University of Massachusetts Lowell
EN-13: Community Service

The faculty union contract (https://www.uml.edu/docs/MSP-CBA-7.1.17-6.30.20_tcm18-323079.pdf) indicates that the criteria for promotion and tenure include convincing evidence of excellence or strength in teaching, research and service that includes service to the community. In 2011, the Provost and college deans in collaboration with the executive board of the faculty union, developed a workload policy. “The primary goal is to ensure that all tenured faculty have an equitable total workload, which is defined as the sum of efforts in teaching, research and service.” Each college then developed policies determining expectations in these areas. For example, excerpted from the Workload Policy of the College of Health Sciences: “All members of the faculty . . . are expected to provide excellent service to University constituents: students, faculty, staff members, and community members…..Faculty members are encouraged to provide their professional expertise to professional societies, community agencies and other external organizations. Such service is recognized as an important asset to the university. Impact on workload will be assessed on an individual basis.” The College of Fine Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences is in the process of revisiting their current workload policies. There has been significant dialogue around further specifying what might be eligible for course reductions. The College is proposing to build into the system provisions that would encompass engagement activity. Currently, on a case by case basis, the dean grants course load reductions to allow faculty to work on specific types of service projects.

Student headcount is most recent (academic year 20-21) for full-time, undergraduate students. Student data tracked and provided by the office of Community Relations.