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Teaching and Research Professorial Appointments

  • Appointments and Reappointments
    Teaching and Research Professor appointments are non-tenure track (NTT) appointments. NTT faculty have the protection of academic tenure only during the fixed term of their contract. These appointments may be renewed, subject to satisfactory performance and availability of funds.

  • Expectations for Promotion
    Promotion of NTT faculty is not tied to reappointment and is not determined by time in rank. It is determined instead by the development of the faculty member’s career to the level of the next rank. However, the time scale of career development will be similar to that of tenure-track faculty. Thus promotion to Teaching or Research Associate Professor might be considered after around six years as Assistant Professor, and promotion to Teaching or Research Professor might follow after a further six years or more.

    Review of NTT faculty will follow the departmental, college, and university procedures for promotion in place at the time of review. Contributions will be reviewed against the Statement of Mutual Expectations developed by the faculty member and the Department Head, with input from the faculty member’s mentoring committee.

    • Teaching Faculty
      The official load of teaching faculty across campus is 8 courses per academic year (9 months). However, the Department of Statistics has advocated a different path allowing for broader personal development and making a clearer distinction between instructors and NTTs. This departmental standard load consists of 6 courses per academic year plus additional contributions to the department, university, and statistics profession. Thus, promotion guidelines for teaching faculty must consider both teaching contributions and these extra contributions over and above teaching duties.

      For the teaching aspect, teaching faculty must demonstrate excellence in teaching, advising, and mentoring of students. Student evaluations are one measure of excellence, but the promotion dossier should also give evidence of excellence in course content, maintenance of rigor in standards, and innovation in teaching methods.

      The additional contributions of teaching faculty are harder to measure, including both citizenship and scholarly activity. Some examples of good citizenship are committee membership, leadership in diversity recruiting, and leadership in promoting excellent teaching practices within the department. Teaching faculty are not expected to develop independent research programs. However, scholarly activity appropriate to the individual’s teaching responsibilities is expected. Indicators of scholarly activities are listed in Section 3.1.3 in the department’s Reappointment, Promotion and Tenure Standards and Procedures.

      Teaching faculty will follow the promotion processes and guidelines established by the university for promotion of tenure-track faculty. For promotion to the associate or full level, outside letters are not required. However, teaching faculty are expected to be good citizens and to establish a reputation beyond the institution.

    • Research Faculty
      For promotion, research faculty must demonstrate excellence in their research program and in consulting or interdisciplinary collaboration. Research faculty are not expected to develop teaching programs. However, scholarly activity appropriate to the individual’s research, consulting, or interdisciplinary collaboration responsibilities is expected. Indicators of scholarly activities are listed in Sections 3.1.1 and 3.1.2 of the department’s Reappointment, Promotion and Tenure Standards and Procedures.

      In addition, research faculty are expected to provide service relevant to the university’s academic mission. Such service may include serving on appropriate department, college, or university committees, and participation in appropriate outreach activities.

      Research faculty will follow the promotion processes and guidelines established by the university for promotion of tenure-track faculty. For promotion to the associate or full level, outside letters are required. Thus research faculty are expected to establish a reputation that provides a foundation for the required outside evaluation.

  • Process
    Appointment at the rank of Teaching or Research Assistant Professor follows the guidelines established by the College. The appointment requires review of the candidate’s credentials by the department faculty and a vote by the Department Voting Faculty, along with consultation with the College Associate Dean for Academic Programs. A majority vote from the DVF is required for approval. Teaching and Research Assistant Professors are assigned a mentoring committee. Evaluation by the committee and by full and associate professors follows departmental policies for tenure-track Assistant Professors, including peer review of teaching for teaching faculty, an annual review of the faculty member’s Faculty Activity Report or dossier by the department faculty, and an evaluation meeting with the Department Head.

    Promotion to Teaching or Research Associate Professor is not mandatory, and thus may occur at any time. The process adheres to the College and University guidelines in place at the time of promotion. Promotions to Teaching or Research Professor similarly follow College and University guidelines.

  • Statement of Mutual Expectations
    Within the first year of appointment, NTT faculty develop, along with the Department Head, a Statement of Mutual Expectations outlining the appointee’s teaching, research, scholarly, and service obligations to the department during the term of the appointment.
  • Graduate Faculty Membership
    Initial departmental evaluation for appointment or reappointment of a Teaching Faculty Member includes an assessment of qualifications for associate membership in the Graduate Faculty. Application for membership will be made by the Department Head upon recommendation and by the voting graduate faculty in the department. (Note: Full membership in the Graduate Faculty is limited to tenured and tenure-track faculty).
  • Relationship with College and University Regulations
    Nothing in this document will supersede College or University rules or regulations.