Faculty in EMS are described in detail in
the EMS policy document entitled, “College of Earth and Mineral Sciences, FT&R
Faculty Policy, For the conditions of appointment, evaluation and promotion for research
and instructional faculty members who are not subject to the provisions of tenure,”
January 17, 2005. Generally speaking, after six years of service at a particular rank, a
FT&R faculty member is eligible for promotion. To gain promotion, the faculty member
must submit a dossier that documents his/her performance. A key component of this
dossier is the College’s Fixed-Term Faculty Annual Performance Evaluation. The
dossier goes through several levels of review from a unit-level committee, the unit head,
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a college-level committee, and finally the Dean. Department and Institute-specific
guidelines are available below:
EESI, e-Ed, and Energy Institutes
Geography
Geosciences
Faculty Development
University teaching resources:
Yellow Book of Faculty Resources for Teaching and Learning
Schreyer Institute
Teaching and Learning with Technology
EMS teaching resources:
John A. Dutton e-Education Institute
Research Grant Opportunities
The University’s Office of Sponsored Programs is devoted to assisting faculty with all
aspects of research administration including finding information on grant opportunities.
At the College level, the Office of the Associate Dean for Graduate Education and
Research provides regularly updated listings of grant opportunities along with links to
research administration resources.
Faculty Recognition
The following tables list awards given at both the University and College levels along
with FT&R faculty eligibility:
FT&R
eligible?
University-level awards
Atherton Award for Excellence in Teaching
Eisenhower Award for Distinguished Teaching
Teaching Fellow Award
Faculty Scholar Medal
Excellence in Advising Award
Graduate Faculty Teaching Award
Barash Award for Human Service
McKay Donkin Award
Dr. James Robinson Equal Opportunity Award
Undergraduate Program Leadership Award
Penn State Award for Faculty Outreach
President’s Award for Engagement with Students
President’s Award for Academic Integration
Rosemary Schraer Mentor Award
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a
b
c
c
Achieving Women Award
W. LaMarr Kopp International Achievement Award
FT&R
eligible?
College-level awards
Faculty Mentoring Awards
Mitchell Award for Innovative Teaching
Wilson Teaching Award
Wilson Research Award
Wilson Service Award
Deike Research Grant
Wilson Research Initiation Grant
Gladys Snyder Education Grant
a
Must hold rank of assistant professor, associate professor, or professor
Non-continuing research appointees excluded
c
Must make contribution in areas of teaching, research, and service
b
Grievance Procedures
Excerpt from the University Faculty Handbook:
If a faculty member believes that there has been a violation of academic freedom,
professional ethics, or procedural fairness, he or she should discuss the alleged
violation with his or her unit head or director of academic affairs. Each college
and campus also has an ombudsman, whose responsibilities are to enhance
communication and clarify possible misunderstandings in situations involving
potential disputes, to advise faculty members and administrators about appropriate
courses of action, and to help settle matters before they develop into serious
disputes.
Disputes that cannot be resolved through normal channels of administrative
responsibility and procedure may be taken to the University Faculty Senate
Committee on Faculty Rights and Responsibilities. Upon receipt of a petition, the
committee makes a preliminary determination of the extent of its review of the
matter. The committee first reviews the matter informally. If this informal review
does not resolve the matter, the committee may decide to establish a hearing
board. Hearings before this board are not public. Conclusions of the hearing board
are submitted to the President of the University, who then notifies the committee
chairperson of the decision. For further details about this procedure and about the
duties of ombudsmen, see University Policy HR-76, "Faculty Rights and
Responsibilities."
Leaves of Absence
Excerpt from the University Faculty Handbook:
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Although there is no formal vacation and/or sick leave policy for faculty, the
University grants several types of leaves, both with and without salary. Plans to
apply for any leave should be discussed with the department head or director of
academic affairs. Questions of salary continuation, health-care coverage, etc.,
often arise when a faculty member is absent from the normal schedule for an
extended period. The following information is intended to provide summary
information addressing questions most frequently asked about leaves of absence.
This information is not intended to be definitive on policy matters. Faculty should
call the Employee Benefits Office (814-865-1473) for information regarding
benefits coverage, etc., and the Employee Relations Office (814-865-1412) for
more detailed policy information.
A faculty member who needs to be absent from work upon the birth or adoption
of a child or in order to care for a seriously ill child, spouse, or parent (as defined
by law) shall be eligible for and considered to be utilizing time off under the
provisions of the Federal Family and Medical Leave Act. See Human Resources
Guideline No. 11, "Family and Medical Leave," for details.
Paid Absences
Leaves of Absence with full or partial pay are provided to the extent provided by
policy for the following reasons:
REASON
Childcare
Family Leave
Graduate Study
Maternity Leave
Sabbatical
Short-term Military Duty
POLICY (HR)/GUIDELINE (HRG)
HRG-11, HRG-18
HRG-11
HR-18
HRG-7, HRG-18
HR-17
HR-19
Faculty on leave with pay have access to the same benefits and privileges as are
available to active, regular employees. See applicable policies for details.
Unpaid Absences
Leaves of absence without pay may be available to the extent provided by the
policy. Benefits continuation during such leaves are as follows:
Health,
Contribute
Policy/
Life
Educational
Dental,
Reason
to
Guideline Insurance Vision
Privileges
Retirement
Coverage
Only first
TIAAHR-16
6
Childcare
Yes
Yes
12 weeks of
HRG-11
CREF only3
absence*
Only first
HR-16
TIAAFamily Leave
Yes
Yes6
12 weeks of
HRG-11
CREF only3
absence*
11
Formal Study
HR-16
HRG-13
Yes
Yes4
Yes
Illness/Injury
HR-16
Yes
Yes4
Yes
Maternity
HR-16
HRG-7
Yes
Yes4
Yes
Military
Long-Term
HR-19
Yes1
Yes1,4
Yes
Personal
HR-16
Yes
Yes5
No
TIAACREF only3
TIAACREF only3
TIAACREF only3
TIAACREF3
SERS2
TIAACREF only3
1
Claim covered, except if caused by war
Active service may be purchased in SERS
3
Only personal, after-tax contributions are possible
4
Charges shall be at the normal applicable contribution rates for active, regular
employees
5
Charges shall be at the entire cost (employee and University costs)
6
For the first twelve weeks of absence (*regardless of the reason for the absence),
charges shall be at the normal applicable contribution rates for active, regular
employees. After the first twelve weeks of absence, charges shall be at the entire
cost (employee and University costs).
2
Sabbatical Leaves
Sabbatical leaves are leaves of absence with salary for intensive study or research. Nontenure-track faculty who have standing appointments, who have served at least seven full
contract years, and who hold the rank of senior scientist, senior research associate, or
research associate are eligible for sabbatical leave (see University Policy HR-17,
“Sabbatical Leave”).
Senior FT&R faculty who are interested in obtaining leave for similar purposes but are
not eligible for sabbatical leave may request a leave of absence without salary. Such a
leave must be granted by the dean of the College (see University Policy HR-16, "Leave
of Absence without Salary”).
Retirement, Resignation, and Termination of Employment
Checklist for full-time employees leaving the College of EMS
Excerpt from the University Faculty Handbook:
Information on retirement can be obtained from Employee Benefits, 814-8651473, in the Office of Human Resources.
Notification of resignation by a faculty member is expected to be early enough to
obviate serious inconvenience to the University. Therefore, a faculty member
should not give fewer than four months' notice of resignation. For faculty
members who teach, it is expected that such resignation shall be effective at the
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end of a fiscal year. Thus, the final date for a faculty member who teaches to
tender a resignation is March 1, to be effective June 30, in a particular year (see
University Policy HR-52, "Resignation from University Employment").
III. Instruction
Undergraduate Education
One of the strategic goals set by Dean Barron was to be the most student-centered college
in the University. To that end, the College established an orientation program for its 1styear and transfer students (TOTEMS). FT&R faculty are welcome to take part in helping
students move into their dorm rooms and in the activities at Lake Raystown.
Another move toward greater student-centeredness was the construction of the Ryan
Family Student Center on the ground floor of Deike Building. Instructional faculty may
want to refer students to the Student Center for academic advising or tutoring in writing,
mathematics, and information technology.
Our College offers Baccalaureate degrees in the following majors:
• Earth Sciences
• Energy, Business and Finance
• Environmental Systems Engineering
• Geobiology
• Geography
• Geosciences
• Industrial Health and Safety
• Materials Science and Engineering
• Meteorology
• Mineral Economics
• Mining Engineering
• Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering
We also offer the following minors:
• Climatology
• Earth Systems
• Electronic and Photonic Materials
• Energy, Environmental, and Mineral Economics
• Geographic Information Science
• Geography
• Geosciences
• Global Business Strategies for the Earth, Energy, and Material Industries
• Industrial Health and Safety
• Information Sciences and Technology for Earth and Mineral Sciences
• Meteorology
• Mining Engineering
• Polymer Science
• Science, Society and the Environment of Africa
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•
Watersheds & Water Resources
Useful links to undergraduate education resources:
• Penn State’s Academic Administrative Policies and Procedures Manual
• University Faculty Senate’s Policies for Students
• The Yellow Book of Faculty Resources for Teaching and Learning
• Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence
• Penn State’s e-Portfolio initiative
• The University Libraries
• University Handbook for Part-Time Faculty (and General Resource Book for All
Faculty)
• Office of the University Registrar’s Schedule of Courses
• Penn State Calendars
Graduate Education
Our College offers the following graduate degrees to students in residence:
• Energy and Geo-Environmental Engineering (Ph.D., M.S.)
• Geography (Ph.D., M.S.)
• Geosciences (Ph.D., M.S.)
• Industrial Health and Safety (M.S.)
• Materials Science and Engineering (Ph.D., M.S.)
• Meteorology (Ph.D., M.S.)
• Mineral Processing (Ph.D., M.S.)
• Mining Engineering (Ph.D., M.S., M.Eng.)
• Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering (Ph.D., M.S.)
Intercollege Graduate Degree Programs:
• Ecology (Ph.D., M.S.)
We also offer professional masters degree programs online in cooperation with the World
Campus:
• Geographic Information Systems (MGIS)
• Oil and Gas Engineering Management (M.Eng.)
Graduate Faculty Membership
The Graduate School recognizes three categories of individuals who are eligible to serve
as members of the Graduate Faculty. Each category has its own application form:
• Tenured and tenure-track faculty (Form A),
• Fixed-term, adjunct, affiliate, and part-time faculty who hold the highest degrees
in their fields (Form B),
• Individuals who don’t necessarily hold the highest degrees in their fields, but
have expertise that would be of use in a professional masters program (Form C).
The rights and responsibilities of the three groups are summarized in the table below:
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Form A
Form B
Form C
Chair doctoral committees
Serve on Graduate Council
Vote on Graduate Faculty matters
Chair masters committees
Serve on masters and doctoral committees
Teach 500-level and above courses
Teach 800-level courses
Form B members of the Graduate Faculty are expected to make “a sustained, substantial
and broad contribution to graduate education.” The Recommendation form for approval
to teach 500- or 800-level courses should be submitted on behalf of fixed-term &
research faculty who will not be involved in formal graduate student advising, but require
approval to teach graduate-level courses. Fixed-term & research faculty who are not
members of the Graduate Faculty can serve as special members of masters and doctoral
committees with approval of the dean of the Graduate School. Such appointments are
granted on a one-time-only basis; those who wish to serve on multiple graduate
committees should seek recommendation for Graduate Faculty membership.
Note: All of the above forms must be submitted by the head of the graduate program to
which the faculty member will contribute and approved by the dean of the Graduate
School.
Full details of the Graduate Faculty membership criteria can be found at
http://www.gradsch.psu.edu/policies/faculty/criteria.html.
John A. Dutton e-Education Institute
The John A. Dutton e-Education Institute located on the 4th floor of EES Bldg provides a
number of resources and services for EMS faculty who wish to incorporate information
technology – particularly the Internet – into their courses. Faculty may contact the e-Ed
Institute to obtain help on the University’s online course management system (ANGEL),
to learn about using student e-Portfolios in their courses, and to learn about the use of
remote collaboration tools (e.g., Web conferencing software).
e-Ed Institute Resources for EMS Faculty
In 2003, the College established the e-Education Fellowship as an incentive and reward
for faculty contributions to the scholarship of online teaching and learning.
Teaching by Research Faculty
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Research faculty who are interested in teaching a course or workshop may do so with the
approval of their supervisor. Research faculty who are funded by an outside agency and
foreign nationals in country on a visa must be especially careful before taking on teaching
duties because of the legal ramifications involved.
Research faculty may also become involved in undergraduate education through advising
students on research projects or Senior theses.
IV. Research, Scholarship and Creative Endeavors
The overall responsibility for overseeing the University’s research program is delegated
by the President to the Office of the Vice President for Research. Assisting the vice
president are three associate vice presidents who direct the Office of Strategic and
Interdisciplinary Initiatives, the Intellectual Property Office, and the Office of Sponsored
Programs.
Within the College of EMS, research is conducted under the supervision of the dean, who
delegates authority on research matters to the associate dean for research.
In addition to the work carried out by individuals and small teams of researchers,
collaboration is fostered through a number of interdisciplinary research centers, institutes,
and consortia.
Centers
Institutes
Consortia
Alliance for Earth
Center for Environmental
Sciences, Engineering,
Pennsylvania Space Grant
Chemistry and
and Development in
Consortium
Geochemistry (CECG)
Africa (AESEDA)
Center for Integrated
Regional Assessment
e-Education Institute
(CIRA)
Cooperative Wetlands
Energy Institute
Center
Earth System Science
Earth and Environmental
Center (ESSC)
Systems Institute (EESI)
Penn State Institutes of
GeoVISTA Center
the Environment (PSIE)
Gould Center for Geography
Education and Outreach
Natural Hazards Center
Penn State Astrobiology
Research Center (PSARC)
Research Administration
All faculty who require external funding to support their research must work with the
University’s Office of Sponsored Programs, a unit that reviews proposals to ensure that
they comply with applicable federal, state, and University regulations.
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Faculty can obtain assistance in locating funding opportunities, preparing grant proposals
and getting administrative support from the College’s Office of the Associate Dean for
Graduate Education and Research.
Technology Transfer
As Pennsylvania’s land grant university, Penn State has a responsibility to ensure that the
benefits of University research are made available to the public. The following offices
assist faculty in this technology transfer:
• Intellectual Property Office – assists in the identification of patentable or
licensable technologies.
• Industrial Research Office – helps faculty establish long-term, mutually beneficial
relationships with industrial firms
• Research Commercialization Office – assists in the creation of new companies
based on University research and technologies
Research Policy Issues
The Research Administration Toolbox provides faculty with useful forms and resources
for grant management along with information on research regulations (both University
and governmental). Some of the more important policy issues follow below.
Freedom to Publish
The University believes strongly in the freedom to publish the results of research and
works with faculty to secure this right in grants and contracts. However, publication
restrictions or delays are sometimes unavoidable. For example, delays can occur when
seeking a patent; restrictions may be placed on the publication of research with national
security implications.
Intellectual Property--Patents and Copyrights
Faculty are required to share with the University any inventions that come about as a
result of research funded either by the University or by an external source. Answers to
questions regarding these issues can be found in the policy document RA-11, “Patents
and Copyrights (Intellectual Property)” or by contacting the Intellectual Property Office.
Note that any intellectual property developed prior to coming to Penn State or without the
use of Penn State resources should be well documented to retain independent patent
rights.
Conflicts of Interest
The policy document RA-20, “Individual Conflict of Interest,” defines the term conflict
of interest as “situations in which financial considerations may compromise, or have the
appearance of compromising, an employee's professional judgment in designing,
conducting, evaluating, or reporting on University Research and Technology Transfer
programs.” To maintain the integrity of its research program, the University requires
faculty to disclose potential conflicts of interest as outlined in RA-05, “Significant
Financial Interest Disclosure For Sponsored Project's Investigators.” Further information
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can be found in the document, “University Policies Governing Technology Transfer &
Entrepreneurial Activity.”
Entrepreneurial and Consulting Activity
The University encourages faculty to engage in consulting activities as a mechanism for
technology transfer and professional development. However, such activities should be
reported to the faculty member’s supervisor and consulting time should not exceed 4 days
per month. Further information can be found in the policy document RA-12,
“Technology Transfer and Entrepreneurial Activity.”
Credit for Scholarly Works--Co-authorship
All individuals who make material contributions to research activities that result in
publication deserve recognition. Full details of the University’s policy on co-authorship
can be found in the document RA-13, “Coauthorship of Scholarly, Reports, Papers, and
Publications.”
Integrity in Research
Excerpt from the University Faculty Handbook:
The University places a very high value on the integrity of a faculty member's
research and scholarship. Misconduct in research or other scholarly activity is
prohibited, and allegations of such misconduct shall be investigated thoroughly
and resolved promptly. Faculty members should refer to RA10, "Handling
Inquiries/Investigations into Questions of Ethics in Research and in Other
Scholarly Activities," and RAG16, "The Responsible Conduct of Research."
Export Control Regulations
Faculty whose research requires the transport of materials, hardware or software outside
the U.S. or who are involved in providing defense services to foreign parties may be
subject to U.S. export control regulations. Further information can be found in the
documents RA18, “Compliance with Federal Export Regulations,” and RAG11,
“Guidelines for Ensuring Compliance with Export Control Policy RA18.”
Office for Research Protections
Excerpt from the University Faculty Handbook:
The Office for Research Protections (ORP) coordinates review and approval of
academic activities involving human participants, vertebrate animals,
radioisotopes, and other biohazardous materials. Formally appointed committees
deal with these issues and provide compliance assurances for Penn State projects.
The purpose of compliance review is both to protect the University community
from potential research-associated risks, and to provide documentation of these
assurances as required by certain federal and state regulations.
Regardless of funding source, all University research projects involving human
participants, vertebrate animals, radioisotopes, and other biohazardous materials
must be considered for peer review by the relevant committees. Most public
granting agencies require compliance documentation to accompany grant proposal
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submissions, and approval by more than one committee may be necessary. In
addition, certain instructional and organizational activities may also require
review.
Further information on activities requiring institutional review:
• Human participants – When the activity presents risk to the participants or when
results will be published or presented, it must be approved by Penn State’s
Institutional Review Board (IRB). See RA14, “The Use of Human Subjects in
Research.”
• Protected health information – When the activity uses individual-level health data
obtained from a third party, IRB approval may be required. See RA22, “HIPAA
And Research At Penn State University.”
• Vertebrate Animals – When the activity involves vertebrate animals, approval
must be obtained from the University's Institutional Animal Care and Use
Committee (IACUC). See RA15, “Care and Use of Vertebrate Animals.”
• Radioisotopes – When the activity involves radioactive materials, approval must
be obtained from the University Isotopes Committee (UIC).
• Biohazardous materials – When the activity involves biohazardous materials,
approval must be obtained from the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC). See
SY24, “Use Of Biohazardous Materials In Research And Instruction.”
V. Benefits and Personnel Policies
Individuals on standing, fixed-term multiyear, or fixed-term I appointments are covered
by employee benefits. Those on fixed-term II appointments are not covered.
Mandatory Programs
All full-time faculty must participate in the federal Social Security program and one of
two retirement plans: the State Employees Retirement System (SERS) or the Teachers’
Insurance and Annuity Association College Retirement Equity Fund (TIAA-CREF).
More information
Voluntary Programs
Faculty may choose to participate in a number of voluntary programs offered by the
University. Details on all of these programs may be found at the Office of Human
Resources Benefits page.
• Health care – choose from one of three options: Health Maintenance Organization
(HMO), Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) or a traditional hospital/surgical
major medical plan (Plan A).
• Dental and vision
• Voluntary Accidental Death and Dismemberment (VADD)
• Long-term Disability (LTD)
• Annuity Premium Benefit (APB)
• Flexible benefits – accounts used to set aside funds on a pretax basis for
anticipated medical, dental, or vision expenses, and for dependent day care
expenses.
• Tax-deferred annuities
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•
•
•
Educational privileges for employees and their dependents – University will cover
75% of tuition charges
Maintenance prescription drug plan
Employee Assistance Program – for help with personal issues
Note that enrollment in some of these programs can only be changed during the open
enrollment (Time to Choose) period in November.
Continuation of Medical Benefits
Medical, dental, and vision coverage for an employee or dependent may be continued
under the following circumstances:
• Termination of employment – up to 18 months
• Death or divorce – up to 36 months
• Dependent child reaches maximum age – up to 36 months
Continuation of Benefits at Retirement
Excerpt from the University Faculty Handbook:
Faculty and staff members may continue medical coverage and $5,000 of life
insurance into retirement upon reaching:
a. Their sixtieth birthday, and have at least fifteen years continuous of regular
full-time employment, and participation in a University-sponsored medical plan
immediately preceding retirement,
-ORb.
Twenty-five years of regular full-time University employment, with ten years of
continuous participation in a University-sponsored health care plan immediately
preceding retirement.
College Human Resources Information
The EMS Human Resources webpage includes links to pages on faculty awards and
benefits along with a checklist for new employees and information for faculty who are
leaving University appointment.
Human Resources Services
The University Office of Human Resources provides the following services to all
University employees:
• Employee Assistance Program – for help with personal issues
• Health Matters – program with ideas for improving health and wellness
• Human Resources Development Center – provides professional development
opportunities
• Dual-Career Assistance Program – assists the partners of newly recruited or
recently hired faculty in finding employment at Penn State
Disability Services for Faculty
Faculty with a disability may contact the Affirmative Action Office for help in securing
the necessary workplace accommodations.
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Personnel Policies
Information regarding some of the University’s workplace policies may be found through
the links below:
• Affirmative action – HR-1, “Fair Employment Practices,” HR-11, “Affirmative
Action in Employment at The Pennsylvania State University,” AD-42, “Statement
on Nondiscrimination and Harassment,” AD-29, “Statement on Intolerance
• Sexual harassment – AD-41, “Sexual Harassment”
• Drug and alcohol use – AD-33, “A Drug-free Workplace,” AD-18, “Possession,
Use, and Distribution of Alcoholic Beverages”
• Smoking – AD-32, “Smoking Policy and Guideline”
• Employment of relatives – HR-59, “Employment of Relatives”
• Foreign national employees – HR-26, “Matters Involving Foreign Nationals
Employed by the University”
• Answering inquiries about University personnel – HR-56, “Answering Personnel
Inquiries”
• Privacy policy – HR-53, “Privacy Statement”
• Contacts with legal counsel – HR-70, “Contacts with the University Legal
Counsel”
Travel/Transportation Services
Business Travel
The University travel policies page provides detailed regulations on University business
travel. Employees traveling on University business by air, rail or ground transportation
are expected to utilize the lowest available commercial discount fare. Travel may be
arranged through a University contracted travel agency or through Travel Services Online, a self-booking system that can be used for booking air, rail, hotels, and cars. Travel
Services also provides online tools for requesting reimbursement of meals, private
vehicle mileage and incidental expenses. Faculty may also apply for American Express
and Diners Club corporate cards.
Fleet Operations
Fleet Operations, located along Park Avenue near Beaver Stadium (map), provides
vehicles for official University travel.
Campus Bus Service
The Centre Area Transportation Authority (CATA) provides no-fare bus service on
campus via its Loop and Link lines (service map and schedule). It also provides service
to surrounding communities via its Centre Line routes (service map). Full-time Penn
State employees are eligible to purchase a Centre Line bus pass for just $5/month
(however, they must forfeit their right to purchase a University parking permit).
Campus Shuttle
Transportation Services also provides a no-fare shuttle service on campus (service map
and schedule).
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Parking
FT&R faculty wishing to park on campus are required to obtain a parking permit. Those
who work on the west side of campus will find either a Red permit or a Brown permit to
be the most convenient (see parking map). The lots nearest Deike, Hosler, and Steidle
Buildings require a Brown permit, while those closest to Walker and EES Buildings
require a Red. For those who work on the east side of campus in one of the Energy
Institute buildings or the Materials Research Lab, the lots in this area require an Orange
permit.
The current cost of the Orange and Red-A (the red lots west of Atherton Street) permits is
$28/month. The Brown and Red permits to the east of Atherton Street cost $34/month.
During business hours (7:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.), Monday-Friday, the Orange lots are open to
Red, Brown, Yellow and Green permit holders. After 4:00 p.m., Monday-Friday and all
day Saturday and Sunday, all Red, Brown, Orange, Yellow and Green lots are open to all
faculty/staff permit holders.
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