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.

Responsible Authority:

Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs

Policy Statement

Criteria for the Appointment, Promotion, and Tenure of Faculty and Office of the Provost Memoranda and Policy shall apply.

Academic appointments are designated as tenure-earning/tenured or non-tenure earning. The ranks of Assistant Professor, Associate Professor and Professor, may be tenure-earning, tenured or non-tenure earning. The ranks of Research Assistant Professor, Research Associate Professor, Research Professor, Assistant Medical Librarian, Associate Medical Librarian and Medical Librarian are non-tenure earning. The University has no quotas for admission to rank. The same criteria shall apply for initial appointment to any rank as apply to promotion to that rank. These criteria recognize four broad areas of academic activity: instructional activity; research, scholarship and other creative activity in the relevant discipline(s); service; and clinical activity. Service shall include contributions to the effective functioning, administration and development of professional associations, research grant awarding bodies, scientific journals, department/school, college and university programs, and the University itself, as well as assigned service to the community. In each of these areas – instruction, research, scholarship and creative activity and clinical activity, there should be a clear definition of shared tasks, activities and goals of the academic unity and an assessment of an individual’s productive participation in these. The FAU Credentialing Manual describes the policies and practices of FAU for ensuring that all courses are taught by well-qualified faculty members. It includes the procedures used to review the credentials of every faculty member teaching a course.

• Assistant Professor: Appointment to the rank of Assistant Professor normally requires individuals to hold the highest earned degree appropriate to their discipline. Evidence of potential for excellence in quality teaching, scholarship, research and clinical activities (when appropriate) is required. Appointment to this rank in the tenure-track is made on the judgment that individuals are capable of reaching tenure within a maximum six-year period. Responsibilities include teaching graduate and medical students, conducting research, scholarly activities, clinical activities (when appropriate) and service to the department, college, university and the profession. Minimum qualifications are a Doctoral degree from an accredited institution.
• Associate Professor: Appointment to the rank of Associate Professor is recognition that the faculty member has reached a status in the discipline appropriate to a life-long member of the academic world. This means that the person will clearly demonstrate the commitment and ability to continue to be a scholar, contributing to the relevant field(s) of knowledge through original work and quality teaching in the best traditions of the professorate. The candidate must demonstrate a commitment to and ability in teaching and related instructional activity, as well as demonstrating the ability to contribute successfully and continuously to the scholarship of appropriate academic disciplines. Although the typical Assistant Professor will have only a modest assignment to service, appointment to Associate Professor requires that the candidate have a record of responsible and conscientious participation in some service activities. A track record of significant independent research is expected. Independent funding for research will be considered. Teaching, research, scholarly activities and clinical activities (when appropriate) shall be rigorously evaluated. Responsibilities include teaching graduate and medical students, conducting research, scholarly activities, clinical activities (when appropriate) and service to the department, college, university and the profession. Minimum qualifications are a Doctoral degree from an accredited institution.
• Professor: Appointment to the rank of Professor is recognition of demonstrated achievement and distinction over the span of an individual’s academic career, with evidence of long-standing leadership and substantial contributions both within and outside the university. For promotion to Professor the candidate must demonstrate, at a minimum, distinction in scholarship/research/creative activity and competence in teaching and service. While the decision involves the candidate’s entire career, the candidate’s record shall demonstrate significant additional achievement beyond that demonstrated at the time of appointment to Associate Professor. While demonstrated merit, not years of service, shall be the primary factor in determining the case for appointment to Professor, in general, appointment to the rank of Professor will occur no earlier than five years from the candidate’s initial appointment to Associate Professor at the prior institution (although this is not required in exceptional cases). Responsibilities include teaching graduate and medical students, conducting research, scholarly activities, clinical activities (when appropriate) and service to the department, college, university and the profession. Minimum qualifications are a Doctoral degree from an accredited institution.

Faculty-level research appointments, identified by the titles of Research Assistant Professor, Research Associate Professor, or Research Professor, are intended to offer a research career pathway to individuals with experience and scholarly qualifications comparable to regular tenure-track and tenured faculty members. The Division of Research policy on Faculty-Level Research Appointments shall apply. Faculty-level research must be approved by the Vice President for Research.

• Research Assistant Professor: Appointment to the rank of Research Assistant Professor normally requires individuals to hold the highest earned degree appropriate to their discipline. Evidence of potential for excellence in scholarship and for quality teaching at the graduate level is required. Responsibilities include conducting, participating in, and/or administering research, writing research papers for publication, training personnel involved in specific research projects and programs, writing grants and seeking funding for research projects. Minimum qualifications are a Doctoral degree from an accredited institution.
• Research Associate Professor: Appointment to the rank of Research Associate Professor is recognition that the faculty member has reached a status in the discipline appropriate to a life- long member of the academic world. This means that the person will clearly demonstrate the commitment and ability to continue to be a scholar, contributing to the relevant field(s) of knowledge through original work and quality teaching at the graduate level in the best traditions of the professorate. The candidate must demonstrate commitment to and ability in teaching and related instructional activity, as well as demonstrating the ability to contribute successfully and continuously to the scholarship of appropriate academic disciplines. Teaching activities shall be rigorously evaluated as scholarship and creative activity. Although the typical Research Assistant Professor will have only a modest assignment to service, appointment to Research Associate Professor requires that the candidate have a record of responsible and conscientious participation in some service activities. Responsibilities include conducting, participating in, and/or administering research, writing research papers for publication, training personnel involved in specific research projects and programs, writing grants and seeking funding for research projects. Minimum qualifications are a Doctoral degree from an accredited institution.
• Research Professor: Appointment to the rank of Research Professor is recognition of demonstrated achievement and distinction over the span of an individual’s academic career in scholarship/creative activity in the appropriate discipline(s) and/or teaching and related instructional activity and/or service/administration. While distinction must be demonstrated in at least one dimension of the faculty role, the candidate must demonstrate commitment to and competency in the others. While the decision involves the candidate’s entire career, the candidate’s record shall demonstrate significant additional achievement beyond that demonstrated at the time of appointment to Research Associate Professor. While demonstrated merit, not years of service, shall be the primary factor in determining the case for appointment to Research Professor, in general, appointment to the rank of Research Professor will occur no earlier than five years from the candidate’s initial appointment to Research Associate Professor at the prior institution (although this is not required in exceptional cases). Years in rank and sustained productivity are particularly important. Responsibilities include conducting, participating in, and/or administering research, writing research papers for publication, training personnel involved in specific research projects and programs, writing grants and seeking funding for research projects. Minimum qualifications are a Doctoral degree from an accredited institution.
• Instructor Medical Librarian: Appointment to Instructor Medical Librarian requires a master’s degree in library science from an ALA-accredited institution. No experience is required, although an academic record and recommendations that indicate a potential for successful performance as an academic librarian are required. Individuals are expected to seek promotion after serving as Instructor Medical Librarian for at least two years.
• Assistant Medical Librarian: Appointment to the rank of Assistant Medical Librarian requires a record of productive scholarship and scholarly activity demonstrating university or local prominence, i.e., participation in peer-reviewed publications, presenting at meetings, and service on committees, with demonstrated potential for future research/scholarly/creative contributions. A demonstrated interest in being a productive and collegial professional in the library profession is required. Minimum qualifications are a master’s degree in library science from an ALA- accredited institution and at least two years of experience as a professional librarian or equivalent after completing the master’s degree.
• Associate Medical Librarian: Appointment to the rank of Associate Medical Librarian requires a documented record of effective job performance in areas such as job knowledge, dependability, initiative, and professional attitude. The candidate must demonstrate the capacity to exercise the fully developed skills expected at the Associate Medical Librarian level. Librarians holding this title shall have demonstrated substantial contribution with evidence of enhanced responsibility, continued growth, and strong commitment to the institution, or to library professional organizations. Achievement of a high level of expertise to advance the goals of the profession is required. Librarians at this rank are expected to exercise significant professional judgment and provide evidence of a substantial degree of leadership. Candidates must also provide evidence of distinction and commitment significantly beyond the degree expected of an assistant medical librarian in scholarship, research, and/or creative endeavors, with notable contributions to the advancement of librarianship and increasing service to the institution. Minimum qualifications are a master’s degree in library science from an ALA-accredited institution and at least five years of experience as a professional librarian or equivalent after completing the master’s degree.
• Medical Librarian: Appointment to the rank of Medical Librarian requires a documented record of exceptional job performance in areas such as job knowledge, dependability, initiative, and professional attitude. The candidate must demonstrate the capacity to exercise the fully developed skills expected at the Medical Librarian level. While the decision involves the candidate’s entire career, the candidate’s record shall demonstrate significant additional achievement beyond that demonstrated at the time of appointment to Associate Medical Librarian. Librarians holding this title shall have demonstrated exceptional contribution with evidence of enhanced responsibility, continued growth, and a strong commitment to the institution or to library professional organizations. Librarians at this rank are expected to have achieved a superior level of expertise and have a demonstrated record of accomplishments to advance the goals of the institution and the profession. Librarians at this rank are expected to exercise the highest level of professional judgment and provide evidence of longstanding leadership. Candidates must provide evidence of distinction and commitment in scholarship, research, and/or creative endeavors, with notable contributions to the advancement of librarianship and service to the institution. Candidates must also provide evidence of recognized distinction in at least one of the categories of librarianship, scholarship, or service. The candidate must provide evidence of distinctive achievement among peers in one’s discipline or professional field at the national or international level. To demonstrate distinctive scholarship and research, the candidate should be on a trajectory of national and international scholastic development. Candidates must show that they are distinctive in and committed to performing high quality scholarly activity. Some examples of distinctive achievement in this area include authorship of scholarly publications including peer-reviewed publications and media, honors and awards, and presentations at national or international meetings or other institutions. The candidate must show that they have undertaken an important research agenda, including grantsmanship, and are making demonstrable progress on that agenda. The candidate for Medical Librarian may be engaged in a leadership role for grant-writing activities as appropriate to the discipline. In addition, it is expected that the candidate will be professionally engaged and has disseminated their scholarship at national and international conferences. Minimum qualifications are a master’s degree in library science from an ALA-accredited institution and at least eight years of experience as a professional librarian or equivalent after completing the master’s degree.
• Instructor: The Office of the Provost Memoranda and Policy on Qualification of Instructors shall apply. Instructional personnel teaching graduate courses must hold a doctorate or appropriate terminal degree in the teaching discipline or a related discipline. Exceptions to the highest degree standard can be made in cases where the instructor possesses related work experiences in the field, professional licensure and certifications, honors and awards, continuous documented excellence in teaching, or other demonstrated competencies and achievements that contribute to effective teaching. Dates for these additional qualifications must be specified, as well as a description of the relationship between these qualifications and the expected outcomes of the course.

Multi-Year Appointments

Two- to five-year fixed multi-year appointments may be offered for the following

1. Instructors
2. Non-tenured or non-tenure earning Assistant Professors, Associate Professors, and Professors;
3. Non-tenured or non-tenure earning Assistant Medical Librarians, Associate Medical Librarians, Medical Librarians, and Instructor Medical Librarians;
4. Research Assistant Professors, Research Associate Professors, Research Professors, and Research Associates;
5. Non tenured or non-tenure earning clinical faculty;
6. Individuals who have officially retired from universities or other organizations and who are at least 55 years of age;
7. Tenured employees who decide to give up their tenured status to take advantage of whatever incentives might be offered by a fixed multi-year appointment; and
8. Individuals who have held the rank of full professor for at least seven (7) years at an institution of higher education.

Successive fixed multi-year appointments may be offered to eligible faculty (above). Criteria used to determine in which instances to offer successive appointments include

• Consideration of the basis for the initial fixed multi-year appointment,
• Evaluation of performance,
• Professional growth,
• Extent and currency of professional qualifications,
• Contribution to the mission of the department or program,
• Staffing,
• Availability of funds.

Multi-Year Appointments at the College of Medicine may also be offered to non-tenured or non-tenure earning faculty which automatically renew at the conclusion of the term.