Section 1. Appropriate Scope of Work
MIT reserves the right to assign employees those duties and responsibilities that best meet the needs of MIT based on the qualifications and abilities of the employee.
Employees are expected to assist in research, teaching, or other matters related to MIT’s academic, research, or teaching endeavors. Work assignments will be more academic than administrative in nature but may involve administrative or service tasks that assist in the overall academic or research endeavor. The scope of work of individual assignments shall be as listed in the appointment letter covered in Article 15, Appointment Notification.
No employee shall be required to perform a service for the benefit of any other employee or agent of MIT that is personal in nature.
Section 2. Description of Positions
Employees hold the positions of teaching assistant, research assistant, and instructor G. The general description of those classifications follows below, recognizing that the workload details for any employee holding one of those appointments will vary. The scope of work on individual assignments shall be included as part of the appointment letter covered in Article 15, Appointment Notification.
A. Teaching Assistant (TA): The principal duties of a TA include but are not limited to assisting faculty members in classroom and laboratory instruction, preparing apparatus or material for demonstration, conducting tutorials and discussion sections, holding office hours, counseling students, proctoring exams, maintaining course websites and monitoring discussion boards, and grading homework, quizzes, and exams.
B. Instructor G: The principal duties of an instructor G are similar in nature to those of a TA, with the exception that instructor Gs are generally assigned more independent and/or advanced teaching responsibilities. Employees with considerable teaching experience may receive instructor G appointments. These appointments are given only to sufficiently experienced employees of proven teaching ability who, in the opinion of the department or program head, are competent to accept teaching responsibilities warranting the grade of instructor G.
C. Research Assistant (RA): The principal duty of an RA is to contribute, under supervision and direction of a faculty member, principal investigator, or other designated individual, to a program of departmental, interdepartmental, or sponsored research, including but not limited to the gathering and analysis of data or evidence, the development of theoretical analyses and models, and the production or publication of scholarly journals and research reports. The appointment is made with the understanding that the overall work experience will contribute to the professional training of the employee.
Section 3. No Obligation to Work More Than Appointed Hours of Work
Employees carry both employment and academic responsibilities. Time spent by an employee on their academic efforts beyond the work expectations outlined in their appointment letter is not subject to this Article. The Union acknowledges that this Agreement should not in any way be construed as imposing a limit on the amount or type of academic effort necessary for a student to make satisfactory progress toward their degree.
The Union acknowledges that the specific hours worked each week will fluctuate for employees. No employee shall be compelled, coerced, or obligated to work more than an average of twenty (20) hours per week over the course of their employment appointment period, including work on work-related communications, meetings, required training, orientation, and conferences that are required as a condition of the employee’s appointment. While the parties recognize that the content of work assigned to an employee may vary from week to week, employees shall not be assigned job duties that cannot be reasonably performed within the workload average specified above. Additionally, MIT shall provide employees with a reasonable amount of time to complete job duties, taking into consideration the relevant surrounding circumstances.
Section 4. Workload Adjustments
Any employee who believes their assigned workload cannot reasonably be completed within the average time limits specified in this Agreement may bring such concerns to their supervisor for discussion and appropriate action. The supervisor shall promptly discuss such concerns and, as the supervisor deems appropriate, adjust workload requirements. If an employee is not satisfied with the supervisor’s decision or corrective measures, or if they believe they have been misclassified or that their job duties are not commensurate with their appointment letter, they may file a grievance under the terms outlined in Article 5, Grievance Procedure.
Section 5. Alteration to Assignments and Workload
In the case of a change of an employee’s job assignment, any work completed in the original assignment will count toward the workload for the appointment period.
Section 6. Regular Work Hours
MIT acknowledges as a general principle that most work assignments should be carried out on weekdays during the hours of 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM.
Obligations of assigned positions for all employees should be met primarily during these work hours, or otherwise specified in the appointment letter or by mutual agreement between the employee and the employee’s supervisor. The Union acknowledges some work obligations may fall outside of these hours, such as evening classes, office hours, laboratory responsibilities, or in-person or remote field work (including such work performed in other time zones) and related travel that must be attended to outside of regular work hours.
Section 7. Mandatory Meetings
When feasible, all meetings scheduled by MIT and required as a condition of employment should be conducted during regular work hours. If the meeting is to take place somewhere other than the employee’s regular worksite, they will be given advance notice of said meeting.
Section 8. Holding Office Hours and Class Preparation
The required duty of holding office hours shall be included in the total workload for the appointment period. The schedule of an employee’s office hours shall be decided by the employee, unless otherwise enumerated explicitly in the employee’s appointment letter or as may be required to address unexpected exigent pedagogical needs that arise during the appointment period, in which case as much advance notice as possible will be provided. Hours spent on individually assigned special preparation for teaching sections shall also be included in the total workload for the appointment period.