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Academic Year

The academic year for faculty on nine-month appointments begins on the date designated for faculty to report for duty for the fall semester (usually the third week of August) and concludes the Monday after spring commencement, after the deadline for final grade submission has passed. This is the duty period that all faculty members appointed on a nine-month basis are expected to observe. The first pay period begins on September 1 and the last pay period ends on May 31. Faculty on nine-month appointments may choose to have their nine-month salary divided into twelve equal payments. Faculty members may receive appointments for summer teaching or administrative work at the discretion of their department chairperson and dean of their respective colleges, when salary resources are available and enrollment demand or unit need is sufficient.

Academic Integrity

It is the aim of the faculty of Texas Tech University to foster a spirit of complete honesty and a high standard of integrity. The attempt of students to present as their own any work that they have not honestly performed is regarded by the faculty and administration as a serious offense and renders the offenders liable to serious consequences, possibly suspension.

According to OP 34.12, academic integrity is described for students as follows: Academic integrity is taking responsibility for one's own class and/or course work, being individually accountable, and demonstrating intellectual honesty and ethical behavior. Academic integrity is a personal choice to abide by the standards of intellectual honesty and responsibility. Because education is a shared effort to achieve learning through the exchange of ideas, students, faculty, and staff have the collective responsibility to build mutual trust and respect. Ethical behavior and independent thought are essential for the highest level of academic achievement, which then must be measured. Academic achievement includes scholarship, teaching, and learning, all of which are shared endeavors. Grades are a device used to quantify the successful accumulation of knowledge through learning. Adhering to the standards of academic integrity ensures grades are earned honestly. Academic integrity is the foundation upon which students, faculty, and staff build their educational and professional careers. [Texas Tech University (“University”) Quality Enhancement Plan, Academic Integrity Task Force, 2010] 

Any person becoming aware of alleged violations of academic integrity should report the allegation to the instructor of record in the course. 

Definitions specific to academic dishonesty are published in OP 34.12, section 5.
 
Instructor responsibilities specific to academic dishonesty are published in OP 34.12, section 6.  

Academic Integrity Violation Processes and Outcomes. Questions or concerns about academic misconduct should be referred to the Office of Student Conduct, a department within Student Life. The staff members in the Office of Student Conduct are trained to assist faculty members with all parts of the academic misconduct process, including assigning an academic penalty following a responsible finding for an academic misconduct allegation.

Grade Appeal Procedure. The Grade Appeal Procedure may be used to appeal a failing course grade, but not a failing grade given for a class assignment. The disciplinary penalty of a grade of F shall not be implemented until the disciplinary procedure of grade appeal process has been exhausted. A student may continue the coursework until a final decision is made. The full Grade Appeal policy is published in OP 34.03.

Repeated Academic Misconduct. In cases of repeated violations, either the instructor (through the department chair and/or academic dean) or the academic dean may refer the case to the Office of Student Conduct for further disciplinary proceedings.

School of Law. Law students are subject to disciplinary procedures as described in the Honor Code of the School of Law.

School of Veterinary Medicine. Veterinary students are subject to disciplinary procedures described in the Student Code of Honor and Professionalism.

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Academic Regulations

Regulations concerning admission, registration, grading practices, class attendance, the university calendar, and other similar matters are stated in the current Undergraduate and Graduate Catalog. Faculty members are advised to consult the catalog in order to become familiar with those regulations.

Information concerning admission of graduate students is contained in the Graduate School section of the catalog. Additional information may be distributed as needed by memoranda or letters.

Adoption and Sale of Textbooks and Other Required Course Materials

By statute, all textbooks and other required course materials shall have been ordered and made available for student purchase at least thirty (30) days prior to the first class day of the semester. It is university policy that orders of required course materials be placed with the campus bookstore, which, by contractual agreement, will then inform the other bookstores so that students will have options where to physically purchase their materials.

Texas Tech University encourages faculty members to publish textbooks and other professional works. Such textbooks may be used by the author or by other faculty members in their classes if the textbook has been printed by a recognized and reputable publishing house at its own risk and expense, has been made available for open sale, and has been approved for classroom use by a committee of the department. Such approval must be made in writing and is to be secured annually with a signature from the dean or dean’s representative.

Educational material in any form, which is to be sold for use in class or in laboratory work, must be approved by a departmental committee. Such material is to be made available to students through an established bookstore or copying service. A member of the faculty or staff may not have any financial interest in, or receive any financial compensation from, the sale of such material. Under no circumstances shall money be paid by a student to a teacher or instructor for any instructional material.

A committee shall be appointed by the Faculty Senate to render an advisory opinion or to hear any appeal lodged with the Provost by either faculty, administrator, or student, concerning any alleged conflict of interest from the sale of textbooks or other materials (OP 30.18).

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Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires that universities, and all faculty and staff therein, make reasonable accommodation for all students with disabilities in all programs and activities, both academic and nonacademic. If such reasonable accommodation is denied to any disabled student, the institution may be held in violation of the law.  

Be advised that students registered with Student Disability Services (SDS) are responsible for sending their Letter of Accommodation (LOA) after completing the registration process. LOAs are emailed directly to faculty from ttu.sds@accessiblelearning.com and include a list of the student’s approved accommodations, along with implementation options. No further substantiation of disability should be required of the student. Faculty also has access to the Accessible Information Management (AIM) Instructor Portal with their eRaider credentials. This dashboard allows instructors to see a list of students in each class who have requested LOAs and an overview of specific accommodations requested, all in one convenient location. Upon sending the LOA, students are expected to contact faculty within one week to schedule a meeting and discuss how the accommodations will be implemented in the course. In accordance with OP 34.22, faculty members have one week from the date of this discussion to ensure the accommodations are in place.  

Faculty are not obligated to provide accommodations unless an official LOA has been received. While it is recommended that students submit their LOAs at the beginning of the semester, requests may be made at any time during the term. Accommodations become effective only after the LOA has been reviewed in a meeting between the student and instructor. They are not retroactive. Students presenting verification other than the electronic LOA should be referred to Student Disability Services to complete the registration process. Again, instructors are not required to provide accommodations to any student who has not completed the above process. If you have questions or concerns about academic accommodations, please contact the SDS office at 806.742.2405. 

Alternative Testing Accommodations. If a course includes timed, proctored exams and the faculty member would like Academic Testing Services (ATS)/Student Disability Services (SDS) to administer those exams to students with accommodations, faculty will need to complete an Alternative Testing Agreement in AIM. Please visit the SDS website for an instructional video on how to use the Instructor Portal in AIM to complete the Alternative Testing Agreement. Because students should schedule their exams a week prior to the exam date, faculty members should complete the Alternative Testing Agreement as soon as possible. The following statement regarding exam scheduling should be included in the course syllabus for instructors opting to use ATS: “Students registered with Student Disability Services who have testing accommodations must schedule their exams for my course in AIM. Instructions for this process can be found on the SDS website at www.depts.ttu.edu/sds. Students are required to schedule their exams a week prior to the exam.” 

Alternatively, instructors can choose to provide equivalent testing accommodations within the department. These arrangements will be made between the student and instructor. Exam scheduling through AIM is not necessary in this case.  

Faculty should be aware of the related student grievance process as detailed in the Student Handbook.

Faculty can train in disability awareness and accommodation procedures. Student Disability Services also provides a comprehensive faculty guide to working with students with disabilities.

Keep in mind that the purpose of classroom accommodation is to eliminate the disadvantage caused by the disability itself. Students with disabilities should be expected to do the same quality of work and the same quantity of work as every other student. It is the method by which this is accomplished that is sometimes different.  

To assist the university with maintaining ADA compliance, faculty are required, per OP 34.22, to insert the following into each course syllabus:

Any student who, because of a disability, may require special arrangements in order to meet the course requirements should contact the instructor as soon as possible to make any necessary arrangements. Students should present appropriate verification from Student Disability Services (SDS) during the instructor's office hours. Please note: instructors are not allowed to provide classroom accommodations to a student until appropriate verification from Student Disability Services has been provided. For additional information, please contact Student Disability Services in Weeks Hall or call 806.742.2405.

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Appointments to Faculty Positions

Searches for and appointments to faculty positions at Texas Tech University follow OP 32.16 and OP 32.17. Appointment to the faculty of Texas Tech University is initiated by a Provisional Employment Proposal sent from the department chair, school director, area coordinator, or dean, which sets forth the regular and standard conditions of employment, including salary and period covered. Appointment is confirmed by an official letter issued from the Office of the Provost and is conditional on criminal background clearance, approved Prospective Faculty Disclosure Form, and on receipt in the Provost’s Office of all official graduate-level transcripts, a CV, and proof of authorization to work in the United States. Special provisions and conditions, if any, are included with the letter. Notification will be given of subsequent changes in rank or salary (OP 32.17).

Awards and Honors

Awards and honors are made to faculty through selection by the Honors and Awards Council, the Texas Tech Association of Parents, Mortar Board and Omicron Delta Kappa, Faculty Development Leave Committee, Research Council, Alumni Association, the Teaching Academy, and deans. Among these awards are the Spencer A. Wells Award for Creativity in Teaching, Hemphill-Wells New Professor Excellence in Teaching Award, Barnie E. Rushing, Jr. Faculty Distinguished Research Award, Faculty Distinguished Leadership Award, Faculty Recognition Award by Mortar Board and Omicron Delta Kappa, Institutional Effectiveness Award, President's Excellence in Teaching Award, President's Academic Achievement Award, President's Faculty Book Award, President's Commercialization Award, President's Excellence in Engaged Scholarship Award, Alumni Association New Faculty Award, and the Teaching Academy's Departmental Excellence in Teaching Award. The Texas Tech University System Chancellor's Council offers the Distinguished Teaching Award and the Distinguished Research Award. A listing of all awards, excluding those offered by student organizations, is available on the Provost’s website.

The Offices of the Provost and the Vice President for Research & Innovation encourage faculty to apply for various prestigious national awards through the Targeted External Awards for Faculty initiative. These particular awards, when received, garner high recognition nationally and internationally for the individual faculty recipient, his or her colleagues, and Texas Tech University.

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Faculty Handbook Contents

Introduction

General Information

Role of the Faculty

Facilities and Services

Office of the Provost

Research

Faculty Affairs

Benefits and Services

Emergency Procedures

Financial Exigency Plan

Additional Resources

Operating Policies