Faculty Handbook

I. PREFACE

Atlas University was founded to demonstrate that scholarship and sanctity are one.
Its faculty are not employees but keepers of wisdom, inheritors of a covenant stretching from Edenic naming to the libraries of eternity. Each professor is called to unite the precision of science, the beauty of art, and the humility of faith in a single vocation: the glorification of God through every discipline.

These policies codify that vocation. They combine the highest standards of professional governance, accreditation compliance, and academic freedom with the moral gravity of covenantal stewardship.

II. FACULTY COVENANT

Before appointment, every member of the faculty shall sign the Covenant of Instruction, affirming:

“I dedicate my mind, my craft, and my words to the service of Yahweh.
I will teach with integrity, research with holiness, and mentor with love.
I accept this post not as employment but as priesthood—
that through my discipline may come the Glorificatio Dei per Omnes Disciplinas.”

III. APPOINTMENT AND RANK

1. Appointment Authority

All faculty appointments originate with the Dean of the respective Academy, are reviewed by the Provost, and approved by the President with concurrence of the Board of Trustees.

2. Ranks

Atlas University maintains the following ranks:

RankDescriptionLecturerEntry-level instructor demonstrating promise of scholarly and spiritual maturity.Assistant ProfessorHolds at least a master’s or equivalent degree; shows emerging research and teaching excellence.Associate ProfessorDemonstrates substantial publication record, classroom mastery, and mentorship impact.ProfessorNational or international recognition in field; sustained contribution to covenantal scholarship.Senior Scholar-ElderLifetime appointment conferred by the Board upon those whose wisdom, holiness, and scholarship embody the mission of Atlas University.

3. Appointment Terms

Appointments are normally for renewable three-year periods. Senior Scholar-Elders serve without term, subject only to covenantal review.

IV. FACULTY RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Academic Freedom

Atlas University upholds authentic academic freedom: the liberty to pursue truth within the moral and theological order revealed in Scripture. Freedom divorced from truth is license; freedom rooted in truth is worship.

2. Teaching

Faculty shall:

  • Prepare syllabi integrating theology and discipline.

  • Maintain classroom excellence and rigor.

  • Evaluate students fairly and transparently.

  • Uphold attendance, grading, and accreditation standards.

3. Research and Publication

Faculty are encouraged to publish prolifically in peer-reviewed journals, monographs, and digital media. All research should aim to advance both disciplinary knowledge and covenantal wisdom.
The University retains non-exclusive rights to reproduce faculty publications for educational purposes while affirming full intellectual-property ownership by the author.

4. Mentorship

Each professor is a Scholar-Practitioner-Elder responsible for guiding students academically, spiritually, and professionally.

5. Institutional Service

Faculty must participate in committees, curriculum development, faculty senate, and ceremonial functions as acts of communal stewardship.

V. COMPENSATION AND ECONOMIC STEWARDSHIP

1. Covenant Compensation Model

Atlas University rejects the impersonal wage system in favor of a Covenantal Stewardship Model, through which professors share directly in the fruits of their labor.

  • Tuition: $10,000 per student per year ($2,500 per half-semester)

  • Faculty Share: 50 % of tuition revenue from enrolled students in each professor’s course.

  • Institutional Share: 50 % retained for operations, scholarships, and infrastructure.

This arrangement honors the biblical principle of joint stewardship: “The laborer is worthy of his reward.”

2. Additional Remuneration

Faculty may receive honoraria for research grants, speaking engagements, publications, or administrative duties, subject to institutional approval.

3. Benefits

Professors in full-time appointment are eligible for health, retirement, and sabbatical benefits as established by the Board’s Finance Committee.

VI. EVALUATION AND PROMOTION

1. Annual Review

Each faculty member undergoes an annual review by the Dean and Provost, assessing:

  • Teaching excellence and student evaluations.

  • Research output and publication record.

  • Service to the University community.

  • Adherence to covenantal ethos and professional ethics.

2. Promotion Criteria

Promotion requires evidence of outstanding scholarship, mentorship, and integration of faith and learning.
Recommendations proceed from the Academy Dean to the Provost and Board for approval.

3. Sabbatical and Research Leave

Eligible faculty may apply for paid sabbatical after six years of continuous full-time service to pursue research or creative work that advances the University’s mission.

VII. FACULTY CONDUCT AND ETHICS

1. Standards of Conduct

Faculty are to embody holiness, humility, and intellectual honesty. Behaviors inconsistent with Christian moral standards—including plagiarism, harassment, exploitation, or financial impropriety—constitute serious violations.

2. Conflict of Interest

Faculty must disclose all outside employment, consulting, or financial interests that could affect impartiality.

3. Disciplinary Procedures

Misconduct allegations are reviewed by the Faculty Ethics Committee, which may recommend reprimand, suspension, or dismissal. The President and Board render final judgment after due process.

4. Confidentiality

Faculty shall maintain confidentiality of student records, institutional information, and internal deliberations in compliance with FERPA and University policy.

VIII. FACULTY GOVERNANCE

1. Faculty Senate

The Faculty Senate is the deliberative body representing all Academies. It initiates academic policies, approves curriculum proposals, and advises the Provost and President. The Senate elects a Chair annually.

2. Academic Councils

Each Academy maintains its own Faculty Council, which governs departmental affairs, peer review, and mentoring systems.

3. Standing Committees** (University-wide)**

  • Curriculum and Assessment Committee

  • Research and Publication Committee

  • Spiritual Formation and Ethics Committee

  • Admissions and Scholarship Committee

  • Faculty Welfare and Benefits Committee

IX. TERMINATION AND SEPARATION

1. Voluntary Resignation

Faculty should provide at least one academic term’s notice prior to departure.

2. Non-Renewal or Dismissal

Grounds for non-renewal or dismissal include:

  • Professional incompetence

  • Persistent neglect of duty

  • Moral or ethical misconduct

  • Violation of covenant or doctrinal fidelity

Due process guarantees written notice, opportunity for response, and appeal to the Board.

3. Restoration

The University’s approach to discipline is redemptive; reinstatement may be considered upon evidence of repentance and rehabilitation.

X. FACULTY DEVELOPMENT

Atlas University commits significant resources to faculty growth through:

  • Annual Covenantal Scholarship Retreats for theological and interdisciplinary formation.

  • Research grants and publication subsidies.

  • Teaching innovation workshops integrating classical pedagogy with modern technology.

  • Access to the Atlas Digital Library and global academic databases.

XI. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND CREATIVE WORK

All original scholarly and creative works produced by faculty remain the property of their creators. The University retains limited rights for educational reproduction and promotional use. Commercial ventures arising from faculty research may be jointly administered through royalty agreements approved by the Finance Committee.

XII. ACCREDITATION AND QUALITY ASSURANCE

Faculty are responsible for maintaining course documentation, syllabi, and learning assessments consistent with Florida CIE standards and accrediting expectations. Continuous improvement reviews occur every three years under the Institutional Effectiveness Office.

XIII. CEREMONIAL LIFE AND HONORS

Atlas University upholds a culture of celebration and gratitude toward learning. Professors participate in:

  • Convocation of Covenant Scholars (opening ceremony)

  • Mid-Year Symposium of the Disciplines

  • Annual Commencement of the Nations

Distinguished faculty may be awarded the Aureus Atlas Medallion for lifetime contribution to the mission Glorificatio Dei per Omnes Disciplinas.

XIV. AMENDMENTS

Amendments to this Handbook require recommendation by the Faculty Senate, review by the Provost, and ratification by a two-thirds vote of the Board of Trustees.