Exceptional Levels of Service Program

 As part of the collective bargaining agreement (CBA), Section 20.37 (Assigned Time for Exceptional Levels of Service to Students), the CSU will provide assigned time to faculty employees who are engaged in exceptional levels of service that support the CSU's priorities, but who are not otherwise receiving an adjustment in workload to reflect their effort (e.g., assigned time, professional development funds, extra pay).

In May 2015, the Academic Senate passed APM 355, which provides guidelines for how this program will be implemented at Fresno State. Each school/college will award approximately 6 WTUs of reassigned time as a result of this initial call for proposals. The original call was based on work performed during the 2014/15 academic year, the Fall 2015 semester, or planned for the Spring 2016 semester.

 All faculty unit employees are eligible to apply.

Eligible faculty may apply using the form available on the Faculty Affairs website (/facultyaffairs/service/index.html). Each application must be accompanied by a narrative proposal. The proposal is a maximum of one single-spaced page. The completed form and proposal must be submitted by the date indicated above.

 CBA Article 20.37  …Assigned time may be awarded for student mentoring, advising, and outreach, especially as these activities support underserved, first-generation, and/or underrepresented students; the development and implementation of high-impact educational practices; curricular redesign intended to improve student access and success; service to the department, college, university, or community that goes significantly beyond the normal expectations of all faculty; assignment to courses where increases to enrollment have demonstrably increased workload; and other extraordinary forms of service to students.

 Applications will be initially reviewed by a department committee selected for this purpose, with subsequent recommendations by the department chair, the College/School Personnel Committee (or other elected review committee), and the dean. Full details about the decision-making process are available in Section II of APM 355. This process is very similar to the sabbatical decision making process.

 The general process for making these determinations is stipulated in the CBA. The specific implementation for Fresno State was passed by the Academic Senate in May 2015 and approved by the President (APM 355).

In consultation with the dean and chair, the assigned time may be taken in Spring 2024 (apply FAll 2023) or Fall 2024 (apply Spring 2023).

 Yes. If you are not awarded assigned time as a result of your proposal, you may appeal to a faculty panel. This faculty panel will be able to award up to an estimated 6 additional WTUs from across the University. The decisions of this faculty panel are final and not eligible for further appeal or grievance.

 More information can be found at /facultyaffairs/service/index.html. This web page includes links to the application form, the appropriate CBA and APM pages, these FAQs, and more information.

From APM 355

“The department shall elect a committee for this purpose consisting of at least three (3) full­ time tenured faculty members who are not applying for assigned time for exceptional levels of service and are not participants in the Faculty Early Retirement Program. If the department does not have three full-time tenured members, the membership of the department may elect any other full-time tenured faculty member willing to serve on this committee.”

“The school/college shall elect a committee for this purpose consisting of at least three (3) full­ time tenured faculty members who are not applying for assigned time for exceptional service and are not participants in the Faculty Early Retirement Program. At the discretion of the school/college's faculty members, the unit's standing personnel peer review (RTP) committee may serve as the committee.” 

As noted above, the APM permits for faculty from other departments to assist in reviewing another department's applications. The most practical solution will be for those faculty in smaller departments to join an existing committee from a larger department for review of the smaller department’s applications. Alternatively, if there are multiple departments in a college that cannot form a committee, eligible faculty from those multiple departments could work together on a single committee. There are likely other creative ways to solve this problem. Should you have an alternative solution please feel free to share with your colleagues.

You may do this. The common instances are faculty who typically teach a 4-unit course or a 1- or 2-unit course.

The overall target for this round of proposals is 12 WTU per college/school. 

We will adjust future targets based on this initial call and future guidance from the Chancellor's Office.