Professional Responsibilities
The primary responsibility is to design and to teach courses and tutorials consistent with the fields of study within which they hold their appointments and within the terms of their appointments. In addition, faculty members serve as academic advisors to students (see Academic Advising). Faculty members are also generally expected to participate in the governance of the College through Faculty Meetings, Town Meetings, and committee assignments.
Work Load
While it is obviously impossible to define an appropriate work load for faculty in simple and definitive terms, given the very substantial differences between, for example, teaching a new course on previously unfamiliar material and teaching a familiar course for the third time, the following general guidelines may be helpful. Full-time faculty members should expect to teach at least two courses and four to six tutorials with Plan students, or the equivalent, and to serve on one or two committees. Most long-term faculty routinely carry a greater load than this, reflecting their more settled course offerings and their experience with a broad range of tutorials. No one should expect to teach more than three courses and four to six tutorials, or the equivalent, with committee work. All faculty are encouraged to regulate their work loads to efficient levels. Unanticipated overloads sometimes occur, and faculty members are free to discuss with the Dean possible relief from committee responsibilities or a compensatory lighter load in a succeeding term.
Faculty are expected to schedule classes primarily for the greatest efficiency and curricular coherence but are nonetheless free to establish their schedules and office hours as best suits their preferences. Many faculty find it necessary or desirable to schedule at least part of a day for uninterrupted work at home.
Support for Scholarly Activities
Limited funds are available for travel to professional meetings, for summer research, and for similar professional development. These include annual competitive awards for research and performance. Application for funds must be made to the Dean of Faculty. The College provides no funds for membership in professional organizations by individual members of the faculty.