This “Faculty Handbook” has been prepared as an addendum to the TBS Student Catalog to provide specific information relative to faculty. Thus, for faculty purposes, the “Student Catalog” should be considered Part I, and this handbook as Part II of a continuous document. The most recent version of this document is available for viewing and printing on the TBS website under “About – TBS Documents.” For more information, contact the seminary’s main office at: 2655 S Mason Road Katy, TX 77450 281-646-1109 (Phone) Info@TheBibleSeminary.edu TheBibleSeminary.edu Main Campus Office Hours: Monday – Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Introduction

The Bible Seminary (TBS) is an independent, non-denominational, 501(c)(3) charitable institution of higher education incorporated in Texas in 2010 to offer training for laity and vocational ministry professionals. On-campus and Distance Education programs include Bible Certificate and Vocational Ministry Certificate non-degree programs, as well as Dual Degree Completion, Master of Arts, and Master of Divinity degree programs. The seminary is an Accredited member of the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (TRACS), a member of the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA) approved to offer Distance Education, a member of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), an approved CEU provider for the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI), and an accredited member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA).

TBS aims to help nurture a biblically literate populace via comprehensive, strategic, Bible-based training. Faculty seek to integrate studies of the Bible with instruction in historical, theological, and practical disciplines critical to developing professional skills for life and ministry. Experiential education occurs through classroom instruction, study tours, hands-on ministry training, and community-based training with ministry professionals.

Leadership includes Dr. K. Lynn Lewis, President; Dr. Scott Stripling, Provost and Vice-President of Donor Relations; Dr. Israel Steinmetz, Dean of the Graduate Programs and full-time Professor; numerous adjunct faculty, ministry professionals, and mentors who serve as part of the teaching team; and a Board of Trustees.

Accreditation

Covenantal Documents

Facts

TBS History

Employment

The Bible Seminary educational team may include various full-time, part-time, or adjunct faculty who possess specific knowledge or ability needed for instructional purposes.

Employment Inquiries

Faculty employment inquiries may be submitted to the Provost by interested parties, or TBS may invite select persons to consider employment. A submitted inquiry or invitation for exploration does not constitute an offer or a commitment of any kind.

Faculty Contracts

Faculty titles include “Professor” (persons with an advanced degree, such as a D. Min. or Ph.D., in their subject area of teaching) or “Instructor” (persons without an advanced degree or with an advanced degree in process). Seminary staff may also be named to any of these positions.

Contracts are contingent upon presentation of satisfactory documentation of credentials, including an original transcript from the institution awarding the highest degree.

All faculty must sign agreement with the Covenantal Documents of The Bible Seminary (see pages 6-12). Initial employment will involve signing agreement with the full text of these documents. Continued employment contracts usually contain an all-inclusive signature opportunity for expediency, although we do expect all faculty to review these documents at least once annually.

TBS typically offers adjunct faculty contracts on a semester by semester and course by course basis.

Contracts include the Name and Number of the course contracted to teach and/or develop, as well as the time period(s) – including the Semester(s), Year(s), Date(s), and daily Time(s) – Location(s), Description, and Terms – including whether or not the contract is renewable and information about remuneration.

Job Descriptions

Adjunct faculty contract terms detail specific course assignment(s) and include a job description. Full- time faculty contracts include job descriptions as part of their annual contract. Job descriptions are reviewed with the Provost as part of annual and/or post-semester evaluations, as well as during contract negotiations. In general, the job descriptions below apply.

Full-time Faculty Members

A full-time faculty member should cultivate a healthy relationship with God and a healthy family life. This position reports to the Provost and serves as an extension of that office. The primary responsibility of a full-time faculty member is to teach a full load (4 graduate courses per semester or the equivalent thereof). Additionally, a faculty member maintains regular office hours, serves on committees as assigned, and assists with course and policy development through the Faculty Association. Finally, faculty members assist with accreditation, student advising, marketing, and publishing.

Adjunct Faculty Members

An adjunct-faculty member should cultivate a healthy relationship with God and a healthy family life. This position reports to the Provost and serves as an extension of that office. The primary responsibility of an adjunct-faculty member is to teach courses as assigned. Additionally, adjunct- faculty members may serve on committees and assists with course and policy development through the Faculty Association.

Materials and Procedures

For contractual purposes, tentative employees need to provide Name, Address, Phone, E-mail Address, and Academic/Professional Credentials (a full copy of a CV and/or resume is preferred), as well as personal information for the Background Check Authorization.

Upon acceptance of a contract, employees should also plan to provide:

• A high-quality headshot photo for filing and marketing purposes (at least 300 dpi, a full head and shoulders pose with a non-distracting background). If you do not have one, TBS can assist you. Visit “People – TBS Faculty” on the TheBibleSeminary.edu for examples.

• Official transcripts from all degree programs completed

• An up-to-date CV/resume

• Other documentation as needed All employee application materials must be completed and contracts returned with all documents signed as requested. Following due process and satisfactory completion of all requirements, final contract approval resides with the appropriate administrative head of The Bible Seminary, who must sign a contract to make it valid and enact the provisions therein.

Salary and Benefits

Remuneration is typically paid semi-monthly, on the 15th and the last day of each month. If one of these days falls on a weekend or holiday, TBS will pay on the nearest business day prior to the scheduled pay date. The semi-monthly payment amount is calculated by dividing the total remuneration amount by the number of semi-monthly pay dates in the contract period. TBS offers Direct Deposit as the preferred method of payment. TBS does not release paychecks prior to payday and does not grant pay advances.

TBS benefits generally available to full-time faculty members includes the following:

• Salary

• Health Insurance – 100% of Employee coverage plus $3,000 toward HSA account, plus 20% of spouse and/or family coverage.

• Dental Insurance – $100 per month paid by Employer, balance paid by Employee

Life Insurance – 100% paid by Employer ($50,000 of coverage is provided, the maximum allowable without the premium paid being taxable.)

• Long-term Disability – 100% paid by Employer (Long-term disability requires evaluation prior to determining benefits and only begins after the period of short-term disability. Generally, the benefit is 60% of base earnings up to a maximum benefit of $7,500 per month. If disability begins prior to age 62, benefits are payable to age 65; lesser lengths of benefits if the disability begins at or after age 62; and, if disability at age 69 or after, the benefit duration is one year.)

• Short-term Disability – 100% paid by Employer (Short-term disability pays 60% of weekly base earnings to a maximum benefit of $1,500 per week for up to 13 weeks of disability.) Retirement Plan – TBS matches 100% of contributions up to 3% of salary, and 50% of contributions over 3% and up to 5% of salary.

• Vacation – (varies as agreed upon)

• Holidays – 11 holidays, including New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr., President’s Day, Easter, Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Thanksgiving (2 days), and Christmas Day.

Performance Evaluations

Faculty performance-evaluation policies and procedures may include scheduled and/or random classroom observation by TBS leadership, student evaluation(s), peer assessment(s), Employer assessment(s), and Employee self-assessment(s). Evaluation records will be kept on file as part of the Employee’s professional record, with information therein subject to the confidentiality rules and regulations according to the laws of the state of Texas.

All courses include a “Course Evaluation” opportunity provided to all enrolled students at the end of each semester. Students receive a hard copy evaluation or an e-mail link to complete an evaluation for each class in which they were enrolled. This procedure is initiated and managed by the TBS administration, so faculty have no responsibilities related to initiating, managing, or processing these evaluations. Following each semester, faculty will be given an opportunity to review the compiled results from their class(es) and will be expected to sign and date the review kept on file.

Random or scheduled classroom observations are followed by an e-mail summary of what was observed. End of year evaluations for full-time faculty members typically occur in April. These involve faculty self-assessment, direct supervisor assessment, and opportunities for professional growth. These signed evaluations are kept on file and precede the letting of a renewed employment contract.

Termination

Employer reserves the right to terminate a contract if:

a. There is insufficient enrollment at the determination of the Employer, in which case Employer agrees to notify the Employee within two (2) business days of the decision. Teaching contract cancellation prior to the beginning of class instruction incurs no financial obligation on the behalf of the Employer. For contracts terminated after the beginning of teaching a class, terminated Employees will be entitled to a prorated remuneration based strictly on the day(s) of a class actually held in session as scheduled and taught by the Employee.

b. The performance of the Employee is not deemed satisfactory by the Employer.

c. Employee fails to comply with any of the terms, covenants and conditions set forth in this contract.

d. Employee commits an illegal or immoral offense under Federal, State, local, or institutional laws or ordinances or policies, or engages in conduct which causes the Employee to be held in public ridicule or scorn to such an extent as will, in the opinion of the Employer, have a detrimental effect on the Employee, the Employee's services, or Employer in part or in whole. The use of an illegal controlled substance shall result in immediate termination.

Adjunct employment does not count toward consideration of tenure, and adjunct faculty are not eligible for employment benefits. Adjunct employment places no obligation on Employer to renew a contract or to specify any cause(s) for non-renewal and does not constitute a right to full-time employment. TBS employment contracts shall be governed according to the laws of the state of Texas.

(For more information about faculty employment, see the TBS “Faculty Employment Policy.”)

Absences and Substitutes

Faculty are expected to teach or arrange teachers for all class sessions for which they are contracted to teach. If faculty arrange for a guest or substitute during a time in which the faculty member is contracted to receive compensation (most class sessions), payment of an honorarium or other compensation is left up to the discretion of the faculty member.

However, if the seminary arranges for a special guest to teach a class session or sessions, then any payments of honorariums or other compensation will be the responsibility of the seminary, not the faculty member.

In emergency cases, faculty members should contact the Provost and seminary office at the earliest possible time.

Academic Advising Procedures

Faculty are expected to be available to students for academic and spiritual advising outside of actual class time. Maintaining availability at least 15 minutes both before and after classes is recommended as a minimum. Additional time(s) of availability and contact information should be noted in course syllabi and posted on office doors if possible.

Full-time faculty and employees may utilize their own office space on campus, anyone may use available classrooms and library/conference room spaces, and adjunct faculty may utilize the adjunct faculty workspaces noted previously. Appropriate off-campus advisement is also acceptable, for instance in association with teaching sites and remote instructional locations, at an adjunct’s regular office or at restaurants or other establishments, provided all meetings in all circumstances abide by the TBS Ethos statement.

Course Resources

TBS faculty are expected to produce and/or compile their own syllabus, grading criteria, and class resources (graphics, handouts, notes, etc.) for their classes. TBS administration may assist with book and resource orders. If faculty need assistance finding or preparing resources, contact the seminary office. We do have some design, graphics, research, audio/video, and web capabilities that can be of assistance, if needed. A complete syllabus – including a list of required books and resources that need to be ordered – must be submitted to the Provost for approval at least two months prior to the start of a class.

Bible Software

Graduate students typically have access to a platform and version of Logos Bible Software or other digital program(s). If a faculty member does not already have a personal subscription or access to Logos Bible Software or another program available to students he or she should discuss this with the Provost.

Email Address

Faculty members may use their own e-mail address or TBS can provide an email address according to the following convention: firstname.lastname@TheBibleSeminary.edu

Web Portal

All faculty and students should have access to the TBS intranet. All course records and most resources should be accessible through this portal. To access, set-up or maintain your class on this system:

Visit TheBibleSeminary.edu and click on "My TBS"

• Fill out the login information:

• Email: (your e-mail address)

• Password: (contact the seminary office if you do not know yours)

• Then click "Login" and “Success – Click to Enter” to continue.

Click “Module – Faculty – My Courses" and then select your course by clicking “View.”

• "Directory" – List of course registrants, including a photo and contact information.

• "Setup" – We usually do this for you based on information in the syllabus, or you can setup your own by clicking “Add Category” and then “edit” and “Add Assignments” in each category. The total “Weight” of all the assignments have to add up to 100%, as well as the total “Weight” in the categories. Assignments can also be edited, but most of these fields prepopulate and require no changes.

• "Grading" – Includes several options for inputting grades.

• "Attendance" – Includes a table for keeping attendance. The table automatically populates everyone “P” for “Present” on the date of each scheduled class. Options for changing that will pop-up when you click the appropriate box include “A – Absent, EA - Excused Absent, UA - Unexcused Absent, L – Late, P – Present, LE - Left Early.”

• “Resources – A place to manage various system and online resources assigned to your course. To add a new resource, click “General Resources” and “Upload Additional Files” and then “Browse” to select and upload a file.

• “News Posts” – Option for easy access to relevantly tagged class-related news.

• “Threads” – Option for intra-class communications.

• “Student files” – Location of files uploaded by students.

• “Add/Drop” – Record of students’ status.

• “Email” – Contact class members individually or as a group through the online email system.

Facilities and Equipment

TBS facilities are commonly identified using the nomenclature of “TBS@XYZ” to denote the primary location, plus additional “Classroom ###” to identify a specific location on that particular campus.

TBS@Katy identifies the seminary’s main campus at 2655 S Mason Road, Katy, TX 77450. Classroom 270 on this campus is a standardized classroom equipped with student desks and chairs, a teaching platform, platform desk with a moveable podium, chair or stool, lighting, electrical power, wireless Internet (contact the office for the password), and dual, duplicate video projection and audio capabilities (adapter plugs available for most computer models, and the single remote for controlling both video and audio is usually in the compartment under the podium). Suite 250 currently hosts the archaeology museum and offices, and Suite 263 serves multiple purposes as reception area, offices, and a conference room/library.

These main campus rooms have a posted emergency plan, fire extinguisher, doors to both interior and exterior building access, and interior access to restroom facilities and water fountains. Free water is also available from the water cooler in Classroom 270. Students who would like to utilize available coffee makers on campus should bring their own coffee and contribute other occasionally supplies as needed.

Students have access to seminary copy services, paper, and other basic classroom and office supplies within reason. Some services and supplies, such as large volume copying and some color copying, may require additional charges. For more information, contact the Administrative Coordinator.

The following are distinctive features of individual facility areas. For more information, speak with the professor, Provost, or other TBS staff member.

Classroom 250

• 3J Museum displaying approximately 170 archaeological artifacts.

Classroom 270

• An interactive projector network with software that allows for dynamic, dual, duplicate projection or split- projection capabilities.

• Built-in tracking video camera and room microphones for remote video conferencing and distance education, as well as classroom recordings.

• The production system helps manage presentations and connects to distance education students through Zoom. A TBS staff member or associate is available to train in using the system, which includes synchronous live productions and online interactions, recording of classes and uploading final productions for asynchronous access.

• A dry erase board with markers.

• Comfortably seats 40 students but can accommodate 56.

• Includes a small kitchen area with cabinets, coffee makers (bring your own supplies), a