RSCA Assigned Time Program Terms and Conditions

Last updated on 02/29/2024

    1. The RSCA AT Program is evaluated annually for funding, at which time it may be scaled down or discontinued and awards may be rescinded. 
    2. No overload for academic year teaching is permitted while accepting assigned time through this program. Rare exceptions may be granted by the VPRI, with approval from your Dean for:
      • Fractional amounts that are much less than 3 units
      • Overload funded by extramural agencies for sponsored activity
      • Special sessions instruction
    3. Continuation of the award each year is subject to availability of funds and 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) VPRI approval.
    4. 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 WTUs) 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.
    5. For probationary faculty only: If you are not retained anytime during or at the end of your probationary period, your RSCA AT award will be terminated effective the academic year following receipt of your non-retention notice, i.e. your terminal year.
    6. 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 WTUs of a given academic year unevenly across the two semesters to support teaching schedule needs.
    7. If your work involves any regulated activities (human subjects, vertebrate animals, hazardous materials, etc.), you must seek approval and meet all university requirements for such work.
    8. The funding for this award is provided as “substantial support” for your RSCA and that, under University Intellectual/Creative Property Policy (F98-3 [pdf]) (IP Policy), the University has certain rights to intellectual property resulting from your work under this award. You will abide by the terms of the University IP Policy and cooperate with efforts to protect and promote any intellectual property related to this award. If an invention or discovery is made or a Creative Works is developed, a Disclosure describing the discovery (invention, creative works, or software) shall be prepared and forwarded to the SJSU Office of Innovation.
    9. As an SJSU employee, you are not permitted to have any personal financial interest that would violate California Government Code Section 1090 et seq. or that would result in a Conflict of Interest, as that term is defined in the Political Reform Act, California Government Code Section 81000 et seq. If you receive extramural grant support, you must disclose personal financial interests as required by the laws, regulations, and sponsor/SJSU [pdf] policies governing conflict of interest in research.
    10. A personal ORCiD number: you must make your profile and citations public.

As stipulated in the University Faculty RSCA Assigned Time Program implementation details, all faculty members receiving this award are expected to engage in serious scholarly activity and that such activity will be demonstrable through extramural review and validation. The Division of Research and Innovation will help you pursue the available avenues that may assist you in your RSCA endeavors through the various resources available in the Office of Research and the SJSU Research Foundation.