Faculty Appointments Policy

Policy Details

Effective Date:

April 11, 2022

Supersedes:

COM Administrative Policies Initially Adopted February 28, 2007; amended June 1, 2009; September 30, 2010; January 19, 2011; June 12, 2012; May 10, 2013; July 10, 2014; Faculty Appointments Policy Amended May 25, 2017 and August 16, 2021 (librarian criteria only), November 3, 2021 (multi-year appointments only), April 11, 2022; February 19, 2026.

Responsible Authority:

Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs

Policy Statement

The College of Medicine follows the policies and procedures outlined by the Office of the Provost’s Memoranda and Policy for faculty appointments as well as the Criteria for the Appointment, Promotion, and Tenure of Faculty for the promotion of faculty. The Florida Atlantic University (FAU) Credentialing Manual also describes the policies and practices of FAU to ensure that all courses are taught by well-qualified faculty members. It includes the procedures and criteria used to review the credentials of every faculty member teaching a course to ensure the appointment criteria are met.

Academic appointments are designated as tenured, tenure-earning, or non-tenure earning. The University has no quotas for admission to a rank and the same criteria used to determine initial rank appointments apply to the promotion to a higher rank. These criteria recognize four broad areas of academic activity: (1) instructional activity; (2) research, scholarship and other creative activity in the relevant discipline(s); (3) service; and (4) clinical activity. Service shall include contributions to the effective functioning, administration and development of professional associations, governmental agencies, research grant awarding bodies, scientific journals, department/school, college and university programs, and the COM and University itself, as well as assigned service to the community and other external collaborators. In each of these areas – instruction, research, scholarship and creative activity and clinical activity, there are clear definitions of shared tasks, activities, and goals of the academic unit and an assessment of an individual’s productive participation in these.

The College of Medicine has established faculty tracks that define the array of faculty roles required to support the college's mission and strategic goals. These tracks include Tenure Track, Educator Track, Clinical Educator Track, Clinical Practice Track, Research Track, Instructor Track, and Medical Librarian Track. Faculty are appointed to a rank and track at the time of hire based on their qualifications and role. These tracks are described in more detail below and included in 2025 Criteria and Procedures for the Appointment, Promotion and Tenure of Faculty.

A. Scientist and Clinician Scientist Track

Rank: Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Professor

Track: Tenure

Appointment Criteria:

• Terminal degree (e.g., PhD, MD, DO), with completed postdoctoral training and/or residency, as appropriate.

Appointment to the initial rank of Assistant Professor on the Tenure Track requires clear potential for developing an independent research program, as demonstrated by formal research training, early publications, and actual or potential success in obtaining peer-reviewed funding. Candidates are expected to promptly establish an independent research program, contribute to teaching, and, where applicable, participate in clinical care. Evidence of teaching ability or promise, as well as interest and capacity for institutional and professional service is also expected.

B. Educator Track 

Rank: Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Professor

Track: Non-tenure

Appointment Criteria:

• Terminal degree (e.g., PhD, MD, DO, EdD) with completed postdoctoral training, as appropriate.

Appointment to the initial rank of Assistant Professor on the Educator Track requires demonstrated potential in teaching, educational or field-related scholarship, and, when applicable, administrative responsibilities. Primary emphasis is placed on teaching and scholarly activity. Faculty on this track are expected to engage in recognized scholarship consistent with their assigned effort. Candidates should have appropriate evidence of effective teaching, interest or experience in medical education, involvement in curriculum development or innovation, teaching in preclinical settings, and potential for excellence in instructional roles.

C. Clinical Educator Track

Rank: Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Professor

Track: Non-tenure

Appointment Criteria:

• MD or DO (or acceptable equivalent) with active state medical licensure.

Appointment to the initial rank of Assistant Professor on the Clinical Educator Track requires demonstrated potential in clinical care and teaching, educational or field-related scholarship, and, when applicable, administrative responsibilities. Candidates should develop evidence of effective teaching, interest or experience in medical education, involvement in curriculum development or innovation, teaching in clinical settings, and potential for excellence in instructional roles. Candidates with clinical responsibilities should be Board-certified or be Board-eligible with a 3-year grace period to achieve Board certification in their primary and specialty disciplines. Faculty on this track are expected to engage in nationally recognized scholarship consistent with their assigned effort. Faculty with primary administrative roles are expected to engage in nationally recognized scholarship, service, or teaching.

D. Clinical Practice Track 

Rank: Clinical Assistant Professor, Clinical Associate Professor, Clinical Professor

Track: Non-tenure

Appointment Criteria:

• MD or DO (or acceptable equivalent) with active licensure and board certification.

Appointment to the initial rank of Assistant Professor on the Clinical Practice Track requires potential for growth in health care delivery. Candidates should be Board-certified or be board-eligible with a 3-year grace period to achieve board certification in their primary and specialty disciplines. Faculty appointed at this rank are expected to establish a local and regional reputation for clinical expertise and to assume teaching responsibilities in a timely manner.

E. Research Track (Non-Tenure)

Rank: Research Assistant Professor, Research Associate Professor, Research Professor

Track: Non-tenure

Appointment Criteria:

• PhD, MD, DO, or acceptable equivalent in biomedical or related sciences with the potential for significant research productivity

Appointment to the initial rank of Research Assistant Professor on the Research Track requires engaging in basic or applied biomedical and health care research, demonstrating exceptional scholarly achievement. Their primary role supports COM’s research mission, often through collaboration rather than leading independent programs. Most will report to lab directors and PIs although they may also provide expertise and leadership in managing core labs and clinical labs with advanced research technologies. Some may lead independent labs as Principal Investigators and senior authors but are evaluated mainly on research excellence. Teaching focuses mainly on supervising students and trainees involved in research but they may also teach graduate courses as assigned. Some may also have assigned administrative roles.

F. Instructor Track (Non-Tenure, Entry-Level)

Rank: Instructor

Track: Non-tenure

Appointment Criteria:

• Relevant graduate degree (MS, MA, PhD, MD, DO, or acceptable equivalent) with postdoctoral training and/or residency, as appropriate, in progress. 
• Demonstrates early-stage teaching, research, or clinical skills with potential to provide support roles and develop professionally.

Appointment to the rank of Instructor is typically for candidates with an advanced graduate degree or equivalent, who have not yet completed a terminal degree but may be actively pursuing it while teaching, or who have completed a residency/fellowship and are eligible for board certification (if applicable). This role allows up to three years to select a career path and faculty track. Appointments are for one to three years. Upon meeting promotion criteria, Instructors may advance to Assistant Professor on a designated track.

G. Medical Librarian Track (Non-Tenure)

Rank: Assistant, Associate and Medical Librarian

Track: Non-tenure

Appointment Criteria:

• Master’s degree in Library Science from an American Library Association (ALA) -accredited institution, or acceptable equivalent, with a minimum of two years of professional librarian experience (or equivalent) following the degree. 
• Demonstrated record of productive scholarship and scholarly activity indicating university or local recognition is also required.

Initial Appointments above the Rank of Assistant Professor

Initial appointments are typically at the rank of Assistant Professor; however, individuals who have achieved a rank above Assistant Professor at a comparable institution meet the College of Medicine’s appointment criteria, and/or their accomplishments warrant this consideration can be considered for an initial appointment at that higher rank in the College of Medicine.

Multi-Year Appointments

Three-year fixed multi-year appointments may be offered for the following:

1. Non-tenured or non-tenure earning Assistant Professors, Associate Professors, and Professors
2. Non-tenured or non-tenure earning Assistant Medical Librarians, Associate Medical Librarians, and Medical Librarians
3. Research Assistant Professors, Research Associate Professors, and Research Professors
4. Non tenured or non-tenure earning Clinical Assistant Professors, Clinical Associate Professors, and Clinical Professors
5. Instructors

At the conclusion of the term, successive annual periods as an open-ended appointment may be offered to eligible faculty (above). Criteria used to determine in which instances to offer successive appointments include:

• Evaluation of performance
• Professional growth
• Extent and currency of professional qualifications
• Contribution to the mission of the department or program