4.2.1

Faculty Appointments and Employment

Faculty appointments at the University may be:

  • tenured (that is, without term),
  • eligible for consideration of tenure in accordance with the University’s promotion and tenure policy and the promotion and tenure policies of the individual schools (also known as “tenure-track”),
  • or for limited term and ineligible for consideration of tenure (also known as “general faculty positions” or “non-tenure-track”).

Faculty members holding different types of appointments are governed by different policies and may hold different ranks. For more information about faculty appointments and initial employment, see the following policies:

Appointment Types, Ranks, and Titles for Academic Faculty
This policy describes the different types of academic faculty appointments (including tenured/tenure-track faculty, general faculty, visiting faculty, joint, and courtesy appointments) and the different faculty ranks and titles in use at the University.

Employment of Academic General Faculty Members
This policy is the primary employment policy for faculty members whose primary responsibilities include teaching, research, integration of professional practice, academic librarianship or clinical service without encompassing the full scope of responsibilities expected from tenure-track faculty positions. Their appointments are not eligible for consideration of tenure and they are always appointed or reappointed for limited terms.

Employment of Administrative or Professional General Faculty Members
This policy is the primary employment policy for faculty members whose primary responsibilities are to provide services to faculty, students, and staff in order to support the institution’s primary missions of instruction, research, and public service. Their appointments are not eligible for consideration of tenure and they are always appointed or reappointed for limited terms. Effective January 3, 2017, the University does not hire administrative or professional general faculty members.

Faculty Wage Employment
This policy explains the conditions and terms that govern the limited employment of individuals hired to complete a short-term, academic work assignment, such as teaching a course for one or two academic terms. Faculty wage employees are not governed by the policy “Employment of Academic General Faculty Members.”

Faculty Background Checks, Screenings, and Ongoing Responsibility for Employees to Disclose Criminal Convictions
This policy describes the process for performing background checks before new faculty members are hired or former faculty members are rehired after a break in service. The policy also explains the different types of background checks and screenings, and details the post-employment requirement to disclose criminal convictions.

Faculty Personnel Records
This policy details the materials that should be retained in each faculty member’s personnel file at the department or school level and the conditions that govern the release of information from these files to third parties or to the faculty member.

Other policies related to faculty employment and faculty/administrative appointments:

Employment Eligibility Verification (Completing Form I-9)
Reimbursement of Moving Expenses
Appointment, Annual Evaluation, and Reappointment of Academic Deans
Appointment of Faculty to Endowed Professorships
Appointment of University Professors
Appointment of Foreign Faculty and Researchers
Appointment of Unpaid Faculty
Appointment of Visiting Faculty and Visiting Scholars
Approval of Appointments and Reappointments of Senior School and University Administrators
Academic Faculty Members Appointed to Administrative Positions
Evaluating Employee Fitness for Duty
Faculty Members Holding Appointments at Other Institutions or Organizations
Summer Employment and Appointments