Academic Support Staff | School of Arts and Sciences

V. ACADEMIC SUPPORT STAFF

Members of the Academic Support Staff include many persons who participate in the teaching and research programs of SAS, but who are not eligible for appointment to the Standing or Associated Faculty. Each appointment to the Academic Support Staff is for a term of years and is without tenure or tenure significance. The Academic Support Staff consists of three distinct types of appointment that require the following approvals. Senior Lecturers, Senior Lecturers in Foreign Languages, Lecturers in Foreign Languages appointed beyond the third consecutive year and Artists-in-Residence require review by the department, the Dean, and the Provost's Staff Conference. The second group (Lecturer, Lecturer in Foreign Languages (for appointment through the third year), Postdoctoral Fellow, Research Investigator, Research Associate, Senior Fellow, and Visiting Scholar) requires review by the department and approval by the Dean. The most junior group (Teaching Assistant, Research Fellow, and Research Assistant) requires only approval by the department. Documentation of affirmative action procedures is required for appointments as Senior Lecturer, Senior Lecturer in Foreign Languages, Lecturer in Foreign Languages, Lecturer, Artist-in-Residence, and Research Associate.

SENIOR LECTURER

Senior Lecturers are long-term members of the Academic Support Staff who perform specialized instructional services that cannot be provided by members of the Standing Faculty. Persons recommended for an appointment as a Senior Lecturer must have previously completed four years of full-time service as a Lecturer (see Section V.E.1.). No one who has previously been a member of the Standing Faculty may be appointed to the rank of Senior Lecturer. Appointments to the rank of Senior Lecturer are for periods of no more than four years, but successive appointments are allowed. Continued reappointments are expected provided the individual maintains the level of his or her professional performance and provided that the academic need for services exists. The total number of Senior Lecturers in SAS cannot exceed three percent of the total number of Standing Faculty at any one time (this is a limit of about 14 Senior Lecturers).

1. Dossier for Appointment or Reappointment (SAS Form 99-14)

Chair's Letter
The Chair's letter should summarize the discussion in the department and state how the service performed by the proposed candidate will be an essential part of the academic program for which he or she is being recommended. The letter should indicate why the instructional service to be provided by the candidate cannot be performed by a member of the Standing Faculty. In the case of an initial appointment as a Senior Lecturer, the letter should indicate why the service cannot readily be performed by another person of similar competence. In the case of reappointment, the letter should outline the service performed during the previous appointment and show that it has been significantly different from that performed by members of the Standing Faculty. The vote of the faculty should be included in the letter. Any dissenting opinion should be summarized in the Chair's letter or in a separate letter written by a faculty member designated by the Chair.
Curriculum Vitae of the Candidate
The curriculum vitae should contain an up-to-date summary of the candidate's educational and employment record. The material should contain a complete summary of all formal and informal courses taught, including course numbers and student enrollments.
Supporting Letters
At least two supporting letters (in addition to the Chair's letter) should be included. At least one of these must be from inside the University.
Evaluation of Teaching
Since the appointment of a Senior Lecturer is based exclusively on the performance of specialized instructional services, it is essential that the quality of those services be documented. The dossier should contain complete teaching evaluations, including (but not limited to) school or departmental course evaluations and a careful analysis by the person who has been the candidate's supervisor in the immediate past.
For appointments, the Department must also submit one copy of the Documentation of Affirmative Action Procedures (SAS Form 99-3a) and Certification of English Language Fluency in the Classroom (SAS Form 99-6.)

2. Deadlines for Recommendations

Recommendations for initial appointment to the rank of Senior Lecturer can be received at any time, although consideration of those received late in the spring term may of necessity be deferred until the following fall. Recommendations for reappointment must be received early in the spring term of the penultimate year of the candidate's appointment. In the absence of such a recommendation the Dean may recommend, at his or her discretion, termination or reappointment for one additional year.

3. Appeal Procedures

In the event that the department does not recommend reappointment the candidate may appeal to the Dean, and the Dean will take whatever action he or she believes is appropriate (with complete disclosure to the department).

B. LECTURER IN FOREIGN LANGUAGES

Foreign language instructors may be appointed to regular full-time lecturer positions (Section V.E.1.) for a period of at most three consecutive years, except where additional appointments--not to exceed six consecutive years--are approved by the Provost. The regular lecturer position will be the most suitable position for many language instructors. However, in a limited number of cases a longer period of service may be desirable. In such cases, the position of Lecturer in Foreign Languages is available. This is a career position with the possibility of continuing reappointments according to the procedures described below.

The position of Lecturer in Foreign Languages has been created to provide greater opportunity for professional development, advancement, and continuity of service for language teaching professionals. Initial appointment as a Lecturer in Foreign Languages will be for one year only, but may be extended an additional two years on the basis of performance and the academic need for such services. The initial appointment and extension require the approval of the Dean upon the recommendation of the Department. Continuous service as a full-time lecturer may substitute for all or a portion of the initial appointment and the first extension as a Lecturer in Foreign Languages.

The first professional review in the Lecturer in Foreign Languages track will take place prior to the end of the second year of service, at which time a department may decide to make the third year a terminal year or to recommend continuation for four additional years for a total of six years. Again, performance and academic need are critical factors. The review will involve evaluation by the department, by at least two standing faculty outside of the department or other qualified individuals as approved by the Dean, and by the Dean. A recommendation of the Dean to continue an appointment beyond the third year will require approval of the Provost's Staff Conference.

The second professional review in this lecturer track will take place prior to the end of the fifth year of service, at which time the department may decide to make the sixth year a terminal one, or to recommend continuation for three more years. At this and all subsequent reviews, continued reappointments are to be based on professional performance and the academic need for services. The fifth year review will involve evaluation by the Department and by at least two standing faculty members outside the department or other qualified individuals as approved by the Dean. A recommendation to continue beyond the sixth year will be subject to approval by the Dean and the Provost's Staff Conference.

The third professional review will take place prior to the end of the eighth year, at which time a department may decide to make the ninth year terminal, or to recommend extension for an additional five years for a total of fourteen. The eighth year review and approval will be similar to that conducted the fifth year.

All subsequent reviews will be conducted prior to the end of the fourth year of each five year cycle, with either a recommendation for termination after an additional year or recommendation for an additional five years. The structure of the review and the approval mechanism are as specified for the original fifth year review.

While the number of people serving as Lecturer in Foreign Languages may vary depending on enrollments in languages courses, that number will not exceed six percent of the Standing Faculty in the School of Arts and Sciences. No one who has previously been a member of the Standing Faculty may be appointed to the rank of Lecturer in Foreign Languages.

Dossier for Initial Appointment or Reappointments through the Third Year (SAS Form 99-2)
The initial appointment and extensions through the third year require only the approval of the Dean upon recommendation of the Department. Please follow the documentation requirements specified in Section V.E.5. for appointment or reappointment of Academic Support Staff. For appointments, the Department must also submit one copy of the Documentation of Affirmative Action Procedures (SAS Form 99-3a) and Certification of English Language Fluency in the Classroom (SAS Form 99-6.)

Since the number of Lecturers in Foreign Languages is limited, the chair should indicate why this position is more appropriate than a regular Lecturer appointment.
Dossier for Reappointment Beyond the Third Year (SAS Form 99-14)
1. Chair's Letter
  The Chair's letter should summarize the discussion in the department and state how the duties performed by the proposed candidate form an essential part of the continuing academic program for which he or she is being recommended. The letter should indicate why the instruction provided by the candidate cannot be performed by a member of the Standing Faculty. The letter should also discuss the duties performed during the previous appointment and show how they have significantly differed from those performed by members of the Standing Faculty. The letter should include the vote of the faculty. Any dissenting opinion should be discussed in the Chair's letter or in a letter written by a faculty member designated by the Chair
2. Curriculum Vitae of the Candidate
  The curriculum vitae should contain an up-to-date summary of the candidate's educational and employment record. The material should contain a complete summary of all formal and informal courses taught, including course numbers and student enrollments.
3. Supporting Letters
  In addition to the Chair's letter the dossier should include supporting letters. The dossier must also contain two letters of evaluation from faculty outside the Department but within the University or other qualified individuals as approved by the Dean.
4. Evaluation of Teaching
  Since the appointment of a Lecturer in Foreign Languages is based exclusively on the performance of specialized instruction, it is essential that the quality of the performance of these duties be documented. The dossier should contain complete teaching evaluations, including (but not limited to) school or departmental course evaluations and a careful analysis by the candidate's supervisor in the immediate past.
Deadline for Recommendations
Recommendations for initial appointment to the rank of Lecturer in Foreign Languages can be forwarded at any time, although consideration of those cases received late in the spring term may be deferred until the following fall.

Recommendations for reappointment must be received early in the spring term of the penultimate year of the candidate's appointment. In the absence of such a recommendation the Dean may recommend, at his or her discretion, termination or reappointment for one additional year.
Appeal Procedures
In the event the department does not recommend reappointment the candidate may appeal to the Dean, and the Dean will take whatever action he or she believes is appropriate (with complete disclosure to the department).

C. SENIOR LECTURER IN FOREIGN LANGUAGES

The position of Senior Lecturer in Foreign Languages is intended to recognize and encourage outstanding performance in both language pedagogy and language research and scholarship. Language teachers employed as Lecturers in Foreign Languages are eligible for appointment as Senior Lecturer in Foreign Languages at the end of their eighth year of service or subsequently. Candidates must demonstrate excellence in teaching, important contributions in curriculum development and supervision, and professional accomplishment in the wider community of language teaching professionals.

Appointment to Senior Lecturer in Foreign Languages requires an evaluation by the Department and by at least two standing faculty members outside the department, and approval of the Dean and the Provost's Staff Conference. Appointment does not entail tenure, but rather an assumption of continuation, provided the individual maintains the level of his or her professional performance and that the academic need for the services continues to exist. Appointment as Senior Lecturer in Foreign Languages is subject to review on a five year cycle throughout the remainder of the individual's career. The review process is similar to the original appointment process.

The number of Senior Lecturers in Foreign Languages will not exceed three percent of the Standing Faculty in the School of Arts and Sciences. No one who has previously been a member of the Standing Faculty may be appointed to the rank of Senior Lecturer in Foreign Languages

Dossier for Appointment or Reappointment (SAS Form 99-14)

Chair's Letter
The Chair's letter should summarize the discussion in the department and state how the duties performed by the proposed candidate form an essential part of the continuing academic program for which he or she is being recommended. The letter should indicate why the instruction provided by the candidate cannot be performed by a member of the Standing Faculty.

Initial appointment as Senior Lecturer in Foreign Languages requires service of at least eight years as Lecturer in Foreign Languages. In the case of an initial appointment as a Senior Lecturer in Foreign Languages, the letter should give clear justification for promotion to Senior Lecturer in Foreign Languages--rather than continuation as Lecturer in Foreign Languages--based on the candidate's excellence in teaching, contributions in curriculum development and supervision, and professional accomplishment in the wider community of language teaching professionals.

In the case of reappointment, the letter should also discuss the duties performed during the previous appointment and show how they have significantly differed from those performed by members of the Standing Faculty. The letter should include the vote of the faculty. Any dissenting opinion should be discussed in The Chair's letter or in a letter written by a faculty member designated by the Chair.
Curriculum Vitae of the Candidate
The curriculum vitae should contain an up-to-date summary of the candidate's educational and employment record. The material should contain a complete summary of all formal and informal courses taught, including course numbers and student enrollments.
Supporting Letters
Supporting letters (in addition to the Chair's letter) must be included. Two must be letters of evaluation from standing faculty outside the Department but within the University. In addition, two must be from extramural reviewers whose selection has been approved by the Dean. The letters should address the candidate's credentials in the following areas: excellence in teaching, contributions in curriculum development and supervision, and professional accomplishment in the wider community of language teaching professionals.
Evaluation of Teaching
Since the appointment of a Senior Lecturer in Foreign Languages is based exclusively on the performance of specialized instruction, it is essential that the quality of these duties be documented. The dossier should contain complete teaching evaluations, including (but not limited to) school or departmental course evaluations and a careful analysis by the candidate's supervisor in the immediate past.
For appointments, the Department must also submit one copy of the Documentation of Affirmative Action Procedures (SAS Form 99-3a) and Certification of English Language Fluency in the Classroom (SAS Form 99-6.)

2. Deadline for Recommendations

Recommendations for initial appointment to the rank of Senior Lecturer in Foreign Languages can be forwarded at any time, although consideration of those cases received late in the spring term may be deferred until the following fall.

Recommendations for reappointment must be received early in the spring term of the penultimate year of the candidate's appointment. In the absence of such a recommendation the Dean may recommend, at his or her discretion, termination or reappointment for one additional year.

3. Appeal Procedures

In the event the department does not recommend reappointment the candidate may appeal to the Dean, and the Dean will take whatever action he or she believes is appropriate (with complete disclosure to the department).

D. APPOINTMENTS REQUIRING THE DEAN'S APPROVAL

Responsibility for the initiation of proposals for appointment or reappointment to the ranks listed below lies with the department and with the department chair. Approval of the Dean will be given only after the Dean is convinced that the resources specified on the request form are available from grants, the department, or SAS.

Lecturer
The rank of Lecturer is flexible, denoting (1) eminent scholars whose appointments at the University are temporary or part-time, (2) scholars still in professional training, or (3) persons who do not possess the normally-expected scholarly credentials but nevertheless provide valuable instructional services. Appointments are for one year or less but may be renewed. Full-time service in the rank of Lecturer is limited to three consecutive years, except where additional appointments are approved by the Provost. As a practical guideline, approval of the Provost Staff Conference for service beyond the fourth year is given only rarely and requires a strong justification. Approval for more than six consecutive years will not be given.

See item 5 for additional appointment/reappointment procedures. For appointments, the Department must also submit one copy of the Documentation of Affirmative Action Procedures (SAS 99-3a) and Certification of English Fluency in the Classroom (SAS Form 99-6.)
Postdoctoral Fellow/Postdoctoral Researcher
This title is for an individual who holds the degree of Ph.D. or the equivalent and comes to the University for the principal purpose of furthering his or her personal development by engaging in research or participating in advanced training programs. Appointments are made on an annual basis for no more than five years.

All postdoctoral fellows/researchers (new appointment or renewal) must receive a letter of appointment. A countersigned copy of the appointment letter is to be maintained in the departmental office. Business Administrators are not to enter postdoctoral fellows/researchers into the payroll system without a countersigned copy of the letter of appointment. Records for postdoctoral fellows/researchers who are not associated with a department will be maintained in the office of the Associate Dean for Graduate Education.

The letters of appointment should follow the basic rules set forth in University policy. In particular, the letter should set forth at least the basic terms of the appointment including the period of the appointment (beginning and end date of appointment), the stipend level, all included benefits, a statement that the fellow's appointment is subject to all University policies, and be accompanied by a copy of the Patent Policy and the corresponding Participation Agreement. The candidate must return a countersigned copy of each letter of appointment or renewal indicating acceptance of the terms set forth, as well as a signed Patent Policy Participation Agreement.

When the appointment is to be coterminous with external funding, that fact must be included in the letter of appointment including the end date of the funding even when renewal is expected.

A notice of termination should be given at least three months before the end of the appointment.

See item 5 for additional appointment/reappointment procedures.
Research Investigator and Research Associate
Research Investigators and Research Associates work in sponsored research programs and must hold the appropriate terminal professional degree in their disciplines. Full-time service in these positions may not exceed three years, except with the approval of the Provost. Approval for a fifth year is unusual and for more than five years will not be given.

See item 5 for additional appointment/reappointment procedures. For appointments, the Department must also submit one copy of the Documentation of Affirmative Action Procedures (SAS 99-3a.)
Senior Fellow and Visiting Scholar
A Senior Fellow or Visiting Scholar is a scholar from outside the University appointed to teach or do research for a limited period of time.

See item 5 for additional appointment/reappointment procedures.
Request for Appointment or Reappointment of Academic Support Staff (SAS Form 99-2)

Chair's letter indicating how the appointment will benefit the programs of the department;
Curriculum Vitae of the Candidate;
Evaluation of Teaching (for reappointment of Lecturers and Lecturers in Foreign Languages).
For appointments of Lecturers, Lecturers in Foreign Languages, and Research Associates, the Department must also submit one copy of the Documentation of Affirmative Action Procedures (SAS 99-3a) and Certification of English Fluency in the Classroom (SAS Form 99-6.)

E. APPOINTMENTS REQUIRING ONLY THE APPROVAL OF THE DEPARTMENT

The positions below are limited to persons registered in the graduate programs of SAS. Such appointments are for one year or less, but may be renewed. Departments may place limits on the length of time that students are permitted to serve in these ranks. Although the approval of the Dean is not required to make these appointments, it is the responsibility of the department Chair to ensure that necessary funding is available for all appointments made.

Teaching Assistant/Teaching Fellow
A Teaching Assistant/Teaching Fellow is a member of the instructional staff who is also a registered graduate student and whose work involves actual teaching or guidance of students under the direction of a senior faculty member. Appointments are made by the Chair under the general direction of the Associate Dean for Graduate Studies.
Research Fellow
A Research Fellow is appointed for research directly related to the area in which his or her degree is to be conferred and in which equivalent research is required of all candidates as a condition for receiving such a degree.
Research Assistant
A Research Assistant is a graduate student engaged to aid the research of an investigator or a member of the faculty.