Dear Colleagues,

We are excited to announce changes to HOP 2.02 and 2.50 that describe faculty appointments, titles and recruitment, evaluation, and promotion for Fall 2021. These proposed changes are the result of a process that started with the non-tenure-track (NTT) faculty committee of the Academy of Distinguished Teaching Scholars (ADTS). Composed of NTT and tenured faculty members, the committee’s goal is to improve the status of NTT faculty at UTSA and to enhance the institutional climate in which they work.

In 2014-15, several committee members conducted surveys and focus groups of a representative group of NTT faculty from several colleges and prepared a white paper for the provost, Moving Toward One Faculty at UTSA. In the summer of 2018, the committee presented an updated white paper to Provost Espy shortly after her hire with revised recommendations. At her urging, the NTT committee then spent six months examining policies and procedures related to NTT faculty at our aspirant and sister institutions. Utilizing this research and leveraging the changes by UT System to the faculty title series, Provost Espy charged the NTT committee with drafting revised policies and guidelines for NTT faculty, specifically HOP 2.02 and 2.50, in conjunction with Academic Affairs colleagues.

In Fall 2019, the NTT Titles and Promotion Working Group was established with members Valerie Sponsel (chair), Diane Abdo, Hector Aguilar, Vangie Aguilera, Gina Amatangelo, Tracy Cowden, Jennifer Dilley, Sedef Doganer, Kirsten Gardner, David Hansen, Patricia Jaramillo, Ashok Nedungadi, Debra Pena, William Ramos, Lindsay Ratcliffe, Dixie Shaw-Tillmon, David Vance, Deborah Wagner, and Karen Williams. The group has worked to collaborate, iterate, and substantiate drafted revisions to HOP 2.02 and 2.50 and to develop a plan for transition based on the updated standards. We thank the Working Group for their diligent and dedicated work to provide consistency across colleges and departments on appointments and promotion. 

The following major changes have been made to HOP 2.02 and 2.50:

• Non-tenure-track faculty have been renamed to fixed-term-track (FTT) faculty, in order for faculty members to be defined by what they are, rather than what they are not.
• Titles for FTT faculty at UTSA will be:
  • Lecturer, Senior Lecturer,
  • Assistant, Associate, and Professor of Instruction (new series)
  • Assistant, Associate, and Professor of Practice,
  • Assistant, Associate, and Professor of Research,
  • Clinical Assistant, Associate, and Professor.
• FTT faculty in the new Professor of Instruction series will be expected to have a terminal degree in their field.
• FTT faculty in the Professor of Practice series will have a terminal degree or be qualified to teach by virtue of professional experience in lieu of typical academic credentials.
• A promotion process and guidelines has been developed to move FTT faculty through the ranks.

The Working Group, in collaboration with Academic Affairs, has developed a transition plan to convert faculty to the updated titles. In addition, promotion guidelines for FTT faculty have been developed for faculty members wishing to pursue this opportunity. The transition process will occur during Spring 2021 to be effective Fall 2021. 

An electronic form will be sent to all FTT faculty soon inquiring whether they wish to transition to the updated titles or go up for promotion into another title; the form should be returned by Dec. 11, 2020. 

This work has been an important step to supporting and recognizing our FTT faculty colleagues and creating a strong faculty body that supports student success.

Kimberly Andrews Espy, Ph.D.
Peter T. Flawn Distinguished Professor
Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs

Heather Shipley, Ph.D.
Burzik Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Senior Vice Provost for Academic Affairs and Dean of University College