4.3.0 Non-Tenure Track Faculty

Non-Tenure Track Faculty are any faculty appointed to full time or part time positions created for purposes such as working on grants or contracts, clinical settings, scholarly engagement, filling in for Regular Faculty who may be absent, completing specific projects, augmenting the Regular Faculty, teaching a single semester's course offering, enhancing the programs of the University with distinguished Visiting persons, and for other purposes. Non-Tenure Track Faculty include Visiting faculty, Affiliate and Senior Affiliate faculty, and Adjunct and Senior Adjunct instructors (at any rank) as defined below. Non-Tenure Track Faculty are not required to possess a terminal degree.  Non-Tenure Track Faculty are not eligible for nor do they accrue any credit toward academic tenure. There are no employment rights beyond the appointment terms stated below. All Non-Tenure Track Faculty are subject to evaluation procedures approved by the Provost.

4.3.1 Appointments. All Non-Tenure Track Faculty appointments shall be for specific but renewable periods of time and shall be subject to and limited to the conditions, benefits, and obligations herein outlined. All Non-Tenure Track appointments are subject to evaluation.

A.  Visiting Faculty: Appointments will be made on full time or part time basis for one (1) academic or fiscal year. Such appointments are normally not renewable beyond three (3) one-year appointments.

B. Affiliate Faculty: Affiliate Faculty serve in a specialized role such as a clinical coordinator, field supervisor, for limited scholarly engagement, or may be selected to teach a limited range of courses. Those individuals who are selected to teach full time on nine-month appointments normally maintain twenty-four (24) to thirty (30) credit hours per year. Those individuals selected to teach part time on nine-month appointments normally maintain six (6) to eleven (11) credit hours per semester. Those individuals selected to teach full time on twelve-month appointments normally maintain thirty-six (36) credit hours per year. The number of credit hours taught may be adjusted to recognize other duties or activities. Affiliate Faculty shall support University assessment efforts.

Initially, upon hire, individuals will be appointed for one academic year, or fiscal year if appropriate, on a full time or part time basis. This may be renewed once for an additional academic or fiscal year. Thereafter, such individuals may be appointed for up to three (3) consecutive academic or fiscal years. Employment contracts are renewable. If no notification of renewal is given by May 1 of the second year of the contract, it will not be renewed. Appointment exceptions must be approved in advance by the Provost. The terms and conditions of appointment will be covered in the employment contract. Affiliate Faculty and Senior Affiliate Faculty will be appointed to one of the following categories:

Affiliate Faculty of Instruction (or Field Practicum): These faculty engage in teaching activities, primarily course, lab, or studio instruction. Depending on the needs of a unit or college, they may also participate in other activities that directly support the teaching mission of the University, such as student advising, supervision of internships or practicums, coordination of tutoring placements or direction of a tutoring center, regular assessments of student work, coordination of courses, or other obligations that are specifically identified in the employment contract.

Clinical Affiliate Faculty: In addition to responsibilities of Affiliate Faculty of Instruction (or Field Practicum), these faculty primarily work with students in a clinical setting, normally in health-related fields.

Affiliate Faculty of Practice: In addition to responsibilities of Affiliate Faculty of Instruction (or Field Practicum), the remainder of their workload is devoted to scholarly engagement and/or service that aligns with unit needs and is required by disciplinary accreditation. These faculty will typically have a substantial base of professional, non-academic experience in their discipline and understand the practical application of knowledge in their field. Their expertise complements the scholarly work of the unit.

C. Senior Affiliate Faculty: After seven (7) consecutive years at the University as an Affiliate Faculty member, an individual is eligible to apply to be appointed to Senior Affiliate Faculty subject to the conditions and process as established by the Provost and not inconsistent with Sections 4.3.0 and 4.3.3. This opportunity exists for Affiliate Faculty within each category of Section 4.3.0.B. An Affiliate Faculty who obtains Senior Affiliate status may be appointed for up to six (6) consecutive academic or fiscal years. Employment contracts are renewable. If no notification of renewal is given by May 1 of the year prior to the expiration of the contract, it will not be renewed.

D. Adjunct Instructor: Appointments to teach one or more classes for a single academic semester.

E. Senior Adjunct Instructor: Adjunct Instructors who have taught for the University for a minimum of a five-year, continuous time span including within that time at least eight semesters of teaching and there is a continuing need, are eligible for appointment as Senior Adjunct  Instructor. Senior Adjunct Instructors may be appointed to one-year contracts when a unit head determines there is a sufficient demand for the courses offered.

F. Adjunct Librarian: Adjunct Librarians are appointed to work for a limited amount of time on special projects or limited professional effectiveness portfolios, augmenting the work of a regular library faculty or to fill in for regular library faculty.

G. Senior Adjunct Librarian: Adjunct Librarians who have worked at the University for a minimum of a five-year, continuous time span including within that time at least eight semesters, are eligible for appointment as Senior Adjunct Librarian, provided there is a continuing need. Senior Adjunct Librarians may be appointed to one-year contracts when the Dean determines there is a sufficient demand.

The University may terminate any Non-Tenure Track Faculty appointment at any time, upon 7 calendar days written notice, for the following reasons:

1. Financial reasons as determined by the Provost.
    
2. Course and/or program elimination.
    
3. Committing an act of professional incompetence, moral turpitude, neglect of professional responsibilities, or conviction of a felony.
    
4. Failure to follow instructions and directions of the unit head and/or appointing officer.
    
5. Violation of University Policies and Procedures.