Version May 15, 2025
The School of Public Health (SPH) aims to foster a community that nurtures excellent teachers and students. To that end, the purpose of this policy is to outline the expectations and compensation model for teaching courses in the SPH.
Faculty Teaching Expectations
Faculty with a primary appointment
Faculty teaching load expectations vary across tracks and account for administrative appointments and research funding. It is expected that all primary full-time faculty on the tenure, practice, and teaching tracks at the SPH teach the courseload as specified in their faculty appointment letters. At a minimum, regardless of administrative or research buyouts, this is equivalent to one, three-credit solo taught course per academic year.
Faculty with a secondary appointment
WashU faculty with a secondary appointment in the SPH have the option to teach courses in the SPH when their expertise and experience fulfill specific curricular needs. Decisions about teaching at the SPH are made in conjunction with the Dean and/or Associate Dean for Education. Compensation for faculty with a secondary appointment is described below.
Adjunct faculty
Adjunct faculty are individuals hired on a contractual basis, serving in a part-time capacity. Per university policy, the maximum an adjunct faculty member can teach during an academic year is the equivalent of two, three-credit courses per semester, or four, three-credit courses over an academic year. Adjunct faculty are hired by the Associate Dean for Education in consultation with members of the Education Committee. Compensation for adjunct faculty is described below.
The requirements to serve as an adjunct faculty member in the SPH are:
Required Skills and Experience:
- Minimum of master’s degree in their area of specialty.
- Minimum of 2 years post-graduate level practice or research in their area of specialty.
Preferred Skills and Experience:
- 5 or more years of post-graduate level practice in their area of specialty.
- Experience in teaching at the university level or equivalent professional/adult development training experience.
Teaching Assignments
Teaching assignments are made by the Associate Dean for Education in consultation with members of the Education Committee, including the Directors of Doctoral, Master’s and Undergraduate Programs. All assigned teaching responsibilities are based on School and programmatic needs and faculty expertise, experience, and availability. Every effort is made to ensure that full-time faculty members teach the vast majority of SPH courses, and that each faculty member teaches courses that fit within their expertise.
Compensation for Curricular Teaching
Faculty with a primary appointment
Faculty with a primary appointment in the SPH receive compensation for teaching as specified in their faculty appointment letters.
Faculty with a secondary appointment
Excepting cases where there are particular school-to-school alternate agreements, WashU faculty with a secondary appointment in the SPH are compensated in one of two ways, per three-credit, solo taught course:
- A $25,000 payment to the faculty member’s primary unit that can be used to cover percent effort – OR –
- A $10,000 payment to the faculty member as supplemental pay.
Mode of compensation is decided by the relevant Dean where the faculty is primarily appointed, in consultation with the faculty member.
Adjunct faculty
Adjunct faculty are compensated at a rate of $10,000 per three-credit, solo taught course.
When a WashU staff member serves as an adjunct faculty member, teaching compensation can also be incorporated into their work percent effort with approval from their supervisor.
Adjustments to Teaching Credits and Compensation
Courseload expectations and compensation is based on the equivalency of a three-credit, solo taught course. When courses are co- or team-taught and/or are less than 3-credits, compensation is adjusted accordingly. For example, if a course is one-credit, the instructor receives teaching credit and compensation at one-third the rate of a three-credit course. Similarly, if the course is co-taught, teaching credit and compensation is one-half the rate. Exceptions to this policy are made in rare instances when course enrollment is extraordinarily high.
Compensation for non-curricular teaching
Faculty (primary or secondary) may engage in teaching in Integrative Learning Program opportunity. Typically this engagement is compensated as supplemental pay commensurate with the adjunct faculty rate, and pro-rated to work load depending on the particular ILP opportunity.