Page 42 - Faculty Handbook 2021-22

12. Teaching

12.1. Teaching Load

12.1.1. Normal Teaching Load

Teaching assignments are made by the Chairperson of the Department concerned in consultation
with the members of department. However, the teaching loads are based on academic rank as follows:
1) A full time faculty member with a professorial rank normally has a teaching load of 12
credit hours per semester.

2) A full time faculty member with an associate professorial rank normally has a teaching
load of 12 credit hours per semester.

3) A full time faculty member with an assistant professorial rank normally has a teaching load
of 15 credit hours per semester.
4) A full time faculty member with a lecturer rank normally has a teaching load of 18 credit
hours per semester.

Faculty members who have administrative responsibilities assigned to them get load reduction as
specified in Academic Staff Teaching Load Policy.

For summer term, the maximum teaching load for all faculty members is set at 6 credit hours
irrespective of their ranks. Under special circumstances, and with the approval of the College
Dean and the DVC, this load may be extended to 9 credit hours.

12.1.2. Teaching Overload
As a matter of policy, teaching overload is discouraged as it affects the quality of teaching and
puts additional burden on the faculty member. However, in exceptional circumstances, and as a
last resort, the uncovered teaching load shall be assigned to the existing full time faculty member
within the department equitably.

The faculty member is expected to teach the extra course(s) in the same manner as he/she

teaches the courses in his/her normal load. The faculty member shall be paid for this extra work
as per “Academic Staff Teaching Load Policy”.
(For more details, refer to DU Academic Staff Teaching Load Policy - DU-AC-002)

12.2. Academic Advising and Office Hours

12.2.1. Academic Advising
Academic advising is an important academic support service at DU, which allows the student to

have regular interaction with their advisor to discuss issues relating to their academic progress
and other problems related to their studies. It is an integral part of the academic duties of every
faculty member. The Chairperson of the Department concerned is responsible for assigning an
academic advisor for each student. As far as possible, it is ensured that the number of advisees is
evenly distributed among advisors. All academic advisors are provided with appropriate access to
their advisee’s record in “LOGSIS”, in order to undertake their advisor role efficiently. LOGSIS is
an online IT-based system used by DU for students’ registration and data management.

Dhofar University Faculty Handbook (2021-22) Page 38