RULE: Tarleton State University will allow full-time employees to work on dissertations during business hours if such work meets the requirements set forth below.
1. Based upon information provided in writing by the department head and accompanied by a recommendation from the Director of Human Resources and the appropriate vice president, the President of Tarleton State University will make the following determinations: (a) all regular course prerequisites have been satisfied, per official transcripts, and only the dissertation remains; (b) the topic of an employee's dissertation is related to the work performed by the employee in his or her professional position; and (c) the University stands to benefit from the research associated with the preparation of the dissertation. Permission may be granted by the President to use official University time for a portion of the dissertation work only if these three conditions are met.
2. Besides being related to the work performed by the employee in his or her professional position, the topic of the dissertation must be directly related to University projects. Such project endeavors may be underway, with dissertation work a natural extension of these, or constitute an already accepted proposal with an accompanying grant or contract award.
3. It is expected that work on the dissertation will represent both official University time and an individual's personal time, and a schedule of time allocation shall be agreed upon between the employee and the department head.
4. An employee's field of expertise in the dissertation must undergird his or her official position and responsibilities.
5. Permission to use official University time for a portion of the dissertation work is for a one- year period only, but is subject to renewal if sustained performance in the employee's professional position and progress on the dissertation can be documented.
6. This Rule conforms to the general guidelines set forth in System Regulation 31.99.01, "Employees Registering As Students."