1.0  Purpose

1.1     It is the purpose of this University Policy to establish procedures and to introduce a degree of regularity in the search, selection, and reappointment procedures for faculty and academic staff.

1.2     It is a further purpose of this policy to assure fair and consistent employment practices for faculty and academic staff in a manner consonant with the mission of the University and the goals of equal employment opportunity.

1.3     This order is ancillary to University Policy 99-4, Approval of Personnel Actions, 2.1 C.2., Positions Covered by the AAUP-AFT Agreement and Comparable Classifications, vesting certain powers of appointment in the Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs.

1.4     This policy defines the prerequisites for a recommendation of appointment for faculty and academic staff and for recommendation of reappointment of faculty and academic staff holding term appointments.

1.5     This policy applies to the pre-employment search and selection procedures of the included classifications and to the recommendation for reappointment of faculty and academic staff holding term appointments, and to no other University procedure. It does not affect promotion, tenure, non-renewal, termination, or length of term appointment except in the cases of faculty (teaching) and instructor.

2.0  Definition

2.1     Faculty includes fractional and full-time faculty in the following classifications: faculty (teaching), instructor, assistant professor, associate professor, professor, visiting faculty, faculty (clinical), and faculty (research).

2.2     Academic staff includes fractional and full-time persons in the following classifications: academic advisor, academic services officer, archivist, athletic trainer, athletic coach, extension program coordinator, financial aids officer, health physicist, librarian, university counselor assistant, and university counselor.

2.3     Other academic classifications affected by this order include: research assistant, research associate, research scientist, senior research scientist, postdoctoral fellow, and the voluntary faculty classifications full-time affiliate, clinical and adjunct.

2.4     Faculty and academic staff as defined in sections 2.1 and 2.2 are salaried at full or fractional time, the latter rendering service at some fraction of time and receiving a corresponding fractional salary less than one hundred percent (100%).

2.5     The provisions of this University Policy apply to stated classifications only.  

3.0  Recommendation to the Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs for Appointment of Faculty and Academic Staff

3.1     Letters of offer. University Policy 99-4 states in part that appointments to the faculty and academic staff are made by letter of offer initiated and, unless specifically subdelegated to deans/vice presidents, signed by the Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs. Appointments are made upon the recommendation of (a) department chairs with the concurrence of the deans of the schools/colleges, (b) the deans of the schools/colleges that are not departmentalized, or (c) the chief administrative officer of academic divisions. Appointments shall be made only after a search and selection process that is documented in the pre-employment file of a candidate. The preparation of that file, in conformance with the requirements of this University Policy, rests with the hiring department of the school/college/division, as appropriate.

3.2     Pre-employment file. A pre-employment file shall include (1) a copy of the internal posting, (2) letters of recommendation from external references, (3) documentation of affirmative action compliance, (4) a profile of other applicants, and (5) a written recommendation of the unit administrator with the concurrence of the dean/vice-president.  The CV's  of no fewer than the three most qualified candidates for the positions who were not recommended for appointment shall accompany but not be included in, the file.

A.  Letters of recommendation. Letters from external references are to be included as part of the pre-employment file.

B.  Oral references. When references are obtained orally, either by telephone or in person, notes made on the candidate's professional attributes are to be included in the pre-employment file with notation made of the referee's credentials.

C.  Recommendation of the dean. Candidates recommended to the Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs for appointment shall have written recommendations by the dean/director/department chair as appropriate. The recommendation by the dean/director/department chair shall describe the responsibilities which the academic unit seeks to carry out by making an appointment, and shall address the candidate's potential, based on his/her academic and professional qualifications, to meet those responsibilities.

D.  Evidence of Affirmative Action compliance. In all instances, recommendations for appointment shall be in compliance with University affirmative action requirements and any other related or specific obligations incurred by the department or school/college. The recommendations shall include evidence that advertising in publications of special interest to minority persons and women has occurred.

4.0  Special Conditions Pertaining to the Appointment of Faculty (teahing) and Instructors

4.1     Faculty (teaching) are not tenure-track appointees and are engaged principally to meet the instructional needs of the schools/colleges. Therefore, the initial term appointment for faculty (teaching) may be for 1, 2 or 3 years. 

4.2     No faculty (teaching) shall be appointed to the graduate faculty for more than twelve months without the approval of the Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, upon the recommendation of the dean of the Graduate School.

4.3     Instructors are non-tenure-track appointees.  Generally they are appointed to the rank of instructor while awaiting fulfillment of doctoral qualifications.  The initial term of appointment shall be for a period of no more than twelve months.  A renewal appointment of no more than twelve months may be granted where good progress towards the doctorate is being made. 

4.4     No instructor shall be appointed to the graduate faculty for more than two years, and none will be appointed to offer courses designated exclusively for doctoral students.

5.0  Recommendations to the Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs for Reappointment of Faculty and Staff

5.1     Reappointment. Reappointment of faculty and academic staff is made by the Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs on the written recommendation of the dean of the school/college or the director of the academic unit as appropriate.

5.2     A recommendation to the Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs for reappointment shall include a current, complete, signed and dated professional record.

6.0  Special Conditions Pertaining to the Reappointment of Faculty (teaching) and Instructors

6.1     A person appointed to the rank of instructor for the purpose of joining the full-time faculty, prior to the completion of doctoral requirements, can be reappointed for only one additional twelve month period without having completed doctoral requirements except by special appeal to the Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs.

6.2     A person appointed to the rank of faculty (teaching) independent of his/her educational progress may be reappointed for one, two, or three years. After three years of service as faculty (teaching ) the normal renewal shall be for at least two  years.  After six (6) years of service, appointments shall have presumption of renewal and shall be for at least four (4) years. 

7.0  Duration

7.1     This delegation of authority is revocable at any time at the discretion of the president and without notice.

7.2     This University Policy supersedes University Policy 01-01, Second Release.

8.0  Effective Date

8.1     This University Policy is effective upon issuance.

Attachments:

Professional RecordFaculty

Professional RecordAcademic Staff

Signed by President M. Roy Wilson, October 1, 2021