Faculty Absence Policy

Policy Manager: Vice President of Academic Affairs + Provost

Faculty are expected to attend full duration of course time. Classes may not be canceled for any reason other than medical or health issues, family emergency, or pre-approved professional activities. The Division Chair and the Office of Academic Affairs (OAA) must be informed of any absence.

1. Substitute Coverage. When possible, with at least 48 hours’ notice of a faculty absence, the respective Division Chair will ask a Tenure Track or Tenured faculty at CIA to cover a class with the understanding that this professional courtesy will be returned at a later date. Tenure Track or Tenured faculty who are unable to cover the class may decline the request without prejudice. Term faculty will be compensated at the per class rate when they cover colleagues’ courses. Term faculty who have classes covered by Tenure Track or Tenured faculty do not have an obligation to cover a class.
2. Online Teaching. Under extenuating circumstances and with the permission of the Division Chair for division faculty or the VPAA in the case of a Chair’s absence, faculty may request to teach the missed class online for that session, so long as the student learning objectives of that session can easily be met remotely.
3. Long-Term Absence. The Director of Human Resources & People Engagement and the OAA must be consulted as soon as possible (and with appropriate notice, when possible) in the event of a longer-term absence from CIA. In the event of longer-term absences, substitute faculty must be approved by the Division Chair, the OAA, and will be compensated per session at the average adjunct rate.
4. Absence for Professional Development Opportunities. In the interest of maintaining a high level of professionalism, CIA supports faculty development opportunities and will make every effort to approve these requests. In the event of a professional development opportunity that will result in time away from teaching responsibilities, prior approval to miss class(es) must be sought from the Division Chair and the VPAA.

Approval Authority: CIA Cabinet

Adoption and Revision History