Flexibility is inherent in most faculty members’ work schedules, and the University expects full-time faculty members to participate fully in their university workspace and on-campus intellectual and educational community. Faculty members’ on-campus presence promotes student engagement, enriches connections among scholars, and strengthens the university’s intellectual community. Remote work arrangements for full-time, non-tenure-line faculty should be rare and are only permitted with the approval of the department head, human resources, and the dean. Per the Senior Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs, tenure-line faculty are not eligible to work remotely during the fall and/or spring academic semesters.
Before submitting a request for remote work, faculty members should familiarize themselves with the University’s guidance on Faculty Remote Work. Per University policy, only full-time non-tenure-line faculty can be approved for 100% remote work in non-restricted states in the United States. Working remotely outside of the U.S. is not permitted.
In the College of IST, faculty must meet specific criteria and responsibilities to be considered for remote work arrangements. These include the following:
- Faculty must be at the full-time rank of Associate Teaching Professor, Teaching Professor, or Professor of Practice, and they must have a teaching record for at least the last five consecutive years within IST;
- In annual reviews conducted within the College of IST, faculty must have received ratings of at least “Successful” (previously “Meeting Expectations”) in all evaluated areas for all five review periods; and
- Faculty must not have any unresolved disciplinary matters.
Approval will be granted by the dean for a maximum period of twelve months, beginning on the date the faculty member departs from University Park. Extensions may be requested, subject to review and approval.
Process:
- The faculty member must first consult with their department head to discuss the potential for a remote work arrangement.
- With department head approval to explore the option, the faculty member should contact IST’s HR partner via email, indicating their desired remote work location, to determine if that location is permissible under the current University guidelines.
- Upon confirmation from HR, the faculty member emails the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies (and the Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Affairs if they have graduate teaching responsibilities) to verify that there are courses that are aligned with their qualifications and that can (and need to) be taught in a fully remote capacity for the upcoming year.
- If suitable courses are available, the faculty member will then submit a formal request for remote work to the dean via email, copying the department head, IST HR, and the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies.
- If the dean approves the request, the faculty member will document the remote work arrangement in Workday. Please see the Guidance for Faculty Entering a Flexible Work Arrangement in Workday for additional information.
- If the dean does not approve the request (or does not approve extension of a previously approved remote arrangement), the faculty member will continue their teaching and other responsibilities on the University Park campus, adhering to University policy on faculty work.
As per IST_AD-01, faculty approved for remote work are asked to relinquish their office space. If they return to resident instruction, they may be returning to less preferred office space (for example, a teaching professor in a windowed office may be returning to an interior smaller office).
Non-tenure-line teaching professors are not hired into fully remote positions in IST.
Approved by Dean Tapia 7/30/2025