Full-time Faculty - The following procedures are used in recruiting full-time faculty:

     1) Recommendation, by the administration and faculty, subject to the chancellors approval, of Notre Dame Seminary graduates for higher studies or special training with a view to joining the faculty.

     2) Advertisements in appropriate journals.

     3) Personal contacts by the administration, often with faculty suggestions or approval, with qualified individuals. In some cases, such individuals have been teachers at Notre Dame Seminary in the past, at least part-time, or have studied at the seminary.

Suitable candidates are then usually invited to spend a few days at the seminary; they address the resident faculty on a topic appropriate to their field of competence, interview administration officials and as many faculty as possible, and have the opportunity to meet and address the students. There follows the usual procedure: faculty consultative vote, deliberative vote of the Contract Review Committee, and approval of the chancellor. Where the candidate is already well known to the faculty, e.g. a recent graduate or teacher of Notre Dame Seminary, the visit may be dispensed with. 

In the past, special search committees of the faculty have been established to fill important posts, such as president-rector or academic dean; this has not been the case in the last decade, where such positions have been filled by persons already part of the full-time faculty.

Part-Time Faculty - The process of recruiting part-time faculty (i.e. simply to teach a particular course) is more informal, being generally effected by the Academic Dean, with the approval of the President-Rector, or by the Director of Pastoral Field Education in what touches his area. Frequently, there is faculty input by way of recommendation and approval.

To qualify as faculty members of Notre Dame Seminary candidates must have earned at least a masters degree or licentiate. If involved in full-time teaching, they must ordinarily intend to pursue the doctorate in their field of specialization. A normal full-time teaching load is three courses per semester. 

In the past, as in the present, Notre Dame Seminary hires teaching staff without discrimination in respect to sex, race, or religion. However, as a Roman Catholic Divinity School, the particular need it has for a full-time faculty qualified to train men for the priesthood and help them to accept a life-style expected of them, has meant and will continue to mean that most of the full-time faculty will be priests themselves. At the same time, subject to approval by the Board of Trustees, the seminary is open to the inclusion of other competent men and women as full-time members of the academic and/or formation staff.

The faculty who are engaged in priestly formation as well as teaching or administration are considered full-time faculty. 

Notre Dame does not have a system of tenure. A full-time faculty member is, however, considered to have rank if he or she has been offered, and has accepted a three year contract. A faculty member who has rank and has a doctorate in his or her field of specialization has the title of Full Professor.

A part-time faculty member is someone who is under contract for a specific course or courses only. Participation in meetings of the Faculty Council is requested only for the first and last meetings of the semester, though they may be invited to attend other meetings (except those devoted to student evaluation). Their participation in the student evaluation process is effected through submission of written comments on students in their courses. 

Part-time faculty may be contracted by the Academic Dean with the approval of the President-Rector, and for the pastoral area, after consulting the Director of Pastoral Field Education.

The President-Rector of Notre Dame Seminary has the final responsibility of the appointment of faculty, according to the following procedures:

     1) New faculty members are hired after:
          a) A consultative vote of the faculty members of rank in conference;
          b) A deliberative vote of the Contract Review Committee;
          c) Approval of the Chancellor and Board of Trustees.

     2) Faculty contracts are renewed for one or two years after a deliberative vote of the Contract Review Committee.

     3) Faculty contracts are renewed for three years after:
          a) A consultative vote of the faculty members of rank in conference;
          b) A deliberative vote of the Contract Review Committee;
          c) Approval of the chancellor.

     4) Full-time faculty members who are priests will be paid according to the archdiocesan salary scale, with room and board. Salary raises and increments shall also be contingent upon the cost of living index adopted by the archdiocese. If a faculty member requests or requires off-campus residence, mutual agreement can be reached with the approval of the chancellor. Fringe benefits include professional convention or book allowance of $600.00; hospitalization, retirement, and social security according to applicable rates.

     5) Each new faculty member will file with the secretary of the President-Rector a curriculum vitae on the appropriate form, to be updated as requested.

Full-time Faculty

Prior to renewal of contract, full-time faculty must complete a written self-evaluation, assessing themselves according to the following:

-Teaching (listing number of course hours, assessing strengths and weaknesses)
- Publication and Research
- Involvement in the Spiritual Formation Program of Notre Dame Seminary (assessing their strengths and weaknesses in this regard)
- Community services outside the seminary (parish assistance, committees, retreat work, lectures, etc.)
- Continuing Education or Professional Seminars attended within the last twelve months

Part-Time Faculty

Since most part-time faculty have considerable, often full-time, commitments outside the seminary, their evaluation is more informal, principally concerned with teaching ability; criteria of this (to be evaluated by the dean) are contained in the course evaluation forms, viz.:

- Command of subject, and ability to communicate
- Statement of objectives and organization of material
- Discussion of recent developments, and contrasting points of view
- Suitability of tests, papers, and grading policies
- Encouragement of student participation and creative thought
- Appropriateness of assigned readings
- Availability for student consultation
- Content and pace of the course

Written contracts covering terms and conditions of employment will be issued by the President-Rector on January 15^th for the following school year. Faculty members will return their signed contract by February 15^th or notify the President-Rector of their non-renewal. 

After one year of service a faculty members contract may be renewed for a two year term; after two years of service a three year contract may be offered. 

If the President-Rector, in consultation with other members of the Contract Review Committee, does not wish to offer a faculty member the contract that he or she would be entitled to according to the normal schedule for renewal of contracts, but wishes to renew it for only one year, they should discuss their reasons with the faculty member and make specific suggestions in writing of his or her professional improvement. The decision not to offer a contract is derived by a deliberative vote of the Contract Review Committee.

When reason arises for non-renewal of a faculty contract, the Contract Review Committee should discuss the matter in a personal conference with the faculty member concerned. If the non-renewal of contract is for professional deficiencies, specific recommendations and suggestions should be made in writing to the faculty member for his or her improvement. A contract would not be renewed only if said recommendations have gone unheeded.

When serious reason arises and it seems in the best interest of the Notre Dame Community, after deliberative vote of the Contract Review Committee, a faculty members services may be terminated. The faculty member must be paid in full. If the faculty member is of rank, the other faculty members of rank must be consulted.

1) In the case where professors feel they have a grievance, owing to a non-renewal of contract, or not receiving the contract they would ordinarily be entitled to, efforts should first be made to settle the matter in an informal and amicable manner. As noted above, if this procedure is due to alleged professional deficiencies, the matter should be discussed in a personal interview of the professor with the Contract Review Committee, and, as necessary, specific suggestions for improvement should be made to the professor in writing. A similar informal procedure will be followed in the case of resolution of conflicts regarding correctness of theological expression on the part of faculty members. (Cf. PPF #505)

2) If the above procedure does not settle the matter (i.e. the professor still feels a grievance), an ad hoc Faculty Appeal Committee should be established. This should consist of three faculty members - preferable volunteers - of whom at least two are familiar with the professors area of competence. No member of the Contract Review Committee should serve on this committee.

3) The Appeal Committee will meet with the professor in question, to hear and discuss his side of the question. They should, as necessary, review his course outlines and notes, assigned readings, tests, grading policies, student course evaluations, together with the self-evaluation presented to the Contract Review Committee prior to the interview with them.

4) The same committee may interview appropriate students and even co-opt them on to the committee, if deemed necessary.

5) The final decision of the Appeal Committee will be presented to the Contract Review Committee by way of recommendation.

6) If this decision is unsatisfactory to the professor, he has the right to appeal, to request a re-hearing. If this request is reasonable, a new Appeal Committee will be established to review the matter again.

7) Additionally, at any stage, the professor retains the right to appeal directly to the ultimate authority for contracts, i.e. the Chancellor and the Board of Trustees.

Notre Dame Seminary encourages study and progress in scholarship among the faculty. After three years of continuous and effective service, a full-time faculty member may apply for a leave of absence for advanced study, with the endorsement of the Academic Dean and the approval of the President-Rector.

This sabbatical is to be sought one year in advance by written application which should include: (1) a statement of purpose; (2) the location and duration of the sabbatical; (3) a plan of study; (4) a declaration of intent to return and teach at Notre Dame Seminary upon expiration of leave. Notre Dame Seminary will pay one-half years salary after three years of service and a full years salary after five years of service.

Full-time faculty members may accept regular employment at another academic (or other) institution only when arrangements have been approved by the Academic Dean and the President-Rector.

Full-time faculty members are encouraged to seek membership in learned societies in their respective discipline. Faculty members are responsible for their personal membership. 

Full-time faculty members are encouraged to purchase academic references and attend professional conferences whenever possible. Notre Dame reimburses expenses incurred by a full-time faculty member up to $650.00.

The schedule, days and hours of classes are to be determined by the Academic Dean. Faculty members may vary classroom procedures (lectures, seminars, small gatherings, oral exams, etc.) provided academic requirements are guaranteed. The Dean is to be notified of changes in schedule.

Faculty members unable to meet their class must post notice to that effect on the students bulletin board one day in advance and advise the Academic Dean of their absence. Any lengthy absence requires approval of the Academic Dean and the President-Rector.

1) Faculty members will follow the policies in the matters of curriculum, organization, and academic freedom. They select their own texts and reference books.

2) Visiting lecturers, with or without compensation, may be invited upon consultation with the Academic Dean. If compensation is needed, the professor should submit the request to the Director of Finance at the beginning of the semester.

3) Before the dates set for pre-registration professors are required to submit to the Academic Dean a prospectus and bibliography of the courses they are to offer during the coming semester. This prospectus and bibliography will be available for student inspection. Before the beginning of each semester professors are required to submit to the registrar a list of the text(s) or a set of duplicated notes which they expect their students to purchase.

4) Class attendance policies should be studied and applied by all faculty members, according to their discretion, e.g.:
          a) non-attendance may lead to suspension.
          b) non-presence is automatically recorded absence, double cut on last day before, first day after recess (Thanksgiving, Christmas, Mardi-Gras, Easter.)
          c) absences one more than double the number of times the class meets per week (for any reason) incur semester forfeit and FA (waiver only by the Academic Dean).

5) With the permission of the Academic Dean, a student may take up to two courses (six credit hours) at one of the consortium colleges. If these courses are intended to substitute or supplement seminary graduate courses, arrangements must be made so that the work done for them will be raised to the graduate level. Students will be allowed to take reading courses only when it is impossible for them to take the core course in question through normal classroom instruction.

6) Examinations are to be given as scheduled. Permission to individual students, by a professor, for a change in the exam schedule will not be granted. In an exceptional situation, the Academic Dean and the Rector could possibly grant such a request. All student papers and exams should be returned by the professor to the student in a timely manner, and with appropriate evaluations.

7) All resident students and all continuing off-campus students are required to pre-register for the next semester on the dates set in the calendar.

8) Academic reports are due to students and bishop-superiors at the end of each semester. Faculty members will return grades to the Academic Dean within the period specified after the close of the semester, applying the following standards:

I - Incomplete (required work lacking); becomes F if work still incomplete six weeks after the close of the semester; i.e., date of last exam).

Student Files - Information Release Policies

Federal Law (amendment to Part C of the General Education provisions Act (1974), known as the Buckley Amendment).

Students of age, i.e. over 18 (and parents of under-age students), have the right to inspect and review their files, not only academic, but personal, e.g. psychological test, health data, family background, counselor ratings and observations, verified reports of serious or recurrent behavior patterns (sec. 438. (a)). Contrariwise, their rights are protected against unauthorized inspection by third parties (ibid., (b)), other than the following: Other school officials, including teachers within the educational institution or local educational agency who have legitimate educational interests ((b) (1) (A)). Any other inspection requires written permission from the student (or parents, if under-age). 

At Notre Dame seminary, there are two types of student records: academic and scholastic, kept in files in the Academic Deans office; and personal (medical, psychological, letters of recommendations, self-evaluations, etc.), which are kept in the rectors files.

a) Academic Records - After initial inspection, prior to the students entry, by the Admissions Board, the only persons who have access to his records are the Academic Dean, Registrar, and, in cases determined by the Dean, the Assistant Dean, the Director of the M.A. program (for M.A. students) and the Director of the Philosophy program (for philosophy students). The student must give written permission for anyone else to review his files.

b) Personal Records - After initial inspection, prior to the students entry, by the Admissions Board, only the Rector has access to his personal records, and, in cases determined by the rector, members of the Formation Committee, in connection with student evaluation. The student must give written permission for anyone else to review these files.

Upon written request, whether to the rector or the Academic Dean, the student is free to inspect his files at any time. Moreover, seminarians, when they begin their studies, are asked to sign a release form (valid for the duration of their stay at Notre Dame) permitting the seminary administration to send academic transcripts and evaluation reports to their ecclesiastical ordinary and vocation director, in accordance with ecclesiastical law.

Note: The Buckley Amendment (438. (b) (1), (C) 7 (D), and (4) (A)A also makes provision for inspection of student files, in well-defined circumstances, by certain state and federal officials and agencies, chiefly in connection with federally-funded programs and student financial aid. This has rarely occurred at Notre Dame; when it does, a written note is appended to the student file, indicating who sought the information and why (cf. above (4) (A)).

All faculty members at Notre Dame Seminary enjoy appropriate academic freedom.... This freedom must be understood in the context of the purpose of the Seminary and balanced by the rights of the students, the institution, and the concerns of the church. [1][1] 

One of a persons basic obligations, and therefore his or her right, is to seek the truth and to give expression to it. As the Second Vatican Council stated: It is in accordance with their dignity that all men (and women), because they are persons, that is, beings endowed with reason and free will and therefore bearing personal responsibility, are both impelled by their nature and bound by a moral obligation to seek the truth, especially religious truth. [2][2] 

Within the limits of orthodox Catholic belief as established by the Magisterium there exists a legitimate pluralism of theological positions. Not only will this pluralism be honored in its opinions and its representatives but an effort will be made, especially in the employment of teachers, to assure the students of an understanding and sympathetic appreciation of theological positions. Each faculty member is entitled to freedom for pursuing research in his or her respective field.  

Notre Dame is a Catholic seminary and school of theology whose central function is the preparation of seminarians for the Catholic priesthood. It should be remembered that the seminary is by its nature a community of persons assisting each other in the pursuit of truth. Catholic belief holds that Christ and the Church afford sure access to divinely revealed truths. It is to obtain a fuller knowledge and understanding of these truths contained in the Sacred Scriptures and Tradition, and to deepen convictions in these truths with a view to proclaiming them to others, that seminarians study and that the seminary faculty does research, teaches, and publishes. This appropriate seminary order requires that in their functions in this Catholic seminary they nurture and manifest loyalty to the Church and its faith as well as to Christ. Non-Catholics accepted as members of the administration, faculty or student body are, of course, not expected to embrace the Catholic Faith. They should manifest the same respect for Catholic theological positions as they would expect for their own. 

Notre Dame Seminary, as a Catholic institution, is responsible to the Archbishop of New Orleans. In this context, no faculty member is free to promote anything contrary to Catholic faith or morals, as defined or authoritatively taught by the Churchs Magisterium. 

Finally, members of the administration, faculty, and student body will manifest respect for one anothers opinions and be ever courteous in discussing them.