From its inception, the ELI has been a program whose faculty are known for their high level of involvement in student activities outside of the classroom, e.g., field trips, picnics, holiday dinners, on-campus activities, etc. The Institute’s reputation as a program that provides a warm and welcoming environment for its students has been based, in part, on faculty who purpose to interact with their students in non-academic settings.
At the same time, faculty responsibilities in committee and academic pursuits have made the one or two days per session in which classes are cancelled vital for allowing teachers to catch their breath and complete research and committee assignments. The existing guidelines on faculty participation in cultural activities and trips (i.e.. participation in two activities per session) call for much greater involvement on the part of teachers than faculty can reasonably be expected to observe.
Our revised policy must therefore balance the need for faculty to limit their participation in cultural activities without changing the character and culture of our program. Equally important, at least three teachers (sometimes four, if a fifth bus is required), in addition to an orientation staff member, are necessary for each activity to ensure the safety of our students and minimize institutional liability. To this end, I am recommending the following policy:
- Each FTE faculty member participates in a minimum of three orientation trips or activities per year. At least two of these must be ELI day trips. Off-campus faculty must participate in one activity per session if teaching two classes; off-campus faculty teaching one class must participate in one activity for every two sessions in which they teach in a calendar year.
- In addition, all faculty are to participate in ELI’s summer picnic and holiday dinner (with the exception of those on vacation when the activities are held).
- Faculty teaching five days per week in the LEP program are exempt from participating in trips held from September through May. They should plan to participate in summer activities.
- Faculty who participate in more than the five activities listed above may list these additional efforts (including class activities hosted by the individual teacher) as part of service activity for merit consideration, but the five shall constitute a minimum requirement for satisfactory performance in this area of a teacher’s responsibilities. Faculty should list all trips, with dates, for which they have provided support in their year-end memorandum to the Director.
- Faculty with special disabilities or circumstances should see the Director to arrange alternative ways to meeting the requirement. Orientation needs additional support in coordinating the language partner program and in preparing additional orientation materials. Faculty who cannot attend trips can provide administrative effort in support of the orientation program for an equivalent amount of time.
- Faculty will sign-up for session trips/activities once a year; with the option of arranging on their own substitutions with their FTE colleagues.
- The ELI shall the pay entrance fees of accompanying faculty where such fees are required for the whole group. Faculty should consult with the Director about coverage of admissions costs prior to each trip.
- The ELI will pay lunch and dinner expenses for all-day trips only, provided the group returns after 7:00 PM. Reimbursements will be provided at the University current rates for meals without receipts (currently up to $10/meal). To minimize paper work, teachers are asked to submit one reimbursement after their third trip covering meals for all trips in that year.