FAQ - Faculty RSCA Assigned Time Program

Last updated on 02/29/2024

General

• 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. 

• 3. 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: chhs-rsca@sjsu.edu 
    Humanities and the Arts: humanities-arts-research@sjsu.edu 
    Professional and Global Education: cpge-research@sjsu.edu 
    Science: science-research@sjsu.edu 
    Social Sciences: socialsciences-rsca@sjsu.edu  
    University Library: anamika.megwalu@sjsu.edu 

• 4. 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

• 5. 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. 

• 6. 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.

• 7. 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. 

• 8. Since I have been awarded RSCA assigned time through this program, am I guaranteed to receive the assigned time for the entire duration of my award period, as stated in my award letter?

  • Continuation of your award each year is contingent upon (a) the submission of your RSCA productivity report using the college-specific RSCA metrics by the college deadline in the spring semester, (b) the submission of your three-year progress report in the format prescribed by the Office of Research by the college deadline, (c) successful progress on your scholarly agenda, (d) positive annual review by the college dean, and (e) Vice President for Research & Innovation's approval.

    In addition, the RSCA AT program as a whole is reviewed annually against University budget availability, at which time it may be scaled down or discontinued, and your award may be rescinded. 

     

Probationary Faculty

• 1. 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.

• 2. 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, (c) positive annual review by the college dean, and (d) Vice President for Research & Innovation's approval.

• 3. 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 may apply for a new award for the University Faculty RSCA Assigned Time Program award for a period of three years. You will have a maximum teaching load of 18 WTU (6 WTU of RSCA assigned time) in each year of the 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) positive annual review by the college dean, and (d) Vice President for Research & Innovation's approval.

• 4. 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. You will be required to apply for a new award by submitting your final five-year RSCA productivity report along with the other stated components.

• 5. 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.

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

  • Yes, you must reapply for a new award, which has a period of three years. You should explicitly state that you are applying for renewal, submit your RSCA productivity report, and provide your ongoing or planned scholarly agenda for the next three years of the program and your final five-year report.

• 7. I just went through the RTP process and I am not being retained. The upcoming academic year will be my terminal year. Am I still eligible to participate in the RSCA AT Program during my terminal year?

  • No. Non-retention signifies automatic removal from the RSCA AT Program during your terminal year.  

• 8. 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. However, annual renewal of awards is subject to availability of funds, positive annual review by the college dean, and VPRI approval.

• 9. I joined SJSU this spring semester with one year of service credit, and my contractually awarded assigned time (per CSU-CFA CBA Article 20.36) only covers the spring and fall semesters of this current calendar year. Should I register for the RSCA AT program now?

  • Yes. Please register as Category A so you receive RSCA AT in next year’s spring semester. 

Tenured Faculty

• 1. 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 three years. You would have a maximum teaching load of 18 WTU (6 WTU of RSCA assigned time) in each 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) positive annual review by the college dean, and (d) Vice President for Research & Innovation’s approval.

• 2. I am currently a full-time tenured faculty member. If I receive a three-year Faculty RSCA Assigned Time award and begin either the Faculty Early Retirement Program (FERP) or the Pre-Retirement Reduction in Time Base (PRTB) during the award period, 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.

• 3. I am a tenured faculty in the 5th year of the RSCA AT program. Do I need to reapply to remain in the program? If my application is approved, what will my teaching load be?

  • You will need to reapply in the spring of your 5th year if you wish to continue in the program. If you are approved to remain in the program for an additional 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) positive annual review by the college dean, and (d) Vice President for Research & Innovation’s approval.

• 4. I am in the final year of my five-year RSCA assigned time cycle and might be awarded a sabbatical for the upcoming academic year. Should I apply to renew my participation in the program for the upcoming academic year or wait until the following one?

  • It is up to you to decide when to apply for the next RSCA AT award. Keep in mind:
    
    1. If applying for the award to start immediately after the conclusion of your first award, you need to:
    a. Indicate your sabbatical plans in your application, which will not be held against your application in any way, and
    b. Note that, if approved, your new RSCA AT award will be forfeited for every semester you are on full leave (i.e. the clock is not reset after your return from sabbatical). Additionally, if your reporting requirement coincides with your sabbatical, you are still required to submit the report on time (consistent with your continuing work status during sabbatical as provided by CSU-CFA CBA Article 27.16 [pdf])
    
    2. If planning to apply for the award to start after your return from sabbatical, note that the program terms and conditions are subject to change and the then-prevailing terms and conditions will apply to your new application. Also, we cannot guarantee the availability of the program and/or the continuation of the same terms and conditions in future cycles.

Faculty Administrators

• 1. 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: 
    
    1. Assigned time to the faculty administrator reducing teaching load
    
    2. A grant of funds, equivalent to 50% of the cost of the assigned time, for use in support of the faculty member’s RSCA (but not for faculty salary). This option is ideal if you are not planning on continuing your RSCA at all while in an administrator position.  
    
    NOTE: A combination of assigned time and grant of funds (1 and 2 above): you may elect to continue your RSCA part-time while in an administrator position using a portion of your RSCA assigned time and take the remainder in RSCA funds to be used at a later time.
    
    3. Assigned time to the faculty administrator reducing their administration load while another faculty member takes on a clearly defined portion of the faculty administrator’s duties. In this instance, the assigned time would support the faculty administrator’s RSCA while the other faculty member would be funded from the administrator position budget line.
    
    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.

• 2. I am already in the program and was just recently appointed as chair. My workload no longer affords me to take the full .2 RSCA assigned time. What are my options?

  • You may convert your award in one or more of the following ways: 
    
    1. A grant of funds, equivalent to 50% of the cost of the assigned time, for use in support of the faculty member’s RSCA (but not for faculty salary). This option is ideal if you are not planning on continuing your RSCA at all while in an administrator position.
    
    NOTE: A combination of assigned time and grant of funds: you may elect to continue your RSCA part-time while in an administrator position using a portion of your RSCA assigned time and take the remainder in RSCA funds to be used at a later time.
    
    2. Assigned time to the faculty administrator reducing their administration load while another faculty member takes on a clearly defined portion of the faculty administrator’s duties. In this instance, the assigned time would support the faculty administrator’s RSCA while the other faculty member would be funded from the administrator position budget line.
    
    Please submit your request using the RSCA Assigned Time Award Conversion Request form, which will automatically route to your College Dean for their review and approval. Requests for conversion must be made prior to your college assigned time submission deadline for the semester for which you are requesting the conversion. Note that you may request a RSCA AT award conversion for one semester, an entire academic year, or the entire remaining period of your award. 

• 3. 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.