VCOM Faculty Handbook

expressed to the appropriate Campus Dean or other Officers in writing.

Faculty members will represent the interests of their division on college committees, including the curriculum and assessment committees, research committees, admissions committee, facility and IT committees, and the Faculty Senate. Members of each division are expected to provide feedback to other faculty in the division meetings on actions and current items under consideration by the committees on which they serve. Members should solicit comment from division members towards proposed major actions considered by the committees.

Academic Freedom

VCOM respects the academic freedom of students and faculty members and has adopted principles consistent with those promoted by the American Association of University Professors. VCOM faculty members are: • Entitled to full freedom in research and scholarly activity, including publication of the results, subject to the adequate performance of their other academic duties; but research for pecuniary return should be based upon an understanding with the administration of the institution. However, faculty members must agree upon research initiatives with the division chair. • Expected to follow certain principles under this freedom, including demonstrating honesty in publication and research and operating within the confines of the law. Faculty who are granted external funding must conduct their research and meet the expectations of the funding agency in a manner that will not threaten the funding of research for other VCOM faculty members. • Entitled to secure commercial development of intellectual and other property resulting from their research to ensure that the resulting benefits reach society at the earliest opportunity; however, all full- and part time faculty must utilize the VCOM Office of Research to secure patents and commercial development for any intellectual or other property resulting from research conducted as an employee by VCOM. Ownership rights to intellectual property shall be governed by institutional policy. • Entitled to freedom in the classroom in teaching and discussing course topics, recognizing that their efforts are coordinated with others who have responsibilities within the same course and program. Faculty should be careful not to introduce into their teaching controversial matter that has no relation to their subject. • Free to discuss, in a professional manner, subject matter and content pertinent to VCOM’s educational programs with other faculty and students. • Entitled to the rights and privileges granted to them by virtue of citizenship and by membership in an academic educational institution. When they speak or write as citizens, they are free from institutional censorship or discipline, though their special position in the community imposes specific obligations. As scholars and educators, they should remember that the public may judge their profession and their institution by their utterances. Hence, they should always be accurate, should exercise appropriate restraint, should show respect for the opinions of others, and should make every effort to indicate that they are not speaking for VCOM. • Expected to recognize that the community is not an avenue for institutional grievances and all grievances should follow the faculty grievance process. Faculty are free to and should use the avenues created within the institution to promote change. Faculty must take into consideration and assure their speech in the workplace does not constitute discrimination or harassment of students, faculty, or staff. Any disciplinary action related to academic freedom that are initiated against a faculty member, including censure, reprimand, suspension, dismissal, or other disciplinary action, will be managed in accordance with the college's grievance and appeal processes.

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