Faculty/Staff Policies
Faculty handbooks, absence policies, and info on committees and email groups.
Brian Banks Staff Excellence Award
Fund Summary
This Fund was established to honor the significant contributions of beloved staff member Brian Banks’ exemplary work and energy to create community among students, staff, and alums alike. Since he first joined the School in 1998, Brian was dedicated and passionate in his commitment to student success and unity around shared values. This Fund will annually award the Brian Banks Staff Excellence Award to a current staff member who embodies the characteristics that Brian exemplified during his tenure at Stamps. They will be passionate in their creative voice, inspirational to those in our community, and are chosen on the basis of their exemplary work and achievements.
Recipients will receive:
- An individual cash award of $1,000.
- A framed award certificate.
- Public recognition in the Spring.
Eligibility Criteria
The Brian Banks Staff Excellence Award will be received by a current Penny W. Stamps School staff member to recognize the significant contributions to the Stamps School. Recipients of the Brian Banks Staff Excellence Award will be chosen on the basis of their exemplary work and unique achievements in creating community and a sense of belonging. The award is intended to serve as tangible evidence of the Stamps School’s appreciation of its outstanding staff members.
When reviewing nominations, a Selection Committee will look for examples of sustained excellence in an individual’s service. Consideration will be given to nominees who have made significant contributions or possess special qualities and attributes.
Nominees must:
- Have a minimum of one year of service to the Stamps School of Art & Design in a regular staff position
- Have a sustained record of superior performance
- Promote a diverse, equitable and inclusive environment for the Stamps community
- Have made a significant, measurable, and attributable long-term contribution to the mission/goals of the school.
Selection of the recipients will be based only on the information provided as part of the nomination process. All nomination materials remain confidential.
Nomination Process
Nominations can be received from faculty, staff and students to the Selection Committee. This Committee will make a ranked list of recommendations to the Dean of the Stamps School, who will choose the award recipient. Nominations will be received via online form.
The form includes the following:
- A brief statement describing the characteristics and attributes of the nominee.
- A description of the nominee’s involvement in the Stamps School and U-M community.
- An anecdote or example that illustrates why the nomination is being received.
Click here to make a nomination →
Selection Committee
The selection committee will include the Stamps School Chief of Staff (or senior HR staff of the school), the most recent past award recipient, and a staff member at large to be identified by the Stamps dean. The selected staff member should not be a current nominee, though may be a previous nominee or recipient. If no current staff member is eligible to participate, a representative from the school’s Executive Committee will serve in this capacity.
Additional Information
This award is made possible by an anonymous donor. In recognition of their generosity, recipients will be asked to complete a questionnaire and message of gratitude, as well as to consider filming a short video message to share more about themselves. The Selection Committee will inform all nominees of their nomination via email. A slide deck of all nominated individuals will be used at commencement as public recognition of all the nominees.
Class Size Policy and Overrides
The maximum enrollment capacity of any class is the capacity of the room it is assigned to. Any class assigned a GSI will have no more than 18-22 students enrolled. Before the first day of classes, the registrar team is responsible for determining overrides. Once classes start, the instructor of record is responsible for determining overrides.
Conflict of Interest/Conflict of Commitment
To comply with SPG 201.65-1 Conflicts of Interest and Conflicts of Commitment, The Penny W. Stamps School of Art and Design has implemented the following processes and procedures, which apply to all employees.
Course Fees
Visit the Finance Office FAQ for information and policies on course fees.
Faculty Handbook
This document is designed to provide the faculty with access to current, general principles and procedures that govern faculty creative work, research, teaching, and service. It does not include every practice or guideline that informs School operations or faculty business; rather, it focuses on the major policies, practices, and procedures that concern the entire faculty.
The content reflects a combination of both faculty-approved policies and procedures, and policies and procedures that, over years of development, have become standard practice. Compiling and organizing all of this information required extensive input by many faculty and staff, as will annual updates. The Faculty Handbook incorporates all other Stamps School documents that address faculty governance and policies, and serves as the primary resources for Stamps-related policies and practice.
Incomplete Grade Form
An incomplete (“I”) grade may be assigned at the instructor’s discretion when a student, for reasons beyond his or her control, is unable to complete the work of a course before the end of the term. An incomplete may be assigned only when the work already completed is of passing quality; the grade of incomplete provides no undue advantage to the student over other students; and the work that remains to be done is no more than 1/3 of the total work required in the course.
Instructor Absences
Instructors are asked to observe the procedures in the linked document below when an absence impacts instructional and/or other school obligations.
LEO Lecturer Workload Standards
Updated: January 1, 2022
Teaching Workload
In the Stamps School, the normal 100% teaching load for a LEO Lecturer is six (6) courses per University Year, three (3) each during the fall and winter terms.
Service
Lecturers holding the title of LEO Lecturer III or LEO Lecturer IV will be assigned administrative and/or service duties as part of their ongoing appointment. Examples of these duties include but are not limited to curricula development, workshop delivery for classes across the curricula, and providing consultation services to other faculty. The nature of these duties will be defined in the Lecturer’s initial appointment letter and updated as needed.
Office Hours
Stamps faculty are not required to maintain office hours.
Mentorship Agreement Form
Faculty mentorship gives you critical feedback, help with professional development, and meaningful advice to help your creative practice shine. During the fall following a successful Sophomore Review, students should select two mentors (at least one mentor must be a full-time faculty member). Students will arrange to meet with potential mentors and discuss their goals.
Mid-Term Progress Report Form
Stamps faculty use this form to provide mid-term progress updates to their students. The information entered into this form will be sent to the student and to the Smucker-Wagstaff Academic Programs office.
Mid-term reports can provide all students, especially first-years, with useful feedback. Mid-term reports can help all students gain a better understanding of their progress and how their grades are calculated.
Secure Use of Technology
Information and resources to keep your computer, personal devices and network secure while working at home or in the office.
Stamps Faculty Committees and Elected Positions
View current list of Stamps Standing & Advisory Committees and Elected Faculty Positions (this document requires U-M authentication).
Stamps School Award for Lecturer Excellence
The Stamps School Award for Lecturer Excellence recognizes outstanding teaching contributions that engage and inspire the Stamps School community. This yearly award to a member of the Lecturer faculty cohort will be selected from nominations by Stamps students, alumni, lecturers, tenured / tenure track faculty and staff.
The recipient of the Stamps School Award for Lecturer Excellence will receive $2,000.
Eligibility
Stamps School faculty who hold the title of Lecturer I, II, III or Lecturer IV will be eligible for the Stamps School Lecturer Award. To be eligible, a nominee must have successfully completed an interim review and not be on full layoff at the time they are nominated.
Selection Criteria
- Energetic and sustained commitment to teaching and mentoring
- Creating an inclusive learning environments
- Positive impact on students’ creative and personal growth
- For Lec III and IV, providing significant service and administrative contributions
Nomination and Selection Process
Students, alums, lecturers, tenured/tenure track faculty colleagues can nominate a lecturer for the Stamps Lecturer Award with the nomination form linked below. See the nomination form for full instructions, deadlines, and selection process timeline.
The Stamps Executive Committee will review all nominations, evaluate each based on the selection criteria noted above, and select the award recipient.