Published July 6, 2016 This content is archived.
To: Academic Deans, Departments Chairs, Faculty
From: Charles F. Zukoski
Provost and Executive Vice President
for Academic Affairs
Date: July 6, 2016
We are all responsible for ensuring that our undergraduate, graduate, and professional students receive the highest quality education. To that end, it is important to reiterate specific teaching obligations and responsibilities of our faculty.
The Policies of the State University of New York Board of Trustees define the academic year obligation as “an annual obligation of service for the academic year, not to exceed 10 months.” The University at Buffalo’s 2016 - 2017 academic year obligation for faculty will commence on August 22, 2016 and will conclude on May 27, 2017. During that period, faculty members are expected to be available for service, consistent with their departmental assignments, program responsibilities, and the university calendar.
UB’s Faculty Teaching Responsibilities Policy states, “Final examinations shall be offered as officially scheduled, not during the final week of classes.” The university’s final examination week for the Fall 2016 semester is as follows: December 12 - 19, 2016. For the Spring 2017 semester it is May 15 - 20, 2017.
Finally, UB’s Teaching Assessment and Improvement Policy states, “Professorial faculty from each department should directly monitor and supervise all teaching by graduate teaching assistants. Moreover, each department should have in place a mandatory teaching-effectiveness program for its teaching assistants.”
Thank you for your efforts on behalf of all UB students. Best wishes for a productive and rewarding semester.