University RSCA Assigned Time Program

The University RSCA Program provides assigned time to advance sustained faculty engagement in significant scholarly and creative work. Faculty members receiving an award are expected to pursue a serious RSCA agenda and to demonstrate progress and outcomes through the applicable college review process, including extramural review or validation when appropriate to the discipline.

• The program is available to full-time tenured and probationary faculty members.
• Probationary faculty members who receive a teaching reduction through their appointment letter are not eligible for an additional teaching reduction through this program.

Awards are ordinarily made for a three-year period; however, continuation is determined annually by the college and is not automatic. Unless otherwise specified in the award notice, the standard award is 6 weighted teaching units (WTUs) of assigned time per academic year, ordinarily distributed as 3 WTUs in each semester. Each year of an award remains subject to the availability of funds, the college's continuation decision, and the conditions in this policy.

New and continuing awards are determined at the college level. The college associate dean for research and the dean are responsible for managing the award selection and renewal process, including the selection criteria and metrics, timeline, application requirements and procedures, review process, and communication of award decisions. College-level processes must be consistent with this policy framework.

1. Annual program review. The University RSCA Program is evaluated annually for funding, at which time it may be scaled down or discontinued.
2. Overload limitations. No overload for academic year teaching is permitted while receiving assigned time through this program. A dean may approve a limited exception for:
   -Fractional amounts that are much less than 3 units
   -Overload funded by extramural agencies for sponsored activity
   -Special session instruction
3. Annual continuation. Continuation is subject to availability of funds and contingent upon: (i) timely submission of the RSCA productivity report using the applicable college-specific metrics; (ii) timely submission of the RSCA progress report; (iii) satisfactory progress on the faculty member's scholarly or creative agenda; and (iv) dean approval.
4. Leave status. Assigned time may not be awarded in a semester in which the faculty member is on full-time leave, regardless of work status. The standard 3-WTU award for that semester is forfeited. Partial leaves are assessed case by case by the dean.
5. Non-retention of probationary faculty. If a probationary faculty member is not retained during or at the end of the probationary period, the award terminates effective the academic year following receipt of the non-retention notice (the terminal year).
6. Rollover. Awarded assigned time under this program may not be rolled over from one semester to the next or across academic years. A department chair may, however, distribute the 6 WTUs awarded for an academic year unevenly between the two semesters to accommodate teaching schedule needs.
7. Regulated activities. Faculty whose work involves regulated activities, including human subjects, vertebrate animals, hazardous materials, or other regulated work, must obtain all required approvals and comply with all university requirements before beginning the activity.
8. Intellectual and creative property. Funding under this award constitutes substantial support for RSCA. Under University Intellectual/Creative Property Policy F98-3, the University has certain rights intellectual property resulting from the supported work. Award recipients must comply with the policy and cooperate in protecting and promoting related intellectual property. Any invention, discovery, creative work, or software subject to disclosure must be reported to the SJSU Office of Innovation.
9. Conflict of Interest. Award recipients must not hold a personal financial interest that violates California Government Code section 1090 et seq. or creates a conflict of interest under the Political Reform Act, California Government Code Section 81000 et seq. Recipients of extramural grant support must disclose personal financial interests as required by applicable law, regulation, sponsor terms, and University Conflict of Interest Policy for Principal Investigators Policy S99-11.
   ORCID profile. Award recipients must maintain an ORCID iD and make the associated profile and citations publicly available.
10. ORCID profile. Award recipients must maintain an ORCID iD and make the associated profile and citations publicly available.

A faculty administrator may accept the award through one or more of the following methods, subject to the approvals and documentation described below:

• Teaching load reduction. Assigned time to the faculty administrator reducing teaching load.
• Administrative load reduction. Assigned time may be used to reduce the faculty administrator's administrative responsibilities when another faculty member assumes a clearly defined portion of those duties. The assigned time would support the faculty administrator’s RSCA while the other faculty member would be funded from the administrator position budget line.
• Grant of funds. The faculty administrator may convert all or part of the award to a grant equal to 50% of the cost of the converted assigned time, calculated using the University Vacant Rate in effect for the applicable fiscal year. The funds must be used to support the faculty member's RSCA and may not be used for the faculty member's salary or a salary buyout. This option may be appropriate when the administrator will not use assigned time to conduct RSCA during the administrative appointment and instead plans to use the funds for allowable RSCA expenses.
• Approval requirement. A request to convert any portion of an award to a grant of funds must be submitted through the designated application process and approved by the dean and the Senior Vice Provost before the conversion is implemented.
• Spending deadline for converted funds. Converted RSCA funds must be fully expended by the earlier of:
  
  • The end of the first semester following the conclusion of the faculty administrator’s chair or director appointment; or
  • The expiration of the University RSCA Assigned Time Award. The spending deadline will not be extended, and the funds may not be transferred, unless an exception is approved in writing by the Senior Vice Provost.

Colleges and departments are responsible for scheduling and documenting assigned time, confirming that approved award options are implemented as authorized, and monitoring compliance with award conditions. Faculty members are responsible for using the award solely for approved RSCA purposes, meeting reporting deadlines, and promptly disclosing any change in appointment, leave status, or other circumstance that may affect eligibility or award use.