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2026-27 Faculty Handbook The college's Faculty Handbook states all relevant policies that are specific to the employment of teaching faculty and guides academic affairs supervisors in applying policies fairly and consistently. Faculty members are also subject to general policies of the College as set forth on the College's website and in the Employee Handbook. Changes and updates to handbook policies and procedures are made through relevant committee decisions, in faculty meetings, and through shared governance with the office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs and the Board of Trustees. TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.

MISSION & HERITAGE OF NORTHWESTERN COLLEGE ................................................................................................... 4 1.1 Mission & Identity................................................................................................................................................... 4 1.2 Statement of Christian Identity .............................................................................................................................. 4 1.3 Vision for Learning .................................................................................................................................................. 5 1.4 Vision for Diversity .................................................................................................................................................. 5 1.5 Institutional Commitments ..................................................................................................................................... 6 2. FACULTY CONSTITUTION................................................................................................................................................. 6 3. ACADEMIC GOVERNANCE ............................................................................................................................................... 8 3.1 The Faculty .............................................................................................................................................................. 8 3.1.1 Faculty Meetings .......................................................................................................................................... 9 3.1.2 Faculty Representatives ................................................................................................................................ 9 3.2 Academic Departments ........................................................................................................................................ 10 3.2.1 Organization of Academic Departments .................................................................................................... 10 3.2.2 Responsibilities of Academic Departments ................................................................................................ 10 3.2.3 Assessment in Academic Departments ...................................................................................................... 13 3.2.4 Review of Academic Departments ............................................................................................................. 13 3.3 Faculty & Campus-Wide Committees ................................................................................................................... 14 3.3.1 Committee Procedures ............................................................................................................................... 14 3.3.2 Elections & Appointments .......................................................................................................................... 15 3.3.3 Duties of Faculty Committees..................................................................................................................... 17 3.3.4 Duties of Campus-Wide Committees ......................................................................................................... 19 3.3.5 Duties of Ongoing Work Groups ................................................................................................................. 19 3.3.6 Faculty Committee Composition ................................................................................................................ 20 3.3.7 Campus-Wide Committee Composition ..................................................................................................... 21 3.3.8 Ongoing Work Group Composition ............................................................................................................ 22 4. FACULTY POLICIES ......................................................................................................................................................... 22 4.1 Academic Freedom ............................................................................................................................................... 22 4.1.1 Academic Freedom in Higher Education .................................................................................................... 22 4.1.2 Academic Freedom in a Christian College .................................................................................................. 23 4.1.3 Summary Statement on Academic Freedom .............................................................................................. 24 4.2 Faculty Appointment ............................................................................................................................................ 24 4.2.1 Terms of Employment ................................................................................................................................ 24 4.2.2 Criteria for Hiring Full-Time Faculty ............................................................................................................ 25 4.2.3 Diversity in Appointment ............................................................................................................................ 25 4.2.4 Standard Procedures for Hiring Full-Time Faculty ...................................................................................... 25 4.2.5 Summer Procedures ................................................................................................................................... 26 4.2.6 Procedures for Making Temporary Positions Continuing ........................................................................... 26 4.2.7 Procedures for Moving Instructors to Tenure-Track .................................................................................. 27 4.2.8 Part-time Appointment .............................................................................................................................. 27 1 4.2.9 Background Checks ..................................................................................................................................... 27 4.2.10 Consulting & Other Services by College Personnel................................................................................... 27 4.2.11 Policy on Outside Employment................................................................................................................. 28 4.2.12 Emeriti Faculty Status ............................................................................................................................... 28 4.2.13 Professor of Practice ................................................................................................................................. 28 4.3 Academic Status & Rank ....................................................................................................................................... 30 4.3.1 Equivalencies & Past Service Credit ............................................................................................................ 30 4.3.2 Faculty Status without Rank or Tenure ...................................................................................................... 32 4.3.3 Faculty Ranks .............................................................................................................................................. 32 4.3.4 Part-Time Faculty Categories ...................................................................................................................... 33 5.

FACULTY RESPONSIBILITIES .......................................................................................................................................... 34 5.1 Teaching ................................................................................................................................................................ 34 5.1.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................ 34 5.1.2 Course Syllabi .............................................................................................................................................. 34 5.1.3 Teaching Load .............................................................................................................................................. 35 5.2 Scholarship ............................................................................................................................................................ 36 5.2.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................ 36 5.2.2 Evaluation of Scholarly & Equivalent Productivity...................................................................................... 36 5.3 Faculty Service ...................................................................................................................................................... 37 5.3.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................ 37 5.3.2 Service Load ................................................................................................................................................ 37 5.3.3 Forms of Faculty Service ............................................................................................................................. 38 5.4 Variations in Faculty Load Distribution ................................................................................................................. 40 5.4.1 Individualized Faculty Load Arrangements ................................................................................................. 40 5.4.2 Excess Service Units and Overload Pay....................................................................................................... 41 5.5 Faculty Citizenship Activities ................................................................................................................................. 41 5.5.1 Faculty Meetings ........................................................................................................................................ 41 5.5.2 Chapel Services ........................................................................................................................................... 42 5.5.3 Official College Events ................................................................................................................................ 42 5.5.4 Chaperoning Student Activities .................................................................................................................. 42 5.6 Faculty Responsibility in the Summer ................................................................................................................... 42 5.7 Confidentiality ...........................................................................................................................................