The University sets the following standards for teaching release during the parental leave term and the modified duties term after the birth or adoption of a child (CBA Article 32, Section 10). Parental leave can result in the following maximum course releases, depending on the base course load of the faculty member:
Parental Leave Maximum Course Releases
Academic Year Base Course Load | Maximum Courses released for one term of parental leave |
|---|---|
12 | 4 |
11 | 4 |
10 | 4 |
9 | 3 |
8 | 3 |
7 | 3 |
6 | 2 |
5 | 2 |
4 | 2 |
3 | 1 |
2 | 1 |
1 | 1 |
The modified duties term allows for a partial release from classroom responsibilities for up to one term within six months following parental leave or after the birth or adoption of a child. If parental leave is taken, modified duties will be available after the parental leave is completed. Service duties may also be reduced during a modified duties term. The necessity for a partial release is determined by the faculty member in consultation with the department head or supervisor. Any release or reduction of teaching responsibilities does not mean that the faculty member will be required to teach more than a normal load before or after the modified duties term.
Departmental support for modified duties term
During a modified duties term, departments may be able to consider reduction in service duties or strategic assignment of service and instructional duties in the following ways:
- Duplicate assignments for single course prep
- Assignment of low-enrollment courses
- Assignment of large-enrollment courses with grading support
- Courses designated by the faculty member to require less preparation or less labor-intensive teaching
- One or two days per week rather than three or four days per week teaching schedules
- Relief from major service assignments during MD term
- Search committees
- Admissions committees
- Labor-intensive standing committees
- Assignments on committees that meet infrequently or have a low workload
- Schedule remaining courses post-parental leave as stacked courses, creating a low- or zero-course term
A unit may not determine a modified duties course release is unnecessary when a faculty member has determined it is, as long as it is consistent with the modified duties maximum course releases table below.
Post-Parental Leave Modified Duties Maximum Course Releases
Academic Year bASE cOURSE LOAD | Maximum cOURSES rELEASED For oNE tERM OF mODIFIED dUTIES |
|---|---|
12 | 3 |
11 | 3 |
10 | 3 |
9 | 2 |
8 | 2 |
7 | 2 |
6 | 1 |
5 | 1 |
4 | 1 |
3 | 0 |
2 | 0 |
1 | 0 |
The Office of Human Resources reviews and approves eligibility for parental leave and modified duties; however, HR does not approve the assignment of duties or the specifics of the modified duties. It is the responsibility of the faculty member to work directly with their department head and other appropriate school/college administrators to agree upon the specifics of the modified duties. Modified duties must be agreed upon by the faculty member, department head, and associate dean for faculty (or equivalent position) in the schools and colleges. Any duties released under parental leave or modified duties must be clearly documented and may not negatively impact a subsequent review.