This handbook contains the faculty and academic unit procedures promulgated by the Office of Academic Affairs. It is an accompaniment to the OAA policies available through the Office of University Compliance and Integrity and posted on the OAA Policies, Guidelines, and Forms website. It is updated annually or in response to a change to the Rules of the University Faculty or the Bylaws of the Board of Trustees.
Revisions
Each section includes the dates the last time the section was revised. The structure of the handbook was revised significantly in autumn 2024, and all revision dates were reset. The 2023 version of the handbook is archived on the Faculty Affairs website.
Rules of the University Faculty
When referring the reader to specific language in the Rules of the University Faculty, this handbook will link to the index housed on the Ohio State Board of Trustees website and provide the chapter and section numbers that will allow the reader to find the specific reference.
Common abbreviations used in this handbook
ACE: American Council on Education
APT: Appointments, promotion, and tenure
BOT: Board of Trustees
CAFR: Committee on Academic Freedom and Responsibility
CEF Committee of Eligible Faculty
FAR: Faculty Activity Reporting
FERPA: Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
FPL: Faculty Professional Leave
FTE: Full Time Equivalent
IUC: Inter-University Council
LOA: Leave of Absence
OAA: Office of Academic Affairs
OFA: Office of Faculty Affairs
OHR: Office of Human Resources
OIE: Office of Institutional Equity
P&T: Promotion and Tenure
POA: Pattern of Administration
POD: Procedures Oversight Designee
RPT: Review, Promotion, and Tenure
SA: Special Assignment
SEI: Student Evaluation of Instruction
SHIFT: Strategic Hiring Initiative for Faculty Talent
TIU: Tenure-Initiating Unit