School of Law Faculty Evaluation Plan
Evaluation Plan is a means to ensure that members of the Law School Faculty perform at a high level in pursuit of the Law School’s mission to further the knowledge and understanding of law and legal systems through a balanced and integrated program of teaching, scholarship, and service.
School of Law faculty.
Conflict Resolution Process
The Law School Faculty believes that the procedures for resolving disputes arising out of the annual evaluation process should be as informal as possible while protecting a faculty member’s rights. This document sets forth the basic procedures and requirements for conflict resolution arising under this Faculty Evaluation Plan. These basic procedures may be supplemented as appropriate in individual cases with additional procedures that are consistent with these general requirements and other applicable requirements under University or Board of Regents rules and regulations and applicable state and federal law.
Any faculty member has the right to meet with the Dean concerning:
a. the Dean’s annual evaluation of the faculty member’s performance;
b. a conclusion that the faculty member appears to be failing to meet the expectations and overall level of performance as expressed in this Faculty Evaluation Plan;
c. a recommendation to the Provost that the faculty member be dismissed for a sustained overall failure to meet academic responsibilities.
At any such meeting the faculty member is entitled to notice of the grounds for the Dean’s action or conclusions, and an opportunity to respond to those grounds. However, such a meeting is not a formal hearing for the taking and consideration of evidence.
After meeting with the Dean, the faculty member may appeal the Dean’s decision concerning any of the listed events to:
a. The Law School Promotion and Tenure Committee; or
b. A three-person committee composed of a tenured faculty member chosen by the Dean, a tenured faculty member chosen by the person seeking review, and a third tenured faculty member chosen by the previous two members.
The nature and scope of procedures to be followed in conducting such review shall be within the discretion of the committee, which may adopt the formal procedures applicable to faculty grievances or such other procedures as the committee deems appropriate. Any such procedures, however, shall be consistent with the requirements of University and Board of Regents rules and regulations, as well as the requirements of state and federal law.
After meeting with the faculty member who sought the review, the committee shall make a recommendation to the Dean as to whether the Dean’s decision should be sustained, modified in some manner, or reversed. After receiving the committee’s recommendation, the Dean retains sole responsibility and discretion whether to affirm, reverse, or modify the initial decision.
Outcomes of Annual Performance Evaluation:
The integration of the annual evaluation process with the achievement of departmental and individual professional goals, differential allocation of effort, personnel decisions (with the exception of promotion and tenure), and merit salary decisions is committed to the sound discretion of the Dean. Integration of annual evaluations with the process for promotion and tenure shall be in accordance with those processes, as duly adopted from time to time. The Dean shall consult with the involved faculty member and any other personnel directly affected in connection with any action that would have a significant impact on that person’s responsibilities.
The Dean retains the discretion to consult with associate deans who are members of the tenured faculty as necessary or appropriate to the evaluation of a faculty member.
Faculty Development Opportunities
The Dean, in consultation with the responsible associate dean(s) and subject to budgetary constraints, shall make available to faculty members options and resources to support a faculty member’s professional development, enhancement, and renewal. These opportunities for faculty development may be facilitated through appropriate shifts in teaching responsibilities, research expectations, and service obligations.
If the Dean determines that a faculty member is failing to meet departmental expectations and the overall level of performance expressed in this Faculty Evaluation Plan, the Dean and the faculty member shall develop a written plan to improve the faculty member’s performance. Such a plan shall specify areas for improvement and may include the provisions for faculty development stated above, or other appropriate interventions, such as counseling or medical leave. The Dean may call upon the University administration for assistance in constructing such a plan, including seeking additional resources, if needed. A faculty member may reject any plan recommended to aid his or her performance, subject to the caveat that a sustained overall failure to meet academic responsibilities is a basis for dismissal.
Amendment
Any faculty member may petition the Law School Faculty to change this Faculty Evaluation Plan at any time. Any amendments shall be adopted by a majority vote of the members of the Law School Faculty present and voting at a regularly scheduled meeting provided notice was given of the intent to amend the Faculty Evaluation Plan, in whole or in part, or at a specially called meeting for the purpose of amending the Faculty Evaluation Plan, in whole or in part. Add: Before becoming effective, any amendments to the Faculty Evaluation Plan are subject to review and approval by the Provost.
Faculty Evaluation Plan Addendum: Allocation of Effort: Approved by Faculty, March 25, 2014
The School of Law has a responsibility to serve numerous constituencies, including students, legal academia, alumni, practicing lawyers, judges, government agencies, Kansas citizens, the national and international community, and the University. We have a longstanding tradition of recognizing that it is appropriate for faculty members to vary widely in their service to these respective constituencies. This diversity of effort typically becomes manifest after tenure is granted, and for that reason the promotion and tenure standards do not constitute an appropriate or sufficient standard for evaluating post-tenure activity. Specifically, the traditional 40% teaching, 40% scholarship, and 20% service allocation of time may not accurately reflect the actual allocations employed by teaching faculty. Likewise, the activities and expectations for library faculty may vary depending on position and job description.
All full-time teaching and library faculty of course have a responsibility to discharge their Law School duties on a full-time basis. It is important, however, to recognize that faculty members may vary widely in the way in which they choose to fulfill that obligation.
The attached “Faculty Activity Templates” are designed to recognize that diversity. Each template sets forth a different allocation of the faculty member’s time. Prior to the beginning of each academic year, each faculty member, in consultation with the Dean and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs or Library Director, elects the appropriate template for the forthcoming academic year. A faculty member may vary his or her template election from year to year. In conjunction with the Dean, a faculty member may create a unique template, so long as that template represents full-time effort.
Each template describes the activities that would be expected of a faculty member as to each time allocation. Evaluation of faculty for purposes of post-tenure review will be based on the extent to which the faculty member has achieved those expectations. These expectations will also be taken into account as part of the Dean’s annual evaluation. To that extent, the Faculty Activity Templates supplement the Faculty Evaluation Plan adopted May 12, 2009.
The templates are effective only as to the academic year 2015-2016 and subsequent years. Evaluation of faculty activities undertaken during academic years prior to 2015-2016 will continue to be based on the Faculty Evaluation Plan adopted May 12, 2009. During the 2014- 2015 academic year faculty members who wish to adopt a template other than the Standard Allocation should discuss this with the Dean and plan appropriate adjustments for 2015-2016.
Membership on the law faculty of course carries additional responsibilities that are not listed on the templates and that apply to everyone. One might say that these are the duties of a citizen of the Law School community. This would include such items as attendance at faculty meetings, supervision of student Review and Journal works, and timely and appropriate dissemination and recording of scholarship. In addition, good citizenship involves support for events at which the Law School interacts with outsiders, including faculty workshops, Law School sponsored symposiums, presentations by outside speakers, and alumni gatherings. No faculty member has time to attend all these events, but attendance at a reasonable number is a legitimate expectation.
Template 1: Tenured Faculty Standard Allocation of Effort
Category | Percent | Core | Equivalencies | Explanation |
---|---|---|---|---|
Teaching | 40% |
Per academic year, faculty teach:
a) 12 credit hours composed of 4 courses; and
b) An additional for-credit teaching experience (e.g., journal advisor, moot court coach, independent study supervisor, or SJD chair).
|
The dean may designate courses as the equivalent of teaching additional credit hours due to their time- intensive nature. For example,
a) Drafting-intensive courses;
b) Non-clinical, simulation courses;
c) Multiple-assessment courses;
d) Newly prepared courses, during the first semester such courses are offered; or
e) Faculty teaching 13 credit-hours under sub (a), may be deemed to have satisfied the sub (b) requirement.
|
The allocation of effort to teaching includes student-contact time (e.g., office hours, meetings, emails). Teaching includes being an academic and professional advisor and mentor, as well as regular presence of the faculty member in Green Hall beyond instructional hours and limited office hours. For PTR purposes, faculty teaching 13 credits a year and completing the sub (b) requirement have demonstrated performance beyond the base 40% allocation of effort. |
Scholarship | 40% | Per academic year, faculty produce 1 major article. |
The dean, in consultation with the faculty member, may determine that other types of scholarship are equivalent to one major article, which include but are not limited to:
a) Substantial progress on a book, as defined relative to the scope of the project.
b) A substantial new edition of a book, treatise or casebook.
c) 2-3 minor publications, such as bar journal pieces, response essays, or annual updates.
d) 4-5 academic, CLE, or other professional presentations with significant substantive content prepared by the faculty member, not coupled with publication, if each is a new preparation and not otherwise counted as service.
e) Annual updates to 2-3 books, treatises or casebooks.
f) In relation to an empirical project, the construction and coding of a large data set or the conducting of interviews.
g) The drafting of several pro bono appellate briefs.
h) Some combination of the above.
|
The list of equivalencies is strictly illustrative. The dean and faculty member may find any alternative scholarly output as meeting the 40% allocation of effort with a showing that the scholarly output is equivalent, in effort, to the production of 1 major article. |
Service |
20% |
Per academic year, faculty fully and attentively:
a) Serve on 2 KU committees (either university or law school); and
b) Perform substantial additional service to the Law School, University, public, profession, legal academy, the region, the national, or the international community.
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Service means unpaid work, de minimis payments excepted. The scope of service that may fall under sub (b) is vast and will be determined by each faculty member in consultation with the dean. A few non-exhaustive examples follow:
a) Service to the academy (such as AALS section leadership, peer reviewer, publisher board of editors, ALI service, or conference organizer)
b) Service to the profession (such as pro bono work, or active involvement in a bar organization, or CLE that is not otherwise counted as scholarship)
c) Service to the public (such as work for the legislature or other government body or board service for a public interest group)
d) Additional service to the school or University (such as exceptional student recruiting, fostering international relationships, or extra committee work).
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Template 2: Tenured Faculty Teaching Emphasis
Category | Percent | Core | Equivalencies | Explanation |
---|---|---|---|---|
Teaching | 60% |
Per academic year, faculty teach:
a) 18 credit hours composed of 6 courses; and
b) An additional for-credit teaching experience (e.g., journal advisor, moot court coach, independent study supervisor, or SJD chair).
|
The dean may designate courses as the equivalent of teaching additional credit hours due to their time-intensive nature. For example,
a) Drafting-intensive courses;
b) Non-clinical, simulation courses;
c) Multiple-assessment courses;
d) Newly prepared courses, during the first semester such courses are offered; or
e) Faculty teaching 19 credit-hours under sub (a), may be deemed to have satisfied the sub (b) requirement.
|
The allocation of effort to teaching includes student-contact time (e.g., office hours, meetings, emails). Teaching includes being an academic and professional advisor and mentor, as well as regular presence of the faculty member in Green Hall beyond instructional hours and limited office hours. For PTR purposes, faculty teaching 19 or more credits a year and completing the sub (b) requirement have demonstrated performance beyond the base 60% allocation of effort. |
Scholarship | 20% | Per academic year, faculty make substantial progress toward completion of 1 major article. |
The dean, in consultation with the faculty member, may determine that other types of scholarship are equivalent to one major article, which include but are not limited to:
a) Progress on a book, as defined relative to the scope of the project.
b) Substantial progress toward completion of a new edition of a book, treatise or casebook.
c) An annual update to a book, treatise or casebook.
d) 1-2 minor publications, such as bar journal pieces, response essays, or annual updates.
e) 2 academic, CLE, or other professional presentations with significant substantive content prepared by the faculty member, not coupled with publication, if each is a new preparation and not otherwise counted as service.
f) In relation to an empirical project, substantial progress toward the construction and coding of a large data set or the conducting of interviews.
g) Some combination of the above.
|
The list of equivalencies is strictly illustrative. The dean and faculty member may find any alternative scholarly output as meeting the 20% allocation of effort with a showing that the scholarly output is equivalent, in effort, to substantial progress completion of 1 major article. |
Service | 20% |
Per academic year, faculty fully and attentively:
a) Serve on 2 KU committees (either university or law school); and
b) Perform substantial additional service to the Law School, University, public, profession, legal academy, the region, the national, or the international community.
|
Service means unpaid work, de minimis payments excepted. The scope of service that may fall under sub (b) is vast and will be determined by each faculty member in consultation with the dean. A few non-exhaustive examples follow:
a) Service to the academy (such as AALS section leadership, peer reviewer, publisher board of editors, ALI service, or conference organizer)
b) Service to the profession (such as pro bono work, or active involvement in a bar organization, or CLE that is not otherwise counted as scholarship)
c) Service to the public (such as work for the legislature or other government body or board service for a public interest group)
Additional service to the school or University (such as exceptional student recruiting, fostering international relationships, or extra committee work).
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Template 3: Tenured Faculty Scholarship Emphasis
Category | Percent | Core | Equivalencies | Explanation |
---|---|---|---|---|
Teaching | 30% |
Per academic year, faculty teach:
a) 10 credit hours composed of 3 courses; and
b) An additional for-credit teaching experience (e.g., journal advisor, moot court coach, independent study supervisor, or SJD chair).
|
The dean may designate courses as the equivalent of teaching additional credit hours due to their time-intensive nature. For example,
a) Drafting-intensive courses;
b) Non-clinical, simulation courses;
c) Multiple-assessment courses;
d) Newly prepared courses, during the first semester such courses are offered; or
e) Faculty teaching 11 credit-hours under sub (a), may be deemed to have satisfied the sub (b) requirement.
|
The allocation of effort to teaching includes student-contact time (e.g., office hours, meetings, emails). Teaching includes being an academic and professional advisor and mentor, as well as regular presence of the faculty member in Green Hall beyond instructional hours and limited office hours. For PTR purposes, faculty teaching 11 credits a year and completing the sub (b) requirement have demonstrated performance beyond the base 30% allocation of effort. |
Scholarship | 50% | Per academic year, faculty produce 1 major article plus additional substantial scholarly contributions. |
The dean, in consultation with the faculty member, may determine what production meets this heightened expectation, which include but are not limited to:
a) Substantial progress on a book, as defined relative to the scope of the project, a minor publication and 1-2 substantial presentations.
b) A substantial new edition of a book, treatise or casebook, and 2 academic, CLE, or other professional presentations with significant substantive content prepared by the faculty member, not coupled with publication, if each is a new preparation and not otherwise counted as service.
c) 5-6 minor publications, such as bar journal pieces, response essays, or annual updates.
d) 1 major article and 1 annual update to a book, treatise or casebook.
e) Some combination of the above.
|
The list of equivalencies is strictly illustrative. The dean and faculty member may find any alternative scholarly output as meeting the 50% allocation of effort with a showing that the scholarly output is equivalent, in effort, to the production of 1 major article and an additional substantial scholarly contribution. |
Service | 20% |
Per academic year, faculty fully and attentively:
a) Serve on 2 KU committees (either university or law school); and
b) Perform substantial additional service to the Law School, University, public, profession, legal academy, the region, the national, or the international community.
|
Service means unpaid work, de minimis payments excepted. The scope of service that may fall under sub (b) is vast and will be determined by each faculty member in consultation with the dean. A few non-exhaustive examples follow:
a) Service to the academy (such as AALS section leadership, peer reviewer, publisher board of editors, ALI service, or conference organizer)
b) Service to the profession (such as pro bono work, or active involvement in a bar organization, or CLE that is not otherwise counted as scholarship)
c) Service to the public (such as work for the legislature or other government body or board service for a public interest group)
d) Additional service to the school or University (such as exceptional student recruiting, fostering international relationships, or extra committee work).
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Template 4: Tenured Faculty Service Emphasis
Category | Percent | Core | Equivalencies | Explanation |
---|---|---|---|---|
Teaching | 40% |
Per academic year, faculty teach:
a) 12 credit hours composed of 4 courses; and
b) An additional for-credit teaching experience (e.g., journal advisor, moot court coach, independent study supervisor, or SJD chair).
|
The dean may designate courses as the equivalent of teaching additional credit hours due to their time-intensive nature. For example,
a) Drafting-intensive courses;
b) Non-clinical, simulation courses;
c) Multiple-assessment courses;
d) Newly prepared courses, during the first semester such courses are offered; or
e) Faculty teaching 13 credit-hours under sub (a), may be deemed to have satisfied the sub (b) requirement.
|
The allocation of effort to teaching includes student-contact time (e.g., office hours, meetings, emails). Teaching includes being an academic and professional advisor and mentor, as well as regular presence of the faculty member in Green Hall beyond instructional hours and limited office hours. For PTR purposes, faculty teaching 13 credits a year and completing the sub (b) requirement have demonstrated performance beyond the base 40% allocation of effort. |
Scholarship | 20% | Per academic year, faculty make substantial progress toward completion of 1 major article. |
The dean, in consultation with the faculty member, may determine that other types of scholarship are equivalent to one major article, which include but are not limited to:
a) Progress on a book, as defined relative to the scope of the project.
b) Substantial progress toward completion of a new edition of a book, treatise or casebook.
c) An annual update to a book, treatise or casebook.
d) 1-2 minor publications, such as bar journal pieces, response essays, or annual updates.
e) 2 academic, CLE, or other professional presentations with significant substantive content prepared by the faculty member, not coupled with publication, if each is a new preparation and not otherwise counted as service.
f) In relation to an empirical project, substantial progress toward the construction and coding of a large data set or the conducting of interviews.
g) Some combination of the above.
|
The list of equivalencies is strictly illustrative. The dean and faculty member may find any alternative scholarly output as meeting the 20% allocation of effort with a showing that the scholarly output is equivalent, in effort, to substantial progress completion of 1 major article. |
Service | 40% |
Per academic year, faculty fully and attentively:
a) Serve on 4 KU committees, likely as a chair of 1-2 (either university or law school); and
b) Perform extraordinary additional service to the Law School, University, public, profession, legal academy, or the regional national, or international community.
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Service means unpaid work, de minimis payments excepted. The scope of service that may be deemed extraordinary is vast and will be determined by each faculty member in consultation with the dean. A few non- exhaustive examples follow:
a) Leadership in the academy (such as AALS leadership, ABA site visit leader, or large-scale scholarly conference organizer ).
b) Leadership in the profession (such as KBA or ABA leadership).
c) Leadership in service to the public (such as substantial legislative drafting).
d) Non-decanal leadership to the school or University (such as directing a center or interdisciplinary group, or leadership in faculty governance).
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Template 5: Library Faculty with Teaching Component
Category | Percent | Core | Equivalencies | Explanation |
---|---|---|---|---|
Professional Performance | 70% |
Per fiscal year, the allocation of effort for professional performance is based on the demonstration of competence, effectiveness, creativity and initiative in librarianship. The emphasis is on librarians as practitioners.
Law library faculty engage in activities which support the research and scholarly pursuits of faculty, students, the general public, practicing lawyers, pro se advocates, Kansas citizens and the University comprised of but not limited to:
a) development and maintenance of library resources, information systems and collections with a focus on the curricular needs of the law school
b) reference and outreach services for various constituencies
c) administration of budget, personnel and facilities, through planning and supervision of librarians, staff and student employees.
|
A librarian may be assigned duties by the dean and director, based on the needs of the library and law school in:
a) faculty research
b) instructional services
c) acquisitions, cataloging and technical services
d) public services
e) collection services
f) training students and patrons to use collections, databases and materials
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This requirement is met through performance of specific duties set out in each librarian’s job description or professional assignments which may include a combination or selection of the above listed activities and equivalencies. |
Scholarship | 10% | Per fiscal year, Law library faculty may produce professional publications, or engage in creative activity or research, which contribute to library science, law librarianship or the legal profession. The allocation may vary depending upon responsibilities or position description. |
Law librarian scholarship may include traditional or nontraditional professional activities including:
a) progress on books or book length guides or reference materials
b) authorship or co-authorship of book chapters or articles
c) annotated bibliographies, indexes or reports
d) presentations at professional meetings, exhibitions, poster sessions or displays
e) bibliographic or technical documentation
f) website design
g) profession related blog postings
|
The list of equivalencies is strictly illustrative. The director, dean and librarian may find any alternative scholarly or research activity as meeting the 10% allocation of effort with a showing that the activity is equivalent, in effort, to the completion of any traditional or nontraditional professional activities listed above. Placement of publications and research work is normally in law library journals, special library journals and related venues. Activities may appear in print or electronically. |
Teaching | 10% |
Per fiscal year law library faculty teach 1-4 credit hours composed of:
a) for-credit or non-credit components of courses (e.g., lawyering and labs),
b) seminars and research based courses; and/or
c) other for-credit teaching experiences (e.g., journal advisor, moot court coach, or independent study supervisor).
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The dean may designate courses or activities as the equivalent of teaching credit hours due to their time-intensive nature. For example:
a) Collaborative teaching with University Libraries
b) Collaborative teaching with Emporia State University SLIM program or internship experiential learning activities in librarianship.
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The allocation of effort to teaching includes student-contact time (e.g., office hours, meetings, emails). Teaching includes being an academic and professional advisor and mentor, as well as regular presence of the law library faculty member in Green Hall beyond instructional hours and limited office hours. |
Service | 10% |
Per fiscal year, law library faculty:
a) serve on 1 or more KU committees (either university or law school);
b) additional service to the Law School, University;
c) serve the public, law firms, law libraries, other academic and special libraries, legal academy, and or the regional, national or international community.
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Service means unpaid work, de minimis payments excepted beyond assigned library responsibilities. The scope of service that may fall under sub (b) is vast and will be determined by each law library faculty member in consultation with or by assignment from the dean and director. A few examples include:
a) Service to the academy, profession, or related fields (such as AALL, KLA or ALA section leadership, ABA site team work, or large-scale professional conference organization)
b) Service to the public (work for the bar, courts or other government body or board service for a public interest group or library)
c) Additional service to the school or University (such as collaborative work with KU Libraries, or consortia)
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Template 6: Library Faculty without Teaching Component
Category | Percent | Core | Equivalencies | Explanation |
---|---|---|---|---|
Professional Performance | 80% |
Per fiscal year, the allocation of effort for professional performance is based on the demonstration of competence, effectiveness, creativity and initiative in librarianship. The emphasis is on librarians as practitioners.
Law library faculty engage in activities which support the research and scholarly pursuits of faculty, students, the general public, practicing lawyers, pro se advocates, Kansas citizens and the University comprised of but not limited to:
a) development and maintenance of library resources, information systems and collections with a focus on the curricular needs of the law school
b) (reference and outreach services for various constituencies
c) administration of budget, personnel and facilities, through planning and supervision of librarians, staff and student employees.
|
A librarian may be assigned duties by the dean and director, based on the needs of the library and law school in:
a) faculty research
b) instructional services
c) acquisitions, cataloging and technical services
d) public services
e) collection services
f) training students and patrons to use collections, databases and materials
|
This requirement is met through performance of specific duties set out in each librarian’s job description or professional assignments which may include a combination or selection of the above listed activities and equivalencies. |
Scholarship | 10% | Per fiscal year, Law library faculty may produce professional publications, or engage in creative activity or research, which contribute to library science, law librarianship or the legal profession. The allocation may vary depending upon responsibilities or position description. |
Law librarian scholarship may include traditional or nontraditional professional activities including:
a) progress on books or book length guides or reference materials
b) authorship or co-authorship of book chapters or articles
c) annotated bibliographies, indexes or reports
d) presentations at professional meetings, exhibitions, poster sessions or displays
e) bibliographic or technical documentation
f) website design
g) profession related blog postings
|
The list of equivalencies is strictly illustrative. The director, dean and librarian may find any alternative scholarly or research activity as meeting the 10% allocation of effort with a showing that the activity is equivalent, in effort, to the completion of any traditional or nontraditional professional activities listed above. Placement of publications and research work is normally in law library journals, special library journals and related venues. Activities may appear in print or electronically. |
Service | 10% |
Per fiscal year, law library faculty:
serve on 1 or more KU committees (either university or law school);
a) additional service to the Law School, University;
b) serve the public, law firms, law libraries, other academic and special libraries, legal academy, and or the regional, national or international community.
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Service means unpaid work, de minimis payments excepted beyond assigned library responsibilities. The scope of service that may fall under sub (b) is vast and will be determined by each law library faculty member in consultation with or by assignment from the dean and director. A few examples include:
a) Service to the academy, profession, or related fields (such as AALL, KLA or ALA section leadership, ABA site team work, or large-scale professional conference organization)
b) Service to the public (work for the bar, courts or other government body or board service for a public interest group or library)
c) Additional service to the school or University (such as collaborative work with KU Libraries, or consortia)
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School of Law
Green Hall
1535 West 15th Street
Lawrence, KS 66045
785-864-4550
10/12/2021: Converted from PDF page to live web page.
03/25/2014: Allocation of effort approved.
05/12/2009: Faculty Evaluation Plan approved.