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Faculty Appointments 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: 3/4/2026
Closes on: 3/18/2026 4:30:00 PM
Archived on: 3/25/2026 11:59:00 PM
The Request for Comments has been closed
Comments
For Senior Lecturer, Principal Lecturer, Associate Professor, and Professor, it should state “Faculty hired or promoted at…”
contributing substantially to the mission of their Academic Unit. They must provide
documented evidence of high-quality teaching and contributions to student
development, and if required, a willingness to serve the university, college, Academic
Unit, and profession in ways that are consistent with the goals of the university and of
the Academic Unit to which the Faculty member belongs." What is “ways that are consistent with the goals of the university and of the Academic Unit …” meant to cover? Does it mean committee work? I think more explanation or at least an example should be included.
Defined Terms Section
What’s the difference between Affiliate and Volunteer Faculty?
In the definition of “Designation,” does “title” mean rank? If not, how is title different from rank? There are other references to “title” in the document, but it’s not clear if that is different from “rank” or “designation” – should “title” be part of the title of the policy if it is something different?
Faculty: Members of the personnel of each Academic Unit who carry out one or more of the following primary functions of the university: academic instruction/librarianship; research, scholarly, and/or creative activities; clinical or professional practice; and service to the Academic Unit, college, university, profession and/or community; clinical or professional practice. Faculty members commit to continue their professional development and active involvement in the primary function(s) of their Appointment.
The part in bold isn’t a definition, it’s an expectation, but should be part of the definition: Faculty: Members of the personnel of each Academic Unit who carry out one or more of the following primary functions of the university: academic instruction/librarianship; research, scholarly, and/or creative activities; clinical or professional practice; and service to the Academic Unit, college, university, profession and/or community; clinical or professional practice, and who commit to continue their professional development and active involvement in the primary function(s) of their Appointment.
Majority Vote – what does this have to do with appointments and designations of faculty? Also, what’s provided isn’t a definition; it reads more like a process.
Reduction-in-Force -what is provided isn’t a definition and refers to the Board of Trustees policy, but the Reduction-in-Force policy on the website is named “Reduction-in-Force of Non-Tenured Employee” and is an HR policy. Is there another one?
Renewable Term Faculty Regular, full-time, or Less Than Full Time Faculty on a Renewable Term Appointment who are not eligible for Tenure but are eligible for promotion and Rank.
“Less Than Full Time Faculty” is not a defined term. It’s also in the Temporary Faculty definition and in the policy section multiple times.
Tenure – is that a definition of tenure? And is it an appointment?
Tenured Faculty – refers to the Faculty Ranks and Promotion Policy – why wouldn’t it refer to the Tenure Policy? A faculty member could be eligible for tenure but not promotion.
Tenure-track Probationary: Regular Faculty Appointments who hold an academic Rank with an employment agreement that specifically states the Appointment is Tenure-track. The Probationary Period is determined by the Tenure Policy.
Tenure-track is probationary by nature, and we don’t use the term “tenure-track probationary.” Also, Probationary Period is defined in this policy as a period not to exceed six (6) years. This definition could be revised to include that: Regular Faculty who hold an academic Rank with an employment agreement that specifically states the Appointment is tenure-track, with a probationary period not to exceed six (6) years. (The definition needs revision anyway because “Regular Faculty Appointment” is a thing, not a person.
There are references to “Tenure-eligible Appointments” in the document, but we use the term “Tenure-track” (not Tenure-eligible or Tenure-track Probationary).
Policy Section
At the time of hire, Faculty will receive an Offer Letter that includes a Designation and, if appropriate, a Rank. The following types of academic Faculty Designations, Ranks, and titles may be used at ETSU.
The letter includes a Designation and a Rank, but then the next part indicates a title as well. Should “title” be in the name of the policy? (see note above about this).
ETSU Faculty, regardless of Designation, Rank, title, Appointment term, and funding source, are subject to all ETSU policies. Approval by the Provost or designee is required to search for a vacant Faculty position.
This paragraph seems out of place in this policy, especially the second sentence, that seems to be more appropriate for the Advertising for and Hiring Employees policy. (?)
There is a reference to the Faculty Workload Policy (initially in 1.1. Affiliate Faculty) – if you search the website for the workload policy, it goes to the Faculty Handbook, which references a TBR policy. I’m assuming the reference is supposed to refer to the “new” workload policy currently being crafted. That also applies to the Tenure and Promotion policies – it would be helpful to be able to look at them all as a package since there are circular references. The Faculty Ranks and Promotion Policy currently on the policies website includes a section on “Rank at Appointment” – will that come out of the Promotion policy on revision since this policy is about Faculty Appointments?
1.3. Temporary Faculty
Descriptive terms may or may not be used (e.g., Visiting Professor, Artist-In-Residence, Adjunct [subject area] Faculty).
Wouldn’t “may be used” suffice?
I believe someone else mentioned this but should Adjunct, In-Residence, and Visiting Faculty be defined terms? The first sentences (or partial sentences) seem to serve as definitions, but are in the policy section, not Defined Terms.
1.3.2. In-Residence. A category of Temporary, full-time, or Less Than Full-time Faculty without a Renewable Term Appointment who do not hold Rank and are not eligible for Tenure or promotion. Descriptive terms should be used (e.g., Artist In-Residence, Scientist In-Residence) as specified in the Offer Letter. In-Residence Faculty may be funded through normal budget lines or external funding (e.g., grants or contracts). These positions may fall outside of the traditional semester cycle.
Should this refer to the timeframe of the appointment, rather than the position? Same with Visiting Faculty (only in the 1.3.3. the language is “These positions may fall outside of the traditional semester dates.”) The language should be the same.
2. Criteria for Initial Rank for Renewable Term, Tenure-track Probationary, and Tenured Faculty.
In the Offer Letter, Renewable Term, Tenure-track Probationary, and Tenured Faculty will be given an initial employment Rank. To determine the initial Rank, Academic Units will follow the general criteria for the Appointment or promotion to the Rank of Lecturer, Senior Lecturer, Principal Lecturer, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, and Professor by a Faculty member who has an eligible Appointment of either Renewable Term, Tenure-track Probationary, or is Tenured as described below.
Something isn’t right with this – suggest this revision for clarity (if this doesn’t change what the original was supposed to say):
2. Criteria for Initial Rank for Renewable Term, Tenure-track Probationary, and Tenured Faculty. In the Offer Letter, Renewable Term, Tenure-track Probationary, and Tenured Faculty will be given an initial employment Rank. To determine the initial Rank, Academic Units will follow the general criteria for the Appointment or promotion to the Rank of Lecturer, Senior Lecturer, Principal Lecturer, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, and or Professor by a Faculty member who has an eligible Appointment of either Renewable Term, Tenure-track Probationary, or is Tenured as described below.
In Section 2., the following criteria is noted:
Lecturer: They must demonstrate potential for high-quality professional productivity in teaching and, if required, a willingness to serve the university, college, Academic Unit, and profession in ways that are consistent with the goals of the university and of the Academic Unit to which the Faculty member belongs.
Senior Lecturer: They must provide documented evidence of high-quality teaching and contributions to student development, and if required, a willingness to serve the university, college, Academic Unit, and profession in ways that are consistent with the goals of the university and of the Academic Unit to which the Faculty member belongs.
Principal Lecturer: They must provide documented evidence of teaching excellence and superior contribution to student development, and, if required, a willingness to serve the university, college, Academic Unit, and profession in ways that are consistent with the goals of the university and of the Academic Unit to which the Faculty member belongs.
What is “high-quality professional productivity in teaching,” “high-quality teaching,” and “teaching excellence”? What is the distinction between those three, and how do we know the difference between high-quality teaching and teaching excellence?
2.3. Principal Lecturer – Principal Lecturers may apply for promotion pursuant to the timelines established by the Office of the Provost.
What can they apply for promotion to?
3. Appointments
The dean (or designee) or unit leader for Faculty who hold an Appointment in a unit other than a department is directly responsible for making recommendations for Appointment, promotion, termination, and other actions concerning the Faculty of the unit.
This policy is specifically about appointments and designations – not promotion, termination, or other actions…
3.2. Non-tenure-Eligible Faculty Appointments [Should those be specified here?]
Faculty who are not eligible for tenure are permitted for Appointment and promotion in Rank as defined in the position type. Consideration of Rank must align with procedures set forth within this policy as well as the university’s Faculty Ranks and Promotion Policy.
This doesn't make sense - are permitted for Appointment and promotion...?
Also, the Faculty Ranks and Promotion Policy isn't linked (and is the new policy being referred to as Faculty Ranks and Promotion?)
3.3. Conversion of Renewable Term Appointments to Tenure-Eligible Appointments.
Is there a time limit for when faculty who were hired before the date of this policy can do this? Does that need to be specified here? Although this isn’t an option moving forward, should it be a separate policy so that it could be removed from the policies when this is no longer applies to any existing faculty?
3.4. Conversion of Tenure-track Probationary Appointments to Renewable Term Appointments.
Should this be a separate policy?
4. Faculty in Administrative/Executive Appointments.
Individuals who hold Academic Unit chair, school director, assistant, or associate dean positions and who are in budgeted Faculty lines are classified as Faculty and maintain full Faculty rights and responsibilities in shared governance. Individuals in administrative/executive positions (deans and above) may hold Faculty Rank but are not classified as Faculty since their budgeted lines are administrative or executive.
This isn’t really about appointment and designation – reads more like a definition of faculty. The statement about administrators – should that go in a different policy since they aren’t in faculty lines, and are not appointed or designated faculty?
Sections 6 (Voting Eligibility)- Section 13 (Accommodations) don’t seem to have much to do with Faculty Appointments and Designations (Rank/Title)
Section 12. Financial Exigency – references the Financial Exigency policy, but that is only listed in the Faculty Handbook, and it refers to TBR declaring a financial crisis for ETSU. The Reduction-in Force policy, as noted above in the defined terms comments, applies to Non-tenured employees.
Procedure Section
General comment – much of the procedure section reads like policy (must, will, shall…). In addition, the procedures can be changed with much less review than a policy, so if any of this shouldn’t be easily changed, then it should be part of the policy. There are many things in the procedure section I would edit a LOT if it is going to remain a procedure section.
Sections 8 (Appointment of Dean with Rank and Tenure) and 9 (Appointment of Other Administrators with Rank and Tenure) - why are they included? They are administrators, so this policy doesn’t appear to apply to them.
Sections 10 & 11 – Conversion procedures – those don’t occur at appointment, it would make sense that those would be separate policies (see comment above about Policy Sections 3.3 and 3.4.) since someone wanting to convert their initial appointment would look for the Conversion from/to policy, not the appointment/designation policy. (At least I would).
General Comment
The policies referenced in this policy that refer out to the Faculty Handbook confirm that we need to get the Faculty Handbook in order and to get things that currently only “live” in the handbook out and into the policies website.
Suggestion: Could we include a chart that includes this information in an easy-to-read format? Hint: I have one already done, but I didn’t know if the comment box would take it, so I’m not trying to include it here. There are so many words in this document, and at 30 pages, it’s a lot to process, so a chart could be helpful.
Thank you for the work that has gone into developing and revising the Faculty Designations and Appointment Policy.
In reviewing version 3.4, I had a question about the language regarding approval to initiate faculty searches. On page 8 (Policy section, 4th paragraph), the document states: “Approval by the Provost or designee is required to search for a vacant Faculty position.” Similar language appears in the Procedures section under Section 1: Search and Hiring Processes for New Appointments, which indicates that Provost approval is needed before a dean initiates a search.
My question is whether this requirement is intended to apply to all faculty designations, including Temporary Faculty (1.3.1 Adjuncts), or whether it is primarily intended for a subset of faculty designations? If the policy language is interpreted to apply to all Temporary Faculty appointments, it seems it could imply that each adjunct hire or vacancy would require Provost-level approval before issuing a contract.
Thank you for considering this clarification.
Should the term Instructor of Record be defined in this policy, as it is in ETSU's policy on faculty qualifications?
“The individual who provides direct instruction for the course and is primarily responsible for assigning the grade. This may include full-time faculty (e.g., tenure-track, tenured, lecturer, instructor, clinical instructor), part-time faculty (e.g., adjunct, tuition associate, graduate associate), and professional or administrative staff.”
The Volunteer form in the volunteer approval policy could use some work to not sound so negative. I understand why it's important for all parties to understand the limitations about expectations and ways we can cut ties with a volunteer if needed, but could we start by saying something positive? Maybe it could start with something about our appreciation that someone is willing to donate time to help us achieve goals that are helpful to ETSU and our region.
The links to the policies about Emeritus Policy are broken.
1.2.1.Renewable Term Faculty who hold at least a master’s degree or equivalent in an academic field related to the teaching/research specialization have the title of Lecturer, Senior Lecturer, or Principal Lecturer as determined by the requirements in the ETSU PROMOTION POLICY.
Has the terminology changed regarding lecturer promotion tracks? The Promotion of Lecturers (Promotion of Lecturers) lists the three ranks as: Lecturer, Senior Lecturer, and Master Lecturer, not Principal Lecturer. This is referenced again in section 2., 2.3., and procedure step 2 of this proposed policy.
Thank you to the Office of the Provost for preparing this policy addressing faculty appointments and designations at East Tennessee State University. Establishing clear definitions and expectations regarding faculty appointments is an important component of maintaining a strong academic community and ensuring transparency regarding how faculty contributions are recognized and evaluated.
After reviewing the proposed policy, I offer the following observations and suggestions for consideration.
Recognition of innovation, translational activity, and practice-based impact
While this policy is primarily intended to define categories of faculty appointments rather than to establish tenure and promotion standards, the definitions used in the policy help signal what forms of faculty contribution the institution recognizes as important to its mission. As drafted, the policy relies primarily on traditional formulations of faculty work such as teaching, research, scholarship, creative activity, service, and professional practice.
In many disciplines, however, faculty contributions increasingly extend beyond these traditional categories and include forms of innovation and translational activity that connect university knowledge with real-world application. These contributions may include intellectual property development, commercialization activity, applied research partnerships with industry or community organizations, startup formation, entrepreneurship, and other forms of externally engaged practice-based impact.
Because the policy establishes foundational definitions for faculty designations, it may be helpful for the policy to acknowledge that, where appropriate to the discipline and the mission of the Academic Unit, such innovation and translational activities may represent legitimate and meaningful forms of faculty contribution alongside teaching, scholarship, and service.
Clarifying this point would help ensure that the policy reflects the evolving ways in which universities contribute to economic development, professional practice, and the translation of knowledge into societal benefit. Universities with well-developed research and innovation ecosystems increasingly recognize these forms of translational and practice-based contribution as legitimate elements of faculty engagement.
Definition of Professor of Practice
Relatedly, the current definition of Professor of Practice appears somewhat narrow in describing the role primarily in terms of teaching and serving as a liaison between an Academic Unit and relevant professional sectors. In many universities, Professors of Practice play an important role not only in instruction but also in connecting academic programs with professional communities, supporting experiential learning, and advancing applied and translational initiatives.
For this reason, the policy may benefit from modestly expanding the definition to reflect the broader ways in which practitioners contribute to the academic mission. One possible formulation could read as follows:
Professor of Practice
Practitioners who bring significant professional experience, leadership, and expertise from private, public, or nonprofit sectors to the university. Professors of Practice contribute to the academic mission through teaching, professional engagement, and the integration of applied knowledge into academic programs. In addition to instructional responsibilities, they may serve as a bridge between the university and relevant professional communities by fostering industry partnerships, supporting experiential learning, advancing applied scholarship, and contributing to translational, innovation, or practice-based initiatives aligned with the mission of the Academic Unit and the university. Such contributions may include activities such as applied research collaboration, intellectual property development, commercialization partnerships, entrepreneurship, and other forms of practice-based impact appropriate to the discipline.
Conclusion
The proposed policy provides a helpful framework for clarifying faculty appointment categories at the university. The observation above is offered simply to ensure that the policy’s descriptions of faculty roles reflect the increasingly important ways in which faculty contribute to innovation, professional engagement, and the translation of academic knowledge into practical impact.
Recognizing these forms of contribution in the policy language would help ensure that ETSU’s faculty framework reflects the full range of activities through which universities serve students, professions, and the broader community.
Respectfully submitted,
David A. Golden