Because The Media School’s success rests on participation of full-time faculty in its instructional mission, faculty members are expected to teach a minimum of two courses per academic year. Whether through buyouts or other administrative or negotiated releases, teaching reductions below two courses per academic year may be approved only in rare cases and will require exceptional circumstances and justification.

Course buyouts with a plan for covering the course(s) must be approved in advance by the associate dean. The associate dean will work with the unit director to define the terms of an accommodation for a faculty member who requests full or partial absence from campus during a given semester.

If approved, the faculty member must work with the unit director to ensure service obligations are met when taking a course buyout. Consistent with university policies on compensation, faculty who are conducting research off campus during the fall or spring semester may not receive additional salary or compensation from an external source during that time.

If multiple course buyouts are requested within a unit in a given academic year, the unit director must provide a plan for meeting the unit’s service needs. The directors of graduate and undergraduate studies must be consulted on how course buyouts might affect the instructional needs of the school.