Note: The faculty handbook can now be found on MyDrury.
The Faculty Handbook collects in one place the most important policies and procedures relating to the faculty. The Faculty Handbook, the university catalogs, and the staff handbook are the major documents on personnel policies and academic procedures for the university. The Drury University Faculty Handbook presents faculty personnel policies for faculty and librarians. It also includes information useful to all who work at the university about academic organization, faculty governance and important operating procedures. Faculty are expected to be familiar with the handbook and to support the procedures and policies outlined here.
The sections entitled “University Personnel Policies” and “Faculty Rights and Responsibilities” are a part of the contract for each faculty member. In the absence of specific guidelines to the contrary, the faculty meetings, committees and councils follow the procedures in Robert’s Rules of Order. At Drury University, we are committed to collegial governance which recognizes the essential role of the faculty in decisions.
The Faculty Handbook is revised through a shared process involving the faculty, the administration and the Board of Trustees. Revisions are usually initiated by presentation to the Faculty Affairs Committee. As the policies and procedures indicate, Drury has long had a commitment to the liberal arts and to excellence in education. The university values community and the opportunity to interact, both formally and informally, with students and faculty colleagues. When classes are in session, faculty are on campus for a substantial part of each class day. Faculty have regular office hours, meet their classes as scheduled and are available for committee meetings as well as departmental and collegiate governance activities. One of the distinctive characteristics of Drury University is the strong commitment to that shared collegiate community experience.
Use the following forms to propose new courses and programs or revisions to existing courses and programs. All proposals must be signed by the appropriate department chair and dean and, if applicable, the associate provost of Adult, Online, and Graduate Education before submission to the Academic Affairs Committee for their approval. If approved by AAC, the proposal will go to the Registrar and Provost for final approval.
Drury’s policy is based on guidelines developed the Department of Higher Education
and is as follows:
A minimum of 2250 minutes of ‘contact time’ for 3 hours of credit is required. This
breaks down to 750 minutes of contact time per every 1 hour of credit given. Drury
aims for 2300 minutes of contact time per 3 hours of credit. Contact time is calculated
on a 15 week semester (we do not count Finals Week as contact time).
Lecture course:
15 weeks X 50 minutes X # hours of credit = contact time in minutes required
Example:
15 weeks X 50 minutes X 3 hours credit = 2,250 minutes contact time required
Studio or Lab (Double contact time of a Lecture course):
15 weeks X 100 minutes X # hours of credit = contact time in minutes required
Example:
15 weeks X 100 minutes X 3 hours credit = 4,500 minutes contact time required
Drury University is committed to supporting our colleagues’ professional growth and development. Travel to conferences is one important element of that growth. The primary responsibility for the wise and appropriate selection of occasions for faculty travel falls to the individual faculty member and the department chair. Faculty are encouraged to present papers representing their scholarship at professional meetings, and they are encouraged to be in contact with professional organizations and associations representing their disciplines. Faculty are also encouraged to take an interest in professional associations which support the improvement of teaching and the general interests of higher education.
The University commits a significant amount of money for faculty travel. At the same time, the resources are limited, and it is the hope that money will be available for all those faculty who need to travel. It is for that reason that the following guidelines have been developed. It is only through a careful and judicious use of the faculty travel money that resources will be available for all of the faculty who wish to travel.
Availability of Funds: It will be the responsibility of the department chair to ascertain that sufficient funds are available before authorizing reimbursable travel expenses.
Approval for Travel: No individual will be reimbursed for travel expenses unless she/he has obtained prior approval from the department chair to incur such expense and has submitted the proper request for reimbursement in good order. Requests for reimbursement should include a general summary of the expenses, rationale for any extraordinary expenses, and itemized receipts for all expenses.
Travel Reimbursement for Expenses: The University has travel funds allocated to each faculty member in a department. These funds are for the purpose of providing assistance to faculty members who wish to attend professional meetings or travel on business of the University. The office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs can provide supplemental funds in special circumstances. The University is pleased to provide all or partial expenses for faculty travel, reimbursing appropriate items with complete itemized receipts. This includes cash and credit card expenses.
It is the general policy of the University to provide reimbursement for all reimbursable items when the faculty member is presenting a competitively selected paper at a professional conference in the United States. When a person is attending a conference, but not presenting a paper (including occasions when a person chairs a section but does not present a paper), the amount of reimbursement will depend upon the availability of funds. The University will provide as much support as possible for reimbursable items, but may not be able to provide full expenses. The faculty member should consult with the department chair regarding availability of departmental funds. Where departmental funds fall short in reimbursing a faculty member for travel to a conference where the faculty member is presenting a paper, the general University funds may provide a supplement to cover the expenses, and the department chair should apply to the Vice President for Academic Affairs for supplementary resources.
Faculty may use an available University credit card for travel expenses, but complete itemized receipts are required. Faculty members are expected to pay their expenses or put them on credit cards and submit receipts upon return to the University. The University will make every effort to prepare reimbursement checks as soon as possible following the receipt of a request from the faculty member in the appropriate form and with the receipts attached. In very unusual circumstances, it may be possible for a faculty member to receive an advance on travel expenses. The need should be discussed with the department chair who will make the determination regarding whether or not to authorize the advance from departmental travel funds.
International Travel: It is sometimes possible for the University to provide some assistance to faculty members for travel to international meetings. The University will be unable to reimburse those expenses fully, and the faculty member should consult with the department chair regarding the amount of funds that may be available. The department chair can seek supplementary assistance from the general University funds through the office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs.
Reimbursable Items
Travel – Faculty members are expected to identify the most economical means of travel, taking into account the time involved. Ordinarily the University will reimburse for airline travel at the most inexpensive rate (normally coach). Tickets should be purchased early enough to benefit from 14-21 day advance purchase savings. Where staying over an extra day (often a Saturday night) will reduce the air fare significantly, the University will reimburse for hotel accommodations (assuming that the costs for hotel accommodations is significantly less than the savings in air fare). For faculty travel by private automobile, the current rate for reimbursement is $.41 per mile. Faculty should provide documentation reporting dates, destinations, and distance for the trip.
Transfers – Expenses to and from the airport are reimbursed within reasonable limits. Faculty members are encouraged to use public transportation or airport shuttle services rather than cabs when they are available. While there will be occasions when a cab or more expensive transportation is necessary, it is important to select the less expensive transportation when at all possible.
Parking – For faculty who drive to a destination, parking expenses are reimbursable. For faculty who fly, parking at the Springfield airport is a reimbursable expense, but faculty are expected to park in the long-term lot.
Car Rental – A car may be rented in situations where the cost is less than or equivalent to other means of transportation or when scheduled commitments require deviation from normal means of transportation. Prior approval from the department chair is required.
Hotel Accommodations – The University will cover hotel accommodations for the faculty member. The University does not cover hotel expense for companions or provide double accommodations unless it is two faculty members. Faculty members are expected to select the most reasonable accommodation available and convenient to conference location. Hotel accommodations will be covered only during the period of the meeting or conference unless, as previously mentioned, the faculty member stays over one extra night in order to save significant costs in air fare. An itemized statement furnished by the hotel is required for reimbursement of actual costs. Employees are encouraged to make advance registration and seek to secure available discounts.
Meals – The University will reimburse expenses for meals for faculty members who have been approved for travel. In general, faculty are encouraged to keep their per diem expenses for meals at less than $50. Itemized receipts are required for reimbursement for meal expenses.
Telephone Expenses – While faculty members are traveling, the University will cover telephone expenses directly related to University business.
Tips – Appropriate and modest tips are reimbursable.
Other Expenses – While faculty will incur other expenses related to traveling, they are not normally
reimbursable. Should there be an exceptional circumstance, faculty are encouraged to talk with the department chair for a judgment regarding whether or not a particular expense is reimbursable.
If there is a doubt about reimbursable expenses or travel policy, the faculty member should feel free to contact the department chair or Vice President for Academic Affairs.
Drury University is committed to providing an environment that supports the creation of intellectual property by faculty, staff, and students in the course of their research, teaching, and learning activities. As a matter of principle and practice, the University encourages all members of the Drury community to publish without restriction the outcome of these activities in order to share openly and fully their findings and knowledge with colleagues and the public.
Policy
The general policy of Drury University follows the long-standing academic tradition that intellectual property is owned by the author or creator of the work, unless covered by an exception to this rule as set forth below. Variances from this Policy must be approved in writing by the Provost and President.
Rules
Federally funded research has special provisions on rights to inventions. The Bayh-Dole Act gives the University title to discoveries and inventions arising from federally funded research. However, the University must grant nonexclusive use rights to the federal government. Also, if the University decides not to file a patent application on a discovery or invention and will not otherwise commercialize it, the University is required to return patent rights to the federal government.
Each year, the faculty and administration of Drury University recognize faculty members for outstanding contributions to the university. The awards are announced in the fall and the recipients of the awards are recognized at the Opening Convocation in August. Faculty are nominated by students, alumni, administration, and faculty. The in five areas of recognition are: teaching, scholarship, leadership, liberal learning, and advising.
Teaching
Recognition of unusual success in ensuring the quality of students’ learning experience. The recipient will possess high scholarly standards for rigor and currency of course content and for the level of student performance. Innovative and creative teaching will be important considerations, and scholarship in relation to teaching is considered. The recipient will be acknowledged by faculty colleagues and students as a truly outstanding teacher.
Scholarship
This award recognizes the outstanding scholar, considering the broad range of scholarly and creative contributions, and cognizant of the expanded categories of scholarship: Discovery, Teaching, Integration, and Application. Such excellence may be evidenced by publication in nationally recognized and refereed journals or other professional outlets.
Leadership
This award recognizes a faculty member who has made a significant contribution in enhancing the quality of campus life for students or faculty. The contribution may be in the form of curriculum development, faculty governance, or in providing leadership to enhance the quality of teaching, classroom experience, or campus life.
Liberal Learning
This award recognizes the outstanding faculty member who exemplifies Drury’s commitment to the liberal arts, global studies, and integrating liberal learning with professional education. Dedication to liberal learning can be demonstrated through teaching, leadership and service, or scholarship.
Faculty Advising
This award recognizes a faculty member who exemplifies excellence in academic advising. The recipient of this honor is committed to working closely with students to develop comprehensive educational plans that promote the achievement of academic and professional goals. In addition to acquiring knowledge of curriculum requirements and institutional policies, the outstanding advisor nurtures the whole person and empowers students to utilize campus resources that facilitate student success. The outstanding faculty advisor is recognized by faculty colleagues and students as a caring individual who serves as a resource for students at all stages of their academic careers.
For award information prior to 2014, please contact the Academic Affairs office.
Recent Recipients
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
Drury faculty are teacher-scholars dedicated to delivering high-quality educational experiences for students in addition to engaging in creative endeavors, research, and scholarship. Scholarly activity informs classroom instruction, provides avenues for students to engage with faculty, and connects the university to important disciplinary conversations. The Office of Academic Affairs congratulates the following faculty members for their 2019 – 2020 scholarly contributions.
This information is reported annually in May (as provided by faculty).
Awards for Professional/Creative Work:
Ongoing Funded Projects:
New Grant Awards:
Awards for Professional/Creative Work:
Commissioned Professional Work:
Edmondson, Laurie – Co-Conducted a seminar for the Neurodivergent Professional Network for 150 participants for the University of North Texas
Editor:
Reviewer:
Leadership positions:
Performances:
Professional Consulting Services:
Other Professional Activities:
Juried Solo and Group Art Exhibitions:
Guest Curator:
Gallery Director:
Invited Lectures:
Books, edited volumes, or journals:
Articles, chapters, and papers:
Reviews:
Interviews:
Musical Compositions:
Organizer, chair of program, discussant, presenter:
Participant:
Advisor to student presenter:
Organizer of pre-college student academic contests, camps, and informational days:
Organizer of campus lectures:
Leader for campus student group:
Supervisor for student research, internship, and community engagement:
Professionally-related community service:
External Review Consulting:
Adjudicating:
Other Professional Activities:
Awards for Professional/Creative Work:
Ongoing Funded Projects:
New Grant Awards:
Awards for Professional/Creative Work:
Commissioned Professional Work:
Sooter, Traci – Design and construction of 24 tiny homes for Eden Village II
Editor:
Reviewer:
Leadership positions:
Performances:
Professional Consulting Services:
Other Professional Activities:
Juried Solo and Group Art Exhibitions:
Guest Curator:
Gallery Director:
Invited Lectures:
Books, edited volumes, or journals:
Articles, chapters, and papers:
Reviews:
Interviews:
Musical Compositions:
Organizer, chair of program, discussant, presenter:
Participant:
Advisor to student presenter:
Organizer of pre-college student academic contests, camps, and informational days:
Organizer of campus lectures:
Leader for campus student group:
Supervisor for student research, internship, and community engagement:
Professionally-related community service:
External Review Consulting:
Adjudicating:
Other Professional Activities:
Awards for Professional/Creative Work:
Ongoing Funded Projects:
New Grant Awards:
Awards for Professional/Creative Work:
Commissioned Professional Work:
Editor:
Reviewer:
Leadership positions:
Performances:
Professional Consulting Services:
Other Professional Activities:
Juried Solo and Group Art Exhibitions:
Guest Curator:
Gallery Director:
Invited Lectures:
Books, edited volumes, or journals:
Articles, chapters, and papers:
Reviews:
Interviews:
Musical Compositions:
Organizer, chair of program, discussant, presenter:
Participant:
Advisor to student presenter:
Organizer of pre-college student academic contests, camps, and informational days:
Organizer of campus lectures:
Leader for campus student group:
Supervisor for student research, internship, and community engagement:
Professionally-related community service:
External Review Consulting:
Adjudicating:
Ongoing Funded Projects
New Grant Awards
Awards for Professional/Creative Work
Commissioned Professional Work
Editor
Leadership positions
Performances
Professional Consulting Services
Other Professional Activities
Juried Solo and Group Art Exhibitions
Guest Curator
Gallery Director
Invited Lectures
Books, edited volumes, or journals
Articles, chapters, and papers
Reviews
Interviews
Musical Compositions
Organizer, chair of program, discussant, presenter
Participant
Advisor to student presenter
Organizer of pre-college student academic contests, camps, and informational days
Organizer of campus lectures
Leader for campus student group
Supervisor for student research, internship, and community engagement
Professionally-related community service
External Review Consulting
Adjudicating
Other Professional Activities
Ongoing Funded Projects
New Grant Awards
Awards for Professional/Creative Work
Commissioned Professional Work
Editor
Reviewer
Leadership Positions
Performances
Professional Consulting Services
Other Professional Activities
Juried Solo and Group Art Exhibitions
Guest Curator
Gallery Director
Invited Lectures
Books, edited volumes, or journals
Articles chapters, and papers
Reviews
Interviews
Musical Compositions
Organizer, chair of program, discussant, presenter
Participants
Advisor to student presenter
Organizer of pre-college student academic contests, camps, and informational days
Organizer of campus lectures
Leader for campus student group
Supervisor for student research, internship, and community engagement
Professionally-related community service
External Review Consulting
Adjudicating
Other Professional Activities
Ongoing Funded Projects
New Grant Awards
Editor
Reviewer
Leadership positions
Performances
Other
Juried Solo and Group Art Exhibitions
Guest Curator
Gallery Director
Invited Lectures
Books, edited volumes, or journals
Articles, chapters, and papers
Reviews
Interview
Musical Compositions
Organizer, chair of program, discussant, presenter
Participant
Organizer of pre-college student academic contests, camps, and informational days
Organizer of campus lectures
Leader for campus student group
Supervisor for student research, internship, and community engagement
Professionally-related community service
External Review Consulting
Adjudicating
Other Professional Activities
Inaugural (2022-2023) Fellow – Dr. Shelley Wolbrink
With generous support from Drury alums Robert and Mary Cox, the Office of the Provost is announcing a Faculty Fellow position to establish a campus-wide culture and pursuit of national scholarships and fellowships for Drury students.
The Faculty Fellow for National Scholarships and Fellowships is a one-year fellowship beginning June 1, 2022 through May 31, 2023.
Responsibilities:
Compensation:
Term of service: June 1, 2022 – May 31, 2023. Time in the summer will be necessary for planning and preparation. The Fellow position may be renewed for an additional year with approval of the Provost and appropriate Dean and/or Chair.
The Innovative Teaching Fellowship Program is for faculty interested in exploring and sharing a specific pedagogy with their colleagues. The Innovative Teaching Fellow will engage in dialogue, leadership, and service throughout the academic year to:
Responsibilities:
Compensation:
The Faculty Advising Fellowship Program is for faculty advisors interested in exploring the promise of Your Drury Fusion with the support of the Cox Compass Center staff and the Office of Academic Affairs. Faculty Advising Fellows will engage in dialogue, leadership, and service throughout the academic year on vocational exploration, reflection, and calling. The Fellows work to build a culture of purpose-driven faculty advising and to encourage students to ask meaningful questions about their educational and personal journey. Projects vary be academic year.
Faculty will be chosen from across all schools/disciplines and will receive financial support (via a stipend) for participating in this program. Expectations include participating in various programs and consultation visits on topics of vocation and faculty advising as well as creating/facilitating four spring faculty advising programs on vocation and Your Drury Fusion.
Talking with students and faculty about calling and vocation.
Creation of campus videos for students and faculty on calling and vocation; coordinated a campus-wide Common Reading (“Just Mercy”) and created a website for faculty advisors that focuses on calling and vocation and other important advising issues. We will also host a keynote speaker at the May 18 faculty workshop on calling, vocation, equity, and inclusion.
Each Fellow will create a specific advising plan to take back to their academic program at the end of their fellowship which will reflect how advising can be reframed (or more keenly focused) in alignment with Your Drury Fusion and Cox Compass Center ideals of “purpose and passion” and vocational discernment to fully support students’ academic, personal and professional growth.
The Honors Fellows Program is designed to create opportunities for faculty members and departments to deepen their understanding of honors education and create honors experiences that will enhance learning opportunities for honors students across campus, improve honors advising, create new honors courses, construct more meaningful research opportunities for students, and develop better student pathways for research opportunities, grants, and fellowships. Additional goals include getting more faculty and departments involved with honors education, improving pedagogical techniques within honors education, improve advising pathways for honors, and more fully embedding the culture of honors throughout the university.
Honors Fellows will engage in dialogue, leadership, and service throughout the academic year to:
2021-2022 Honors Faculty Fellow responsibilities:
Compensation: All Honors Faculty Fellows will receive a stipend of $500.
Drury Action Research Fellowship is a funded teaching scholarship program co-organized by the Office of Academic Affairs (OAA) and the Innovation and Teaching Center (ITC). Drury faculty are teacher-scholars dedicated to delivering high-quality educational experiences for students in addition to engaging in creative endeavors, research, and scholarship. The Drury Action Research Fellow (ARF) program encourages the use of innovative, as well as evidence-based teaching practices to enhance the effectiveness of Drury all courses.
The accepted Fellows begin with the Exploratory Phase (Phase I), where participants will articulate their understandings and beliefs about teaching and learning, and reflect on the classes they teach. In the 2020-2021 academic year, the Fellows will enter Action Research Phase (Phase II), where participants will conduct Action Research with the class they teach; that is, to ask research questions, collect data for analysis in their own classroom, and draw conclusions to inform future teaching.
This fellowship is designed to support Drury faculty to take the next step in educational innovation through reflecting and researching their own teaching. Fellows will be supported in three ways:
Requirement for Phase I
In Spring 2020, Fellows will participate in two interviews and allow for one observation of their classrooms. The first interview will focus on exploring their philosophy of teaching and learning. The second interview will focus on stimulated reflection on the class observed.
Requirements for Phase II
Phase II will begin in August 2020 and conclude around May 2020. Fellows who have completed Phase I are eligible to continue with Phase II, where fellows will:
In Phase II, fellows are encouraged to work in pairs and conduct research that examines classroom practices across courses and/or disciplines. Fellows are also encouraged to work with their department to include an undergraduate research assistant. Financial support will be awarded upon completion of the research project.
2020-2021 Action Research Fellows
2019-2020 Action Research Fellows