Policy

(A) Policy statement and purpose

In accordance with Ohio law, this policy intends to promote an equitable, transparent, and supportive workload framework focused on the following areas: (1) teaching; (2) research, scholarship, creative achievement, and/or commercialization (“RSCAC”); and (3) professional service; and any combination thereof.

Faculty workload assignments are guided by the institution’s core mission: excellence in teaching; RSCAC; and service, with special emphasis on the undergraduate learning experience.

Consistent with this mission, all full-time tenured and tenure-track faculty are expected to contribute at the highest levels of quality across these areas.

Teaching, clinical, and professionally licensed faculty (TCPLs) also play a significant role, contributing with excellence in teaching and service.

Further, workload assignments are designed to ensure that faculty members' responsibilities and efforts are distributed fairly, transparently, realistically, and efficiently. The policy applies to all faculty ranks across all colleges and campuses.

This policy supersedes any conflicting departmental or divisional governance and is not subject to collective bargaining negotiation. It will be reviewed and updated at least once every five years, with approval by the board of trustees, and made publicly accessible in the University’s online Policy Library. All workload assignments must be free from political or ideological considerations in accordance with section 3345.0217 of the Revised Code.

(B) Definitions

Faculty: Faculty refers to all persons holding faculty appointments with faculty rank and faculty status.

Workload equivalents (WLE): Teaching, RSCAC, and professional service duties are translated into “workload equivalents” (WLE). Workload equivalents are based on credit hours, as defined in 34 CFR 600.2, where 1 WLE represents a standard 3-credit-hour course, typically meeting for 3 lecture hours per week over a 14–15-week semester. Each WLE equates to 3 credit hours.

Full-time workload (nine-month): The standard full-time faculty workload is defined as ten workload equivalents (10 WLEs) per academic year. All full-time faculty workload allocations for teaching, scholarship/research/commercialization activity, and professional service are proportional to this “workload equivalents” (10 WLEs) baseline.

Justifiable credit hour equivalences: All components of faculty workload must be translated into workload equivalents (WLE), based on credit hour equivalencies, to facilitate equitable and transparent assignment of duties and compliance with this policy. RSCAC, as well as professional service, and other duties as appropriate, are assigned credit-hour based WLE based on qualitative and quantitative criteria and count toward the standard 10 WLEs full-time load.

Annual assignment and review: Each faculty member's workload distribution is initially set in the offer letter and is reviewed (and revised, when appropriate) annually as part of the annual performance evaluation process.

Professional Service: Activities that support the university community, society, and the faculty member's profession, going beyond official teaching and RSCAC duties. This could include a combination of both internal service, such as committee work and governance, and external service, such as community engagement or using academic expertise for public benefit. For purposes of this policy, creditable service must be approved by the Chair, and be executed with competence and commitment.

Research, Scholarship, Creative Achievement, and Commercialization (RSCAC); RSCAC includes a comprehensive spectrum of intellectual and artistic endeavors, ranging from the systematic discovery of new knowledge and the creation of original works (research, creative achievement) to the critical analysis and public sharing of that knowledge (scholarship), and ultimately, its practical translation for societal benefit and economic impact (commercialization).

Faculty Workload Guidance: The Office of the Provost will maintain guidance documents to assist Chairs and Deans in assigning WLEs in the areas of teaching, RSCAC, and service based on the type of faculty and the unit in which the faculty is appointed. These guidance documents will be based upon the campus location as well as the assessed level of RSCAC activity of each faculty member. This guidance shall be reviewed annually by the Office of the Provost to ensure alignment with Miami’s mission and goals under this policy.

(C) Policy

It shall be the policy of Miami university to establish workload in conformance with this policy, as informed by the Workload Guidance reviewed, revised as needed, and published by the Office of the Provost each year. Miami’s policy employs the use of workload equivalents, which translates into units of credit hours, as the standard unit for measuring all faculty workload elements, including teaching, RSCAC, professional service, and other assigned duties. The intent of this policy is not to require the same level and type of activity of every faculty member but to recognize that differentiation of roles is necessary to allow academic units to carry out the University’s educational mission.

1. Annual workload
   1. Annual workload is defined as the faculty work assignment for the fall and spring semesters, based upon the standard assignment of 10 WLEs per academic year. This workload will typically be assigned based upon a standard of 5 WLEs in Fall Semester and 5 WLEs in Spring semester.
   2. The allocation in each area depends on the discipline and faculty member's expertise. A tenured/tenure-track faculty member will typically have assigned duties in each of the areas of teaching, RSCAC, and service and a TCPL faculty member will typically have assigned duties in each of the areas of teaching and service.
   3. Faculty Workload Guidance defines faculty workload elements and their workload equivalents and includes credit hour equivalents for activities other than teaching, including RSCAC, clinical care, significant administrative roles, professional service, and other activities.
   4. The workload for each faculty member is approved annually by the Divisional Dean and the Provost. Faculty members will submit their Annual report of Professional Activities, which will be used by the Chair in determining workload. Annually the Chair will complete a workload report using the standard university template, aligning with University policy, Faculty Workload Guidance, and divisional workload norms. Any deviations from these norms must be approved by the Chair, Dean, and Provost. The collective bargaining agreement provides the process for the annual faculty evaluations.
2. Defined teaching workload expectations
   1. Standard tenured and tenure-track faculty workload: The standard teaching load is 3/3 or 3/2 courses (5-6 WLEs per year). RSCAC and service are defined as percentages of a full load, with 20-30% for RSCAC (2-3 WLEs per year) and 1020% for service (1-2 WLEs per year). While these percentages are typical, workload will vary depending on RSCAC productivity and departmental needs.
   2. Standard TCPL faculty workload: The standard teaching load is 4/4 courses (8 WLEs or 24 credit hours per year), with 80% of the workload dedicated to teaching. Standard service levels are defined as 2 WLEs per year, with 1 WLE equating to roughly 4 hours of service per week.
   3. The range of acceptable teaching assignments is determined through the procedures outlined in Faculty Workload Guidelines. The dean will ensure that the teaching workload of each faculty member, when added to the credit hour equivalents for non-teaching activities, meets the standard annual workload of 10 WLEs.
   4. Workload expectations are subject to regular review and revision to ensure continued relevance and effectiveness in meeting the needs of the university and the faculty.

(D) Failure to Comply

If a faculty member fails to comply with this policy's requirements, the university may take administrative action including censure, remedial training, for-cause termination, or other disciplinary action, regardless of tenure status and in accordance with the discipline process detailed in the collective bargaining agreement. Termination for a violation of this policy requires the recommendation of the dean, provost, president, and approval of the board of trustees.

(E) Workload Equity and Flexibility

While this policy provides standard expectations, it allows flexibility to accommodate individual strengths, varying disciplines, and evolving responsibilities. Department chairs/ program directors may recommend, with dean approval, adjusted allocations for individual faculty to support greater emphasis on teaching, RSCAC, professional service, and other duties as appropriate, as long as the academic unit meets its overall instructional obligations. Any such differential assignments must be documented and aligned with the university’s mission and needs as set out in Faculty Workload Guidelines.

(F) Visiting Assistant Professors (VAPs) and Part-Time Faculty

VAPs and Part-Time faculty include those persons appointed to carry out instructional responsibilities dictated by enrollment demand or by special needs of an academic unit. Because their primary responsibility is teaching, such faculty are not usually expected to engage in other duties.

Related Form(s)

FAQ

Policy Administration

Next Review Date

July 2030

Responsible Officer

Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

Legal Reference

ORC 3345.45

Compliance Policy

Recent Revision History

Effective: December 12, 2025