Faculty and Strategic Initiatives

Welcome to the Faculty Handbook

MTSU faculty members are committed to the academic success of their students, actively serve the university, this community, and their scholarly fields. Your contributions are highly valued.

The Faculty Handbook provides necessary and useful information for your experience at MTSU. It was compiled by the University Provost in collaboration with the Faculty Senate.

MTSU recognizes that faculty members are essential for the university’s continued success in academic quality, student success, engagement, and innovation. It is important to us that you become and remain well-informed about our university and how it works.

Scope and Limits of the Handbook

The Faculty Handbook is a compilation of institutional policies, procedures, forms, guidelines, services, and resources that exist to support the faculty experience. The Faculty Handbook is intended to be used as a guide, but not as documentation of official university policy. Official MTSU policies are available at University Policies, https://www.mtsu.edu/policies/.

This Faculty Handbook is not intended to state contractual terms and does not constitute a contract between the faculty member and the University. Applicable law, Board of Trustees policy, and University policy define the obligations of the University. 

University policies may be changed at any time. As policies and procedures are officially adopted or changed by duly constituted authorities, such changes become effective on the date designated at the time of their adoption even if not yet published in the Handbook.

The University Provost and the Faculty Senate share responsibility for the Faculty Handbook. 

Questions or suggestions for changes to the Faculty Handbook may be sent to the Office of the University Provost or to the Faculty Senate.

All revisions to the Faculty Handbook are subject to the approval of president of the university.

Using the Faculty Handbook

The Faculty Handbook is thematically organized in the context of how faculty members experience the university. It begins with general information about the university and progresses to specific areas of importance by connecting you with MTSU’s policies, resources, and organizational structure.

In addition, recently hired faculty were surveyed for their insights about the information that was perceived as most necessary to them as they began their career at MTSU. Based on their responses a FAQ list was created.

How to Use this Handbook

The Faculty Handbook is divided into the major categories below. Click on a category to find links to the appropriate MTSU documents and web pages. This page can be searched using the browser’s ” Edit – Find” feature. Enter a keyword to see the categories that contain links to that keyword. Clicking on the category takes you to a page containing the links. The same search process can be used on each category page to find a specific link.

MTSU Mission, Vision and Organization

Academic Freedom and Responsibilities

Faculty academic freedom and responsibilities in the classroom, in research, in the community, ethics guidelines for faculty.

Appointment, Tenure and Promotion Policies

Compensation and Retirement

Employee Tuition Assistance

Curriculum and Classroom Policies, Procedures and Guidelines

Curriculum

Academic Program Coordinators
Online Course Development
Online Course Types
Curriculum Change Forms and Information
University Bookstore/Textbooks, Course Materials, and Course Supplies
General Education, True Blue Core
Study Abroad
Undergraduate Catalog
Graduate Catalog
Grades
Credit Hour Unit Definition
Open Educational Resources
Student Academic Integrity
Student Classroom Misconduct
Tests and Examinations
Course Outline/ Syllabus
Drop / Add Deadlines
Graduate Faculty Information
Registration Information
Students
Safety-Related Policies and Procedures
Textbook Ordering, Faculty–Adoptions can be emailed to the bookstore at store8348@bncollege.com or entered through the Adoptions and Insights Portal (AIP) link provided. This link is also available through the Faculty Pipeline page under Resources. Your sign-on is the same as your MTSU SSP.

Classroom

Academic Alerts
Academic/Instructional Continuity (Inclement Weather)
Class Attendance
Classrooms and Offices
Use of Campus Property and Facilities Scheduling
Employee Attendance during Inclement Weather
Disability and Access Center
FERPA
Last Day of Attendance (LDA)
Library Instruction
Midterm Grade Reporting (Academic Alerts)
Student Grade Appeals and Grade Appeal Form
Supplies
Technology Access Fee Fund Information and Forms
Responding to Grief and Loss Guide
Effective Management of Student Behavior
Suggested Syllabus Statements pertaining to effective classroom accommodations, Lottery Scholarship, guests, animals and emergencies in classroom)

Related Information

Faculty Development, Recognition and Information

Faculty Development
Leadership on Deck Institute
Grants and Awards
New Faculty Orientation
Learning, Teaching and Innovative Technologies Center (LT&ITC)
Faculty Senate
Faculty Appointment to the MTSU Board of Trustees
News and Media Relations
Creative and Visual Services
Post-Tenure Faculty Development Plan
Annual Fall Faculty Meeting and University Convocation – All faculty are expected to participate in the Annual Fall Faculty meeting traditionally held the Thursday morning before the first day of classes for the fall semester and the University Convocation traditionally held the weekend before the first day of fall classes.
Commencement / Graduation – Faculty members are selected by their department chairs and are expected to participate in commencement exercises which are held in May, August, and December. Faculty members provide their own academic regalia.
Faculty Meetings – Faculty members are expected to attend all scheduled and called faculty meetings. The Annual Fall Faculty meeting and conferences in individual departments are held before the opening of the fall semester. It is important that every faculty member be present. In the event it is necessary to be absent from a meeting, arrangements should be made in the office of the department.

Finance-Related and Travel Policies and Procedures

Hiring, Employment and Personnel Policies

Part-time/ Adjunct Faculty Employment Policies

Research and Graduate Faculty Resources

Contact Us

Faculty and Strategic Initiatives
111 Cope Administration Building
(615) 898-5941
Angie.Price@mtsu.edu