Faculty Handbook
1. INTRODUCTION
Rider University was founded in 1865 as a business college in downtown Trenton (NJ). A brief overview of the University can be found at: http://www.rider.edu/139.htm
Rider’s faculty today consists of approximately 250 full-time teaching and professional-librarian faculty members, plus more than 100 priority and preferred adjunct faculty members, who together are represented by the American Association of University Professors. http://www.aaup.org/aaup http://www-usr.rider.edu/~aaup/ http://www.rideraaup.org/
Under a system of shared governance, faculty and administration are represented on academic policy committees, including the University Academic Policy Committee and academic policy committees for each of the institution’s colleges and schools. Faculty can participate in this governance process via the following procedures:
http://www-usr.rider.edu/~aaup/originaldocu/APC_%20Policy.htm
The academic curricula are delivered via Rider’s academic departments and programs. Links to all of the University’s majors and minors can be found at: http://www.rider.edu/172_5719.htm
The administration of the University includes the following offices:
• The Office of the President
• The Office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
• The Office of University Advancement
• The Office of Enrollment Management
• The Office of the Vice President for Finance
• The Office of Student Affairs
Below, you will find links and brief descriptions of the major documents to which you will want to refer in ascertaining your rights and obligations, and in performing your role, as a Rider faculty member.
2. COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT
Rider University is in a collective bargaining relationship with the AAUP, which represents full- and part-time faculty, professional librarians and professional athletic staff. This resource defines in detail the terms and conditions of employment, including the following:
• Appointment and re-appointment
• Promotion and tenure
• Governance
• Workload
• Compensation and benefits
All faculty should review this document carefully.
3. ACADEMIC POLICY MANUAL
This resource contains policies enacted by the University Academic Policy Committee, the Rider Board of Trustees, and the Deans’ Council pertaining to the Academic Affairs Division of the University. Topics include the following:
• Evaluation, grading and academic standing
• Harassment, discrimination, and disabilities
• Technology, libraries and facilities
• Grants, research, and IRB issues
• Honorary degrees, honors, emeritus status, and other recognition
• and much more
4. STUDENT ADVISING HANDBOOK
This resource informs faculty about core requirements and other curricular issues, as well as “best practices” in guiding your students through their four years at Rider.
5. ACADEMIC CATALOGUES
The electronic, searchable pdf of the Undergraduate, Graduate and Westminster catalogues. Some of the information in the catalogues can be found at: http://www.rider.edu/172.htm
6. STUDENT SUCCESS CENTER
This resource links you to the following:
• Tutoring
• Supplemental Instruction
• Academic Probation Support
• Math Skills Lab
• Support for Students with Disabilities
7. THE SOURCE
This resource is the student handbook of Rider University, which includes:
• Policies and procedures on academic dishonesty
• Grade appeal policy and procedures
• Student rules of conduct, disciplinary procedures and sanctions
• and much more
8. FACULTY-LED STUDENT TRAVEL
This resource contains:
Policies and procedures for faculty-led study tours (both international and domestic)
Information and forms regarding study-abroard opportunities
9. FACULTY MENTORING POLICY
This document summarizes the structure and responsibilities of the Faculty Mentoring Committee. when the Committee produces additional documents to support the mentoring process, they will be linked here.
10. TECHNOLOGY POLICIES
Documents and publications related to the use of technologies including the rights and responsibilities of users, ad other topics.
11. RESOURCES AND SERVICES
Library instruction
Library resources
The Rider News
Registrar information
Teaching and Learning
Technology training and Help with technology problems
