- TTU
- TLPDC Home
- New Faculty Resources
Over time, we have accumulated a list of questions that many new faculty have as they begin their journey at Texas Tech. While this list is certainly not exhaustive, we hope it will be helpful to you to review some of our more frequently asked questions. If you don't find the answers you're looking for here, please feel free to reach out to the TLPDC, and we will be happy to help or put you in contact with someone who can. For more information, contact nfo@ttu.edu.
Useful Websites:
- Faculty Success, Office of the Provost
- Human Resources
General Questions
What's the difference between department chairs, school directors, and area coordinators?
These are the different terms used in our colleges to describe unit-level leadership. For example, the College of Arts & Sciences has departments and chairs, the College of Visual & Performing Arts has schools and directors, and the College of Business has areas and coordinators.
How does TTU support faculty members?
- International Affairs
- Research Services
- Human Resources
- Faculty Senate
- TTU supports all faculty members and works to cultivate and expand resources dedicated to meeting the needs of our faculty. The Office of Faculty Success is a central resource for all faculty members and coordinates with chairs, directors, and area coordinators to provide faculty members with support. Besides this office, faculty members are also directly supported by the following (non-exhaustive list of) offices and units:
Where can I learn more about the University's Sports Facilities?
- Our Department of University Recreation (URec) manages recreational sports facilities and activities. URec has information about faculty memberships available on its website.
- Information about Texas Tech Athletics and its associated programs and facilities is housed on the university's official Athletics website: https://texastech.com/. This includes information about season and single-game tickets for sporting events.
What is the university's policy on campus carry?
Please review the information about campus carry here. If you have specific questions from reviewing that information, please first share those with your chair, director, or area coordinator. Concerns that cannot be locally addressed may be directed to the Vice Provost for Faculty Success.
How do I get things like an office computer and printer? What can I expect the university to pay for in terms of general stuff to do my job vs. what do I have to pay for (e.g., computer, programs, printing, safety infrastructure, etc.)
Please contact your department chair, school director, or area coordinator.
Why didn't I get access to Blackboard until after the semester started? Why does the semester start in August, but I cannot access any services because the start date is September 1? No library, no parking, etc. In charge of hundreds of students...not technically an employee yet.
- Access to software systems like Blackboard and Raiderlink depends on a faculty member having an assigned TTU email and R number. This cannot happen until the faculty member's hiring paperwork is fully processed. If that paperwork is delayed (common reasons include late hire date and backlog at the unit level), the new faculty member cannot be assigned a TTU email address. The sooner the hiring paperwork is fully processed, the quicker the new faculty member can access all TTU systems, including facilities and parking.
- If you experience a delay in your access to Blackboard, please email nfo@ttu.edu so that we can assist you.
How do I gain access to buildings/classrooms/labs?
- Access to buildings and classrooms are generally granted in two ways depending on the building.
- University ID Card (Raider Card): Some buildings and labs on campus require university ID card access permissions. These access requests are granted through your department/supervisor generally through the ePAF process (process used to establish your employment). Please contact your department to ensure that you will be granted access to the correct facilities. To request a Raider Card, please visit the University ID Office website.
- Key Management System: Your department/supervisor will place a request for your key access to facilities. Please contact your department for assistance.
Specifics about parking on campus
Visit the TTU Transportation and Parking Services website for more information. Texas Tech University and System employees can purchase a parking ePermit, which provides on-campus parking on the TTU campus. Parking is managed online through My Parking Account, including permits, contact information, vehicles, and citations. Since parking permits are electronic, ensure your license plate number is correct in your My Parking Account.
Hiring, Employment, and Leave Questions
Do I need to attend New Employee Orientation as well as New Faculty Orientation?
No. New Faculty Orientation is designed to meet the unique needs of faculty as they transition to teaching and research at Texas Tech University. New Faculty Orientation replaces New Employee Orientation for those joining Texas Tech under a faculty rank.
Where can I find information about New Faculty Orientation?
- New Faculty Orientation is held twice per academic year - August and January. Please note that this day is mandatory for all new faculty, including tenure and non-tenure track. If a faculty member's duty point is in Lubbock, the expectation is to attend in person. If the faculty member's duty point is not Lubbock, they will be given a link to participate in this event virtually.
- August New Faculty Orientation information can be found here. Those faculty joining the university beginning in either the summer or fall semesters should attend this session.
- January New Faculty Orientation information can be found here. Those faculty joining the university beginning with the spring semester should attend this session.
Where can I find the sessions that count toward the additional three (3) hours of professional development required as a part of New Faculty Orientation?
The sessions available specifically for new faculty can be found on the Teaching, Learning, and Professional Development Center's registration system under the New Faculty Series tab. Any session listed there will count toward these additional hours.
What hiring paperwork can be completed prior to arrival?
- Kenexa (Brassring) electronic onboarding. To use this option, the employee would have had to apply for their position through the Kenexa portal.
- The link to the new hire documents from the HR website. This option is used for anyone not going through Kenexa (direct hire, spousal accommodation, etc.) Read the Detailed New Employee Checklist for some information about each document.
- There are two ways to complete new hire paperwork:
What hiring paperwork must be completed upon arrival?
The I9 and E-Verify are the only new hire documents that require an employee to be in-person to complete. All other documents can be completed and submitted to your department prior to arrival.
Are there required trainings other than New Faculty Orientation that must be completed at the beginning of my employment? How will I know where to find these?
There are several required, self-paced compliance videos available through the Cornerstone learning system. These compliance trainings include mandatory EEO, Title IX, The Clery Act, and Ethical Conduct Compliance Training, New Faculty Orientation - Equal Employment Office, New Faculty Orientation - Faculty Athletics Representative (NCAA Compliance requirement), Safety Awareness, Cybersecurity, and FERPA training that are required by Texas Tech University for all employees regardless of their position. These must all be completed prior to your 30th day of employment (for most faculty, this date will be October 1 for fall hires and February 1 for spring hires) with the exception of FERPA training, which must be completed prior to gaining access to student information for your classes including access to Blackboard. In collaboration with Human Resources, the NFO staff will begin assigning these trainings automatically on or around August 1st to those who already have eRaider credentials and will continue to add them periodically after that as eRaider credentials are established.
How do you know if your contract will continue next year?
- Lecturers, Research Professors, and Professors of Practice are non-tenure-acquiring positions that are annual appointments until the faculty member holds a continuing appointment. Individuals in these positions who do not yet have a continuing appointment will be notified on or before June 15 if their appointments will be renewed for the next academic year. Tenure-acquiring faculty positions are not annually appointed positions, so pre-tenure faculty members will not receive annual reappointment letters.
- OP 32.20 describes non-reappointment policies and procedures for non-tenure-acquiring faculty members who do not yet hold a continued appointment and for pre-tenure faculty members in their first three years.
I have a 9-month, teaching-focused appointment (Lecturer), but I am interested in doing externally funded educational research during the summers. Is there anything I should know that would impede or complicate that?
There is no issue with this unless you plan to use TTU facilities for that research. In that case, start a conversation with your department chair, school director, or area coordinator.
Will summer employment be an option for me?
This depends on your position type and your unit's needs. Many full-time faculty on 9-month appointments are offered the opportunity to teach during summer terms. Generally, this is a means of earning additional compensation. Faculty members are also encouraged to seek external funding opportunities supporting summer work. If you have questions, talk with your chair, director, or area coordinator.
As a salaried employee, I have no idea how/when/if I'm to report leave. I don't take leave during instructional hours. So...? And then there's exempt vs. non-exempt. I can't ever remember which is which or what it even means. Exempt from what? Reporting leave?
- An exempt employee is exempt from reporting hours worked and overtime payments. Exempt employees are paid a salary that is only reduced when the employee does not have enough leave to cover the leave taken and reported. Most faculty positions are considered exempt, according to the Department of Labor. Read thisfact sheetfor more information.
- At TTU, most of our faculty are 9-month faculty, and because of State of Texas regulations, 9-month faculty only accrue sick leave. Only 12-month faculty will accrue and report vacation leave. ReadOP 32.11for TTU's faculty policy on sick leave.
- A nonexempt employee must report hours worked to be paid. Their pay may fluctuate depending on the number of working hours in the pay period. If a nonexempt employee works over 40 hours in one work week, they would be paid overtime; however, since we are a public, state agency, we utilize comp time.
- More OPs to reference are OP 70.01andOP 70.17.
As faculty, do we have formal sick days/bereavement days?
TTU's Sick Leave policy is available at TTU/ HR Home/Employee Benefits/Leave/Sick Leave.
How many paid vacation days am I allowed?
TTU's Vacation Leave policy is available at TTU/HR Home/Employee Benefits/Leave/Vacation Leave.
I used my old address in my I-9/W-4 before I moved and got my TX address, how do I change my address?
- Once you have access to Raiderlink, you should be able to update your address from there by following these steps:
- Go to Raiderlink, select the Employee tab, and under My Texas Tech Information they have the employee dashboard.
- From there, select the 4 square looking symbol, and select Banner to get to this page:
- Click on the My Personal Information, and there is a section to update your address, phone number, and emergency contacts if needed.
- Generally, if you use a non-Texas address on the W4, the Employee Service Center will reach out to you directly to update that form for tax purposes, but Raiderlink is the most direct and fastest way to update it.
Salary & Benefits Questions
Is there a standard frequency of pay? Can I change my frequency? If so, how?
The unit and college dean determine whether a position is a 9-month or 12-month appointment. In most cases, faculty positions are 9-month appointments. The appointment begins on 9/1 and ends on 5/31. The pay is received on the first of each month, from October to June. Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section 409A allows nine-month salary payments to be spread over twelve months. Per the IRC, an election is irrevocable after the fiscal (academic) year commences. Salary spread elections must be complete by the TTU deadline to be in effect for the current year. Payroll Services has set this deadline to be 9/15 of the current fiscal year. Any elections submitted after the deadline will be applied to the next available election period or next fiscal year. A faculty member can opt to be paid over 12 months by signing up through https://apps.dmfr.ttu.edu/fss. Their 9-month faculty appointment must be in place and active before the web application can be used. If there is any change in the position number, the faculty member must re-enroll for the next fiscal year.
Will my salary be increased at some point?
OP 70.14, Compensation Policy, provides helpful information. Faculty members are generally eligible for three types of salary increases: merit pay, equity adjustment, and an adjustment accompanying a promotion (Referred to as reclassification in the OP.).
What are my retirement options and benefits?
Visit TTU/HR Home/Employee Benefits/Retiring Employees/Retirement Plans for those options and benefits. Please note that you cannot actually select benefits until after your start date of 9/1. If you try to complete this before that start date, you will receive an error message. There will be a Benefits Orientation session at New Faculty Orientation to explain the different benefits and answer questions.
Can I meet someone licensed to oversee our Optional Retirement Program (ORP)?
To view the Optional Retirement Vendors and their contact information, choose Resources at TTU/HR Home/Employee Benefits/Retiring Employees/Retirement Plans.
How do I set up my retirement account?
HR automatically processes enrollment in the Teacher Retirement System (TRS). If the faculty is eligible for the ORP plan, choose Resources > Retirement Manager Website at TTU/HR Home/Employee Benefits/Retiring Employees/Retirement Plans.
What are the health coverage costs?
Choose 202X Plan Year Rates at TTU/HR Home/Employee Benefits/Current Employees for the costs.
How do I get dental and/or vision insurance?
To learn more about those, choose Optional Benefits at TTU/HR Home/Employee Benefits/Current Employees.
Do we have access to a health savings account (HSA)?
- View the documents under Resources > Consumer Directed Fact Sheet at TTU/ HR Home/Employee Benefits/New and Newly Benefits Eligible Employees.
- Of particular importance is the difference between an HSA and a flexible spending account (FSA). Choose Resources > TexFlex for details on the FSA at TTU/ HR Home/Employee Benefits/New and Newly Benefits Eligible Employees.
Are there any benefits outside medical and retirement?
To access savings on automotive, dining and grocery, and more, visit Texas Tech Advantage to learn more.
How do I take classes for credit as an employee?
TTU's Operating Policy for Employee Tuition Assistance is OP 70.29.
Research & Creative Activity Questions
What is the difference between the Office of Research & Innovation, the Office of Research Services, and the Office of Research Development & Communications? I don't know who to contact for what.
- The oversees and manages all research functions at Texas Tech. The office is a resource to all faculty members and offers services for every step of the research process, from finding funding to taking technology to market.
- The Office of Research Services is the primary contact for pre-award needs and is the office that will submit a final proposal to a funding agency. Your home unit will determine which pre-award analyst is designated to serve you. On the ORS webpage, each block in the “Sponsored Project Lifecycle” graphic leads to additional resources.
- The is the primary contact for proposal development support. This office works closely with the Office of Research Services to ensure a comprehensive, competitive, and compliant proposal is submitted on your behalf. ORDC also works hand in hand with the TTU Research Development community, including college grant editors, librarians, etc. They offer additional proposal support services, including one-on-one research career mapping, program officer assistance, grant writing events, workshops, and more.
I would like to learn more about cross-faculty collaboration.
- Our Office of Research & Innovation hosts a webpage where TTU faculty can search for collaborators. However, initiating a conversation with your college's associate dean for research would be best. If you're unsure who that is, please ask your chair, director, or area coordinator.
- The Institute for Studies in Pragmaticism is a unit that frequently provides opportunities for faculty members interested in cross-disciplinary research and creative activity. Reach out to the Institute Director Elize Bisanz for more info.
It would be great if the Office of Research and Innovation could discuss available funds for professors to conduct research.
Please review the information available via the , precisely the information under the Research Funding in the top navigation menu.
What kind of support do you provide for grant writing, especially for CAREER awards?
- Please review the information available via the , specifically information about the Office of Research Services.
- Please review the information available via STEM CORE, specifically about Grant Assistance.
What are the research resources and protocols for submitting grants?
- Visit Office of Research Services for helpful links for developing and submitting proposals. Some featured links in the Sponsored Project Lifecycle tab are Finding Funding and Proposal Development. The page also links to resources such as TTU's Human Research Protection Program, Accounting Services, and .
- If you're submitting to NSF, go to RCR Training | RCR | Office of Responsible Research | Research Home | TTU for information about how to complete Faculty RECR Training. The Faculty RECR resource is available to all TTU faculty. As of Aug 2023, only NSF requires faculty to complete RECR training before a grant can be awarded.
I'd like to check my grant proposal for plagiarism – can TTU help?
Yes – iThenticate is available for TTU faculty. See iThenticate | Office of Responsible Research | Research Home | TTU
How do we get access to boilerplate grant documents?
Please review provided by the Office of Research Services.
It would be great to know more about getting involved in STEM CORE/ campus initiatives for developing an outreach and broader impacts repertoire.
The easiest way to get involved with STEM CORE is through the STEM CORE Membership, open to all TTU faculty, staff, and graduate students. Active membership allows networking with people across the institution for research and activities. STEM CORE can help engage with faculty through existing outreach programs and developing broader impacts for proposals. All information about these activities can be found on the STEM CORE website: www.stem.ttu.edu, or you can email stem-core@ttu.edu.
What are the policies and procedures related to international graduate students?
Refer to this Graduate Student Funding document.
To compete with other R1 universities, is there any plan to improve access to journals or databases? Many engineering and biomedical sciences journals are not accessible and require a long processing time for paper requests from the library.
- Access to online resources, such as eJournals, databases, and eBooks, is via the University Libraries website. Using direct links to these resources is not advised as they are IP authenticated and will generally only work while on the campus ethernet. Also, using VPN for off-campus access is not needed.
- If the user is on campus using an ethernet connection to TTUnet and clicks the link to an eJournal/eBook/database via the libraries' website, they will automatically be passed to the resource. If the user is off campus, on the wireless, or a mobile device, after the link is clicked, they will first be passed to eRaider for login. Then the user will automatically be sent to the resource. No VPN is needed.
- Only active TTU faculty, staff, and for-credit students are authorized users. Emeritus faculty can contact the library for access. Adjuncts are authorized users for the semesters they teach
If TTU doesn't have online access to the journals you need, use the University Libraries' Document delivery / Interlibray Loan Service. Electronic files (usually PDFs) are often delivered within 24 hours. - Each college has a personal librarian. Consider contacting your college's librarian about specific journals. Also, questions can be sent to the library mailbox at libraries.erlibsys@ttu.edu.
I'm trying to submit a manuscript and the journal wants info about a publicly available URL where the data can be accessed. Does TTU provide server space for data sharing?
Yes – see DM Resources - Data Management - Guides at Texas Tech University (ttu.edu). Contact the Librarians listed on the TTU Libraries' main data management page for more information: Overview - Data Management - Guides at Texas Tech University (ttu.edu).
My research has special requirements. Where can I find quick links to the right person at TTU to help me get my protocols set up?
- The Office of Responsible Research | Research Home | TTU has links to the TTU offices that can help you begin work on your Institutional Animal Care & Use Committee (IACUC), Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC), Institutional Review Board (IRB), and radiation and/or laboratory safety protocols.
- Look under the “Academic Safety” section on the top navigation menu of for links to EH&S Programs that support your area of research and links to safety training resources for you and your students.
How do I connect my ORCID iD to TTU?
Visit the ORCID Registration to connect your ORCID iD to TTU. If you don't yet have an ORCID iD, you can create one.
Sometimes I feel overwhelmed by all the moving parts. Is there any practical advice on how to set up my new lab or studio or field site?
- Yes! Here's a classic book, with short chapters, about making the right moves as a new faculty member: Making the Right Moves | HHMI.
- This program at University of Illinois has thoughtful advice about ways to think through new challenges: Developing Your Foundational Skills | National Center for Principled Leadership & Research Ethics | UIUC (illinois.edu).
Teaching Questions
I need help writing and/or a review of my syllabi. Where do I go?
- Please first ask your chair, director, or coordinator about unit-level guidelines or requirements for syllabus content. Then, for additional assistance and review, please get in touch with the TLPDC.
- If you're unsure about the required language in your syllabus, please review the information available here: https://www.depts.ttu.edu/tlpdc/RequiredSyllabusStatements.php.
- Recommended additions to your TTU syllabi
- AI Recommendations and classroom guidelines
- Additional Syllabus Information
How do I find my classroom on campus?
As you begin your time at TTU, it can be difficult to become familiar with such a large campus and the classrooms you will be using. In an effort to assist with this, there are two ways to look at classroom layouts and possibly pictures of the rooms as well. This information can be found on the TLPDC Classroom Layouts page and through the Matador Information Portal, which contains maps to navigate buildings and classrooms on all TTU campuses. The Texas Tech campus is quite large, so feel free to use the interactive campus map to familiarize yourself with the campus as a whole.
Does the university protect faculty who teach controversial subjects?
Yes. Operating Policy 30.09 explicitly describes the institution's position on artistic freedom at the institution. TTU's Faculty Handbook contains several references to our support of academic freedom, including in our statement on the Role of the Faculty, from which this is excerpted:
"Texas Tech University subscribes fully to the general principles endorsed by the Association of American Colleges and Universities in January 1941, by the American Association of University Professors in December 1941, and to the statement of principles included in the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges standards. That statement of principles confirms that institutions of higher education are conducted for the common good and not to further the interest of either the individual teacher or the institution as a whole. The common good depends upon free speech for truth in its free exposition.
Academic freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to teaching and research. Freedom in research is fundamental for protecting the rights of the instructional staff and of the students to learn in an environment in which academic freedom exists."
For a tenure-track faculty, how important are the student assessments for the tenure decision? What are some of the important factors considered during the tenure decision process?
Student evaluations are one review component for tenure, promotion, and/or continuing appointment. They constitute part of the overall record that is being evaluated. Indeed, peer evaluations would also be part of the record specific to teaching, as would a record of engaging in professional development or mentorship activities related to teaching, among other things. Please review Operating Policy (OP) 32.01, item 4.a for additional information.
Is there a budget for lecturers to purchase some supplies to aid courses taught?
Please contact your department chair, school director, or area coordinator.
How do I use all the technology in the classrooms? e.g., different computers, hookups, no computer in some classrooms, blackboard, recording lectures, etc.
-
- Raider Rooms have dedicated IT/AV support staff and can be reached by calling 806-742-5381 or emailing ctsstaff.ithelpcentral@ttu.edu.
- Technology trainings are offered at the beginning of Fall and Spring semesters, and additional training can be requested.
- More information about Raider Rooms can be found at https://www.depts.ttu.edu/odpa/SPI/EISM/raiderrooms/index.php.
- For non-Raider Rooms, please get in touch with your departmental IT staff.
- Raider Rooms have dedicated IT/AV support staff and can be reached by calling 806-742-5381 or emailing ctsstaff.ithelpcentral@ttu.edu.
How do I submit grades and use Blackboard?
- Approximately two weeks before the semester ends, expect an email from the Registrar at registrar@communications.ttu.edu. The email will contain instructions, relevant links, and deadlines.
- The Office of the Registrar hosts a dashboard for faculty that includes a site with grading instructions (including how to submit change of grades, incompletes, etc. That dashboard is: https://db.reg.ttu.edu/faculty/#/homeOnce there, faculty may click on "Grading Information" and instructions for submitting grades are kept there. This site is updated each term with appropriate due dates. Additionally, when preparing to open grading, be aware that the Registrar will send out an email with links to this site and other reminders and information to all faculty.
When will TTU move from Blackboard to Canvas?
We currently run three instances of Blackboard Learn at TTU (Higher Ed, Continuing Ed, and TTU K-12), and our LMS contract with Anthology ends in September 2025. In Fall 2023 we began the RFP process to search for a new LMS contract. The LMS finalists included proposals from Blackboard Ultra (Anthology), Brightspace (D2L), and Canvas (Instructure). Feedback has been gathered from faculty and staff regarding the LMS search, along with a pilot program that involved undergraduate classes in English and Applied Personal Finance which utilized all three LMS platforms.
The LMS selection committee chose Canvas, and we are currently in contract negotiations with Instructure to have Canvas as our new LMS. A migration plan for the campus will be developed and implemented over the next 15 months. This change represents an opportunity to reset our pedagogy, design, and delivery for online courses as well as the enhancement of face-to-face and hybrid courses.
If you are particularly strong in offering online courses and would be interested in becoming an early adopters of the new LMS to serve as a beta tester for the university, please contactDr. Sandra Huston, Assistant Vice Provost of TTU Online.
What services and resources are available for online teaching?
- LMS Support:
- Faculty Blackboard Support Website: This website provides information and links to documentation for the major functionality in Blackboard. Including Blackboard Basics, Course Development information, Course Facilitation information, and Assessing Student Learning. We are available for questions regarding functionality and/or any issues pertaining to the LMS Monday – Friday 8:00 – 5:00.
- TTU Blackboard Support Email
- Blackboard Phone Support: 806-742-5933
- Instructional Design Services:
- Provides course content design support, whole course design, and course design consultation. For additional information regarding TTU Online Instructional Design or to schedule an Instructional Design consultation, contact Instructional Design.
- Online Accessibility Services:
- Information about online accessibility services can be found here. Services include accessibility course review, content remediation, captioning services, accessibility training, and accessibility consultations. For additional information regarding TTU Online Accessibility services or to schedule an Online Accessibility consultation, contact Online Accessibility.
- Video Production Lab
- Video Production Lab Website We support faculty in creating high quality instructional videos. For additional information regarding the TTU Online Video Production Lab, contact the Video Production Lab.
- Blackboard ILP Grade Integration Process
Life Questions
Can spouses of full-time lecturers have priority in finding a position here at TTU?
Yes, there are opportunities for partner accommodations. Please contact your department chair, school director, or area coordinator. More information is available at RETENTION REQUESTS, PARTNER ACCOMMODATIONS, AND TARGETED HIRES.
It would be great to have an explanation of community resources for adjusting to Lubbock.
- https://www.depts.ttu.edu/tlpdc/Resources/NewFacultyResources/about_lubbock
- https://www.depts.ttu.edu/hr/workattexastech/ then select About Lubbock from the top menu.
- https://visitlubbock.org/visit/
-
Address
University Library Building, Room 136, Mail Stop 2044, Lubbock, TX 79409-2004 -
Phone
806.742.0133 -
Email
tlpdc@ttu.edu
