Faculty Handbook Template

Purpose & scope

This template helps theological institutions produce a faculty handbook that records institutional expectations, academic roles, governance arrangements, professional conduct, appraisal and grievance procedures, and student‑protection provisions. The handbook should be authoritative, dated, version‑controlled and published where students and staff can easily access it.

Core sections to include

Recommended core sections (adapt to local law and institutional mission):

• Introduction: institutional mission, statement of faith (if applicable) and handbook status.
• Governance & reporting: board, executive leaders, academic board and academic oversight responsibilities.
• Faculty roles & responsibilities: teaching, assessment, supervision, office hours, research and continuing professional development.
• Recruitment, appointment & rank: appointment process, contracts, probation and promotion criteria.
• Academic standards & assessment: teaching load, learning outcomes, grading, moderation and academic integrity.
• Student engagement & protection: safeguarding, accommodations, complaints and academic appeals.
• Codes of conduct: professional behaviour, academic freedom, conflicts of interest and social media.
• Performance review & professional development: annual appraisal, promotion and scholarship support.
• Grievance & disciplinary procedures: transparent processes and rights of appeal.
• Operational policies & resources: leave, remuneration overview, IT use, health & safety, and relevant local licences.

Legal and regulatory checklist

Institutions must ensure the handbook and its practices comply with all applicable national, regional and local laws. Include statements that clarify:

• Which parts of the handbook are policy versus guidance.
• That employment contracts or local statutory requirements take precedence where applicable.
• Responsibilities for maintaining accurate public information about programmes and awards.

ITAA emphasises institutional responsibility for legal compliance and that accreditation does not replace statutory requirements.

Drafting and governance process

Adopt a clear process for drafting, approving and reviewing the handbook: assign an editorial owner (e.g., provost or academic director), consult faculty and legal counsel, set review intervals (annually recommended) and log version history. Publish the date of approval and the next review date in the front matter.

Practical drafting tips

• Use clear, plain language and consistent definitions.
• Distinguish policy (mandatory) from procedures (advisory).
• Cross‑reference relevant institutional documents (HR policies, student handbook, QA manual).
• Provide a short FAQ or quick‑reference table for common faculty queries.
• Ensure accessibility of formats (PDF, web, accessible documents) and clear contact routes for policy queries.

Sample front matter (example text)

Faculty Handbook — [Institution Name]

Approved by: [Academic Board or Governing Body]. Effective date: [YYYY‑MM‑DD]. Next review: [YYYY‑MM‑DD].

Purpose: This handbook sets out institutional policies and expectations for faculty. It supplements employment contracts and institutional statutes; where a conflict exists, statutory requirements and formal contracts govern.

Maintaining alignment with quality assurance

Keep the handbook aligned with institutional quality assurance documents (QA manual, assessment policies, programme specifications). Where applicable, list external regulators or recognised quality frameworks that the institution follows and the mechanism for notifying ITAA of significant institutional change.