The Senate of Michigan Technological University


PROPOSAL 1-68

ACADEMIC RANK

 

  1. Academic rank should be reserved for those who are directly involved in the major academic programs of acquisition of knowledge (research) and dissemination of knowledge (teaching) since these are the primary missions of a university. The research effort shall be of a caliber which is suitable for a thesis and which could be published in a nationally prominent specialized journal. The dissemination of knowledge shall be by teaching for credit one or more courses listed in the official University catalog or by assisting in research or instruction by offering skills acquired by professional training leading to an advanced degree beyond the baccalaureate.

  2. Academic rank shall be given only in the ranks of professor, associate professor, assistant professor, instructor, or lecturer. Other appointments such as teaching assistants or teaching associates or research assistants or research associates are not to be eligible for academic rank.

  3. The minimum conditions of employment for awarding academic rank will be employment for at least one quarter -- this being the minimum academic term - and at a level of at least half time.

  4. Employees without tenure will have academic rank in accordance with the provisions above except that those employed for successive years shall be deemed to hold academic rank during the summer or other periods when not actually productively engaged by the University. Those employees having tenure as well as academic rank will continue to hold the academic rank even though transferred to another position not requiring academic rank.


Proposal Adopted by Senate: 8 November 1967