Scholarly Assignments Off Campus
Authority: Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor
History: First Issued: January 1, 2003. Last Revised: June 6, 2006. Additional History Information.
Related Policies:
NCSU REG 05.20.31 - Tenure Clock
NCSU REG 05.20.16 - Plans for Professional Development
UNC Policy 300.2.6[G] Guidelines on Reassigned Time for Faculty
Additional References:
Scholarly Assignment Form
Scholarly Assignment Process
Contact for Info: Director, Human Resources-Benefits (919-515-4310) ;
Senior Vice Provost for Academic Affairs (919-515-9770)
1. INTRODUCTION
It is essential that faculty members maintain high competence as professionals in their fields and keep abreast of the most recent developments in their special areas of scholarly interest. Recognizing that the pursuit of these scholarly interests often requires concentrated efforts which are not usually possible during long periods of heavy teaching loads and other campus responsibilities, colleges and departments are encouraged to foster, when possible, scholarly assignments off campus for their faculty members at intervals of about seven years. A scholarly assignment is an assignment off campus that is requested by the faculty member for the purpose of permitting the faculty member to engage in activities off campus that are not part of their normal academic responsibilities and that are designed to enable the faculty member to concentrate their efforts on recent developments in their special areas of scholarly interest and to maintain high professional competence. Scholarly assignments off campus must be supported by the department head and approved by the dean according to the procedures set forth in this regulation. A change in normal academic assignments that may occur as a result of teaching rotations, temporary administrative assignments, or other circumstances in the course of university operations that may result in a faculty member not having a teaching assignment for one semester does not constitute an off campus scholarly assignment. A leave without pay, during which the employer paid benefits are not permitted, does not constitute an off campus scholarly assignment
2. ELIGIBILITY
Full time tenured and tenure track faculty members and permanent full time, benefit eligible special faculty with FTE greater than 0.75 are eligible. Retired faculty are not eligible. EPA Professionals are not eligible.
3. PROCEDURES
3.1. Faculty member requests scholarly leave by submitting a Scholarly Assignment Form to the Department Head. The Form must include a statement describing the expected benefits from the assignment to the university. If the Department Head supports the request, the Head forwards the Scholarly Assignment form to the Dean with a recommendation for approval. The Dean shall review the request and recommendation of the Department Head and notify the faculty member and the Department Head as to whether the request is approved.
4. TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF APPROVED SCHOLARLY ASSIGNMENTS OFF CAMPUS
4.1. An academic year faculty member may be granted a scholarly assignment off campus for one semester at full salary or for one academic year at half salary.
4.2. A fiscal year faculty member may be granted a scholarly assignment off campus for 6 months at full salary or for 12 months at half salary.
4.3. During the period of paid scholarly assignment off campus, the faculty member’s salary from the university may not exceed his/her regular full-time salary. Funds obtained by the faculty member for travel, per diem, housing, and similar expenses are not considered as salary. Exceptions to the cap on salary may be approved by the Dean in cases where a prestigious scholarship, fellowship or program provides a salary exceeding the faculty member’s regular full time salary
4.4. In accepting a scholarly assignment off campus with full or partial compensation from university sources, the faculty member will be asked to indicate intent to return to his or her regular assignment and duties for at least one academic year following the termination of the scholarly assignment. A faculty member who fails to return to the University will be responsible for repaying the University the amount of salary and benefits the faculty member received from the University during the scholarly assignment off campus.
4.5. By the end of the semester following the faculty member’s return, the faculty member must prepare and submit a written report to their department head describing the activities undertaken during the scholarly assignment off campus, and prepare and present a seminar to the department, college, or university community.. It is the responsibility of the dean to assure compliance with this requirement.
4.6. A tenure track faculty member requesting a scholarly assignment off campus who wishes to extend the tenure clock in the event an off campus scholarly assignment is approved must make a written request to the department head at the time the request for an off campus scholarly assignment is submitted. If the request is approved by the Department Head and the Dean, the tenure clock will be extended for the time period specified by the Dean in the notification of approval.
5. APPEAL OF DENIED REQUEST
A faculty member may appeal a denied request for an off campus scholarly assignment to the Provost.
6. CONTINUATION OF BENEFITS
The University will continue making the employer paid contributions for retirement [Teachers’ and State Employees’ Retirement System (TSERS) and the Optional Retirement Program (ORP)] and health insurance [options provided under the State’s health insurance program] for faculty members participating in Scholarly Assignment Off Campus with full or partial pay. .
6.1 Retirement
Scholarly Assignments Off Campus will be considered as an approved absence for educational purposes. §G.S. 135-8(b)(5) provides that an employee can continue contributions and have a career total of up to six (6) years of approved educational leave. The Benefits office must submit a letter to TSERS requesting permission for the faculty member to continue retirement contributions for both ORP and TSERS while on Scholarly Assignment Off Campus so that the six year maximum allowable credit limit can be tracked.
6.2 Teachers’ and State Employees’ Retirement System (TSERS)
Members of TSERS must return to service as a full-time contributing member within 12 months after completion of the leave and contribute to retirement for at least three more years (except in the event of death or disability) or contributions will be refunded and the service credits canceled.
6.2.1. Full Pay -The University will continue funding contributions the same as prior to Scholarly Assignment Off Campus. The faculty member is required to continue making his/her employee pre-tax contributions to TSERS through payroll deduction.
6.2.2. Partial Pay - The University will continue funding contributions the same as prior to Scholarly Assignment Off Campus provided the faculty member chooses to continue participation in retirement while on Scholarly Assignment Off Campus with partial pay. Faculty members who opt to continue participation are required to makiehis/her employee contributions on an after-tax basis. Employer and employee contributions are based on the faculty member’s base rate of pay in effect immediately preceding approval of leave. The faculty member is responsible for submitting an after-tax payment by the payroll deadline for transmission to the State Retirement System.
6.3 Death Benefit Plan (Funded by the State of North Carolina) for TSERS Participants
Coverage under this plan will continue for eligible members contributing to TSERS. Faculty members who choose not to continue contributions to retirement while on Scholarly Assignment Off Campus with partial or no pay, will be deemed in service at the date of death if the death occurs within 180 days from the last day for which salary was paid as a full-time employee .
6.4 Optional Retirement Program (ORP)
6.4.1. Full Pay -The University will continue funding contributions the same as prior to Scholarly Assignment Off Campus. The faculty member is required to continue making his/her employee pre-tax contributions through payroll deduction.
6.4.2. Partial Pay - The University will continue funding contributions the same as prior to Scholarly Assignment Off Campus provided the faculty member chooses to continue participation in retirement while on Scholarly Assignment Off Campus with partial pay. Faculty members who opt to continue participation are required to submit the employee portion of the contributions. Employer and employee contributions are based on the faculty member’s base rate of pay in effect immediately preceding approval of leave. The faculty member shall continue making his/her employee pre-tax contributions through payroll deduction. If there is not enough compensation to deduct the required employee contribution amount, the faculty member is responsible for submitting an after-tax payment by the payroll deadline for transmission to the ORP carrier.
6.5 Disability Income Plan of North Carolina
Coverage under the Disability Income Plan of NC provided by the State of North Carolina will continue for eligible participants making contributions to the TSERS or ORP. Those participating under Scholarly Assignment Off Campus with partial pay but NOT making contributions while on Education Leave will NOT be covered under the Disability Income Plan of NC.
6.6 Voluntary and Other Benefits
Continuation or eligibility for all other benefit programs is subject to each plan’s policies or provisions.
