1-4 Definitions
Throughout this Faculty Handbook, the following definitions apply:
1.4 a Faculty Definitions
"Faculty" refers collectively to all Faculty, including Core Faculty (full-time and part-time) and Adjunct Faculty.
“Full-time Core Faculty” refers to salaried faculty responsible for exercising 100% of academic and shared governance responsibilities at USU as described in faculty workload.
“Part-time Core Faculty” refers to salaried faculty responsible for exercising 50% of academic and shared governance responsibilities at USU as described in faculty workload.
"Adjunct Faculty" refers to part-time faculty employed by the University on a course-by-course basis. Adjunct Faculty are scholars and professionals whose primary affiliation is not with the University, who are contracted to teach particular courses in their specialization areas because of their unique expertise.
The USU “Faculty Senate” (FS) is a deliberative body composed of elected faculty representatives who provide the voice of the collective faculty in matters of concern to them and serves as an effective means by which the faculty can contribute to the governance of the University.
1.4 b Curriculum Definitions
Colleges
"Colleges" are academic units within United States University, concerned with instruction, the creation and development of knowledge related to given fields of practice, and contributing to the students' total intellectual development. Through its Colleges, United States University offers undergraduate and graduate degrees, as well as certificate programs.
Colleges are created or disbanded only by the Board of Trustees' action upon the President's recommendation. The President and the Provost will engage in substantive discussion with the College Dean, the College's Faculty, and the Faculty Senate before making a recommendation to the Board of Trustees concerning the creation or disbandment of a College.
Programs
A "program" is an organized sequence of courses offered for academic credit, the successful completion of which leads to awarding a degree, credential, or certificate. Programs may be changed by the Provost's authority and upon the recommendation of a College Dean and after substantive consultation with the Faculty Senate. The Program Review Process plays an essential role in programmatic modification.
A 'degree program' is a substantive track of education with its core of classes leading to a named degree within the University.
A 'specialization' or ‘concentration’ is a track within a named degree program that allows for a particular focused area of study.
A 'certificate' is a standalone curriculum that does not necessarily lead to a named degree but is offered to those who want documentation of a level of achievement in a more narrowly- focused area of study. Students taking courses in a certificate program may be awarded academic credit (units) upon completing a course within the certificate curriculum.