Faculty Personnel Policies: Contractual

A. Definition of Full-Time Faculty Members

A full-time faculty member is any person whose principal professional commitment is to the students of The John Marshall Law School, which is evidenced by an availability to teach the maximum number of hours prescribed by the American Bar Association Standards for the Approval of Law Schools, Section 404, at reasonable times as requested by the administration, and who is available to consult with and advise students at appropriate times, maintains regular office hours, has no outside office, performs all duties expected of full-time faculty members and spends the prescribed minimum of 25 hours per week on the premises.

B. Academic Freedom

The personnel policies of The John Marshall Law School, particularly those involving academic freedom, promotions and tenure, are designed to protect the individual faculty members, to provide conditions of security and an atmosphere in which scholarly research can be pursued that will enrich both the individual faculty member and the students he/she teaches.

Faculty members are entitled to freedom in their classrooms and freedom to pursue appropriate academic research, subject to the adequate performance of other academic duties. Controversial topics not related to the subject matter should not be discussed in the classroom.

The faculty member is at the same time a private citizen, a member of a learned profession, and a representative of the Law School. As a private citizen the faculty member retains and should exercise, when appropriate, his/her freedom to speak on issues of the current moment. However, he/she should bear in mind the fact that as a member of a learned profession and as a faculty member his/her behavior will frequently reflect upon the school as well as upon him/her.

When the subject matter necessarily involves discussion or analysis of a controversial issue, the faculty member in expressing his/her opinion thereon should advise the students that the views he/she expresses are his/her own.

C. Contracts

Written offers are issued to faculty members not on tenure-track and statements of salary conditions are issued to those on tenure-track. Such offers and statements are issued in the case of the faculty members already on the staff of the school, no later than April 1st. A reply is required normally within fifteen (15) days.

The non-renewal of a contract of a nontenured faculty member is not a dismissal; it is the exercise of the option, reserved to either party, not to continue a relationship which either believes would not be mutually beneficial.

D. Unit of Service

The unit of service for full-time faculty members is the normal academic year, August through May inclusive. Attendance at faculty meetings and commencement, service on faculty committees, reasonable availability to students outside of normal class hours, and occasional administrative duties are regarded as part of the normal faculty responsibilities.

E. Retirement Program

All full-time faculty members are eligible to participate in The John Marshall Law School Retirement Program. After one year of continuous full time service, the School contributes 10% of each full-time faculty member's annual salary to the CREF - TIAA Retirement Plan which sums are immediately vested.

A full-time faculty member may contribute an additional amount to this plan allowable under federal law.

Further details of the Plan are available upon request. The Law School shall modify the foregoing policy or program whenever necessary to conform to changes in the federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act, or other relevant statutes and ordinances.

F. Summer Compensation

Faculty teaching in the Summer School Program will receive extra compensation. Summer grants may be awarded faculty in return for research culminating in a publishable article or other scholarly activity.

G. Participation in Professional Organizations

Faculty members are automatically members of the American Bar Association (unless the individual requests exclusion) and its Section on Legal Education and Admission to the Bar and the American Association of Law Schools. Membership results from the school's participation in the group membership program. The school will pay for membership in one other bar association or law-related association.

The school also pays for the postage for the two advance sheets that West Publishing provides without charge.

H. Faculty Family and Disability Policies

(1) Eligibility

The following Faculty Family and Disability Policies apply to all persons employed at The John Marshall Law School in tenured or tenurable positions, or having renewable full-time faculty contracts which have been extended beyond the probationary period.

(2) Disability

A. The following policies are to be interpreted in accordance with the terms of The John Marshall Law School Disability Policy*, and practices established thereunder, which provide full pay and full benefits for a maximum of 180 days and a long-term disability policy at reduced benefits after 180 days of disability.

B. Upon request to the school, any faculty member who suffers from a temporary total or partial disability during any part of a semester shall receive appropriate relief from professional responsibilities, including but not limited to, (i) full relief from any duties; (ii) reduction, consolidation, or elimination of teaching load; or (iii) reduction in the number of course preparations.

C. The faculty member shall keep the school informed of the progress of any temporary total or partial disability and shall provide proof of disability upon request.

(3) Family-Related Scheduling Policies

The school recognizes the need of faculty members to attend to the health and well-being of their families.

Accordingly, upon a showing of need by a faculty member, the school shall endeavor to make reasonable, temporary scheduling accommodations described in Section II on account of (i) the birth or adoption of a child; (ii) the illness of a child, spouse or parent; or (iii) any other similar need. Work reduction beyond one semester may result in salary reduction. The school shall treat similar cases of family need consistently.

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* The JMLS LTD Income Benefits Policy defines "total disability" as sickness or injury which prevents performance of each of the material duties of regular occupation; "partial disability" is defined as inability to perform all the material duties of regular occupation on a full-time basis but ability to perform at least one such duty on a full or part-time basis (adopted 10/16/89).

POLICIES