Tenure Track

Tenure-track faculty are generally individuals whose focus is on instruction, research, and scholarship. Full-time tenure-track faculty are expected to teach four course sections (12 credit hours) per year. There are three ranks in tenure track appointments: assistant, associate, and full professors. 

Assistant professor: The title of assistant professor is given to persons holding a doctorate degree, of proven ability, who have acceptable experience (a) at the rank of instructor at the university, instructor or higher at another institution, or (b) in professional work. Appointments are without tenure but are tenure-track.

Associate professor and full professor: The title of professor or associate professor is given only to persons holding a doctorate degree, of established professional position and demonstrated scholarly or creative ability. The difference between the two ranks is primarily one of achievement. Unless otherwise specified, appointments with these titles are with tenure. An appointment with either title may be made without tenure.

Appointments

Assistant Professors are typically offered an initial appointment of four years, with the fourth year being terminal year should the third-year review be unsuccessful. Appointments begin either on the fall or winter term start date. 

Associate Professors are hired either with tenure and an open-ended appointment or without tenure for a (usually three-year) renewable appointment. Those in tenured or tenure-track professorial ranks are hired as university year employees, and their appointments typically begin either fall or winter term start date. In university year appointments, professorial faculty are paid for the academic year i.e., September through May and they are paid for these 9 months over a 12-month period (July through June).