Ohio University Faculty Senate is considering defining a professor’s workload as more than just time in the classroom.

At last night’s meeting, Annette Graham, chair of the Promotion and Tenure committee, proposed creating a minimum workload policy that would incorporate efforts outside the classroom, including research and service efforts.

“You look at what we do and the hours we spend doing some of these things, and this will help with the ability to prioritize time and do things that we feel are important to us,” Graham said.

The proposed standard provides a base for individual colleges to eventually develop a more detailed workload policy, which also would allow faculty members to negotiate an appropriate workload with their school or department.

Graham presented a list of 30 activities that would be considered part of a faculty member’s workload, which include advising, service leadership, committee work and sponsored research.

The list prompted concerns from some senate members because of the limiting possibility of the definitions.

“Probably what we need to do is to get a holistic idea of what someone’s workload can take on,” said Phyllis Bernt, chairwoman of Faculty Senate. “When you have a list, it becomes very reductionist. We need some sort of reference point, and that’s what we’re looking at.”Making the switch

Also at last night’s meeting, OU Provost Kathy Krendl identified a possible switch to a semester system as one of the top concerns the university should address.

“The truth is, this wasn’t on the horizon until we started strategic planning,” she said. “Three implementation teams recommended it as a change that was fundamental to the university.”

Senate passed a resolution barring a semester switch decision until a survey has been conducted of the entire faculty, giving an opportunity for every faculty member to vote on specific options being considered.

An academic calendar task force, created at the beginning of Winter Quarter, will report its findings to Faculty Senate by the end of the school year, Bernt said.Lengthening the FMLA list

Senate members also unanimously voted to add domestic partners to the list of family members who qualify under approved provisions to the Family and Medical Leave Act.

Faculty members must work a full academic year to become eligible for FMLA, which allows employees to take unpaid leave for certain family and medical reasons.

Previous qualifications for FMLA were vague, Bernt said.

“I think the problem was our handbook didn’t make it clear how you can earn FMLA credit or not,” Bernt said. “You can’t earn it when you don’t work for the institution.”