1. Introduction
The UNC Code and NC State's Academic Tenure Policy authorize the establishment of special faculty appointments. This regulation addresses the special faculty appointments used at NC State, the criteria for appointment, and the terms and conditions of employment.
2. Special Faculty Appointments
2.1 Except for adjunct appointments (which are "at will", see Section 5.1) a special faculty appointment is a non-tenure track fixed-term appointment that is limited in duration because of (1) the purpose for which the individual is appointed, (2) the availability of funding, or (3) other valid institutional reasons.
2.2 Appointments to the rank of librarian, lecturer, senior lecturer or field faculty and Federal personnel with academic rank are special faculty appointments.
2.2.1 Field Faculty are extension employees holding the title of Associate Agent or Agent.
2.2.2 Federal personnel with Academic Rank are employed by the United States Department of Agriculture, the United States Forest Service, or similar federal agencies, are located at the university, work under the supervision of the university's academic administration, and have been granted academic rank by the university.
2.3 Appointments to a non-tenure track professorial rank of assistant professor, associate professor or professor must have one and only one prefix modifier.
3. Prefix Modifier Use
3.1 Clinical: An appointment with a principal responsibility in clinical practice or clinical research.
3.2 Extension: An appointment with a principal responsibility in extension and engagement.
3.3 Practicum: An appointment with a principal responsibility in design practice or design research.
3.4 Research: An appointment with a principal responsibility in research.
3.5 Teaching: An appointment with a principal responsibility in teaching.
3.6 Adjunct: Part-time (<0.75 FTE) appointment of a person employed primarily outside the university or part-time appointment of a university employee for performance of duties outside his or her primary responsibilities. Adjunct appointments of a university employee must comply with NCSU Regulation 05.20.14 - Additional Compensation for EPA Employees .
3.7 Visiting: Appointment of a person who qualifies for or holds academic rank at another institution of higher education and is in residence at NC State.
3.8 Clinical, Extension, Practicum, Research and Teaching modifiers may be used only to modify Assistant Professor, Associate Professor and Professor; and may be used only for special faculty whose primary employer is NC State University. Adjunct or Visiting modifiers are to be used for persons employed primarily outside the university.
4. Qualifications for rank
4.1 Qualifications for special faculty ranks at the assistant professor, associate professor or professor levels shall be the same qualifications as for tenure track faculty ranks.
4.2 Qualifications for special faculty ranks of lecturer, librarian or field faculty shall be no less than those for the rank of instructor as set forth in NCSU Regulation 05.20.18 - Qualifications for Rank .
4.3 Qualifications for special faculty rank of Senior Lecturer shall be no less than those for the rank of instructor as set forth in NCSU Regulation 05.20.18 - Qualifications for Rank and must have at least five years college-level teaching experience, and meet other criteria as established by departmental rules.
5. Term of Appointment
5.1 Adjunct appointments are "at will." Exceptions to the "at will" appointment may be granted by approval of the Dean for a term not to exceed three (3) years.
5.2 A Visiting appointment term may not exceed two (2) consecutive years. Subsequent visiting appointments may be made after three years from the end date of the most recent visiting appointment.
5.3 All other special faculty appointment terms may not exceed five (5) consecutive years.
5.4 An offer letter will address the type of appointment, the beginning/end dates of the appointment (if applicable), rank, FTE, annual salary (if applicable), sick leave and annual leave entitlement (if applicable), provisions for annual performance review, and any contingency of the appointment due to source of funds consistent with the NCSU Policy 05.20.1 – Academic Tenure Policy .
5.5 Upon expiration of a term appointment, special faculty may receive subsequent term appointments not to exceed five (5) consecutive years following department/unit procedures for the particular type of appointment except for visiting faculty or "at will" adjunct faculty.
5.6 With rare exception, appointments should coincide with the fiscal year (7/1- 6/30), calendar year (1/1- 12/31), or academic year (approximately 8/16- 5/15). The specified term of appointment constitutes full and timely notice of non-reappointment at the expiration term as specified under the terms of Section 604C of The UNC Code .
6. Procedure for Promotion
6.1 Promotion of professorially ranked special faculty (except Adjuncts and Visiting) follows the same process as regular faculty, except their dossier contents vary as follows:
6.1.1 Dossier must include:
a. Section I. INTRODUCTION (Statement of Mutual Expectations and Brief Resume)
b. Section VIII. DEPARTMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND RECOMMENDATION
c. Section IX. COLLEGE ASSESSMENT AND RECOMMENDATION
6.1.2 Dossier must include one or more of the following as appropriate for the faculty member's responsibilities:
a. Section II. TEACHING AND MENTORING OF UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE STUDENTS
b. Section III. SCHOLARSHIP IN THE REALMS OF FACULTY RESPONSIBILITY
c. Section IV. EXTENSION AND ENGAGEMENT WITH CONSTIITUENCIES OUTSIDE THE UNIVERSITY
d. Section V. TECHNOLOGICAL AND MANAGERIAL INNOVATION
6.1.3 Dean may decide whether to require that the dossier include:
a. Section VI. SERVICE TO THE UNIVERSITY AND PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES
b. Section VII. EXTERNAL EVALUATIONS
6.2 Adjunct Faculty with professorial rank may be promoted when a contract is renewed by reappointing the Adjunct faculty member at a higher rank. A positive vote of the Departmental Voting Faculty, Department Head's recommendation and the Dean's approval is required for the promotion. If promotion is pursued at a time other than at contract renewal, the procedure for Promotion of Professorially Ranked Special Faculty must be followed.
6.3 A Lecturer may be promoted to Senior Lecturer when a contract is renewed by reappointing to the rank of Senior Lecturer. A positive vote of the Departmental Voting Faculty, Department Head's recommendation and the Dean's approval is required for promotion. If promotion is pursued at a time other than at contract renewal, the procedure for Promotion of Professorially Ranked Special Faculty must be followed.
6.4 Visiting Faculty are not eligible for promotion.
The provost may establish modified documentation requirements for promotion within special faculty professorial ranks.
7. Appointment Expectations
7.1 Full-time (.75-1.0 FTE) special faculty with multi-year appointments or one-year appointments renewed for a second year must have a written document describing appointment expectations.
7.2 Special faculty in the ranks of lecturer, senior lecturer or a professorial rank with a prefix modifier must complete a NCSU Regulation 05.20.27 - Statement of Mutual Expectations (SME). Both the department head and the appointee must sign the SME.
7.3 Librarians must complete annual goals and objectives form to be signed by the head of the department/unit and the appointee.
7.4 Field Faculty must document the goals and objectives section in their annual performance plan.
7.5 The academic department or unit maintains this document in its departmental personnel files. Librarians and Field Faculty must have an appointment letter or similar document signed by the head of the department/unit and appointee and maintained in the departmental personnel files.
8. Source(s) of Funding
Appointment to a special faculty position funded in whole or in substantial part from sources other than continuing state budget funds or permanent trust funds is contingent upon the continuing availability of such funds.
9. Performance Review
Special faculty shall be reviewed annually by the head of the department/unit according to regulations established for annual review of special faculty. Documentation submitted for the review shall reflect the scope of the special faculty appointment identified in the Statement of Mutual Expectations or in the case of librarians and field faculty other equivalent applicable documentation.
10. Graduate Faculty Membership
Criteria and procedures for obtaining Graduate Faculty Membership are set forth in NCSU Regulation 02.40.1 - Membership in the Graduate Faculty .
11. Benefits
Special faculty with term appointments of nine or more consecutive months and 0.75 FTE to 1.00 FTE are eligible to participate in retirement programs available to regular faculty. Special faculty with appointments of nine or more consecutive months and at least 0.50 FTE (other than adjunct and visiting appointments) are eligible to participate in available health and welfare benefit programs available to regular faculty.
12. Special Faculty to Permanent Tenure Track
Any change of a special faculty rank to a regular faculty appointment is subject to the Academic Tenure Policy.
