DEFINITIONS AND CRITERIA FOR FACULTY RANKS AT WESTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY

OFFICE OF ACADEMIC AFFAIRS

 

GUIDING PRINCIPLES

 

Faculty rank at Western Kentucky University is appropriate for individuals whose primary responsibilities include regular instruction of students in credit-bearing courses. Supervision of students in independent research or service activities related to individuals’ primary responsibilities (even if students receive credit for their participation in these activities) alone does not warrant faculty status.

 

The system of faculty ranks at Western Kentucky University should enable:

1. Deserving individuals in both tenure track and non-tenure track positions to grow professionally and be

recognized for their accomplishments.

2. Clear delineation of individuals’ roles/responsibilities with respect to job performance and governance issues.

3. Transparent review of faculty credentials with respect to university and/or program accreditation standards.

 

PROPOSED DEFINITIONS

 

Adjunct – A faculty member who is part-time or whose primary place of employment is not WKU or whose primary employment within WKU is not in a faculty capacity; financial compensation may or may not be associated with Adjunct status.

 

Visiting – A full-time, temporary faculty member employed for a fixed term; financial compensation is generally associated with Visiting status.

 

Lecturer – A faculty member holding a temporary (generally 1-3 year) appointment; this title is reserved for ABD faculty occupying tenure-track faculty lines. Faculty in this category who complete the terminal degree within the first semester of employment at WKU have the option of counting the entire year towards tenure. NOTE: Modified definitions exist for Bowling Green Community College and University Libraries.

 

( )-in-Residence – A temporary or continuing faculty member whose primary responsibilities include mentoring of students through the practice of their discipline; typically, this title will be reserved for professionally- as opposed to academically-qualified individuals; preceding modifers (i.e., Professional, Artist, Executive) may be applied to the title as appropriate.

 

Instructor – A continuing, non-tenure track faculty member whose primary responsibilities include teaching and either university service or scholarly research; scholarship undertaken is generally assumed to be oriented towards scholarship of teaching, integration and/or application. NOTE: Modified definitions exist for Department of Military Science.

 

Clinical Practitioner – A continuing, non-tenure track faculty member whose primary responsibilities include teaching and supervision of students in a practice setting; scholarship undertaken is generally assumed to be oriented towards scholarship of application.

 

Professor – A continuing faculty member holding the earned doctorate or appropriate terminal degree and occupying a tenure track line whose professional expectations include teaching, scholarly research or creative activity, university service and student engagement, or an adjunct faculty member holding terminal degree appropriate for appointment at a professorial rank; scholarship may be oriented towards scholarship of discovery, integration, application and/or teaching, as appropriate to the position held and criteria for tenure and promotion established by the home Department/College. NOTE: Modified definitions exist for Bowling Green Community College, University Libraries and Department of Military Science.

 

NOTE: Academic rank for contract faculty appointments is negotiable.

PROPOSED FACULTY RANKS

 

1. Part-Time Faculty Ranks

 

                  a. Adjunct Instructor/Clinical Practitioner – A part-time faculty member holding a non-terminal degree

 

                  b. Adjunct (Assistant/Associate) Professor – A part-time faculty member holding a terminal degree;

may also direct effort at program development, particularly with external partners

 

2. Full-Time Faculty Ranks (the modifier Visiting may be applied as appropriate to any rank except Lecturer)

 

                  a. Lecturer – Temporary; ABD (limited to individuals occupying tenure track lines)

 

                  b. ( )-in-Residence – Temporary or continuing; non-tenure track; typically professionally- rather than

academically-qualified

 

c. Instructor – Continuing; non-tenure track

 

                                    i. Instructor– M.A./M.S. Degree, when this does not represent the terminal degree

 

                                    ii. Senior Instructor – M.A./M.S. plus five years experience at the rank of Instructor; may be

waived for persons holding additional qualifications

 

                  Clinical Practitioner – Continuing, non-tenure track

 

                                    i. Clinical Practitioner I – M.A./M.S. Degree, when this does not represent the terminal degree

 

                                    ii. Clinical Practitioner II – M.A./M.S. plus five years experience at the rank of Clinical Practitioner I;

may be waived for persons holding additional qualifications

 

                                    iii. Senior Clinical Practitioner – Terminal degree plus five years experience at the rank of Clinical

Practitioner II

 

                  d. Professor – Continuing; tenure track; additional modifiers (Research, Distinguished, Emeritus/a, etc.) may be

added as appropriate to recognize professional contributions over an extended period

 

                                    i. Assistant Professor – Terminal degree; as described in the Faculty Handbook

 

                                    ii. Associate Professor – Terminal degree; as described in the Faculty Handbook

 

                                    iii. Professor – Terminal degree; as described in the Faculty Handbook

 

 

NOTES

 

1. Individuals entering tenure track lines are not eligible to transition into non-tenure track lines. Individuals in non-tenure track lines are not eligible to transition into tenure track lines, but may apply for an open tenure-track position for which they are qualified.

 

2. Individuals occupying non-tenure track lines may participate in all governance matters except those expressly restricted to tenured and tenure track faculty by university documents such as the Faculty Handbook; these include graduate matters, hiring/review/tenure/promotion of tenure track faculty, serving on search committees for Department Heads, and participating in the advisory referendum that is part of the Department Head review process. Adjunct faculty members have no role in faculty governance matters.

 

3. Graduate faculty status will be awarded on the basis of academic or professional credentials and individuals’ potential to contribute to the Graduate Program; individuals from any faculty rank are eligible to apply for graduate faculty status.

 

4. Non-tenure track faculty will follow the same procedures as tenure track faculty with regard to annual review and application for promotion.

5. Increment scales associated with promotion do not apply to non-tenure track faculty. No funding is available at this time, but options will be continue to be pursued.

 

ISSUES FOR CONTINUED DISCUSSION

1. Criteria for promotion of non-tenure track faculty.

2. Reporting for CUPA data.

3. Role of non-tenure track rank faculty in university governance matters.

4. Classification of transitional retirees.

5. Development and funding of appropriate increment scales associated with promotion of non-tenure track faculty.

6. Reclassification of some current Instructors as part of initial implementation.