Special Faculty Ranks and Appointments
REG 05.20.34
December 18, 2003 Archived Version (Effective December 18, 2003 through December 5, 2005)
Authority: Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs
History: First Issued: December 18, 2003. Additional History Information.
Related Policies: UNC Code, Section 604; Employees Exempt From the State Personnel Act (EPA) Policy , Academic Tenure Policy
Contact Info:
I. Introduction
UNC Code and BOT Policy 5.20.01 authorize the establishment of special
faculty appointments. This regulation addresses the various types of special
faculty appointments, the criteria for appointment to such positions and
the terms
and conditions of employment associated with such positions.
II. Special Faculty Appointments
A. A Special faculty appointment is a non-tenure track fixed-term appointment
to a position that is limited in duration because of (1) the limited
duration of the mission for which the individual is appointed, (2) concern
for continued
availability of special funding for the position, or (3) other valid
institutional reasons.
B. Appointments to the rank of librarian, lecturer, senior lecturer
or field faculty are special faculty appointments.
C. Appointments to a non-tenure track professorial rank of assistant
professor, associate professor or professor must have a prefix modifier.
III. Prefix use
A. Clinical: An appointment with a principal responsibility in clinical
practice or clinical research.
B. Research: An appointment with a principal responsibility in
research.
C. Extension: An appointment with a principal responsibility
in extension and engagement.
D. Teaching: An appointment with a principal responsibility
for teaching.
E. Adjunct: Part-time (<.75 FTE) appointment of a person employed outside
the university or part-time appointment of a university employee for performance
of duties outside their primary responsibilities. Adjunct appointments
of a university employee must comply with Employment Regulation 05.20.14, Overload
Compensation and Supplemental Pay.
F. 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.
IV. Qualifications for rank
A. Qualifications for special faculty ranks of assistant professor,
associate professor or professor shall be the same qualifications as
for tenure track faculty ranks.
B. 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 Academic Regulation 05.20.18, Qualifications
for Rank.
C. Senior Lecturers must meet special
faculty qualifications, have at least five years college-level
teaching experience, and meet other criteria as established by departmental
rules.
V. Term of Appointment
A. An appointment term may not exceed five (5) years with the exception
of "visiting" faculty appointments which may not exceed two (2) years.
B. An offer letter will address the beginning/end dates of the appointment,
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 Board of Trustees
5.20.01, Section 5.4.
C. Upon expiration of an appointment, special faculty may receive
subsequent term appointments not to exceed five (5) years following department/unit
procedures for the particular type of appointment except for visiting faculty.
(http://www.ncsu.edu/policies/employment/faculty/POL05.20.1.php#6.3.2).
Visiting faculty appointments are limited to a maximum of two consecutive
years.
D. When feasible, appointments should coincide with the fiscal year
(7/1/xx - 6/30/xx), calendar year (1/1/xx - 12/31/xx), or academic year (approximately
8/16/xx - 5/15/xx). The specification of the length of the appointment
shall be deemed to constitute full and timely notice of non-reappointment
at the
expiration term as specified under the terms of Section 604C of The Code.
VI. Procedure for Appointment, Reappointment and Promotion
A. Non-professorial Ranks
1. Appointments, reappointments and promotions for non-professorial
ranks are initiated by the head of the department/unit based on procedures
established by the employing department/unit and policy.
2. The department head or designee shall follow the criteria established
in Section IV. C and consult with at least three members of the departmental
voting faculty when appointing lecturers and senior lecturers and when promoting
to the rank of senior lecturer.
B. Professorial Ranks
1. Appointments of special faculty in professorial ranks with
modifiers of clinical, research, extension or teaching follow the same procedures
as established for tenure track faculty.
2. Appointment of adjuncts and visiting special faculty are initiated
by the department head in consultation with at least three members of the
departmental voting faculty.
3. Special faculty, except those with the visiting modifier who
are not eligible for promotion, in professorial ranks may be considered for
promotion following the procedures established for tenure track faculty.
4. The provost may establish modified documentation requirements
for promotion within special faculty professorial ranks.
VII. Appointment Expectations
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.
A. Special faculty in the ranks of lecturer, senior lecturer or a
professorial rank with a prefix modifier must complete a Statement
of Mutual Expectations (SME).
Both the department head and the appointee must sign the SME.
B. Librarians must complete annual goals and objectives form
to be signed by the head of the department/unit and the appointee.
C. Field Faculty must document the goals and objectives section in
their annual performance plan.
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.
VIII. Protection of Appointment
A special faculty appointment has protection from involuntary discharge
from, or termination of, employment, and from imposition of serious sanctions,
except upon grounds and in accordance with procedures set forth in sections
7 and 8 of the Academic Tenure Policy during the fixed term of appointment.
IX. Source(s) of Funding
Appointment to a special faculty position that is funded in whole or in
substantial part from sources other than continuing state budget funds
or permanent trust funds shall be contingent upon the continuing availability
of such funds.
X. 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 Expectation or alternative
documentation
describing position responsibilities for librarians and field faculty.
XI. Graduate Faculty Membership
Criteria and procedures for obtaining Graduate Faculty Membership are set
forth in academic regulation Membership
in Graduate Faculty Status.
XII. Benefits
Special faculty appointments in a permanent job position for nine or more
months per calendar year of .75 FTE to 1.00 FTE are eligible for participation
in the Teachers and State Employees' Retirement System and the Optional Retirement
Special faculty part-time appointments of .50 FTE to .7499 FTE in a permanent
job position for at least nine (9) or more months per calendar year are
eligible for the State Health Plan, NC Flex Program and Voluntary Life
Insurance.
XIII. Special Faculty to Permanent Tenure Track
Any change of a special faculty rank to a regular faculty appointment is
subject to the NC
State University Academic Tenure Policy.
