01.03.99.R0.03 Adjunct and Part-Time Faculty Appointments
Effective September 1, 1996
Revised June 2002
Supplements System Policies 01.03.99.R0.03

1. Adjunct and part-time faculty are an integral part of the university's faculty.

2. Academic departments should follow the relevant search guidelines found at http://www.tamu-commerce.edu/academic/vpaa/procedures/A12.12.doc when search for and hiring part-time faculty.

3. Qualifications of adjunct and part-time faculty must be consistent with those of full-time faculty. For example, they should hold a minimum of a master's degree and should have completed a minimum of 18 graduate hours in the subject field to be taught. They must meet the same requirements for professional, experiential and scholarly preparation as their full-time counterparts teaching in the same discipline. Exceptional and unusual cases must be justified in advance of hiring.

In exceptional cases, outstanding professional experience and demonstrated contributions to the teaching discipline may be presented in lieu of formal academic preparation. Such cases must be justified on an individual basis with documentation on file showing how the experience relates to the specific course being taught. Examples of appropriate documentation of outstanding professional experience or contribution to the discipline may include official transcripts; official documentation of professional and work experience, technical and performance competency (i.e.: CPA licensure, etc.); records of publication, certifications, and other qualifications.

In unusual cases, there may be an occasion when a new discipline is in its formative stage in higher education and there are no faculty available with academic credentials in the discipline. In either case, evidence of competence or academic credentials other than the required degree for the discipline must be documented.

Faculty files in the Provost Office must include the institution’s evaluation of how the faculty member’s credentials qualify him/her to teach courses in compliance with SACS criteria. In establishing justification:
1) note courses taught,
2) note formal academic preparation,
3) note justification, and
4) explain how justification relates to courses taught.

4. Adjunct and part-time faculty should be paid according to the university's rates set for such positions.

5. Upon employment, all new adjunct and part-time faculty should receive a copy or online version of the Faculty Handbook, and be oriented to the department and assigned teaching responsibilities by the department head who supervises them.

6. Adjunct and part-time faculty will be asked to maintain records such as grade books, student attendance reports, class handouts, and course syllabi. These records are to be left with the department head at the end of the term.

7. Adjunct and part-time faculty should be evaluated in their assigned responsibilities by the same policies and procedures as apply to full-time faculty.

8. Adjunct and part-time faculty should be integrated into departmental functions. They should be invited to attend faculty meetings and encouraged to participate in extracurricular activities.

9. Adjunct and part-time faculty should be provided office space, even if it is shared with other faculty or graduate assistants.

10. Adjunct and part-time faculty members should keep reasonable office hours at a designated time to be available regularly to students and colleagues.

References: Prior ETSU Policy D-41 approved May 19, 1992; revised June 2002 Deans Council Minutes; Procedure A12.12

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CONTACT FOR INTERPRETATION: Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs