| Introduction | Scope | SSU | CSU | Legal | Navigation | Searching |
| Printing This Handbook |

INTRODUCTION

This handbook is for faculty members of Sonoma State University. It is written primarily for employees appointed to academic positions, however, many sections will be applicable to academic-administrative and student service professional employees. The information in this handbook should provide an understanding of the operations of the university as well as provide an orientation to the academic community of work that a faculty member participates in through teaching, scholarship, research, creative achievements, public service, and service to the campus and community.

This handbook does not replace written policies of the University, including the collective bargaining agreement between the California State University and the California Faculty Association, but intends to provide links to official policies, procedures, and guides to faculty rights and responsibilities and the many services which are administered in support of the faculty and academic community. In the event that a formal policy statement exists, a brief description of the subject is provided and the official University link is cited. Links to the California State University, the State of California, and additional citations to state and federal laws may also be provided.

[back to top]

Scope Of The Faculty Handbook and Conducting Additional Research

This is a general reference handbook and is not intended as an exhaustive source of information. Each Section will provide an alphabetical list of pertinent topics, with brief descriptions for each topic and primary web sites for specific details. If faculty wish to conduct research in more depth, additional historical information is available at the following sites:

Sonoma State University

http://www.sonoma.edu

http://www.sonoma.edu/UAffairs/policies

http://www.sonoma.edu/aa/fa/

http://www.sonoma.edu/pubs/catalog/

[back to top]

California State University

http://www.calstate.edu

http://www.calstate.edu/search_find/co_index.shtml

http://www.calstate.edu/infocenter

http://www.calstate.edu/administration

http://www.calstate.edu/AcadSen

http://www.calstate.edu/LaborRel/Contracts_HTML/CFA_CONTRACT/CFAtoc.shtml

State of California, Constitution, Statutes, and Education Code

http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/calaw.html

[back to top]

California Code Of Regulations, Title 5 - ( Formerly named the California Administrative Code.)

http://www.calregs.com

The policies and procedures of Sonoma State University are subject to continual review and revision, as are various state and federal laws and Trustee policy referenced in this handbook. Faculty members should also consult with their respective department chairs, directors, deans or vice presidents regarding changes to this information as well as specific guidelines and operating procedures for each department and school.

The Faculty Handbook does not create contractual rights between SSU and any faculty member. In accordance with campus policy on web pages, the contents of this handbook will be reviewed at least once a semester. This handbook supersedes all prior faculty handbooks.

Using This Web Site

Navigating

The Table of Contents displays key words associated with the information in each Section. Clicking on one of the Section headings in the Table of Contents will display those topics in the main body of this page. Each Section contains several related topics. For example, Section 1 includes information on the history and governance of both the California State University system and Sonoma State University. It also includes related topics such as the university's mission, academic and administrative organizational structure, faculty governance and school and program accreditation.

In the Table of Contents, you may click on the Home link to return to the Home Page which is the Faculty Affairs Office website.

At the end of each Section, the Top of Section link will return you to the top of that specific Section.

[back to top]

Searching The Faculty Handbook

The Subject Index, located in Section 11, is an alphabetical listing of subjects in this Faculty Handbook. Each subject listed is linked to the page within the Handbook that provides the primary information on the subject. If additional areas within the Handbook provide more detailed information, the link or direction will be provided. For example, the subject "Absence from Work Assignments" is listed in Section 11. Within that area of the Handbook, the topics of leave for jury duty, sick leave, medical leave, paternity leave, and many related topics are also covered. At the end of that description, you will be directed to the section titled "Leaves" which provides additional information on related "Absences from Work Assignments" such as, professional development leave, approval of a sabbatical, approval of a difference in pay (DIP) leave, etc.

[back to top]

Linking

Links in this handbook will open in the same browser window, except for the links in Section 11 which open in a new browser window. To return to the handbook, use the back button or address history drop-down menu to find the handbook URL. You can also bookmark the handbook to make it easier to return to it.

Some of the links to web sites listed in this handbook may not be regularly updated by the agency. If you receive a message that a link cannot be found, try the main site for the page and then search their directory. The main links include:

http://www.calstate.edu

http://www.ca.gov/

http://www.sonoma.edu

Printing

You may wish to print a copy of the Faculty Handbook to use as a reference guide during times that the campus server may become unavailable due to routine service work or an emergency, such as during recovery immediately following an earthquake. Most campus technology users should be able to print this handbook using the "Print" command on the tool bar.

Top of Introduction