This section may not be construed to require a public service employee to increase the number of hours that the employee works for the public service employer. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, for the purposes of certifying employment for the Program, a public service employer shall: adopt a policy calculating hours worked using a method that maximizes the amount of time for which an employee can be considered full–time; and consider as full–time an employee who satisfies or satisfied the minimum amount of time required to qualify as full–time. This subsection applies only: to a public service employer that is an institution of higher education; and with respect to an employee who is an adjunct or tenured professor. For the purpose of determining whether an employee qualifies as full–time under the Program, a public service employer shall credit the employee, for each hour of the employee’s credit, contact, or classroom time, with at least: 35 hours worked; or if a higher number of hours is allowed under the Program, the number allowed under the Program. This subsection may not be construed to supersede a public service employer’s policy or adjustment for additional work associated with lecture or classroom time. To maximize the amount of time for which an employee can be considered to be a full–time employee, a public service employer shall treat consecutive academic terms that an employee teaches as a continuous employment period, regardless of whether: the hours are taught under separate employment contracts; or the academic terms are separated by routine academic vacation.