Policy on Course Buyouts

Last update: 05/28/2024 - 10:40am

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Reason for Policy

To define and clarify the expectations regarding course buyouts, and to outline expectations of faculty on course buyouts.


Entities Affected

Faculty, department heads, deans, divisional associate deans, ASU associate directors, ASU operations and fiscal/payroll staff in CAS.


Enactment & Revisions

Revised 5/6/2024


Policy Statement

A course buyout relieves the faculty member of work related to that course only. The faculty member is expected to continue all other professional responsibilities, including other teaching, advising, and service obligations. Policies regarding time away from campus during the academic year continue to pertain. Such a buyout could be to teach in another unit, or for research or administrative time.

Effective July 1, 2024 CAS buyout rates are:

  1. 20% of the faculty member's base salary plus OPE for those in the natural sciences.
  2. 1/9 of the faculty member's base salary plus OPE for those in the humanities or social sciences.

The number of course buyouts and course releases for an individual faculty member may not exceed half of the faculty member's regular teaching load for the year, unless approved by the dean.