Faculty Administration
Top Ten Most Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are the academic ranks for faculty members?
Lecturer, Instructor, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, or Professor and all positions of like title, bearing specific modifiers such as, "Clinical", "Research", "Adjunct", "Emeritus," and "Visiting".
2. Are there different criteria used for professionally salaried and voluntary faculty?
No. Such faculty members shall be appointed and promoted according to the same criteria used for academically salaried faculty members of the same rank and title.
3. What is the difference between an academically salaried, professionally salaried or voluntary faculty?
The major source of income for academically-salaried faculty is a University of Massachusetts, Worcester, salary (or a University-approved salary from a foundation) based primarily on the responsibilities associated with an appointment in an academic position. *Professionally-salaried faculty hold academic positions, contribute to the academic programs at UMMS, derive a salary not based on the academic position, and their appointment to the faculty is contingent on continued employment in these capacities. These individuals serve at the discretion of the Department Chair (if any) and the Dean, and are appointed for terms of one year, renewable annually. Voluntary faculty receive no compensation and serve at the discretion of the Department Chair (if any) and the Dean, and are appointed for terms of one year, renewable annually.
* Physicians with dual employment (UMMS and UMMHC) are considered academically salaried but their employment status as well as their academic status is governed by the rules in the employment contract from UMMHC.
4. What is required once you are a faculty member and would like a secondary (joint) appointment in another Department?
A letter from your Chair and a letter from the Chair of the secondary department addressed to the Vice Chancellor for Faculty Administration requesting this action be required.
5. When can an Instructor apply to a Department for a promotion to Assistant Professor?*
After completion of formal training and,
a) for those clinically trained in medical disciplines; board eligibility
b) for those trained in basic science; two (2) years of post-doctoral research
c) for others not included in above, experience and achievement beyond the award of the terminal degree sufficient to qualify for appointment as an Assistant Professor in a university department in the individual's academic field.
6. When can an Assistant Professor apply to a Department for promotion to Associate Professor and what are the criteria for promotion in the various tracks?*
Usually after six (6) or more years of service at the level of Assistant Professor and for those who have not previously served in an academic institution, an equivalency of previous professional experience, achievement, responsibility and strength of professional development.
Criteria:
a) Associate Professor: sustained high quality performance and potential for further future contributions in education, ongoing high quality publications or research, creative or scholarly activity, recognized regionally or nationally by scholars or professionals in his/her peer-reviewed field, and sustained high quality performance in service (and/or clinical care, where relevant).
b) Clinical Associate Professor: By sustained high quality performance with promise of continuing professional development and achievement as appropriate, and potential for further future contributions in education.
c) Research Associate Professor: sustained high quality performance with potential further future contributions in education, and ongoing research, creative or scholarly activity, evidenced by substantial high quality peer-reviewed publications, sufficient to have gained national recognition from peers.
7. When can an Associate Professor apply to a Department for a promotion to Professor?*
Usually after twelve (12) or more years of professional experience beyond the time the faculty member would have qualified for an initial appointment at the Assistant Professor rank,* and when he/she can provide evidence of professional maturity, additional years of sustained high quality performance, and external recognition well beyond the level required for the rank of Associate Professor, Clinical Associate Professor, or Research Associate Professor.
8. Can you transfer from the Tenure Track to the Non-Tenure Track?
Yes, the faculty member can request such transfer up until the beginning of their final tenure decision year; such transfer requires written consent of the Department Chair, the Vice Chancellor for Faculty Administration and the Dean.
9. Can you transfer from the Non-Tenure Track to the Tenure Track?
Yes, with the approval of the Department Chair subject to the approval of the Vice Chancellor for Faculty Administration. Transfer can be made any time prior to the end of the usual tenure probationary period.
10. What does the "Tenure Decision Year" mean?
The academic year during which a Tenure-Track faculty member has mandatory consideration for tenure and must start the process for tenure.
* Tenure Track academic positions shall be at the ranks of Assistant Professor, Associate Professor and Professor. Individuals appointed in the Tenure Track will be full-time, academically salaried faculty located principally on the Worcester campus. All personnel actions for faculty in the Tenure Track shall be based upon evaluation of performance in the full range of academic endeavors: (1) education; (2) research, creative or scholarly activity; and (3) service (including patient care where relevant). Additionally, all personnel actions must be consistent, where applicable, with the provisions of Section 4.2 (Academic Personnel Policy (APP)) regarding affirmative action and Section 4.3 (APP) regarding program plans.