Overview

College space is a limited resource that must be allocated strategically to support the mission and priorities of the College of Visual and Performing Arts (VPA). These guidelines ensure that all space is used effectively, remains adaptable to evolving needs, and is deployed in the best interest of the college and University.

Guiding Principles

• All space will be allocated with flexibility in mind to allow the college to adapt to changes in functions, curricula, programs, and technologies.

• As with all college resources, space should be deployed in the most efficient and effective manner to best support the mission and strategic goals of the college.

• Office space is University property that is allocated to a given unit, as available, in a manner that best advances the mission and priorities of the college and University. No unit “owns” the space that has been allocated to it, and allocations may be adjusted at any time as deemed appropriate by the University or the dean of the college.

• Space allocations are made to units, not to individuals.

• Conference rooms and office service spaces should be shared among one or more units whenever possible to maximize space utilization.

Workspace Assignments

Tenured, tenure-track, and continuing faculty can typically expect to be assigned a private or semi-private office within their home school/department. Faculty will be assigned only one workspace, even when they hold a joint appointment with another department or program or when they are serving as school director/department chair or in an administrative leadership position.

Members of the tenured or tenure-track faculty who are serving in full-time administrative leadership positions (e.g., associate dean) can expect to have one office or workspace assigned to them by the dean of the college.

Part-time instructors will not be assigned a private workspace, though they will be provided space that is appropriate for office hours and other teaching needs.

Unpaid appointments, including courtesy appointments, retired faculty, and emeritus faculty, will not be provided workspace.

Assignment of staff workspaces will be made by the supervisor and will be aligned with the nature of the work; not all staff will have private offices or workstations. Staff whose job responsibilities include welcoming visitors or serving as a first point of contact will typically not be assigned an individual office. Student employees will not be assigned individual offices.

Vacating Work/Studio Space

Tenured and tenure-track faculty intending to retire or separate from the college must vacate office/studio spaces when teaching obligations have ceased. Those retiring after concluding teaching in the fall semester should vacate offices/studios by January 1, and those retiring after concluding teaching in the spring semester by July 1. It should be noted that formal retirement agreements may include a later separation date in order to preserve retirement benefits and years of service calculations; however, retirees will be expected to observe the January 1/July 1 dates to vacate offices/studios. These deadlines allow the unit opportunity to revise space assignments and conduct maintenance and renovations. If extenuating circumstances exist, the chair/director should discuss these with the dean to request an extension not to exceed one semester beyond the faculty member’s retirement date.

Staff and non-tenure-track faculty who retire or separate from the college are expected to vacate their offices/studios or workspaces at the conclusion of their last day of service to the college.

Personal books, paperwork, or other belongings left behind after an employee departs will be discarded.