FAQ - Faculty RSCA Assigned Time Program

Last updated on 03/30/2022

• 1. I applied to the University Faculty RSCA Assigned Time Program last year but was not selected. Am I eligible to apply this year?

  • Yes. You may reapply in any subsequent year by the specified due date. 

• 2. I did not apply to the University Faculty RSCA Assigned Time Program last year. Am I eligible to apply this year?

  • Yes. Eligible tenure-track faculty members not in the program are required to register in the program by the due date in the last spring semester of their contractually-awarded RSCA Assigned Time. Also, eligible tenured faculty who are considering the program for the first time may also apply by the due date in the spring semester for consideration and possible award the following academic year, subject to Dean and VPRI approval. Note that newly-tenured faculty members do not need to reapply to continue in the assigned time program. 

• 3. May I register “early” to the University Faculty RSCA Assigned Time Program if I am in the first year of my probationary period?

  • No. You already receive a teaching reduction, described in your appointment letter, assuring that you have a maximum 18 WTU teaching load for your first two years and you are not eligible to register for a further reduction through this Program. Faculty in their second year whose contractually awarded RSCA assigned time is expiring should register.

• 4. I am a probationary faculty. What would my teaching load be if I were approved for the University Faculty RSCA Assigned Time Program?

  • As a probationary faculty, you would receive the University Faculty RSCA Assigned Time Program award for the duration of your probationary period. You would have a maximum teaching load of 18 WTU (6 WTU of RSCA assigned time) in every academic year until your tenure decision. Continuation of the award each year is contingent upon (a) successful progress on your scholarly agenda, (b) the submission of your annual RSCA productivity report using the college-specific RSCA metrics by the college deadline in the spring semester, and (c) the submission of a formal three-year report (in lieu of the annual productivity report for that year) on the third anniversary of this award for Dean and VPRI review and feedback.

• 5. I am a probationary faculty going up for tenure. What would my teaching load be if I were approved for the University Faculty RSCA Assigned Time Program?

  • In the year you are granted tenure, you will receive the University Faculty RSCA Assigned Time Program award for a period of five years. You will have a maximum teaching load of 18 WTU (6 WTU of RSCA assigned time) in each year of award. Continuation of the award each year is contingent upon (a) successful progress on your scholarly agenda, (b) the submission of your annual RSCA productivity report using the college-specific RSCA metrics by the college deadline in the spring semester, and (c) the submission of a formal three-year report (in lieu of the annual productivity report for that year) on the third anniversary of this award for Dean and VPRI review and feedback.

• 6. What is the process if I am going up for early tenure?

  • You are considered probationary faculty until tenure is awarded. If you are retained but early tenure is denied, you will continue to be eligible for the University Faculty RSCA Assigned Time Program during the following year since you would still be in the probationary period.

• 7. I am currently tenured. What would my teaching load be if I were approved for the University Faculty RSCA Assigned Time Program?

  • As a tenured faculty, you would receive the University Faculty RSCA Assigned Time Program award for a period of five years. You would have a maximum teaching load of 21 WTU (3 WTU of RSCA assigned time) in the first year of award, and your maximum teaching load would decrease to 18 WTU (6 WTU of RSCA assigned time) in each subsequent year of award. You must consult with your Chair/Director to select the semester in which your teaching load is reduced for your first year of award. Continuation of the award each year is contingent upon (a) successful progress on your scholarly agenda, (b) the submission of your annual RSCA productivity report using the college-specific RSCA metrics by the college deadline in the spring semester, and (c) the submission of a formal three-year report (in lieu of the annual productivity report for that year) on the third anniversary of this award for Dean and VPRI review and feedback.

• 8. Am I eligible for the University Faculty RSCA Assigned Time Program if I am in my terminal year due to a non-retention decision?

  • No. 

• 9. I am midway through my probationary period. Since I am not going to be awarded five years in the Program, should I still discuss my five-year plan in the Scholarly Agenda to be submitted with application?

  • Yes. The program is meant to help you build your long-term scholarly agenda.

• 10. How much weight will be given to my RSCA metric?

  • That decision is made individually by each college and is posted publicly. Contact your college office for details. 
    
    Education: lurie-fsrc-group@sjsu.edu
    Engineering: engineering-research@sjsu.edu
    Health and Human Sciences: laurie.drabble@sjsu.edu
    Humanities and the Arts: jason.aleksander@sjsu.edu 
    Professional and Global Education: sandy.hirsh@sjsu.edu
    Science: science-research@sjsu.edu
    Social Sciences: socialsciences-rsca@sjsu.edu 
    University Library: emily.chan@sjsu.edu

• 11. I am currently a full-time tenured faculty member. If I receive a five-year Faculty RSCA Assigned Time award and begin either the Faculty Early Retirement Program (FERP) or the Pre-Retirement Reduction in Time Base (PRTB) in two years, will I continue to receive the RSCA assigned time while I’m in either program?

  • No. Only full-time faculty members can receive the benefit of the Faculty RSCA Assigned Time award. Once you begin the FERP or the PRTB program, you would no longer be eligible.

• 12. I am a department chair. Am I eligible to apply for this program?

  • Yes. Faculty administrators (chairs, directors, faculty associate deans, etc.) are eligible for this program. If you are unsure whether you qualify as a faculty administrator, please contact officeofresearch@sjsu.edu.

    Faculty administrators, with approval from the Dean, may accept this award in one or more of the following ways: 

    * Assigned time to the faculty administrator reducing teaching load
    * A grant of funds, equivalent to the cost of the assigned time, for use in support of the faculty member’s RSCA (but not for faculty salary)  

    You should discuss the proposal for how the award would be handled, if awarded, with your Dean prior to submission of your application. The Dean has the responsibility for approving any such proposal, and the written approval should be submitted with the application.

• 13. I am a faculty administrator on leave. If I elected to receive RSCA funding in lieu of assigned time, can I continue receiving the funding while on leave?

  • No. RSCA funding shall not be awarded in a semester in which you are on a full-time leave, regardless of work status. The standard RSCA funding award for the semester shall be forfeited for each semester in which you are on a full-time leave. Partial leaves will be assessed on a case-by-case basis, at the discretion of the Office of Research.

• 14. If I am approved for a RSCA assigned time award, may I take overload in a semester in which I have assigned time through this program?

  • No overload for academic year teaching is permitted while accepting assigned time through this program. Rare exceptions may be granted with approval by your Dean for:

    * Fractional amounts that are much less than 3 units
    * Overload funded by extramural agencies for sponsored activity
    * Special sessions instruction

• 15. Can I receive RSCA assigned time if I am on leave?

  • No assigned time shall be awarded in a semester in which you are on a full-time leave, regardless of work status. The standard RSCA Assigned Time award for the semester (3 WTU) shall be forfeited for each semester in which you are on a full-time leave. Partial leaves will be assessed on a case-by-case basis, at the discretion of the Office of Research. 

• 16. How is the RSCA assigned time distributed during the academic year?

  • Awarded assigned time under this program may not be rolled over from one semester to the next or across academic years. Nevertheless, department chairs are authorized to distribute the awarded 6 WTU of a given academic year unevenly across the two semesters to support teaching schedule needs.

• 17. If I am applying for tenure this year, should I register for the University Faculty RSCA Assigned Time Program?

  • If you are in the program and are awarded tenure, you do not need to re-apply/register to continue in the assigned time program for the next five years (contingent upon the usual reviews). Your attainment of tenure is evidence of RSCA productivity. 

• 18. I am currently a probationary faculty member in my 3rd year. Will I be competing for a limited number of awards against faculty in their 6th year who have had twice as long as I to compile a RSCA record?

  • No. All probationary faculty who will be completing the assigned time stipulated in their appointment letter this semester (typically awarded for two years) are required to register. The awards for probationary faculty are not a competition. Each registration is reviewed individually using College standards and through an established review process. Any probationary faculty member meeting the college-specific standards as judged as by the Dean will receive the award. Further, most probationary faculty beyond their first two years will have already been eligible for the award in the earlier round.

• 19. My annual (or three-year) report is due but I am on sabbatical. Can I submit it later?

  • No. Per CSU-CFA CBA Article 27.16, a faculty unit employee on sabbatical leave shall be considered in work status. As such, you are required to submit your report. If your RSCA activity is on hold during your sabbatical, simply indicate so.