Reassigned Time Application and Instructions

The goal of the Committee for Faculty Scholarship and Development (CFS&D) is to encourage faculty scholarship (e.g. research, creative activity), professional development, and training. The Committee also seeks to assure transparency in the allocation process for faculty support and to communicate the results of funding with the RIC community and beyond.

Per Article 10.26 of the 2018-2021 Faculty Contract (extended through June 2022), "the Administration will provide at least 48 formula hours of credit per semester for the purpose of reassigning faculty from direct teaching responsibilities to specific and approved projects in scholarship, creative endeavors, public service, and/or applied research (including, but not limited to, research on student performance, assessment and accreditation). Allocations of this time reassignment will be distributed among faculty from the five academic schools in a manner which considers (a) the relative size of the various schools, and (b) particular faculty needs and opportunities for productive use of the reassigned time. Faculty members shall provide notice to their department chair of their application for research reassigned time. Research reassigned time shall be distributed by the Committee for Faculty Scholarship and Development based upon procedures codified in the Committee By-laws and approved by the RIC/AFT President, the Provost/VPAA and the RIC Council Chair. Faculty members who receive three or more formula hours of credit of reassigned time from teaching under the provisions of this section will not be eligible for over load compensation during the semester of reassignment and may not have more than 14 credits of workload overall for the semester."

Reassigned time may be for:

• Scholarly and creative activities
• Activities leading to publication, performance, exhibition, or presentation
• Activities related to course or instructional development, including obtaining new skills relevant to instruction or research

May not be for:

• Proposals that are directly involved in contractual agreement between the applicant and another party that result in direct financial compensation to the applicant
• Time to teach at another institution

• Reassigned Time Example #1
• Reassigned Time Example #2
• Reassigned Time Example #3

• All full-time members of the RIC-AFT are eligible to apply.
• You may only submit 1 Reassigned Time Application per academic year (July-June).
• Faculty members who receive three or more formula hours of credit of reassigned time from teaching under the provisions of this section will not be eligible for overload compensation during the semester of reassignment and may not have more than 14 credits of workload overall for the semester.

Deadlines: All deadline times and dates are EST.

Applicants are requested to avoid technical jargon in their project description, keeping in mind that they are writing for a multidisciplinary audience.

Please include a letter from the chair of your department(s) stating they have been notified of your application for reassigned time.

• Awards are dependent on the quality of the proposal, justification, and the number of load hours available per school.
• Decisions are based on merit, budget and project justification, and applicant priority. Based on the Survey on Priorities issued in January, 2019, the following priorities will be observed:

Assistant professor, tenure track: +2 points added to score

Assistant professor: +1 point

Associate Professor: +1 point

Applicants not awarded reassigned time in the last five years: +2 Applicants who were productive in their previous reassigned time: +1 Projects that directly benefit RIC students: +1

Projects that benefit teaching, whether a skill, practice, or a new course: +1

Projects that are close to completion: +1

New projects: +1

NOTE: While we would like to honor every request for reassigned time, requests usually exceed available hours. Applications are competitive and every effort should be made to be follow instructions, include supporting materials, and complete the application fully. If you have received any counsel from the chair of the committee in relation to extenuating circumstances of your situation, please note that in your application.

Applications received will be evaluated by a committee made up of 10 members:

• Four faculty members appointed by Rhode Island College Council (the Committee on Committees).
• Four faculty members appointed by the RIC/AFT President with consultation by the RIC/AFT Executive Committee.
• One faculty member, the Director of the Center for Research and Creative Activity, appointed by the VPAA.
• The Director of the Office of Sponsored Programs as an ex officio, non-voting member

The Committee will evaluate applications along the lines of the following review process:

• The nine voting members review and rate applications according to a standard scoring system for each grant (noted on the applications), recusing themselves from evaluating their own applications and applications from members of their department.
• As a matter of policy, the CFS&D shall endeavor to distribute reassigned time in such a manner as to encourage as many faculty members as possible to engage insignificant research/creative activities. In this regard, the CFS&D will endeavor to allocate all reassigned time available.
• If it is deemed necessary, the CFS may invite competent authorities to assist in the evaluation of research projects and/or request the names of three qualified references who may be contacted to assist in evaluating a proposal.
• The CFS&D may, at its discretion, interview applicants before reaching final decisions.

• The reassigned time recipient shall acknowledge the support from the College in any publication supported in whole or part by grants from the Rhode Island College Committee for Faculty Scholarship and Development.
• Faculty are requested to submit a copy of any publications resulting from this support to Molly Bruce Patterson, Digital Archivist and Special Collections Librarian, Adams Library, where it will be filed and made available for public consultation. Faculty might also consider posting articles on Digital Commons.
• A final report is required of all reassigned time recipients due by September 30, 2022. Until a report is filed, future reassigned time applications will not be accepted by the CFS&D. Reports from previous years must be submitted by the stipulated deadline unless the applicant has requested and received from the CFS chair an extension in writing before the deadline indicating why the report will not be filed on time.