Handbook of Operating Procedures
Chapter 2 - Faculty and Academics
Publication Date: April 7, 2017
Responsible Executive: VP for Academic Affairs

2.02 Faculty Appointments and Titles

This is not the current policy. For the latest, click here.

I. POLICY STATEMENT

It is the policy of The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) to provide a broad and varied mix of well-defined faculty titles that uniformly reflect a faculty member’s relationship with UTSA and will allow UTSA to recruit and appoint quality faculty.

II. RATIONALE

This policy lists and describes all titles that may be used to appoint Tenure and Tenure Track (T/TT) and Nontenure-Track (NTT) faculty at UTSA. It also defines the list of NTT titles, describes qualifications for all NTT titles, and details responsibilities of certain faculty titles.

III. SCOPE

This policy applies to all UTSA faculty.

IV. WEBSITE ADDRESS FOR THIS POLICY

http://www.utsa.edu/hop/chapter2/2-2.html

V. RELATED STATUTES, POLICIES, REQUIREMENTS OR STANDARDS

UTSA or UT System Policies or the Board of Regents Rules & Regulations

Board of Regents' Rule 31001, Faculty Appointments and Titles
Board of Regents' Rule 31002, Section 1, Notice of Nonrenewal to Nontenured Faculty Members
UTSA HOP policy 2.03, Emeritus Academic Titles
UTSA HOP policy 2.04, Faculty Recruitment
UTSA HOP policy 2.50, Nontenure-Track Faculty Recruitment, Evaluation, and Promotion Processes
UTSA HOP policy 4.09, Student Employees

Other Policies & Standards

Texas Education Code, Section 51.943, Renewal of Faculty Employment Contracts

VI. CONTACTS

If you have any questions about HOP policy 2.02, Faculty Appointments and Titles, please contact the following office(s):

Office of the Senior Vice Provost for Academic and Faculty Support
210-458-2700

Office of the Dean of the Respective College

Respective Academic Department

VII. DEFINITIONS

Faculty Member: A faculty member is any individual holding an academic title listed in this policy, with the exception of Assistant Instructors or Teaching Assistants.

VIII. RESPONSIBILITIES

Department Chair
1. Determines appropriate faculty titles to meet departmental needs.
2. Upon receiving written approval from the dean, initiations appropriate appointment process as described in HOP policy 2.04, Faculty Recruitment, or in HOP policy 2.50, Nontenure-Track (NTT) Faculty Recruitment, Evaluation, and Promotion Processes.
Dean
1. Authorizes allocation of faculty positions and initiation of appropriate appointment process as described in HOP policy 2.04, Faculty Recruitment or in HOP policy 2.50, NTT Faculty Recruitment, Evaluation, and Promotion Processes.
2. Ensures appropriate appointment processes are followed.
Office of Academic and Faculty Support
1. Oversees faculty appointment process.

IX. PROCEDURES

Approved Faculty Titles and Tenure Status at UTSA
1. Tenure/Tenure-Track Academic Titles
  1. Professor or Associate Professor
    The only title in which tenure at UTSA may be granted are Professor and Associate Professor. Persons appointed to a named chair or professorship may be granted tenure as a Professor or Associate Professor, but may not be granted tenure in the named chair or professorship. Appointment at UTSA as Professor also grants tenure. Appointments at UTSA as Associate Professor generally are granted tenure, although an individual may be hired with this title without tenure.
  2. Assistant Professor
    This title denotes a "tenure-track" probationary appointment. At UTSA, tenure cannot be granted to an Assistant Professor.
2. Non-Tenure-Track Academic Titles
  Other academic titles used at UTSA in which tenure cannot be granted are listed below. With the exception of the title of Instructor, academic service wtih these titles may not be counted toward the satisfaction of any maximum probationary period. Appointments to these titles shall be for a period of time not to exceed one academic year, except in the case of Lecturer III, Senior Lecturer, Distinguished Senior Lecturer, the Professor of Research series, and the Professor in Practice series. All such appointments shall terminate at the expiration of the stated period of appointment without the notification of nonrenewal of appointment required by the Board of Regents’ Rules and Regulations, Rule 31002, Section 1. If the administration determines that it is to the benefit of the institution, it may offer reappointment to one of these titles.
  
  HOP policy 2.50, NTT Faculty Recruitment, Evaluation, and Promotion Processes, contains policies and procedures regarding the promotion and recruitment of faculty into Lecturer, Professors in Practice, and Professors of Research positions as well as policies and procedures regarding workload duties and evaluations for those positions.
  1. Distinguished Senior Lecturer
    This title may be used for special teachers who will augment and complement regular teaching faculty and whose teaching experience and qualifications demonstrate extraordinary service and performance. Teaching and related experience at UTSA or commensurate experience at another institution and demonstrated high levels of performance as indicated by formal review is expected. A terminal degree is required. Appointment to this position may occur as a promotion from the Senior Lecturer position or as a result of a search process as described under HOP policy 2.50, NTT Faculty Recruitment, Evaluation, and Promotion Processes. This title is for full-time appointments and the appointments are for three years.
  2. Senior Lecturer
    This title may be used for special teachers who will augment and complement regular teaching faculty and whose teaching experience and qualifications are comparable to those of faculty members in tenured positions. Teaching and related experience at UTSA or commensurate experience at another institution and demonstrated high levels of performance as indicated by formal review is expected. A terminal degree is required. Appointment to this position may occur as a promotion from the Lecturer III position or as a result of a search process as described under HOP policy 2.50, NTT Faculty Recruitment, Evaluation, and Promotion Processes. This title is for full-time appointments, and the appointments are for three years.
  3. Lecturer III
    In addition to the qualifications for Lecturer II, this title requires a terminal degree or a minimum of at least five years of teaching experience at UTSA or commensurate experience at another institution (in the subject in which classes will be assigned) and demonstrated high levels of performance as indicated by formal review. Appointment to this position may occur as a promotion from the Lecturer II position or as a result of a search process as described under HOP policy 2.50, NTT Faculty Recruitment, Evaluation, and Promotion Processes. This title is for full-time appointments and the appointments may be for one to two years.
  4. Lecturer II
    In addition to the qualifications for a Lecturer I, this title requires a minimum of at least two years teaching experience at UTSA or commensurate experience at another institution (in the subject in which classes will be assigned) and demonstrated high levels of performance as indicated by formal review. A terminal degree is not required for this position. This title is for part-time or full-time appointments and may be for one or two semesters or one academic year. Appointment to this title may occur as a promotion from the Lecturer I position.
  5. Lecturer I
    This title may be used for individuals who will serve as teachers and whose teaching experience and qualifications are comparable to those of faculty members in the untenured, tenure-track positions, with the exception that a terminal degree is not required for this position. This title may be used for part-time and full-time appointments and the appointments may be for one or two semesters or one academic year.
  6. Instructor
    This title denotes a probationary appointment.
  7. Assistant Instructor
    This title may be used for certain graduate students teaching on a part-time or full-time basis who have successfully defended their dissertation proposal, have had their dissertation committee approved at UTSA, and who are unconditionally enrolled in graduate study or who by the nature of their duties, such as laboratory or hospital, do not qualify for one of the usual academic titles and do not hold the academic training or professional distinction usually required for attaining tenured positions.
  8. Teaching Assistant
    Teaching Assistants may teach selected classes and supervise laboratory or discussion sections under the direct supervision of a faculty member. This title applies to graduate students who are unconditionally enrolled in graduate study at UTSA and who, on a part-time basis, carry instructional responsibility. The following policies apply to the Teaching Assistants:
    1. Teaching Assistant II
      This title may be used for a graduate student who has completed at least 18 graduate credit hours in the discipline to which s/he is assigned to teach. These persons may teach selected lower or upper-division courses or supervise laboratories with proper guidance and supervision of a faculty member to ensure quality instruction. The department chair is responsible for assuring that all Teaching Assistants are carefully supervised.
    2. Teaching Assistants I
      This title may be used for a graduate student who is enrolled in a master’s degree program in the area for which he or she is employed, has not yet completed 18 graduate credit hours in the discipline, and holds a bachelor’s degree appropriate to that area. These persons may supervise laboratories or discussion sections with proper guidance and supervision to ensure quality instruction. A Teaching Assistant I may not be assigned as an instructor of record. The department chair is responsible for assuring that all Teaching Assistants are carefully supervised.
  9. Faculty Associate
    This title may be applied to a person assigned to a research or nonteaching center, institute, or other unit or interdisciplinary program of a component institution.
  10. Specialist
    This title may be used for professional individuals who will serve as practitioners in specific areas of instruction, training, or supervision. In accordance with institutional policy, the title may carry appropriate descriptive prefixes to indicate the specific areas of proficiency, such as Practice Teaching Specialist, Physical Activity Specialist, or Social Work Field Training Specialist.
  11. Research Titles
    These titles are used for persons who hold qualifications similar to those of the regular teaching faculty, but whose positions are for the primary purpose of research activities. Appointments may be made contingent upon the availability of contracts and grants requiring services of the individual’s specialty. Individuals may be assigned teaching responsibilities even though the primary duties are in research. For persons appointed to these research position titles, all appointment letters, personnel forms, budgets, and other official documents will state in parentheses following the name and title of the individual “(non-tenure-track research appointment),” as appropriate, and service in such positions shall not be credited as faculty service toward calculation of any maximum probationary period.
    1. Professor of Research in _____.
      In addition to the criteria at the associate rank, a Full Professor of Research must be a NTT Faculty Member who provides evidence of continued outstanding research and service over the period of appointment as an Associate Professor of Research at UTSA or similar experience at another institution. Individuals appointed to this rank must also show continued growth of reputation and maturation of expertise in areas related to the program to which s/he is appointed. These individuals have demonstrated state, national, and/or international recognition of their expertise through professional contributions or research. A terminal degree in the appropriate field is required. Appointment to this position may occur as a promotion from the Associate Professor of Research position or as a result of a search process as described under HOP policy 2.50, NTT Faculty Recruitment, Evaluation, and Promotion Processes. This title is for full-time appointments and the appointments are for three years.
    2. Associate Professor of Research in _____.
      A NTT Faculty Member who has demonstrated continued excellence in research activity and has shown growth of reputation and maturation in research over the period of appointment as an Assistant Professor of Research at UTSA or similar experience at another institution. Individuals in this rank have demonstrated research expertise related to the program to which s/he is appointed. Promotion to this rank necessitates evidence of outstanding success in research activity. A terminal degree in the appropriate field is required. Appointment to this position may occur as a promotion from the Assistant Professor of Research position or as a result of a search process as described under HOP 2.50, NTT Faculty Recruitment, Evaluation, and Promotion Processes. This title is for full-time appointments and the appointments are for three years.
    3. Assistant Professor of Research in _____.
      A NTT Faculty Member who has demonstrated excellence in research activity in areas related to the program to which s/he is appointed, as well as the potential for future professional achievement. The title must indicate the area of the Faculty Member’s specialty. A terminal degree in the appropriate field is required. This title is for full-time appointments and the appointments are for one to two years.
  12. Visiting Professor, Visiting Associate Professor, and Visiting Assistant Professor
    These titles are used only for temporary appointments of persons either visiting from other institutions where they hold similar rank or who are brought to the university on a trial basis. Such appointments are limited to two years.
  13. Adjunct Professor, Adjunct Associate Professor, and Adjunct Assistant Professor
    These titles may be used when a qualified person from business, industry, government, private practice or another institution of higher education may be teaching a course or participating in the teaching of a course at another UT System institution. Except in special circumstances, this prefix should be used to designate part-time service on the faculty. Appointments to the faculty with an adjunct title may be with or without pay and must be for a stated period of time not to exceed one academic year. Such appointments shall terminate upon expiration of the stated period of appointment without notification of nonrenewal of appointment required by the Board of Regents’ Rules and Regulations, Rule 31002, Section 1. If UTSA determines that it is to its benefit, it may offer reappointment to an adjunct Faculty Member in accordance with Texas Education Code § 51.943.
  14. Clinical Professor, Clinical Associate Professor, Clinical Assistant Professor, and Clinical Instructor
    These titles may be used to designate regular part-time service of the faculty while involved in a health professions clinical experience program. Appointments to the faculty with a clinical title may be with or without pay and will be for a period of time not to exceed three academic years.
  15. Adjoint Professor, Adjoint Associate Professor, and Adjoint Assistant Professor
    These titles may be used to designate faculty who serve UTSA in cooperative or joint programs pursuant to a memorandum of understanding, cooperative research and development agreement, or similar partnership instrument. Persons holding these titles will be employees of and compensated by the partnership organization. They will not be deemed employees of UTSA. They will have, however, the same obligations, responsibilities, and authority as regular faculty employed directly by UTSA when performing faculty functions pursuant to the agreement. Appointments will usually be part-time for the purpose of supervising theses and dissertations or for teaching highly specialized courses. The term of the appointment will be specified in the agreement with the partner organization.
  16. Professor in Practice, Associate Professor in Practice, and Assistant Professor in Practice
    These titles may be used to designate regular full-time service for faculty involved in a professional experience program. Appointments to the faculty shall be for a period of time not to exceed three academic years. Such appointments shall terminate at the expiration of the stated period of appointment without the notification of nonrenewal of appointment required by the Board of Regents’ Rules and Regulations, Rule 31002, Section 1. If an institution determines that it is to the benefit of the institution, it may offer reappointment to a Faculty Member in accordance with the Texas Education Code Section 51.943.
    1. Professor in Practice
      In addition to the criteria at the associate rank, a full Professor in Practice must be a NTT Faculty Member who provides evidence of continued outstanding teaching and service over the period of appointment as an Associate Professor in Practice, as well as continued growth of reputation and maturation of teaching and expertise in areas related to the program to which s/he is appointed. Individuals in this rank have demonstrated state, national, and/or international recognition of their teaching and expertise through professional contributions or research. A terminal degree as defined by its respective discipline is required. Appointment to this position may occur as a promotion from the Associate Professor in Practice or a Lecturer position or as a result of a search process as described under HOP policy 2.50, NTT Faculty Recruitment, Evaluation, and Promotion Processes. This title is for full-time appointments, and the appointments are for three years.
    2. Associate Professor in Practice
      A NTT Faculty Member who has demonstrated continued excellence in teaching or professional experience and has shown growth of reputation and maturation of teaching over the period of appointment as an Assistant Professor in Practice. Individuals in this rank have demonstrated recognition of teaching or expertise related to the program to which s/he is appointed through professional contributions. Promotion to this rank necessitates evidence of outstanding success of engagement/service/research component as well. A terminal degree as defined by its respective discipline is required. Appointment to this position may occur as a promotion from the Assistant Professor in Practice or a Lecturer position or as a result of a search process as described under HOP 2.50, NTT Faculty Recruitment, Evaluation, and Promotion Processes. This title is for full-time appointments and the appointments are for three years.
    3. Assistant Professor in Practice
      A NTT Faculty Member who has demonstrated excellence in teaching or professional experience in areas related to the program to which s/he is appointed, as well as the potential for future professional achievement and/or community engagement/service. A terminal degree as defined by its respective discipline is required. Appointment to this position may occur as a result of a promotion from a Lecturer position or as a result of a search process as described under HOP policy 2.50, NTT Faculty Recruitment, Evaluation, and Promotion Processes. This title is for full-time appointments, and the appointments are for two years.
  17. Professor Emeritus and Associate Professor Emeritus
    These titles may be given to a retired Faculty Member or in anticipation of the retirement of a Faculty Member, effective upon his or her retirement. The conferring of one of these titles is not automatic upon retirement and may be conferred only upon approval by the president of the institution in accordance with procedures included in the UTSA Handbook of Operating Procedures and final approval by the Board of Regents. The UTSA procedures for nominations to an emeritus title follow the normal faculty review process as approved within the several colleges and as described in HOP policy 2.03, Emeritus Academic Titles.
Classified Personnel - Research Scientist, Research Associate, and Research Assistant
An individual appointed in one of these categories will be under the classified personnel system, unless special approval has been granted by the president to designate him or her as an unclassified employee in such a position.
Procedures for Appointing Faculty at UTSA
1. T/TT Appointments as Professor, Associate Professor and Assistant Professor
  The hiring department must follow the recruitment process set forth in HOP policy 2.04, Faculty Recruitment.
2. NTT Appointments in all levels of Lecturers, in the Professor in Practice Series and in the Professor of Research Series
  The department must follow the recruitment/promotion process set forth in HOP policy 2.50, NTT Recruitment, Evaluation and Promotion Processes.
3. NTT Appointments as Specialist, Visiting Professor, Visiting Associate Professor, Visiting Assistant Professor, Adjunct Professor, Adjunct Associate Professor, Adjunct Assistant Professor, Clinical Professor, Clinical Associate Professor, Clinical Assistant Professor, Clinical Instructor, Adjoint Professor, Adjoint Associate Professor, Adjoint Assistant Professor
  The hiring department will contact the Dean’s Office or the Office of the Senior Vice Provost for Academic and Faculty Support for appointment procedures.
4. NTT Appointments as Teaching Assistant I and Teaching Assistant II
  The hiring department will contact the Dean’s Office for appointment procedures specific to the college.
5. Professor Emeritus and Associate Professor Emeritus
  The department must follow the process set forth in HOP policy 2.03, Emeritus Academic Titles.

X. SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR INITIAL IMPLEMENTATION

This policy applies to all UTSA faculty. The criteria established for the various titles apply only to positions created after the policy’s effective date.

XI. FORMS AND TOOLS/ONLINE PROCESSES

None

XII. APPENDIX