Faculty Resources

Purpose: This policy provides guidance on the qualifications necessary for appointment or promotion to the various academic ranks.

Purpose: To determine the criteria, procedures, and conditions of the review of University academic personnel and for the awarding of promotion and tenure.

Purpose: This policy provides the process for an evaluation of the performance of each member of the faculty at least once each year. Each tenured faculty member will be evaluated with an extended review every fifth year after the most recent promotion decision.

Purpose: To establish the terms and conditions for making standing appointment offers to, and contracting the services of, individuals classified as academic or academic administrator.

Purpose: To outline the conditions of academic freedom for faculty members. Academic freedom refers to the environment provided by the University that permits faculty members to engage in their scholarly pursuits of teaching, research, and related activities at institutions of higher education. Academic freedom thus embodies the conditions necessary for the University to fulfill its mission of creating new knowledge and of effectively communicating accumulated knowledge and understanding to students and to the community at large. Academic responsibility refers to the duty and obligation of all faculty to pursue their academic pursuits with forthrightness, recognizing that while all members of the University have the right to express their own views and to hear the views of others expressed, as well as the responsibility for according the same rights to others, they also have a duty to make it clear when they are not speaking for the institution in matters of public interest. The University should be an institution whose members may express themselves, while protecting and respecting the rights of others to learn, to do research, and to carry out the essential functions of the University free from interference or obstruction.

Purpose: This policy defines the procedures to be followed when issues involving faculty rights and responsibilities have not been successfully resolved through the normal channels of administrative responsibility and procedure.

Purpose: This Policy has two principal purposes. The first is to set forth policies and principles that permit University faculty to engage in activities outside the University (“Outside Professional Activities”) while preserving their primary professional duties and responsibilities to the University and remaining consistent with federal regulations and guidelines. The second is to provide a basis for reporting Outside Professional Activities of faculty to the University.

Purpose: Penn State is committed to harnessing technology to expand access to knowledge and advance pedagogy through the open availability and open licensing of instructional materials and other materials. Making instructional materials openly available, including in some cases with an open license, helps to reduce course materials costs for students at Penn State, elsewhere in the Commonwealth, and beyond, fulfilling the University’s land-grant mission. The University and the broader world also benefit from open availability and open licensing of other materials produced at Penn State.

Purpose: This policy specifies the regulations by which University Records are defined, captured, utilized, stored, disposed of, and properly archived when they meet the University’s criteria for constituting a “University Record.” This policy provides the means to define and offer counsel to University offices during the creation and use of all University Records. Further, it sets records management standards and creates Records Retention Schedules for those records. It also establishes archival criteria to maintain and assure continued access to appropriate historical records, in all formats in which they are created and retained.

Purpose: To establish a framework for compliance and responsibility regarding privacy and the protection of an individual’s personal information.

Purpose: The following is the policy and procedures for using General Purpose Classrooms (GPC’s). The Pennsylvania State University has invested heavily in improving the furnishings, equipment, and environments in General Purpose Classrooms (GPC’s) The GPC’s are a University resource with a priority mission to provide high quality environments and tools to enhance the educational experiences for students and instructors. Classrooms are also available for student activities, public outreach and research programs as outlined in policy AD82. The Registrar at each campus has the authority to determine and approve what activities are appropriate for the GPCs. Appeal of an Office of the Registrar decision must be directed to the Vice President and Dean for Undergraduate Education.

Purpose: The University is committed to maintaining the highest standards of ethics and conduct, consistent with applicable legal requirements and University policies.  Through the establishment of this policy, the University wishes to encourage and protect from Retaliation those who desire to report potential violations of these standards.

Purpose: The Pennsylvania State University is committed to ensuring equal access to information, programs, and activities through its information technologies, web pages, web-based applications, operating system-based applications, online instructional content, services, and resources (“electronic information technology” or “EIT”) for all its constituencies. This policy establishes standards for the accessibility of EIT considered necessary to meet this goal and ensure compliance with applicable local, state and federal regulations and laws.

Purpose: To establish a policy concerning an all-hazards emergency management program at The Pennsylvania State University, prescribing actions that must be undertaken for the safety of students, faculty, staff, and visitors, and for the protection of infrastructure, critical assets and services, compliant with applicable federal and state laws and regulations.  The framework of this policy includes program development and maintenance during normal business, activation in response to an emergency, and return to routine operations.

Purpose: To provide guidance to University employees, volunteers, and independent contractors regarding mandated reporting requirements pursuant to Pennsylvania Child Protective Services Law (CPSL) and pursuant to Penn State Policy. This Policy is intended to apply broadly and, when in doubt, members of the University community should always err on the side of reporting suspected child abuse.

Purpose: To establish the parameters for compliance with the “Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act of 1998” (commonly referred to as the “Clery Act”) at all University locations.

Purpose: The Pennsylvania State University is committed to promoting a safe and secure working and learning environment. Violence, threats of violence and threatening behaviors are inconsistent with this objective and are unacceptable.

Purpose: Penn State’s general purpose classrooms (GPCs) are a University resource with a priority mission to provide high quality environments and tools to enhance the educational experiences for students and instructors. When scheduling a general purpose classroom, the first priority is for credit instruction. Effort should be made to ensure that an appropriate match is made between the course’s pedagogical requirements and the features of the room. Other uses such as student activities and events, conferences and events, non-credit courses, are scheduled at a lower priority after all credit courses have been accommodated.

Purpose: To establish The Pennsylvania State University’s (“Penn State” or the “University”) policy prohibiting sexual harassment and misconduct, including, but not limited to, acts of sexual violence, sexual harassment, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking, in accordance with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (“Title IX”). This Policy references other University policies which may be implicated in University disciplinary procedures related to conduct that falls outside the scope of this Policy.

Purpose: The Code of Responsible Conduct applies to all employees (faculty, staff, administrators, and student employees) of The Pennsylvania State University on legal, policy, and other duties encountered during the normal course of University business and employment.

Purpose: To establish the University’s policy prohibiting discrimination and harassment in all forms, and retaliation related to reports of such conduct. This policy specifically prohibits discrimination and/or harassment against any person because of their actual or perceived age, race, color, ancestry, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, physical or mental disability, religion, creed, service in the uniformed services (as defined in state and federal law), veteran status, marital or family status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information or political ideas.

Purpose: To establish an institution-wide security program designed to ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of The Pennsylvania State University’s (“Penn State“ or “the University”) information assets from unauthorized access, loss, alteration, or damage while supporting the open, information-sharing needs of our academic culture.

Purpose: To establish and define the “acceptable use” of The Pennsylvania State University (“Penn State” or “University”) electronic resources, including, but not limited to, computer facilities and services, computers, networks, electronic mail services, and electronic information and data, and video and voice services, to support the educational, research and service missions of the University.

Purpose: Electronic mail (email) is a primary means of communication both within The Pennsylvania State University (“Penn State” or the “University”) and externally.  Email provides a quick and efficient means to conduct business, but, if not used properly, it carries the risk of harm to the University and members of its community.

Purpose: Penn State has adopted an Active Attacker Response Program as part of the University’s ongoing commitment to the safety of those who are on our campuses to learn, live, work and visit.