Because the efforts of all faculty will be marshaled in ways to assure that the talents of all at a given time are used most effectively, use of individualized portfolios and portfolios consistent with Unit norms should only have a positive impact on the quality of faculty teaching and research. These portfolios, however, should be developed with the view that all faculty within a Unit will commit their collective strengths to fulfilling the overall mission of their Units and the University consistent with appropriate strategic plans. The opportunity for differential allocation of post-tenure effort thus facilitates the attainment of the University's core values of quality, learning and responsibility. The activities of faculty at institutions with a significant research mission differ markedly from the activities of faculty at institutions with no significant research mission. Teaching of courses includes the preparation of course syllabi, classroom materials, class lectures, and discussion topics, and student assignments such as papers and projects.
Teaching also includes the mentoring of undergraduate and graduate students in research settings.
Other important teaching efforts include faculty initiatives to improve instruction through the design and revision of the curriculum, the creation of new courses, the revision of existing courses, and supervision of the creative work and research of students. The unique requirements and features of faculty work in the different types of classes taught can vary. For example, in a large lecture course, considerable effort is spent in preparing lectures, maintaining records of student work, and coordinating teaching with other faculty in other sections of the course. By contrast, in a clinical or professional course, considerable effort is devoted to working with small groups of students in clinical or professional settings, arranging for the settings and the student activities in these settings, and closely guiding the interactive work of the students in those settings. As with teaching, there are many different types of activities necessary to create and sustain vitality in research, scholarship, and creative work by faculty.