Tenure-Track Academic Faculty: Professor, Associate Professor, Assistant Professor
Non-Tenure-Track Academic Faculty: Lecturer, Instructor, Adjunct (Professor, Associate Professor, or Assistant Professor), Visiting (Professor, Associate Professor, or Assistant Professor), ROTC Faculty Appointments
Research Faculty: Research (Professor, Associate Professor, or Assistant Professor)
Non-Faculty Academic Appointments: Visiting Scholar, Professional Staff, Postdoctural Associate, Graduate Research Assistant, Graduate Teaching Assistant
Emeritus: Professor, Associate Professor, or Assistant Professor
All tenure-track appointments entail full responsibility for teaching, performing research, advising students, and performing professional and University service.
Professor: An appointment requiring an earned doctoral or terminal degree or equivalent and demonstrated sustained quality teaching, wide recognition for scholarly activities, and substantial service to the university and appropriate outside communities.
Associate Professor: An appointment requiring an earned doctoral or terminal degree or equivalent and demonstrated quality teaching, recognition for scholarly activities, and service to the university and community.
Assistant Professor: An appointment requiring an earned doctoral or terminal degree or equivalent and potential for excellence in teaching, and research.
Lecturer: An appointment requiring at least a master's degree or equivalent professional qualifications. This position entails full responsibility for teaching courses, advising students, serving on committees, and being active in professional societies. Appointments are for up to three years at a time.
Instructor: An appointment requiring a master's degree, or a bachelor's degree and equivalent professional qualifications. Such appointments entail full responsibility for teaching undergraduate courses, with limited or no responsibility for advising, research, and service. Appointments shall be for no more than one year, with possible subsequent appointments of up to one year at a time, depending on the University's instructional need.
Adjunct (Professor, Associate Professor, or Assistant Professor): An appointment at this rank is offered to persons not regularly or primarily employed within the academic unit to which the appointment is made. Such individuals--because of training, experience, credentials, and interest--are invited to participate in the teaching, research, and/or instructional programs of academic departments. Ordinarily no remuneration is associated with adjunct appointments, but on the approval of the President, remuneration may be provided for teaching and/or research activities. Appointments shall be made for no more than three years with the possibility of subsequent appointments.
Visiting (Professor, Associate Professor, or Assistant Professor): A guest appointment normally offered to a faculty member from another institution and appointed at the rank of that institution. Responsibilities will normally be similar to those of tenure-track faculty in the department to which the appointment is made. Visiting appointments shall normally be for one year or less.
ROTC Faculty Appointments: An appointment conferred upon ROTC officers assigned to duty with the Army or Air Force Reserve Officers Training Corps units at the University. The senior commissioned officer of the Army and Air Force units shall be appointed Professor of Military Science and Professor of Aerospace Studies, respectively. Commissioned officers or other warrant officers shall be appointed Assistant Professor of Military Studies/Assistant Professor of Aerospace Studies or Instructor of Military Studies/Instructor of Aerospace Studies. Non-commissioned officers shall be appointed Instructor of Aerospace Science. These appointments involve no compensation from the University and terminate when the duty assignment ends.
Research faculty appointments are intended to promote and expedite the research activities of the University. Tenure cannot be earned in these ranks, nor can the time in these ranks count toward the probationary period in any tenure-track appointment. Those individuals assigned teaching responsibilities must obtain an approved academic faculty appointment.
Research Assistant Professor: Persons appointed to this rank are required to have a doctoral or terminal degree. Qualifications are consistent with those required for appointment as tenure-track Assistant Professor. Appointment is contingent upon continuity of external funding, the individual's accomplishments, and the needs of the program. The appointment entails full responsibility for research activities (including serving as principal investigator on grants and contracts) and limited responsibility for advising (direct graduate theses and dissertations and serve on graduate committees), and service activities. Compensation levels should be consistent with tenure-track Assistant Professors within the discipline.
Research Associate Professor: Persons appointed to this rank are required to have a doctoral or terminal degree. Qualifications are consistent with those required for appointment as tenure-track Associate Professor. Appointment is contingent upon continuity of external funding, the individual's accomplishments, and the needs of the program. The appointment entails full responsibility for research activities (including serving as principal investigator on grants and contracts) and limited responsibility for advising (direct graduate theses and dissertations and serve on graduate committees), and service activities. Promotion to this rank shall be made after an indication of continuous improvement and contribution in research or creative activity supported through grants and contracts and regional recognition. Compensation levels should be consistent with tenure-track Associate Professors within the discipline.
Research Professor: Persons appointed to this rank are required to have a doctoral or terminal degree. Qualifications are consistent with those required for appointment as tenure-track Professor. Appointment is contingent upon continuity of external funding, the individual's accomplishments, and the needs of the program. The appointment entails full responsibility for research activities (including serving as principal investigator on grants and contracts) and limited responsibility for advising (direct graduate theses and dissertations and serve on graduate committees), and service activities. Promotion to this rank shall be made after an indication of outstanding research or creative activity supported through grants and contracts and national and/or international recognition. Compensation levels should be consistent with tenure-track Professors within the discipline.
Visiting Scholar: A courtesy appointment granted to a person holding a terminal degree pursuing a research or study program using University facilities and who is sponsored by an academic unit of the University. Ordinarily no remuneration by the University is associated with this appointment. Visiting Scholars are not allowed to pursue consulting work using University resources and facilities. Appointments are made by the sponsoring academic unit and are generally for one year or less. Renewals will normally not be permitted.
Professional Staff: Professional staff who teach classes will be given faculty positions at an appropriate level for the period that they are teaching.
Postdoctural Associate: An appointment reserved for persons who have recently completed a doctoral degree and are engaged in research and/or teaching for a restricted period under the direction of a faculty mentor. Funding is usually from external sources. Appointments are initially for up to one year, but depending on funding, may be renewed in one year periods for up to a maximum of three years.
Graduate Research Assistant (GRA): A part-time appointment requiring at least one academic degree at the baccalaureate level and awarded to individuals who are enrolled as full-time graduate students. Graduate Research Assistants are expected to assist faculty on research projects. The appointment is generally granted by the department supervising the research activity and is usually associated with a specific research project, grant, or contract. Appointments are made for up to one year with the possibility of renewals.
Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA): A part-time appointment requiring at least one degree at the baccalaureate level. It is awarded to individuals who are enrolled as full-time graduate students. Graduate Teaching Assistants are generally responsible for classroom or laboratory instruction under the supervision of faculty. Appointments are made for up to a year, usually by the department in which they are pursuing graduate work, with the possibility of renewals.
(Professor, Associate Professor, or Assistant Professor): An honorary rank awarded to retirees who have tenure in the professorial ranks and have served the University with distinction. Recommendation for emeritus status shall be made by the members of the retiree's academic department through administrative channels to the President for presentation to the Board of Control (Board of Control Policy 16.8). Emeritus faculty shall be invited to participate in commencement processions and similar ceremonies and be entitled to certain other privileges within the University such as parking and library access.