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Faculty Appointment and Designations Policy
Description
The policy specifies the types of faculty at East Tennessee State University and the designations under which faculty are appointed.
Posted on: 4/16/2025
Closes on: 4/30/2025 11:59:00 PM
Comments
The policy as currently written eliminates the title of "lecturer," which also removes the established promotion pathway associated with that rank. According to the proposed definition of Renewable Term Faculty, “A terminal degree may not be required; however, disciplinary accreditation and/or departmental needs may necessitate a terminal degree.” This raises a critical question: in cases where the professorial ranks require a terminal degree, what rank will be available for highly qualified faculty who hold a master’s degree?
Lecturers currently comprise a significant portion of the instructional workforce at the university. While some may be eligible for conversion to titles such as "Teaching Assistant Professor," many others may not meet the terminal degree requirement. It is unclear what alternative rank would be used for those faculty members.
Additionally, the removal of the lecturer rank may carry substantial financial implications, particularly if the new ranks require higher salary floors. At present, the policy does not identify the source of funding to support such a transition. Greater clarity on both rank structure and budget impact is needed before moving forward.
“Accordingly, all Tenured and Tenure-track Probationary Faculty members are expected to be actively involved in research and creative activities that align with the mission of the institution, engage students in effective ways, and advance academic disciplines.”
This sounds like the focus is on research/creative activities rather than teaching. We have faculty hired to focus on teaching - with the associated heavy teaching load. This would seem to negate that.
Section 1.1. Affiliate Faculty refers to Volunteer Faculty (capitalized as a defined term), but Volunteer Faculty is not a defined term. Are all Affiliate Faculty unpaid? Is there a distinction between Volunteer Faculty and Affiliate Faculty?
The policy references the ETSU Workload policy, which is not linked. But a search leads to the Faculty Handbook and the section on workload references a TBR policy (which no longer applies to us?) and overload pay at rates determined by TBR.
In Section 2.3. Professor: Professors eligible for and hired without tenure must apply for tenure and may apply for promotion pursuant to the timeline established in the Tenure Policy.
What can they be promoted to after the rank of professor? If they are hired or promoted to Professor, isn't that the ‘end’? I may be reading this wrong, but I read this as they are at the rank of Professor.
The Financial Exigency link goes to the section of the Faculty Handbook on Financial Exigency, which references that TBR could declare Financial Exigency.