As articulated in Campus and IU policies referenced below, faculty presence on campus is necessary for creating a welcoming environment for our students, prospective students, faculty, and staff and is an important part of creating a vibrant and engaged community for all. Teaching in-person, on-campus is considered an essential job function for all faculty in the School of Liberal Arts; no faculty has been hired to teach in online only programs. In keeping with IU Indianapolis and Indiana University policies, and to ensure that all faculty are treated fairly and equitably,faculty not on leave should spend at least two days a week on campus, regardless of teaching modality and should teach at least one 3-credit course (and ideally more) in person each semester. As noted in the campus policy, faculty presence will continue to be employed as a factor in assessments of faculty performance for salary decisions, promotion, and retention. Exceptions to spending at least two days a week on campus and teaching at least one 3 credit class each semester require approval of the department chair and dean, be temporary in nature (lasting only a semester with reapproval required), and require a demonstration that the exception serves the interests of the campus, school, program, and department. These guidelines do not limit professional activities that are “one-off” in nature and are approved by the chair, such as attending conferences, serving consultative roles, or traveling internationally for work-related endeavors.
Communication from the Dean about IU School of Liberal Arts Guidelines
Faculty not on sabbatical or other leave should do their part to create a welcoming, vibrant, and collegial school by spending at least two days a week on campus, whether their classes are online, virtual, or in person.
Source: Email to School Faculty from Dean Eitle on August 2021
Faculty should teach at least one 3 credit class in person each semester. Most of our programs are in-person programs, and all our faculty were hired with the expectation that they teach on campus. Exceptions to teaching in-person every semester may be requested but will be rare.
Source: Announcement at chairs meetings in 2023-24
Campus Policy
IU Indianapolis Guidelines for Faculty Work Arrangements
Full time faculty members and other academic appointees typically have responsibility for research, teaching and service. Much of this work necessarily involves being physically present on campus—in the lab, the classroom, or the office. Service to the department, school and campus and mentoring of colleagues and students is dependent upon an active, engaged, and present faculty. Moreover, the presence of the faculty is critical for the health and wellbeing of the campus community.
Exceptions to the general expectation of working and living within proximity of one’s campus will be rare, truly exceptional, and entirely at the discretion of the dean. In such cases, there must be clear evidence of benefit to the school, program or department and their missions. Expectations as to teaching, research and service must be clearly delineated in writing. The burden will be on the faculty member to proactively demonstrate that they are contributing to the community of the school and campus. Faculty presence will continue to be employed as a factor in assessments of faculty performance for salary decisions, promotion and retention. Finally, such flexible work agreements must contain a plan and timeline for reexamination (at least once a semester) to assure that the faculty member is meeting the agreed upon expectations and the arrangement continues to serve the interests of the school, program or department. If at any time the faculty member fails to honor the agreed upon expectations, the dean may revoke the agreement. Approved IFC, 5/2/17
Source: Faculty Assembly - Faculty Guide
IU Policy
“2. Academic appointees shall be regularly on campus during the term of their appointment unless otherwise authorized by the principal administrator of the unit. Appointees may be away from campus occasionally for personal or academic reasons, as long as those absences do not interfere with their instructional, research, or other academic responsibilities. Any request to work entirely remotely for a semester or longer must be approved by a Senior Executive Officer of the university under ACA-83.”
Source: ACA-33: Academic Appointee Responsibilities and Conduct
“2. Full-time academic appointees are expected to participate fully in the life of the intellectual community of the campus and to fulfill assigned teaching, research, clinical, librarianship, and service obligations. Substantial remote work by full-time academic appointees is only rarely permitted and must be expressly approved by the appointee’s Chancellor or Provost or, if delegated, dean or program director. Even when remote work is permitted, the academic appointee must be able to perform all aspects of their responsibilities with integrity, excellence, responsiveness, and timeliness. Requests for remote work as an accommodation for a disability will be addressed through the university’s accommodations request process: https://iuoie-fireform.eas.iu.edu/online/form/index/Accomform.
3. In making teaching and other assignments, including location and mode of instruction, department chairs, deans, and other academic leaders should advance the above principles. Likewise, in deciding about instruction, research, service, creative activity, or librarianship, individual academic appointees should be mindful of and support the continuing vitality of IU’s academic community.”
Source: ACA-83: Remote Work for Academic Appointments