Instructional Overload Appointment Policy

The MPathways HR system does not allow more than 100% effort on any one appointment. Occasionally faculty will temporarily assume additional instructional duties exceeding their full-time 100% effort (for example: they have a four-course teaching load and agree to teach a fifth course for one term). In such cases, an additional appointment (i.e. new employee record number) is created for the percent of effort over 100%. Such overload circumstances will only be approved in emergency situations or in conditions beyond the unit’s control (for example, last minute medical leaves or resignations, last minute course additions to the schedule or other unusual situations). The intent of this policy is to avoid continuous effort that exceeds 100% appointment fractions term after term and to manage our Conflict of Commitment standards under SPG 201.65.

All overload appointment requests must be properly authorized by the department chair, dean of the college and the provost.  This applies to all tenure-track faculty and LEO faculty. A memo requesting the overload appointment will be sent from the dean of college directly to the provost for approval and signature.  Overload appointments will not be processed without an approved memo on file.

For full-time staff who are interested in teaching for the University of Michigan-Dearborn, overload appointments that increase the overall workload beyond 100% effort will not be permitted.  To avoid such situations, the staff member will only be able to teach as adjunct LEO faculty if the main staff appointment is reduced to absorb the equivalent teaching load (i.e. the staff member will be teaching a 3 credit-hour course at 25% effort so the staff appointment is reduced to 75% for the term in question).  In situations where staff are teaching, the teaching portion of the appointment will be paid at the LEO adjunct lecturer rate of pay and all conditions and terms of the LEO collective bargaining agreement will apply. A memo requesting this appointment will be sent from the department chair and the dean of the college directly to the  provost for approval and signature.

Policy owned by: Provost Office
Last Reviewed: 8/2025
Next Review: 7/2030