Interdisciplinary Programs

Administrative / Structural Policies

_{Updated May 2, 2025}

LEADERSHIP AND ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

1. Leadership

   1. All Interdisciplinary Programs (IDP) programs have a Faculty Director appointed by the Dean’s Office for a term length up to four years.

   2. Directors may be Professional-Track (PTF) or Tenured/Tenure-track (T/TT) faculty at rank of Associate or above; any exceptions must be approved by the Dean’s Office.

   3. Director positions report to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at 0% time; merit is determined by the Dean’s Office.

   4. Directors actively manage daily operations for the IDP program.

   5. Directors of programs with 100+ student majors will receive an annual standard compensation package, funded by the Dean’s Office, that includes:

      1. 1-1 course release (i.e., 2 course release per academic year) for directors with regular teaching loads (reduces to a 2-2 load for PTF or 1-1 load for tenured faculty; tenured faculty may not go down to a 0 load in a given semester);

      2. 1-month summer salary;

      3. $5,000 in research and/or professional development funds.

   6. Programs with 250+ student majors will receive an additional annual standard compensation package for an Associate Director position funded by the Dean’s Office that includes:

      1. Choice of 1 course release per year or 1-month summer salary.

   7. If a program chooses to have Co-Directors in lieu of one Director and one Associate Director, they may split the combined standard compensation packages for Director plus Associate Director positions.

   8. Compensation packages for directors of programs with fewer than 100 student majors will be negotiated individually with the Dean’s Office.

   9. All compensation packages and conditions outlined above are subject to the discretion of the Dean’s Office, and alternate agreements may be offered based on individual program needs and circumstances.

   10. Any terms and conditions for positions in this section should be documented in an offer letter.

2. Faculty Committee

   1. All IDP programs shall establish a faculty advisory committee for purposes of curriculum management and program oversight:

      1. Include both IDP PTF and affiliated T/TT faculty;

      2. The committee should meet at least once per semester. (Responsibilities may include reviewing/approving curriculum and/or catalog changes (approval at the unit-level is required for many curriculum and/or catalog updates), as well as engaging with departments regarding potential areas for collaboration such as student research opportunities, internships, honors, new track courses, etc.

3. Partnership with Home Departments

   1. Unless otherwise determined by the Dean’s Office, each IDP program will be housed within a “Home Department” that:

      1. Serves as the faculty home for IDP faculty appointments, and

      2. Ensures administrative support for program operations.

   2. Expectations for IDP and Home Department partnership:

      1. IDP director will participate in all stages of faculty recruitment and hiring for the IDP program, including making PTF hiring decisions in collaboration with the department chair, within the Home Departments existing recruitment and hiring framework.

      2. IDP PTF faculty shall be funded from IDP faculty funds; these funds will be maintained in an account designated for the IDP program. Any exceptions to this rule require written agreement between the IDP Director and Department Chair, and subsequent approval by the Associate Dean for Academic & Faculty Affairs.

      3. IDP faculty (PTF and T/TT) will be evaluated according to the same evaluation procedures and opportunities as Home Department faculty. In years when merit funds are available the IDP Director will provide the Home Department Chair with merit recommendations for IDP faculty.

      4. The IDP director assumes primary responsibility for managing IDP PTF faculty workloads and fulfillment of curricular needs, though the Director and Home Department Chair are jointly responsible for ensuring all faculty workload and teaching obligations are consistent with Department and College policies and expectations. This may include, for example, policies and procedures involving course releases, imbalanced teaching loads, or instructional overloads.

      5. IDP faculty may participate in service, research, and additional contributions to the academic enterprise consistent with the College’s faculty workload policies.

BUDGET OVERSIGHT AND ADMINISTRATION*

1. Accounting Structure

   1. All IDP programs have their own operating budget and accounts that are distinct from their Home Department’s budget and accounts. Funds may not transfer between program and department accounts.

   2. IDP Directors are responsible for managing program budgets in conjunction with the Home Department administrative staff.

2. Administrative Support

   1. Administrative support is provided to the IDP program as part of the Home Department’s routine business. Department chairs and administrative leaders are responsible for managing department staffing, work distribution, and workflow.

FACULTY OVERSIGHT

1. Reporting Structure

   1. Although funded through the IDP account, IDP PTF faculty are members of their Home Department roster, with all of the relevant rights and privileges.

2. IDP Faculty Workload

   1. PTF faculty hired for IDP programs are expected to teach full loads based on their percent appointment.

   2. Coordination and agreement between IDP faculty (PTF and T/TT), director, and department chair is required for any reduction in teaching load.

*All financial terms are subject to revision due to budgetary changes or limitations