Course Banking
(Based on an A&S Policy memo dated 2/25/97)
Course banking refers to the practice of teaching an extra course one semester and, in return, teaching one less course in a subsequent semester. The following guidelines apply:
- Courses may be banked but not borrowed, except in unusual circumstances. In other words, the overload must be taught in advance of the reduced load, and not vice-versa.
- Banking may be done only for purposes of enhancing the ability of faculty to engage in scholarly work or service. It may not be used solely for personal reasons other than health, family, or parental leave.
- The department's curricular needs must be met.
- Banking should be done in moderation and only used for special needs.
- A faculty member may use banking to produce a semester that is free of classroom teaching. However, s/he must remain on campus during that semester unless justified by his/her scholarly work (field studies, the need to use library facilities elsewhere, etc.).
- Banking courses during fall semester (the extra teaching is done in fall) is preferred to banking in spring because teaching needs are greater in the fall. Likewise, it is preferred that banked courses be "cashed in" during the spring.
- All course banking requires prior approval from the Associate Dean.
- Only one semester's worth of courses may be banked at a time.
- Courses may not be banked for more than two years.
