01.03.99.R0.01 Faculty Appointments
Effective September 1, 1996
Revised September 4, 1998
Supplements System Policies 01.03
1. Tenure Track Appointments
The following appointments, with corresponding faculty rank/title, are those in use at Texas A&M University-Commerce (A&M-Commerce) to describe full-time faculty who are either tenured or on tenure-track appointments.
a. Tenured appointment
Describes faculty holding academic rank and upon whom tenure has been conferred in writing by the president.
b. Tenure track appointment
Describes full-time faculty holding academic rank who have received a tenure-track appointment in writing from the president. These individuals are in the probationary period of service and have not received tenure, neither conferred nor implied.
c. Multiple-year appointment
Describes full-time faculty holding academic rank who have received a multiple-year contract in a tenure-track position. Under special circumstances, such as in the selection of department heads, the president may appoint individuals to a multiple-year contract in a tenure-track position. In cases of satisfactory performance, the contracted years may be credited toward tenure.
2. Non-Tenure Track Appointments
The following faculty appointments are used to describe full or part-time teaching appointments at A&M-Commerce that are accepted on a temporary basis, or are used to employ faculty for a specific teaching assignment or condition. These appointments are by definition non-tenure track and do not confer, nor imply the awarding of tenure at any time.
a. Non-tenure track appointment
Describes full or part-time teaching appointments. This appointment may require the faculty member to perform teaching; research, scholarship, and creative activities; and/or service. Individuals in these appointments are hired through a formal search process and may be rehired, in accord with the needs of the university. These appointments can not be converted to tenure track.
b. Ad interim (Exceptional Hire) appointment
Describes a temporary appointment of full-time faculty holding academic rank. An ad interim (exceptional hire) appointment may not exceed one academic year. This appointment, although temporary, carries the duties and responsibilities of full-time faculty employment, unless otherwise specified. Ad interim appointees may teach more than the normal class load in lieu of research, scholarly and creative activities, or service. An individual with this type appointment may not be rehired into the same position without a search.
c. Part-time appointment
Describes faculty who are employed less than full-time but in all other respects have duties and responsibilities (proportional to their appointment) of full-time faculty. Part-time faculty have academic rank.
d. Adjunct appointment
Describes an appointment to teach only on a per-course basis, usually for one semester. Adjunct faculty do not hold academic rank and are not budgeted by name. Appointments are less than half time teaching only. Adjunct faculty are not required to do the research, scholarly and creative activities, or service required of full-time faculty.
3. Rank and titles
a. Tenure or tenure track: professor, associate professor, assistant professor, instructor.
b. Non-tenure track: lecturer, clinical instructor, visiting professor, visiting instructor, visiting artist, and other non-standard titles may be used in addition to those listed in 3.a. above. These titles are used to describe full or part-time appointment of individuals whose employment, credentials, or duties are special and not necessarily the same as regular faculty, i.e., teaching, scholarship, and service. These appointments may be renewable on a semester or year-to-year basis or for a specified term period. Conditions of employment and length of the appointment should be specified in writing.
References: Prior ETSU Policies V C 2.2 and D-30 approved September 1, 1985; revised September 4, 1998; Procedure A12.10
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CONTACT FOR INTERPRETATION: Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs