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Faculty Workload Equivalency Assessment Tool

How to use this tool

The equivalency matrix below allows TIUs to identify common activities in teaching, research/creative activities, and service categories that are relevant to their unit and field of study, and assign them intensity categories (low, medium, or high). The intensity category is based on the amount of faculty effort associated with performing these activities. This tool is adjustable to each unit and is meant to design a faculty workload “map” that could assist in considering equitable faculty assignments while providing flexibility across the diverse faculty engagement categories. 

With such unit specific tool, a chair/director could then assign workload to their faculty by understanding the intensity (time and work needed to be performed) for the three major categories of assignment (teaching, scholarship/creative activities, and service). One very high intensity in one area may mean an offset with lower intensity in another area. For example, leading the curricular change for a new program may mean a reduction in teaching.

 

Expected Time Commitment and Effort

Individual

Department/College

University/Organizations

High (3)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Medium (2)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Low (1)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The three filled matrices below (teaching, research/creative activities, and service) are not meant to be exhaustive and only provided as examples of what a filled table could look like. TIUs interested in using such a tool can start from the empty table above or use and adapt examples below as relevant to their field or subfields. 

Table 1. Teaching Contribution Matrix

In this matrix, each departmental, college, and insti­tutional service committee is assigned an intensity category (low, medium, or high) based on the amount of effort (time commitment and effort of the activity) of different levels of teaching/instruction activities. This type of matrix helps TIUs understand the total teaching contributions of each faculty member while considering the differences in effort required for different kinds of teaching/instruction work. Equivalencies can be obtained by mixing # of activities and level of intensity. The matrix below contains examples of high, medium, and low intensity activities, will vary by TIU, and is not meant to be prescriptive. 

Expected Time Commitment and Effort

Individual

Department/College

University/Organizations

High (3)

High contact hour classes (large enrollment; multiple laboratories)

Program Accreditation/Assessment Tracking

Continuing Education Programming 

High Effort Experience (Studio, capstone, practicum)

Graduate Advising 

(PhD, MS)

Online Education Program Design

Graduate/Professional course

Programmatic Curriculum (re)Design

Workforce Development Programming 

New Course Development + Teaching

Management of Professional Education Clinics 

Large-scale extension program

Medium (2)

Course coordination (mentoring/teaching of other course instructors)

Undergraduate Research Mentoring

Student success initiatives (HHMI grant, STEM gateway courses)

Medium size classes

GE and other University level Coursework 

Study Abroad

DITL Certification

Evaluations of medical and health professions students, residents, and fellows

Community-based workshops

Low (1)

Small size classes

Graduate Colloquium/Seminar

Digital Education 

Media/Textbooks

Co-Teaching  

Directing TAs

Contributions to DITL Workshops 

1-2 laboratory section

Graduate Committee Membership

 u-credentialing

Table 2. Research/Creative Activities Matrix

In this matrix, each departmental, college, and insti­tutional research/creative activities is assigned an intensity category (low, medium, or high) based on the amount of effort (time commitment and effort of the activity) of different levels of research/creative activities. This type of matrix helps TIUs understand the total contributions to research/creative activities of each faculty member while considering the differences in effort required for different kinds of research/creative activities work. Equivalencies can be obtained by mixing # of activities and level of intensity. 

Expected Time Commitment and Effort

Individual

Department/College

University/Organizations

High (3)

 1st (or in some cases senior) author Publication in high Effort venue (peer reviewed journal, highly selective refereed conference, top press)

PI on large collaborative team-based research grant

Keynote speaker at symposium/conference

Installation/Show in top venue

College Distinguished Professor

Prestigious/Highly Prestigious Award
University Distinguished Professor

Patent/License of Invention Disclosure 

Lead on Community-Engaged Research Project

Leadership on governmental panel

PI or MPI on National Grant or National Foundation

Lead on Clinical Trial

Lead scientist on national Research Center/Grant

Medium (2)

1st author/senior author Publication in medium Effort venue (peer reviewed journal, selective refereed conference, academic press)

Center/Institute Director

Invited speaker at symposium/conference

Regional installation/show

Tech Commercialization

Professional organization award (Fellow)

Co-I on National Grant

Contributor on large collaborative team-based research 

Reviewer of National Lab or research organization

Collaborative contribution to publication

Mentoring and placement of post-doctoral scholars

Testimony on scholarship expertise to bodies of Congress

Low (1)

Publication in medium Effort venue (peer reviewed journal, editor)

Invited departmental seminar speaker 

Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL)

Member of grant (Federal or Foundation)

Active member of interdisciplinary clusters/research groups

White Papers showing to have influenced policy or practice

Local funding (college, university, local group)

Lead of departmental undergraduate research initiative

Consultation activity with industry, professional discipline research development, other universities, or government

Table 3. Committee Service Matrix

In this matrix, each departmental, college, and insti­tutional service committee is assigned an intensity category (low, medium, or high) based on the amount of effort (time commitment and effort of the activity) of different levels of service activities. This type of matrix helps TIUs understand the total service contributions of each faculty member while considering the differences in effort required for different kinds of service work. Equivalencies can be obtained by mixing # of activities and level of intensity. 

Expected Time Commitment and Effort

Department

College

University

Profession

High (3)

Promotion & Tenure

Director or Assoc. Dean Search

University Promotion and Tenure Committee

Editor for high Effort journal

Graduate Admissions

Accreditation Review

Search Committee for Provost or Dean

Leadership position in Professional Organization

Faculty Search

DEIJ Committee Chair 

Provost/Senate task force or temporary ad-hoc task force

Judge on art council

Chair Search

College Committee Chair

Review of Executive-level Administrator

Leadership on external Board(s) 

Medium (2)

Undergraduate Recruitment

College Promotion and Tenure Committee

Chair of a Senate Committee

Associate Editor for high Effort journal

Staff Search

Facilities Committee

Standing Campus Committee
(Research Council, Sustainability Council, IRB Committee, etc.)

External reviewer for P&T 

Priorities/Strategic Planning

Awards Selection Committee

Faculty Board for General Education

Membership on external Board(s) 

Low (1)

Technology Committee

College Administrative Council

Campus Senate

Reviews for grants, prizes, publications 

IRB Committee

Committee membership

Senate Committee or Council

Membership on Professional Organization Committee

Judge on undergraduate research colloquium

College representative on senate

Graduate Council

Governance of regional chapter of professional organization