Faculty Overloads and Compensation

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TBR Policy Reference: 5.01.05.00

Approved by: President's Cabinet

Original Date Effective: 2023-10-16

Last Modified: 2023-10-16

Purpose:

The purpose of this policy is to set forth the following general provisions to cover the circumstances and limitations under which overload compensation may be appropriate.

It is general policy that faculty do not teach more than their normal course load each semester. A normal course load is defined as 15 credit hours or the equivalent thereof.  Under extraordinary circumstances, it may be necessary for a faculty member to teach extra courses above and beyond the normal course load. In such cases, the faculty member will be compensated at the published overload rate for teaching extra courses.

Supervisors must be careful to protect faculty against excessive time commitments.

Overload assignments should not be employed on a regular basis or in lieu of hiring qualified faculty or instructors.

As defined herein, this policy does not apply:

  1. To personnel classified as nonexempt wage and hour employees;
  1. To normal, short term professional activities such as participation in symposia, accreditation visits, speaking engagements, exhibitions, or recitals, even though honoraria may be received for such participation;
  2. When the individual is not within the term of his or her contract period, or is on leave;

Definitions:

  1. Overload Assignment - employment at an employee’s institution or another TBR institution of no more than 2 courses per semester or trimester for extra pay.
  2. Course - a unit of teaching that lasts one academic term, including mini-terms, and other periods shorter than a semester or trimester.

Policy/Procedure:

Faculty acceptance of overload assignments, for instruction or other purposes, is strictly voluntary.

For a faculty member to teach an overload course, it must be determined that the course is necessary and that an approved adjunct faculty member cannot be found. Each division should have a procedure whereby the faculty have an equal opportunity to teach those overload courses. Approval for teaching all overload classes must be obtained in writing in advance from the dean and Vice President of Academic Affairs. 

Overload Compensation:

The minimum rates per credit hour of instruction, as articulated in TBR Guideline P-055 must be applied when calculating compensation for overload assignments for full-time faculty or staff teaching credit courses at community colleges. This includes courses that are taught in any mini-term that is academically attached to fall or spring semester (e.g., winter-mester courses).

T.C.A. § 49-5-410 limits full-time faculty members to teaching no more than two credit courses per semester for extra pay in an institution of higher education.

T.C.A. § 49-5-410 also limits faculty to 15 clock hours per week, or 400 clock hours per nine-month period, for extra pay.

 Exceptions:

The above compensation provisions do not apply to campus-based study abroad programs or study abroad programs included in the Tennessee Consortium for International Studies (TCIS).

Compensation for these programs will be determined by the institution or the Executive Director of TCIS, respectively.

Any exception to the compensation provisions indicated above requires prior approval by the Chancellor.