3.10.2 - General Expectations for Non-Tenure Track Academic Professionals

The non-tenure track Academic Professional title may be assigned to appropriate positions (as defined below). The workload for these individuals in the appropriate performance areas (Teaching, Scholarship and Creative Activity, and Professional Service) is outlined in their situational context and set forth in the Faculty Performance Agreement (FPA). In many cases, employees in these positions may be assigned roles and responsibilities to meet specific needs related to the University, college, and/or departmental missions. Persons in such positions may be involved in duties of a managerial, research, technical, special, career, public service or instructional support nature.

The holder of a non-tenure track academic professional position is not eligible for consideration for the award of tenure or probationary credit toward tenure or promotion. Non-tenure track academic professionals may apply for a declared, open tenure track faculty position and be considered through the normal search and screening process. Consistent with BoR Policy (USG Academic & Student Affairs Handbook 4.1), administrative transfers from a tenure track faculty position with professorial rank to a non-tenure track faculty position require the approval of the department chair, dean, Provost, and President.

Per the Board of Regents Policy Manual, Section 8.3.8.4, the following stipulations apply to all Academic Professional positions:

1. The position requires an appropriate terminal degree, or, in rare and extraordinary circumstances, qualification on the basis of demonstrably successful related experience, which exception is expressly approved by the institution President;
2. The Academic Professional designation may not be assigned to a position where the teaching and research responsibilities total 50 percent or more of the total assignment; and
3. The position is not a tenure-track position and the holder of the position is not eligible for consideration for the award of tenure or probationary credit toward tenure.

Per the Board of Regents Policy Manual, Section 8.3.8.4, general categories for Academic Professionals include:

1. Training and instructional support, which includes educational needs assessment, program development and coordination, instructional materials and technology development, delivery of specialized or skill acquisition instruction, and program evaluation. In light of the restriction above, Academic Professionals must be persons whose instructional duties account for less than half of their total time.
2. Technical assistance in an advisory or operating role that provides specialized knowledge appropriate for program support and development with activities ranging from a significant or advisory or operating role to managing a technical support unit to development of organizational structures and function.
3. Specialized management, which includes supervision of clinical practice or field experience or providing services or out-of-class educational opportunities for students.