4.2.1 Non-Tenure-Track Teaching Faculty Rank
Non-tenure-track teaching faculty are hired for specific teaching assignments. They generally are not expected to conduct research or perform public, institutional, or disciplinary service as a condition of their employment. However, research or service activities may be included as part of their effort, depending on the needs of the department and the skills and desires of the faculty member. As described in Section 4.3, a complete and thorough documentation of the NTT teaching faculty’s responsibilities and workload distribution will be provided by the hiring unit to the faculty member at the time of initial appointment and updated each time the faculty member is reappointed.
Instructor: This rank is reserved for faculty members who are appointed through a search for a tenure-track faculty position but do not hold the terminal degree at the time of appointment. Instructors are expected to have all qualifications listed for appointment as a tenure-track assistant professor, except for completion of the appropriate terminal degree. Upon certification that the requirements for the terminal degree have been completed, promotion to the rank of assistant professor will generally follow, at which time the tenure-track probationary period, typically six years, begins. Clear expectations for completion of the highest degree shall be included in the letter of appointment. Instructors who do not complete their degree requirements within 12 months of their appointment will be terminated.
Lecturer: This rank is for those who hold a degree appropriate to their disciplines (or its professional equivalent) and who are appointed for full or part-time service to teach one or more courses. Individuals holding this rank have shown promise for excellence in areas of responsibility recorded in the hiring unit’s annual documentation of the NTTF’s workload distribution and responsibilities.
Senior lecturer: This rank is for those who hold a degree appropriate to their disciplines (or its professional equivalent) and who have demonstrated excellence in areas of responsibility recorded in the hiring unit’s annual documentation of the NTTF’s workload distribution and responsibilities. A departmentally designated group of faculty will review and evaluate appointments to the rank of senior lecturer, in accordance with departmental and college bylaws.
Distinguished lecturer: This rank is for those who hold a degree appropriate to their disciplines (or its professional equivalent) and who have demonstrated and maintained a consistent record of excellence in areas of responsibility recorded in the hiring unit’s annual documentation of the NTTF’s workload distribution and responsibilities. A departmentally designated group of faculty will review and evaluate appointments to the rank of distinguished lecturer, in accordance with departmental and college bylaws.
4.2.2 Non-Tenure-Track Research Faculty Rank
Non-tenure-track research faculty are hired to conduct research. They generally are not expected to engage in teaching or perform public, institutional, or disciplinary service as a condition of their employment. However, teaching or service activities may be included as part of their effort, depending on the needs of the department and the skills and desires of the faculty member. As described in Section 4.3, a complete and thorough documentation of the NTT research faculty’s responsibilities and workload distribution, including any responsibility to obtain external funding, will be provided by the hiring unit to the faculty member at the time of initial appointment and updated each time the faculty member is reappointed.
Research assistant professor: This rank is for those who have completed a doctoral degree or terminal degree appropriate to the field and have shown promise for excellence in all areas of responsibility recorded in the hiring unit’s annual documentation of the NTTF’s workload distribution and responsibilities.
Research associate professor: This rank is for those who have completed a doctoral degree or terminal degree appropriate to the field and have demonstrated excellence in all areas of responsibility recorded in the hiring unit’s annual documentation of the NTTF’s workload distribution and responsibilities. A departmentally designated group of faculty will review and evaluate promotions to this rank in accordance with departmental and college bylaws.
Research professor: This rank is for those who have completed a doctoral degree or terminal degree appropriate to the field and have demonstrated and maintained a consistent record of excellence in all areas of responsibility recorded in the hiring unit’s annual documentation of the NTTF’s workload distribution and responsibilities. A departmentally designated group of faculty will review and evaluate promotions to this rank in accordance with departmental and college bylaws.
4.2.3 Non-Tenure-Track Clinical Faculty Rank
Non-tenure-track clinical faculty are hired to perform professional services and to provide instruction to students in a clinical setting. They generally are not expected to conduct research or perform public, institutional, or disciplinary service as a condition of their employment. However, research or service activities may be included as part of their effort, depending on the needs of the department and the skills and desires of the faculty member. As described in Section 4.3, a complete and thorough documentation of the NTT clinical faculty’s responsibilities and workload distribution will be provided by the hiring unit to the faculty member at the time of initial appointment and updated each time the faculty member is reappointed.
Clinical instructor: This rank is for those who have completed a degree appropriate to the field or who are licensed or certified to practice the profession where appropriate. Individuals holding this rank show promise in their ability to teach students in a clinical setting or in courses related to clinical practice.
Clinical assistant professor: This rank is for those who have completed a doctoral degree or terminal degree appropriate to the field or who are licensed or certified to practice the profession where appropriate. Individuals holding this rank have shown promise for excellence in areas of responsibility recorded in the hiring unit’s annual documentation of the NTTF’s workload distribution and responsibilities.
Clinical associate professor: This rank is for those who have completed a doctoral degree or a terminal degree appropriate to the field and who are licensed or certified to practice the profession where appropriate. Individuals holding this rank have demonstrated excellence in areas of responsibility recorded in the hiring unit’s annual documentation of the NTTF’s workload distribution and responsibilities. A departmentally designated group of faculty will review and evaluate promotions to this rank in accordance with departmental and college bylaws.
Clinical professor: This rank is for those who have completed a doctoral degree or a terminal degree appropriate to the field and who are licensed or certified to practice the profession where appropriate. Individuals holding this rank have demonstrated consistent record of excellence in areas of responsibility recorded in the hiring unit’s annual documentation of the NTTF’s workload distribution and responsibilities. A departmentally designated group of faculty will review and evaluate promotions to this rank in accordance with departmental and college bylaws.
4.2.4 Non-Tenure-Track Faculty of Practice
Non-tenure-track faculty of practice are hired to provide instruction to students. As described in Section 4.3, a complete and thorough documentation of the responsibilities and workload distribution of the NTT faculty of practice will be provided by the hiring unit to the faculty member at the time of initial appointment and updated each time the faculty member is reappointed.
Instructor of practice: This rank is for those who have completed a degree appropriate to the field or who are licensed or certified to practice the profession where appropriate. Individuals holding such positions show promise in their ability to teach students in the practice of the profession.
Assistant professor of practice: This rank is for those who have completed a doctoral degree or terminal degree appropriate to the field or who are licensed or certified to practice the profession where appropriate. Individuals holding this rank have shown promise for excellence in areas of responsibility recorded in the hiring unit’s annual documentation of the NTTF’s workload distribution and responsibilities.
Associate professor of practice: This rank is for those who have completed a doctoral degree or a terminal degree appropriate to the field or who are licensed or certified to practice the profession where appropriate. Individuals holding this rank have demonstrated excellence in areas of responsibility recorded in the hiring unit’s annual documentation of the NTTF’s workload distribution and responsibilities. A departmentally designated group of faculty will review and evaluate promotions to this rank in accordance with departmental and college bylaws.
Professor of practice: This rank is for those who have completed a doctoral degree or a terminal degree appropriate to the field or who are licensed or certified to practice the profession where appropriate. Individuals holding this rank have demonstrated and maintained a consistent record of excellence in areas of responsibility recorded in the hiring unit’s annual documentation of the NTTF’s workload distribution and responsibilities. A departmentally designated group of faculty will review and evaluate promotions to this rank in accordance with departmental and college bylaws.
4.2.5 Non-Tenure-Track Extension Faculty
Non-Tenure-Track Extension faculty are hired for specific outreach and engagement assignments. They generally are not expected to conduct traditional academic research or engage in for-credit, classroom teaching as a condition of their employment. Extension faculty are expected to conduct externally funded work and to publish the results of that work. As described in Section 4.3, a complete and thorough documentation of the responsibilities and workload distribution of the NTT extension faculty, including any responsibility to obtain external funding, will be provided by the hiring unit to the faculty member at the time of initial appointment and updated each time the faculty member is reappointed.
Extension assistant professor: This rank is for those who have completed a doctoral degree or terminal degree appropriate to the field. Individuals holding such positions demonstrate an ability to initiate and implement outreach and engagement programs or projects, publish, and obtain external funding. They show promise for excellence in all areas of responsibility recorded in the hiring unit’s annual documentation of the NTTF’s workload distribution and responsibilities.
Extension associate professor: This rank is for those who have completed a doctoral degree or terminal degree appropriate to the field and have demonstrated continuous improvement and contribution in Extension and outreach education supported through grants and contracts over a period of years. Individuals holding this rank will have demonstrated excellence in all areas of responsibility recorded in the hiring unit’s annual documentation of the NTTF’s workload distribution and responsibilities. A designated group of faculty will review and evaluate hiring and promotion to this rank in accordance with applicable bylaws.
Extension professor: This rank is for those who have completed a doctoral degree or terminal degree appropriate to the field and have a record of outstanding outreach and engagement impacts with a strong record of publications as well as support by grants and contracts over a period of years. Individuals holding this rank have demonstrated and maintained excellence in all areas of responsibility recorded in the hiring unit’s annual documentation of the NTTF’s workload distribution and responsibilities. A designated group of faculty will review and evaluate hiring and promotion to this rank in accordance with applicable bylaws.
4.2.6 Adjunct Faculty
Individuals who provide uncompensated or part-time compensated service to the instructional and/or research programs of the university may be given adjunct faculty appointments. As with all other non-tenure-track faculty appointments, the chief academic officer will issue letters of appointment to adjunct faculty members. Adjunct faculty originate from one of two sources: (i) University staff and (ii) individuals external to the University. Staff exempt employees with appropriate expertise who, on occasion, provide instruction or participate in research may be given adjunct faculty appointments. Professional credentials and/or the terminal degree required for appointment to professorial ranks are required for adjunct faculty appointments. Adjunct faculty may serve on graduate committees, serve as program directors, supervise clinical experiences, or assume other responsibilities as are consistent with university, college, and departmental policies. Adjunct faculty appointments may be made at the rank of adjunct professor, adjunct associate professor, adjunct assistant professor, or adjunct lecturer. Tenured and tenure-track faculty will evaluate the recommended rank in accordance with departmental and college bylaws.
Although uncompensated adjunct faculty members are not employees of the University of Tennessee, they are subject to certain university policies as a condition of receiving and retaining this honorary title. These policies include the non-discrimination policies, the Policy on Misconduct in Research and Service, applicable personnel policies (including the University Code of Conduct), fiscal policies, computer use policies, and the Statement of Policy on Patents, Copyrights, and Other Intellectual Property (when the uncompensated adjunct faculty member makes substantial use of university facilities or funds).
4.2.7 Visiting Faculty
Visiting faculty carry out instructional and/or research responsibilities within an academic department. Professional credentials and/or the terminal degree required for the university’s professorial ranks are also required for appointments as visiting faculty. Normally, the rank of appointment will be the professorial rank that the individual holds at his or her home institution; however, the standards of scholarship for holding visiting faculty rank will be the same as required for the university’s own faculty. Visiting faculty do not participate in the governance of the department and are not subject to annual performance reviews. Normally, a visiting appointment is for 12 months. As with all other non-tenure-track faculty appointments, the Office of the Chancellor will issue letters of appointment to visiting faculty.
4.2.8 Joint Faculty Appointments
Non-Tenure Track Joint Faculty appointments typically involve participation in the teaching and research of two or more departments or research units within the University.
Department and college bylaws, in conjunction with university policy and procedure, establish standards and procedures relating to searches for and promotion of Joint Faculty. The definition and extent of such interdepartmental or intercampus non-tenure-track joint faculty appointments is determined by mutual agreement between the faculty member and the heads, directors, or chairpersons in consultation with appropriate faculty of the academic units involved, and the respective deans, vice chancellors, or other campus officers. In these cases, the following guidelines are observed:
- The appointment is may be with or without salary in the cooperating or second department (i.e. the unit awarding the interdepartmental or intercampus Joint Faculty appointment); salary, if any, continues to be linked with the home department;
- The head of the home or primary department recommends the interdepartmental or intercampus Joint Faculty appointment to the head of the cooperating department, following informal discussion or negotiation;
- The Joint Faculty appointment is made by the cooperating department with approvals by the dean and chief academic officer;
- The specific Joint Faculty title in the cooperating department is determined by mutual agreement between the head and the faculty member, subject to approval by the dean and chief academic officer.
Non-tenure track Joint Faculty may be appointed under the terms of a Joint Faculty Agreement between the University of Tennessee and another entity, such as the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). The specific allocation of effort in the UTK department or college is negotiated pursuant to the Joint Faculty Agreement.
4.2.9 Rank of Emeritus or Emerita
At the discretion of the chancellor and upon the recommendation of the department head, dean, and chief academic officer, faculty members who are distinguished lecturers, research professors, clinical professors, professors of practice or extension professors at the time of retirement may be awarded the rank of emeritus or emerita.