DEPARTMENTAL RESPONSIBILITIES
As members of a college community, faculty are expected to be active participants and contributors to their respective academic departments. This responsibility includes attendance at alumni reunions and career nights, admissions events, seminars, and student activities. Faculty are expected to contribute to curriculum review and development, faculty searches, and other departmental functions, as requested by the department chair.
Full-time faculty members are expected to attend all meetings of their department, normally scheduled during the Activity Period (11:30 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.) on the fourth Monday of each month.
In addition, faculty must attend to the development of the Library collection, most particularly within their own disciplines. Typically, requests and recommendations for books are accepted throughout the year via the Library’s Book Request Form or by contacting the departmental Subject Liaison; requests for streaming media, journal titles and databases may require budget approvals. Requests for these materials and all other extraordinary requests should be discussed with Heather O’Leary, the Collection Development Librarian (508-565-1318; holeary@stonehill.edu).
COLLEGE-WIDE RESPONSIBILITIES
Faculty Senate and Faculty Assembly Meetings
The Faculty Senate expects all full-time faculty members to attend all meetings of the Faculty Assembly (held during the Activity Period whenever there is a fifth Monday of a month and/or at other times) and to vote in all faculty elections, unless prevented from doing so by official duties or other serious reasons. Faculty members are invited to attend all meetings of the Faculty Senate, normally scheduled on the first Monday of each month during the Activity Period unless the Senate meeting goes into executive session.
Committee Participation
The College encourages active participation by the faculty in the governance of the College and considers this essential to collegiate life. Faculty members will serve on committees when appointed or elected. Generally, no faculty member should serve on more than two College standing committees at any one time. For the convenience of these committees, the third Monday of each month is reserved for committee meetings, though some committees may need to meet more frequently, or at alternative times.
A College standing committee is any permanent (not ad-hoc) committee of the College to which a faculty member is elected or asked to serve.
In the spring of 2006, the Faculty Senate approved the following statement:
“The faculty of Stonehill College value the important role faculty members have on institutional and academic committees. All faculty are expected to serve their colleagues and the college community through participation in the nomination and electoral process. The Faculty Senate’s Governance Committee will attempt to ensure that both committee nominations and committee membership are representative of the gender and ethnic diversity of the faculty as well as diversity of discipline and rank. Of particular importance to the Senate and the faculty is membership in the Rank & Tenure Committee. Awarding tenure to a junior colleague is an important decision for the long-term success of Stonehill College. Senior faculty members are encouraged to consider this important role and the long-term benefits to their junior colleagues by serving on Rank & Tenure.”
Attendance at College Functions
Faculty members are expected to attend the major academic events of the College, including the Welcome Back Days in August, Academic Convocation, Commencement, May Faculty Development Days, and Stonehill Scholars Celebration. In addition, faculty members are encouraged to support other College-related activities and forums, especially those coordinated by their own department. Faculty may be asked to represent their department at college events and events sponsored by other departments, a responsibility that can be shared among members of the department.
For Convocation and Commencement, faculty members must furnish their own caps and gowns. Rental orders can be placed through the College Bookstore.