Sul Ross State University is committed to providing our faculty with guidelines and procedures to assist them in their role as educators. The Faculty Handbook is meant as a guide for faculty members but is not intended as a comprehensive manual and does not attempt to provide up-to-date information on significant university policies, procedures, and activities. Faculty may also refer to the Administrative Policy Manual for additional information about employment policies and procedures. Sul Ross Administrators in their respective offices and/or committees are also available for further information and clarification of policies and procedures.
This handbook may be used as a guide for faculty policies and procedures but is not a contract. Although policies in this handbook are current at the time of its publication, the University reserves the right to change its policies and procedures at any time without formal notice.
In the unlikely event of a conflict between the Faculty Handbook and the Board of Regents Rules and Regulations, the BOR Rules and Regulations have precedence.
It is the policy of the Board of Regents and the University to provide equal employment opportunity for all persons in accordance with their individual job related qualifications and without illegal consideration of race, creed, color, sex, religion, age, national origin, or disability.
A PDF of the entire Faculty Handbook can be accessed here.
Chapter 1: History, Mission, General Organization, and Governance
- 01: History of Sul Ross State University – refer to APM 1.01
- 02: Mission of the University – refer to APM 1.02
- 03: Accreditation – refer to APM 1.03
- 04: Facilities – refer to APM 1.04
- 05: Board of Regents, Texas State University System – refer to APM 1.05
- 06: Administrative Structure of the University – refer to APM 1.06
- 07: University Committees – refer to APM 1.07
- 08: Faculty Governance and Councils – refer to APM 1.08
- 09: External Councils and Committees – refer to APM 1.09
- 10: Center for Big Bend Studies: History, Objectives, and Administration – refer to APM 1.10
- 11: Statement of Governance – refer to APM 1.11
Chapter 2: Policies and Procedures Relating to Faculty
- 01: The Board of Regents and Faculty Policies – 07/23
- 02: Employment and Status Requirements for Faculty – 03/24
- 03: Disabilities Accommodation for Employment – refer to APM 5.17
- 04: Appointment of Faculty to Academic Ranks – 09/23
- 05: Political and Legislative Influence by Employees – 07/23
- 06: Tenure – 09/23
- 07: Faculty Rights, Responsibilities, and Standards of Conduct – 07/23
- 08: Faculty Workload Policy – 06/23
- 09: Outside Employment – 07/23
- 10: University Policy on Faculty Absences – 07/23
- 11: Academic Evaluation System – 03/23
- 12: Faculty Participation in Commencement Exercises – 07/23
- 13: Employee Benefits Available to Faculty – refer to APM 5.02
- 14: Academic Planning and Financial Exigency – 03/24
- 15: Early Retirement – 07/23
- 16: Faculty Development and Enrichment – 10/18
- 17: Faculty Development Leave Program – 07/23
- 18: Research Enhancement Proposal Guidelines – 07/23
- 19: Part-Time Faculty – 07/23
- 20: Faculty Grievance Policy – 04/23
- 21: Performance Evaluation of Tenured Faculty – 07/23
- 22: Sexual Harassment Policy – refer to APM 5.09
- 23: Policy on Sexual Harassment of Students – refer to APM 4.08
- 24: Policy on Prohibition of Racial Harassment – refer to APM 4.09
- 25: Disabilities Accommodation Policy for Students – refer to APM 4.12
- 26: Student Grievance Procedure – refer to APM 4.07
- 27: Classroom Discipline – 07/23
- 28: Student Travel and Off-Campus Activities Guidelines – refer to APM 4.11
- 29: Textbooks – refer to APM 3.09
- 30: Externally Sponsored Grants and Contracts – refer to APM 2.21.1 preaward and APM 2.21.2 postaward
- 31: Human and Animal Subjects Review – 07/23
- 32: Travel Regulations – refer to APM 3.01
- 33: State Sales Tax Exemptions and Responsibilities – refer to APM 3.08
- 34: Fundraising Policy – refer to APM 2.26
- 35: Cash-Handling Procedures – refer to APM 3.07
- 36: Employee Assistance Program Policy – refer to APM 5.11
- 37: Tobacco-Free Policy – refer to APM 2.05
- 38: Sexual Misconduct Policy – refer to Special to the APM–TSUS Sexual Misconduct Policy
- 39: Remote Work and Telecommuting Policy | Faculty – 07/21
Chapter 3: Academic Support Services
- 01: Division of Library and Research Technologies – 03/23
- 03: Computer Equipment Replacement Policy – Under Revision
- 04: Web-Course Design and Technical Support Services – 03/23
- 05: Web Page Publishing Guidelines – refer to APM 7.06
- 06: Tutoring and Learning Center – 07/23
- 07: Graduate Student Center – 03/23
- 08: Academic Center for Excellence – 03/23
- 09: Counseling and Accessibility Services – 04/23
- 10: Museum of the Big Bend – 03/23
- 11: Herbarium – 03/23
- 12: Analytical Laboratory – 03/23
Chapter 4: General Academic Policy: Curriculum and Academic Programs
- 01: Curriculum Development – 04/2019
- 02: Class Attendance Policies – 06/2023
- 03: Academic Advisement – 08/2023
- 04: Developmental Education – 04/2023
- 05: Infringement of Intellectual Property Rights Policy – refer to APM 7.07
Chapter 5: Policy Development, Review, and Dissemination
Appendix
- Academic Evaluation System
- Annual Request for Approval of Outside Employment
- Application for Faculty Absence
- Application for Faculty Development Leave
- Application for Promotion
- Application for Tenure
- Application for Review of Research using Human Subjects
- Early Retirement Agreement
- Faculty Development and Enrichment Application
- Independent Study/Arrangement Courses
- Research Enhancement Proposal/Cover Page/Budget