COMMITTEE:  Faculty Governance                 

 

MEETING DATE:  January 18, 2006, 3:00 p.m. to 4:40 p.m.

 

PERSON PRESIDING:  Puri Martinez

 

REGULAR MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE: Patricia Anderson, Edson Justiniano, Bob Morrison, Puri Martinez, and Tinsley Yarbrough

 

EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE:  Mary Gilliland, Catherine Rigsby, and Paul Zigas

 

OTHERS IN ATTENDANCE:  Lori Lee, Lisa Sutton

 

 

ACTIONS OF MEETING

 

Agenda Item:  Length of multi-year contracts for fixed-term faculty

 

Discussion:   Morrison moved to change the wording in Appendix D section II.B.1 from “…three or more years…” to “…three to ten years…”.  Yarbrough questioned the effect this would have on probationary faculty who may have shorter appointment contracts.  Rigsby stated opposition on the grounds that tenured faculty undergo post-tenure review every five years.  Anderson suggested that the wording be changed to

 Whenever possible multi-year contracts, of up to five years, with eligibility for renewal, will be offered to fixed-term faculty members who have demonstrated their effectiveness and contributions and/or who have outstanding credentials. 

 

Action Taken:  The committee approved the change.

 

Agenda Item:  Voting rights on Appendix D issues for fixed-term faculty members

 

Discussion:  Morrison moved that fixed-term faculty members with multi-year contracts of five years or more be considered voting faculty in Appendix D section IV.  Rigsby stated that this had the potential of upsetting the way the units do business, and that we should wait for the executive council to develop a staffing mix.  Martinez said the subcommittee on voting rights had recommended against giving voting rights to fixed-term faculty members.

 

Action Taken:  The committee voted against the motion .

 

 

Agenda Item: Approval of Appendix D

 

 

Action Taken:  The committee approved Appendix D, version 12.

 

 

Agenda Item:  Open hearings

 

Action Taken:  The open hearings on Appendix D and C will be held on three days.  The hearings will be scheduled on the east campus at noon on Tuesday January 31 and at noon on Wednesday February 1.  An open hearing will be held at the Brody School of Medicine at noon Thursday, February 2.  Then the committee will meet at noon on Friday, February 3.

 

 

Agenda Item:  Fixed-term faculty titles in Appendix C

 

Discussion:  Fixed-term faculty titles were added to Appendix C.  Editorial changes were made by bulleting the list of requirements for each rank and title.  Martinez suggested adding the additional requirement for tenure-track ranks: has demonstrated ability and willingness to participate in department, college, and university affairs.   Sutton proposed adding affiliate titles consistent with their current usage in the Brody School of Medicine.   Morrison objected to the phrase that fixed-term faculty in research positions are typically paid from external funds.  Rigsby stated that the external funding phrase is consistent with research positions at research universities. 

 

Action Taken: The committee approved the revised Appendix C, version 3.

 

D.    Requirements for ranks and titles

1.             General Provisions

Appointments are made at the academic ranks of instructor, assistant professor, associate professor, and professor. These are the only ranks which may involve a tenure commitment. Appointments to all other titles are for a definite term and do not involve a tenure commitment.

 

The following are the minimum required qualifications which may be considered when making appointments.

 

2.             Ranks of Tenure-Track appointments

Instructor

·          has evidence of a sound educational background for the specific position, or has equivalent professional

experience

·          has completed most or all the requirements for the appropriate terminal degree

·          has demonstrable proof that the degree will be obtained within a short period of time as agreed upon by the academic unit and the appointing officer

·          has demonstrated potential for effective teaching

 

Assistant Professor

·          has qualifications of the previous rank

·          holds the appropriate terminal degree, as evaluated by the academic unit and affirmed by the appointing officer and the profession concerned

·          shows evidence of potential for continued professional growth in teaching effectiveness, creative activity, or research has ability and willingness to participate in departmental, college, and university affairs

·          has membership in professional organizations

 

Associate Professor

·          has qualifications of the previous rank

·          has demonstrableteaching effectiveness

·          has a record of creative or research activity resulting in publication or comparable productivity

·          has demonstrated ability and willingness to participate in department, college, and university affairs

·          has a record of effective service to the profession

 

Professor

·          has qualifications of the previous rank

·          has an established record of excellence in teaching

·          has a significant record of creative or research activity resulting in publication or comparable productivity

·          has demonstrated excellent ability and willingness to participate in department, college, and university affairs

·          has a record of significant service to the profession

 

3.             Titles of Fixed-Term Appointments

 

a.     Faculty with duties primarily in instruction

Teaching Instructor

·          holds, at a minimum, a master’s degree appropriate to the area of instruction, or has equivalent professional experience

·          has demonstrated potential for effective teaching

 

Teaching Assistant Professor

·          has qualifications of the previous title

·          holds the appropriate terminal degree, as evaluated by the academic unit and affirmed by the appointing officer and the profession concerned

·          has demonstrated effectiveness in teaching

 

Teaching Associate Professor

·          has qualifications of the previous title

·          has demonstrated superior teaching ability

·          engages in professional development activities

 

Teaching Professor

·          has qualifications of the previous title

·          has demonstrated excellence in teaching

·          engages in professional development activities

·          has demonstrated a degree of proficiency sufficient to establish an excellent reputation among colleagues

·          is qualified and competent in mentoring others (such as graduate students, teaching instructors, etc.)

 

b.     Faculty with duties primarily in research

Research faculty are typically externally funded. Research faculty are encouraged to give seminars and teach occasional courses in their specialty. Teaching is at the discretion of the unit and the availability of funds.

Research Instructor

·          holds a minimum of a master’s degree appropriate for the specific position or has equivalent professional experience

·          has demonstrated potential for effective research

·          should be capable of carrying out individual research or should be trained in research procedures

·          should have had the experience and specialized training necessary to develop and interpret data required for success in such research projects as may be undertaken

 

Research Assistant Professor

·          has qualifications of the previous title

·          holds the appropriate terminal degree, as evaluated by the academic unit and affirmed by the appointing officer and the profession concerned

·          has demonstrated effectiveness in research

·          is qualified and competent to direct the work of others (such as technicians, graduate students, etc)

 

Research Associate Professor

·          has qualifications of the previous title

·          has extensive successful experience in scholarly or creative endeavors

·          has the ability to propose, develop, and manage major research projects

 

Research Professor.

·          has qualifications of the previous title

·          has demonstrated a degree of proficiency sufficient to establish an excellent reputation among colleagues

·          has demonstrated scholarly production in research, publications, professional achievements or other distinguished and creative activity

 

c.     Faculty with duties primarily in clinical teaching

Clinical Instructor

·          holds, at a minimum, a master’s degree appropriate for the specific position or has equivalent professional experience

·          has demonstrated potential in clinical practice and teaching in the field

 

Clinical Assistant Professor

·          has qualifications of the previous title

·          holds the appropriate terminal degree, as evaluated by the academic unit and affirmed by the appointing officer and the profession concerned

·          has training and experience in an area of specialization

·          has demonstrated clinical practice and teaching in the field

 

Clinical Associate Professor

·          has qualifications of the previous title

·          has an extensive successful experience in clinical or professional practice in a field of specializations, or in a subdivision of the field, and in working with and/or directing others (such as professionals, faculty members, graduate students, etc) in clinical activities in the field

·          has demonstrated superior teaching ability

 

Clinical Professor

·          has qualifications of the previous title

·          has demonstrated a degree of excellence in clinical practice and teaching sufficient to establish and outstanding reputation among colleagues

d.     Additional faculty titles

Artist-in-Residence; Writer-in-Residence. These titles may be used to designate temporary appointments, at any salary and experience level, of persons who are serving for a limited time or part-time, and who are not intended to be considered for professorial appointment.

 

Adjunct Instructor; Adjunct Assistant Professor; Adjunct Associate Professor; Adjunct Professor. These titles are used to appoint outstanding persons who have a primary employment responsibility outside the university or in a different department in the university, and who bring some specific professional expertise to the academic program. These positions are typically unfunded.

 

Affiliate Instructor; Affiliate Assistant Professor; Affiliate Associate Professor; Affiliate Professor. These titles are used in the School of Medicine to appoint outstanding persons who have a primary employment responsibility outside the university and who bring some specific professional expertise to the academic program. These positions are typically unfunded.

 

Visiting Instructor; Visiting Assistant Professor; Visiting Associate Professor; Visiting Professor. The prefix “visiting” before an academic title is used to designate a short-term full time appointment without tenure. Therefore the visiting title shall not be used for periods of time beyond the initial date of appointment. It shall be used only for those fixed-term faculty members who are visitors, temporary replacements, or for whose disciplines the institution in good faith expects to have only a short-term need. Use of the visiting title for extended periods of time is a misuse of this title.

 

4.             Emeritus status

The titles “emeritus” and “emerita” will be conferred upon those retired tenured faculty, including those on Phased Retirement, who have made a significant contribution to the university through a long and distinguished record of scholarship, teaching, and/or service.

 

The next meeting is January 25, 2006. 

 

The meeting adjourned a few minutes after 4:30 p.m.

 

Submitted by Co-Secretary Bob Morrison