Faculty Office Hours
The Purpose of Office Hours
Office hours are a vital component of student success, providing students with direct access to their instructors outside of class. These dedicated times allow faculty to:
- Provide additional academic support and guidance
- Clarify course material and answer questions
- Offer mentorship and career advice
- Assist student with assignments and learning strategies
To ensure consistency and accessibility, office hours requirements differ for Part-Time and Full-Time Faculty.
Full-Time Faculty Office Hours
Per Article 12.H.5.b of the faculty contract, full-time faculty are required to schedule and submit office hours based on their instructional load:
Standard Office Hours Requirement
- Full-Time faculty must hold 250 minutes per week of office hours.
- Office hours must be scheduled to best meet the needs of students and require approval by the Chief Instructional Officer (CIO) or designee.
- Faculty will receive written notification of their semester teaching assignment before scheduling office hours.
- Office hours must be submitted using the form provided by the CIO.
Full Time Faculty Request Forms
Adjusted Office Hours for Specific Faculty
- Faculty with more than five lab hours per week→ Schedule 200 minutes per week of office hours.
- Faculty with a reduced teaching load or primarily non-instructional assignments→ Schedule office hours on a pro rata basis.
Online Office Hours Option
- Faculty may choose to hold online office hours if they are teaching Distance Education Courses.
- Online Office hours are limited to 50 minutes per fully online class, based on assigned load (meaning 1st 100%).
Part-Time Faculty Office Hours
- Complete the accept/decline form before the semester begins. This form is sent by the Instructional Program Specialist (IPS) on behalf of the Dean. Click here for a direct link to the Part-Time Links page for all links.
- Include day, time, and location of office hours in your syllabus. Submit a copy of the syllabus to the Dean no later than the first day of class.
Requirements for Multi-Instructor Courses
- Complete the accept/decline form before the semester begins. This form is sent by the instructional Program Specialist (IPS) on behalf of the Dean. Click here for a direct link to the Part-Time Links page for all links.
- Instead of listing office hours in a syllabus, submit your office hour schedule (day, time, and location) using the district's electronic multi-instructor form before the semester starts. This form is sent by the Dean and/or IPS.
For detailed information on eligibility and compensation, please refer to the Part-Time Faculty Office Hours FAQ.