Appendix J

3/14/17

CORRECTED COPY
(Shaded areas in [square brackets] reflect editorial revisions made after the Senate meeting. )

SENATE COMMITTEE ON FACULTY AFFAIRS

Proposed Revision to HR21
Recommendation for Standardizing Titles for [(Add) Full-Time (End Add)] Non-tenure-line Faculty across Units

(Advisory/Consultative)

Implementation: Upon approval by the President

Introduction

In January 2017, the University Faculty Senate held a forensic session on a recommendation, drafted by the Committee on Faculty Affairs, to standardize titles for fixed-term and standing non-tenure-line faculty at Penn State. Based on that forensic session, and wide consultation across units, campuses, and caucuses, as well as with Senate Council and the Academic Leadership Council, the Committee on Faculty Affairs revised its original recommendation (Senate Agenda, January 24, 2017, Appendix B) and offers the following Advisory and Consultative report for consideration by the Faculty Senate.

Discussion

The following recommendation attempts to clarify and strengthen the titles of fixed-term and standing non-tenure-line faculty positions without conflating significant differences among primary responsibilities of various types of appointments. In other words, changes in job titles should not entail changes in job description. Fixed-term faculty whose positions involve high teaching loads, for example, should not be expected to develop research agendas simply because their title becomes “teaching professor.” Every unit must ensure that its criteria for appointments and promotions are clear and appropriately differentiated in order to guard against fixed-term and/or standing non-tenure-line faculty being expected to take on substantive responsibilities typically characteristic of tenure-track faculty. At the same time, titles are not meant to restrict effort. Many fixed-term faculty members pursue a range of teaching, research and/or scholarship, and service activities. Such efforts are encouraged as long as job descriptions are clear and resources are provided.

The committee does not recommend using a single system of titles in colleges (i.e., assistant/ associate/ professor, with no “teaching / clinical / research” designations) that employ both tenure-track and non-tenure-line faculty, on the grounds that this will obscure the ratio of tenured to non-tenure-line faculty and allow units to hire more aggressively off the tenure track, thereby eroding the tenure system itself. The [(Delete)College of Medicine is the sole and salient exception(End Delete)] [(Add)exceptions (End Add)]to this rule, [(Add)are the College of Medicine, the Colleges of Law (Dickinson and University Park), and the University Libraries, (End Add)]since their faculty have for many years been hired off the tenure track and do not create confusion about their relation to tenure-track faculty.

Since the many units of Penn State University have, over the years, adopted widely varying approaches to titling their fixed-term and standing non-tenure-line faculty, we propose implementing the new shared titling system over two to three years. Gradual implementation will allow the development of fair procedures for assessing who among the existing fixed-term and standing non-tenure-line faculty might be eligible for a change in rank and title, how job descriptions and advertising language need to be adjusted throughout the unit, and how to minimize negative impacts on valued colleagues. Gradual implementation will also enable the Faculty Senate to receive and react to feedback about the new program in timely ways. Allowing three years for full implementation risks some erosion of institutional memory over the long period of transition. But such a time frame permits existing fixed-term and standing non-tenure-line faculty to achieve new credentials, if they wish, and enables administrators to introduce the changes smoothly as existing contracts expire.

Recommendation

  1. The following system of ranks and titles is recommended:

New Titles under HR 21

Teaching Faculty
with
Terminal Degree
Teaching Faculty
without
Terminal Degree
Researchers
with
Terminal Degree
Researchers
without
Terminal Degree
Clinical Faculty
with
Terminal Degree*
Clinical Faculty
without
Terminal Degree
Assistant Teaching ProfessorLecturer
[(Add) or
Instructor
(End Add)]
Assistant Research ProfessorResearcherAssistant Clinical ProfessorClinical Lecturer
Associate Teaching ProfessorAssistant Teaching Professor Associate Research ProfessorAssistant Research ProfessorAssociate Clinical ProfessorAssistant Clinical Professor
Teaching ProfessorAssociate Teaching ProfessorResearch ProfessorAssociate Research ProfessorClinical ProfessorAssociate Clinical Professor

* Excluding terminal-degree faculty (M.D., D.O. and Sc.D. and Ph.D.) appointed within the College of Medicine, whose titles are governed by longstanding College of Medicine policy.

  1. Individual colleges will determine qualifying terminal degrees.
  1. All current and new hires holding qualifying terminal degrees will, at minimum, hold the assistant teaching/ clinical/ research titles.
  1. All faculty designated as lecturers or instructors can be promoted to the “assistant” professor positions, given appropriate time and demonstrated expertise as set forth in HR21.
  1. “Professor of Practice” titles will be maintained.
  1. The committee therefore recommends the attached revision to HR21 (see Appendix A for the markup, Appendix B for the clean version). Rank and title share the same designation.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON FACULTY AFFAIRS

  • Michael Bérubé, Chair
  • Renee Bishop Pierce
  • Blannie Bowen
  • Michael Bruno
  • Delia Conti
  • Ann Copeland
  • Peter Dendle
  • Marcia DiStaso
  • Christopher Giebink
  • Edward Glantz
  • Terrence Guay
  • Betty Harper
  • Sharon Holt
  • Zaryab Iqbal
  • Rosemary Jolly
  • Lisa Kitko
  • Angela Linse
  • Barrie Litzky
  • Michael Lobaugh
  • Carolyn Mahan
  • Marc McDill
  • Rajen Mookerjee
  • John Nousek
  • David Passmore
  • Mark Patzkowsky
  • Geoff Scott
  • Amit Sharma
  • Patricia Silveyra
  • Stephen Snyder
  • Bonj Szczygiel, Vice-Chair
  • Jane Wilburne

Appendix A

Proposed Changes to HR 21

Please note that the following contains bold text for additions and strikeouts indicating deleted text. Deleted text is notated with [Delete] [End Delete]. Added text is notated with [Add] [End Add].

Policy HR21 DEFINITION OF ACADEMIC RANKS

Contents:

  • Purpose
  • Earned Degrees
  • Academic Rank
  • [Delete] ….Lecturer or Instructor
  • ….Senior Lecturer or Senior Instructor
  • ….Research Assistant 
  • ….Senior Research Assistant 
  • ….Assistant Librarian 
  • ….Assistant Professor (or Research Associate) 
  • ….Associate Librarian
  • ….Associate Professor (or Senior Research Associate)
  • ….Librarian
  • ….Professor (or Professor of Practice or Senior Scientist)
  • Professorial Titles for Research Faculty
  • Fixed-Term Ranks and Titles [End Delete]
  • [Add] Ranks for Tenure-Line Faculty
  • Ranks for Non-tenure-line (Fixed-Term or Standing) Teaching Faculty
  • Ranks for Non-tenure-line (Fixed-Term or Standing) Research Faculty
  • Ranks for Clinical Faculty with Terminal Degrees
  • Ranks for Clinical Faculty without Terminal Degrees
  • Ranks for (Delete)Librarians(End Delete) (Add) Faculty in the University Libraries (End Add)]
  • Professorial Titles for Research Faculty
  • Professor of Practice
  • Fixed-Term Ranks and Promotion Procedures [End Add]

PURPOSE:

This policy provides guidance on the qualifications necessary for appointment or promotion to the various academic ranks.

EARNED DEGREES:

In assessing candidates for appointment, tenure, promotion, sabbatical leave, etc., the University will accept only those degrees earned at institutions in the United States that have been accredited by regional higher education accrediting associations (such as Middle States) and professional accrediting associations (such as AASCB in Business) in disciplines in which such accrediting takes place, or foreign degrees that have been earned at institutions recognized by their respective governments. Degrees from qualified institutions (per above) are the only ones that the University will acknowledge for appointment, determination of rank, or subsequent personnel decisions. Misrepresentation of such information by an individual can be cause for denial or termination of employment.

ACADEMIC RANK:

  • [Delete] Lecturer or Instructor. A lecturer or instructor should possess at least a master’s degree or equivalent, or be an active candidate for an advanced degree, in an academic field related to his/her teaching specialization.[End Delete]
  • Senior Lecturer or Senior Instructor. The senior lecturer or senior instructor should possess at least a master’s degree or its equivalent in an academic field related to his/her teaching specialization; must have demonstrated ability as a teacher and adviser; and must have shown evidence of professional growth, scholarship, and mastery of subject matter.
  • Research Assistant. The research assistant should possess a master’s degree or equivalent, or be an active candidate for an advanced degree, in an academic field related to his/her research.
  • Senior Research Assistant. A senior research assistant should possess a master’s degree or its equivalent in an academic field related to his/her research; must have demonstrated ability as a researcher; and must have shown evidence of professional growth and scholarship in his/her discipline.
  • Assistant Librarian. The assistant librarian should possess a graduate degree in Library or information studies or other appropriate degree; must have demonstrated potential, ability as a librarian; and must have shown promise of growth in research and service.
  • Assistant Professor (or Research Associate). The assistant professor (or research associate) should possess a doctor’s degree or its equivalent in organized research or professional practice; must have demonstrated ability as a teacher or research worker; and must have shown definite evidence of growth in scholarly, artistic, or professional achievement.

    The research associate rank is limited to a faculty member in an academic unit who devotes a major fraction of time to the personal conduct of research in which individual initiative, creativity and responsibility are required.
  • Associate Librarian. The associate librarian should possess the same qualifications as the assistant librarian, demonstrate excellence in librarianship, show evidence of an established reputation in research, and have a strong record of service to the University and the profession.
  • Associate Professor (or Senior Research Associate). The associate professor (or senior research associate) should possess the same qualifications as the assistant professor (or research associate), but must also give evidence of an established reputation in scholarly, artistic, or professional achievement.
  • Librarian. In addition to the qualifications for associate librarian, the librarian should demonstrate sustained excellence in librarianship, give evidence of creativity in his/her field of specialization (including a continuing capacity for significant contributions in research and creative accomplishments), and show evidence of leadership in the profession. The rank of librarian should be reserved for persons of proven stature in librarianship, research, and service.
  • Professor (or Professor of Practice or Senior Scientist). In addition to the characteristics of the members of the lower ranks, the professor (or senior scientist) should give evidence of a marked capacity for creative work and of leadership in his or her field of specialization. This rank should be reserved for persons of proven stature in teaching and/or research. [End Delete]

[Add]

  1. Ranks for tenure-line faculty.
    1. Assistant Professor. The assistant professor should possess a terminal degree or its equivalent in organized research or professional practice; must have demonstrated ability as a teacher or research worker; and must have shown definite evidence of growth in scholarly, artistic, or professional achievement.
    2. Associate Professor. The associate professor should possess the same qualifications as the assistant professor, but must also provide evidence of an established reputation in scholarly, artistic, or professional achievement.
    3. The professor should possess the same qualifications as the associate professor, but must also provide evidence of a substantial record of advanced research and/or creative work, and of leadership in his/her field of specialization. This rank should be reserved for persons of proven stature in teaching and/or research.
  2. Ranks for non-tenure-line (fixed-term or standing) teaching faculty.
    1. Lecturer or Instructor. A lecturer or instructor should possess at least a master’s degree or its equivalent, or [(Add) be (End Add)(Delete) is (End Delete)] an active candidate for a terminal degree, in an academic field related to his/her teaching specialization.
    2. Assistant Teaching Professor. The assistant teaching professor should possess a terminal degree or its equivalent in an academic field related to his/her teaching specialization; alternatively, the assistant teaching professor without a terminal degree should possess at least a master’s degree or its equivalent in an academic field related to his/her teaching specialization; must have demonstrated ability as a teacher and adviser; and must have shown evidence of professional growth, scholarship, and/or mastery of subject matter.
    3. Associate Teaching Professor. The associate teaching professor should possess a terminal degree in an academic field related to his/her teaching specialization; must have demonstrated ability as a teacher and adviser; and must have shown evidence of professional growth, scholarship, and/or mastery of subject matter. Alternatively, the associate teaching professor without a terminal degree should possess at least a master’s degree or its equivalent in an academic field related to his/her teaching specialization; must have demonstrated exceptional ability as a teacher and adviser while in the rank of [(Delete) senior lecturer or instructor (End Delete) (Add) assistant teaching professor (End Add)]; and must have shown evidence of professional growth, scholarship, and/or mastery of subject matter at a level of distinction beyond that of the assistant teaching professor.
    4. Teaching Professor. The teaching professor should possess a terminal degree in an academic field related to his/her teaching specialization; must have demonstrated exceptional ability as a teacher and adviser while in the rank of associate teaching professor; and must have shown evidence of professional growth, scholarship, and/or mastery of subject matter at a level of distinction beyond that of the associate teaching professor.
  3. Ranks for non-tenure-line (fixed-term or standing) research faculty.
    1. Researcher. The researcher should possess a master’s degree or its equivalent, or [(Delete) is (End Delete) (Add) be (End Add)] an active candidate for a terminal degree, in an academic field related to his/her research.
    2. Assistant Research Professor. The assistant research professor should possess a terminal degree or its equivalent in an academic field related to his/her research. Alternatively, the assistant research professor without a terminal degree should possess at least a master’s degree or its equivalent in an academic field related to his/her teaching specialization; must have demonstrated ability as a researcher; and must have shown evidence of professional growth and scholarship in his/her discipline.
    3. Associate Research Professor. An associate research professor should possess a terminal degree or its equivalent in an academic field related to his/her research; must have demonstrated ability as a researcher; and must have shown evidence of professional growth and scholarship in his/her discipline. Alternatively, the associate research professor should possess at least a master’s degree or its equivalent in an academic field related to his/her research; must have demonstrated exceptional ability as a researcher; and must have shown evidence of professional growth and scholarship in his/her discipline at a level of distinction beyond that of the assistant research professor.
    4. Research Professor. A research professor should possess a terminal degree or its equivalent in an academic field related to his/her research; must have demonstrated exceptional ability as a researcher; and must have shown evidence of professional growth and scholarship in his/her discipline at a level of distinction beyond that of associate research professor.
  4. Ranks for clinical faculty with terminal degrees.
    Units that designate faculty as “clinical” should establish, for faculty with terminal degrees, qualifications for each rank that track closely to the qualifications for research and teaching faculty with terminal degrees.

    1. Assistant Clinical Professor.
    2. Associate Clinical Professor.
    3. Clinical Professor.
  5. Ranks for clinical faculty without terminal degrees.
    Units that designate faculty as “clinical” should establish, for faculty without terminal degrees, qualifications for each rank that track closely to the qualifications for research and teaching faculty without terminal degrees.

    1. Clinical Lecturer.
    2. Assistant Clinical Professor.
    3. Associate Clinical Professor.
  6. Ranks for [(Delete)librarians(End Delete) (Add) Faculty in the University Libraries(End Add).
     
    [(Add) Ranks for Faculty in the University Libraries are defined in internal University Libraries policies UL-HRG07 Promotion and Tenure Criteria (for tenure-line ranks) and UL-HRG16 Promotion of Full Time, Non-Tenure Track Faculty (for fixed-term ranks). (End Add)]

    1. [(Delete) Assistant Librarian. The assistant librarian should possess a graduate degree in library or information studies or other appropriate degree; must have demonstrated potential and ability as a librarian; and must have shown promise of growth in research and service.
    2. Associate Librarian. The associate librarian should possess the same qualifications as the assistant librarian; and should demonstrate excellence in librarianship, show evidence of an established reputation in research, and have a strong record of service to the University and the profession.
    3. Librarian. In addition to the qualifications for associate librarian, the librarian should demonstrate sustained excellence in librarianship, give evidence of creativity in his/her field of specialization (including a continuing capacity for significant contributions in research and creative accomplishments), and show evidence of leadership in the profession. The rank of librarian should be reserved for persons of proven stature in librarianship, research, and service. (End Delete)]

[End Add]

PROFESSOR OF PRACTICE:

The professor of practice title is limited to those individuals who are non-tenure track faculty who may not have had the traditional academic background that is typical of faculty as they move through the professorial ranks. The title of professor of practice should be reserved for persons who have accumulated a decade or more of high level and leadership experience in the private or public sectors outside the academy that would provide a unique background and wealth of knowledge that is of particular value as it is shared with the University’s students and other faculty. Prior to an offer being extended to an individual being considered for the professor of practice title, the appropriate dean or academic administrator shall consult with, and receive approval from, the Vice Provost for Academic Affairs.

[Delete]  The senior scientist title for this rank should include the field of research specialization of the individual as appropriate for the college or intercollege unit.

NOTE: For example, in a college; Senior Scientist–Biology Research; Senior Scientist–Sociology Research; Senior Scientist–Soil Research; etc. In interdisciplinary programs: Senior Scientist–Toxicology Research; Senior Scientist–Materials Research; Senior Scientist–Policy Research; etc.  [End Delete] 

PROFESSORIAL TITLES FOR RESEARCH FACULTY:

Research faculty who profess are entitled to professorial titles in accordance with HR24 (Professorial Dual Titles for Research Faculty).

The equivalency of rank, indicated above, is followed in granting such titles.

FIXED-TERM RANKS AND PROMOTION PROCEDURES:

[Delete] Ranks and titles vary among units for faculty in fixed-term positions; most units use the titles of instructor, lecturer, or senior lecturer; some may use the professorial ranks of assistant professor, associate professor, and professor, or assistant librarian, associate librarian, and librarian. Units should have clear rationale of the different ranks and titles they choose to use and their expectations for faculty to achieve these various ranks. [End Delete] 

[Add] Fixed-term ranks and titles should follow the guidelines set forth above for teaching, research, and clinical faculty, as well as librarians. Units should have clear rationales for the different ranks and titles they choose to use and their expectations for faculty to achieve these various ranks. [End Add]

Rather than use the titles “lecturer” and “instructor” interchangeably for fixed-term appointments, each college should determine for itself which of the two titles it chooses to use, and then use that title consistently for such appointments.

Colleges should have their own guidelines for distinguishing between [Delete] lecturer and senior lecturer or instructor and senior instructor positions, [End Delete] [Add] lecturer/instructor, assistant/associate/ full professor positions [End Add] or for promoting from one rank to the other, but all units should operate under the following University assumptions:

[Delete]

1. Although there can be exceptions, the senior lecturer and senior instructor positions are designed to be promotion opportunities, with a recommended period of at least five years in rank as an instructor or lecturer before consideration for promotion.

2. The promotion from instructor to senior instructor or from lecturer to senior lecturer should be accompanied by a promotion raise, in addition to a merit raise, to be determined and funded by the college.

[End Delete]

  1. [Add] Although there can be exceptions, positions above the first rank are designed to be promotion opportunities, with a recommended period of at least five years in rank as an instructor or lecturer (or, for fixed-term and standing faculty without tenure who hold terminal degrees, assistant teaching/ research/ clinical professors) before consideration for promotion. Fixed-Term and Standing non-tenure-line faculty should become eligible for promotion to the second rank after five years in rank, and would be permitted to compile their promotion dossiers in their fifth year. There should be no fixed time period for promotion to the third rank. Reviews for promotions should be conducted solely with regard to the merit of the candidate.
  2. All promotions should be accompanied by a promotion raise, in addition to a merit raise, to be determined and funded by the college. [End Add]
  3. The promotion procedure itself should include recommendations by both a campus department faculty committee and the DAA or department/division head, and the approval of the campus chancellor and/or dean of the college.
  4. [Add] Reviews for promotion of the full-time fixed-term faculty shall be conducted by Fixed-Term Promotion Review Committees. Fixed-Term Promotion Review Committees shall be constituted as follows: each of the colleges at University Park shall establish a committee for that college; each of the five stand-alone campuses (Abington, Altoona, Behrend, Berks, Harrisburg) shall establish a committee for that campus; each of the Special Mission Campuses (Great Valley, College of Medicine, and Dickinson Law) shall establish a committee for that campus; and the University College shall establish one committee composed of full- time fixed-term faculty from the campuses within the University College, with no more than one member from any campus. If a unit shall have fewer than seven fixed-term faculty members, at least two members of that unit’s Fixed-Term Review Committee shall be drawn from another unit’s Fixed-Term Review Committee. Only full-time fixed-term faculty members in each unit are eligible to serve on and to vote for the members of the review committee in their unit. Only faculty of higher rank than the candidate should make recommendations about promotions. If there should be insufficient numbers of higher-ranked fixed-term faculty, exceptions to this provision may be permitted by the Executive Vice President and Provost at the request of the academic unit. [End Add]

Appendix B

New HR 21

Policy HR21 DEFINITION OF ACADEMIC RANKS

Contents:

  • Purpose
  • Earned Degrees
  • Academic Rank
  • Ranks for Tenure-Line Faculty
  • Ranks for Non-Tenure-Line (Fixed-Term or Standing) Teaching Faculty
  • Ranks for Non-Tenure-Line (Fixed-Term or Standing) Research Faculty
  • Ranks for Clinical Faculty with Terminal Degrees
  • Ranks for Clinical Faculty without Terminal Degrees
  • Ranks for (Delete) Librarians (End Delete) (Add) Faculty in the University Libraries (End Add)]
  • Professorial Titles for Research Faculty
  • Professor of Practice
  • Fixed-Term Ranks and Promotion Procedures

PURPOSE:

This policy provides guidance on the qualifications necessary for appointment or promotion to the various academic ranks.

EARNED DEGREES:

In assessing candidates for appointment, tenure, promotion, sabbatical leave, etc., the University will accept only those degrees earned at institutions in the United States that have been accredited by regional higher education accrediting associations (such as Middle States) and professional accrediting associations (such as AASCB in Business) in disciplines in which such accrediting takes place, or foreign degrees that have been earned at institutions recognized by their respective governments. Degrees from qualified institutions (per above) are the only ones that the University will acknowledge for appointment, determination of rank, or subsequent personnel decisions. Misrepresentation of such information by an individual can be cause for denial or termination of employment.

ACADEMIC RANK:

  1. Ranks for tenure-line faculty
    1. Assistant Professor. The assistant professor should possess a terminal degree or its equivalent in organized research or professional practice; must have demonstrated ability as a teacher or research worker; and must have shown definite evidence of growth in scholarly, artistic, or professional achievement.
    2. Associate Professor. The associate professor should possess the same qualifications as the assistant professor, but must also provide evidence of an established reputation in scholarly, artistic, or professional achievement.
    3. Professor.The professor should possess the same qualifications as the associate professor, but must also provide evidence of a substantial record of advanced research and/or creative work, and of leadership in his/her field of specialization. This rank should be reserved for persons of proven stature in teaching and/or research.
  2. Ranks for non-tenure-line (fixed-term or standing) teaching faculty.
    1. Lecturer or Instructor. A lecturer or instructor should possess at least a master’s degree or its equivalent, or [(Add) be (End Add) (Delete) is (End Delete)] an active candidate for a terminal degree, in an academic field related to his/her teaching specialization.
    2. Assistant Teaching Professor. The assistant teaching professor should possess a terminal degree or its equivalent in an academic field related to his/her teaching specialization; alternatively, the assistant teaching professor without a terminal degree should possess at least a master’s degree or its equivalent in an academic field related to his/her teaching specialization; must have demonstrated ability as a teacher and adviser; and must have shown evidence of professional growth, scholarship, and/or mastery of subject matter.
    3. Associate Teaching Professor. The associate teaching professor should possess a terminal degree in an academic field related to his/her teaching specialization; must have demonstrated ability as a teacher and adviser; and must have shown evidence of professional growth, scholarship, and/or mastery of subject matter. Alternatively, the associate teaching professor without a terminal degree should possess at least a master’s degree or its equivalent in an academic field related to his/her teaching specialization; must have demonstrated exceptional ability as a teacher and adviser while in the rank of [(Delete) senior lecturer or instructor (End Delete) (Add) assistant teaching professor (End Add)]; and must have shown evidence of professional growth, scholarship, and/or mastery of subject matter at a level of distinction beyond that of the assistant teaching professor.
    4. Teaching Professor. The teaching professor should possess a terminal degree in an academic field related to his/her teaching specialization; must have demonstrated exceptional ability as a teacher and adviser while in the rank of associate teaching professor; and must have shown evidence of professional growth, scholarship, and/or mastery of subject matter at a level of distinction beyond that of the associate teaching professor.
  3. Ranks for non-tenure-line (fixed-term or standing) research faculty.
    1. Researcher. The researcher should possess a master’s degree or its equivalent, or [(Delete) is (End Delete) (Add) be (End Add)] an active candidate for a terminal degree, in an academic field related to his/her research.
    2. Assistant Research Professor. The assistant research professor should possess a terminal degree or its equivalent in an academic field related to his/her research. Alternatively, the assistant research professor without a terminal degree should possess at least a master’s degree or its equivalent in an academic field related to his/her teaching specialization; must have demonstrated ability as a researcher; and must have shown evidence of professional growth and scholarship in his/her discipline.
    3. Associate Research Professor. An associate research professor should possess a terminal degree or its equivalent in an academic field related to his/her research; must have demonstrated ability as a researcher; and must have shown evidence of professional growth and scholarship in his/her discipline. Alternatively, the associate research professor should possess at least a master’s degree or its equivalent in an academic field related to his/her research; must have demonstrated exceptional ability as a researcher; and must have shown evidence of professional growth and scholarship in his/her discipline at a level of distinction beyond that of the assistant research professor.
    4. Research Professor. A research professor should possess a terminal degree or its equivalent in an academic field related to his/her research; must have demonstrated exceptional ability as a researcher; and must have shown evidence of professional growth and scholarship in his/her discipline at a level of distinction beyond that of associate research professor.
  4. Ranks for clinical faculty with terminal degrees.
    Units that designate faculty as “clinical” should establish, for faculty with terminal degrees, qualifications for each rank that track closely to the qualifications for research and teaching faculty with terminal degrees.

    1. Assistant Clinical Professor.
    2. Associate Clinical Professor.
    3. Clinical Professor.
  5. Ranks for non-tenure-line (fixed-term or standing) clinical faculty
    Units that designate faculty as “clinical” should establish, for faculty without terminal degrees, qualifications for each rank that track closely to the qualifications for research and teaching faculty without terminal degrees.

    1. Clinical Lecturer.
    2. Assistant Clinical Professor.
    3. Associate Clinical Professor.
  6. Ranks for [(Delete)librarians(End Delete) (Add)Faculty in the University Libraries. (End Add)]
     
    [(Add) Ranks for Faculty in the University Libraries are defined in internal University Libraries policies UL-HRG07 Promotion and Tenure Criteria (for tenure-line ranks) and UL-HRG16 Promotion of Full Time, Non-Tenure Track Faculty (for fixed-term ranks). (End Add)]

    1. [(Delete)Assistant Librarian. The assistant librarian should possess a graduate degree in library or information studies or other appropriate degree; must have demonstrated potential and ability as a librarian; and must have shown promise of growth in research and service.
    2. Associate Librarian. The associate librarian should possess the same qualifications as the assistant librarian; and should demonstrate excellence in librarianship, show evidence of an established reputation in research, and have a strong record of service to the University and the profession.
    3. Librarian. In addition to the qualifications for associate librarian, the librarian should demonstrate sustained excellence in librarianship, give evidence of creativity in his/her field of specialization (including a continuing capacity for significant contributions in research and creative accomplishments), and show evidence of leadership in the profession. The rank of librarian should be reserved for persons of proven stature in librarianship, research, and service. (End Delete)]

PROFESSOR OF PRACTICE:

The professor of practice title is limited to those individuals who are non-tenure-track faculty who may not have had the traditional academic background that is typical of faculty as they move through the professorial ranks. The title of professor of practice should be reserved for persons who have accumulated a decade or more of high level and leadership experience in the private or public sectors outside the academy that would provide a unique background and wealth of knowledge that is of particular value as it is shared with the University’s students and other faculty. Prior to an offer being extended to an individual being considered for the professor of practice title, the appropriate dean or academic administrator shall consult with, and receive approval from, the Vice Provost for Academic Affairs.

PROFESSORIAL TITLES FOR RESEARCH FACULTY:

Research faculty who profess are entitled to professorial titles in accordance with HR24 (Professorial Dual Titles for Research Faculty).

The equivalency of rank, indicated above, is followed in granting such titles.

FIXED-TERM RANKS AND PROMOTION PROCEDURES:

Fixed-term ranks and titles should follow the guidelines set forth above for teaching, research, and clinical faculty, as well as librarians. Units should have clear rationales for the different ranks and titles they choose to use and their expectations for faculty to achieve these various ranks.

Rather than use the titles “lecturer” and “instructor” interchangeably for fixed-term appointments, each college should determine for itself which of the two titles it chooses to use, and then use that title consistently for such appointments.

Colleges should have their own guidelines for distinguishing between lecturer/instructor, assistant/ associate/ full professor positions, and for promoting from one rank to the next, but all units should operate under the following University assumptions:

  1. Although there can be exceptions, positions above the first rank are designed to be promotion opportunities, with a recommended period of at least five years in rank as an instructor or lecturer (or, for fixed-term and standing faculty without tenure who hold terminal degrees, assistant teaching/ research/ clinical professors) before consideration for promotion. Fixed-Term and standing non-tenure-line faculty should become eligible for promotion to the second rank after five years in rank, and would be permitted to compile their promotion dossiers in their fifth year. There should be no fixed time period for promotion to the third rank. Reviews for promotions should be conducted solely with regard to the merit of the candidate.
  2. All promotions should be accompanied by a promotion raise, in addition to a merit raise, to be determined and funded by the college.
  3. The promotion procedure itself should include recommendations by both a campus department faculty committee and the DAA or department/division head, and the approval of the campus chancellor and/or dean of the college.
  4. Reviews for promotion of the full-time fixed-term faculty shall be conducted by Fixed-Term Promotion Review Committees. Fixed-Term Promotion Review Committees shall be constituted as follows: each of the colleges at University Park shall establish a committee for that college; each of the five stand-alone campuses (Abington, Altoona, Behrend, Berks, Harrisburg) shall establish a committee for that campus; each of the Special Mission Campuses (Great Valley, College of Medicine, and Dickinson Law) shall establish a committee for that campus; and the University College shall establish one committee composed of full- time fixed-term faculty from the campuses within the University College, with no more than one member from any campus. If a unit shall have fewer than seven fixed-term faculty members, at least two members of that unit’s Fixed-Term Review Committee shall be drawn from another unit’s Fixed-Term Review Committee. Only full-time fixed-term faculty members in each unit are eligible to serve on and to vote for the members of the review committee in their unit. Only faculty of higher rank than the candidate should make recommendations about promotions. If there should be insufficient numbers of higher-ranked fixed-term faculty, exceptions to this provision may be permitted by the Executive Vice President and Provost at the request of the academic unit.