Non-Regular Faculty Policies

Definition of Non-Regular Faculty

According to the University of Missouri Collected Rules and Regulations, “non-regular appointments are either temporary (not to exceed seven years), part-time, or involve duties substantially different from those of faculty members holding regular appointments. The following sections illustrate the class of non-regular appointments.

  1. Temporary appointments involving duties similar to those of regular appointees, such as Visiting Professor.  The maximum number of consecutive annual appointments in this category shall be seven (7), unless funds for the position come from a project grant or contract.

  2. Unless explicitly exempted under the above paragraph, all part-time or summer appointments.  This category includes appointments such as Adjunct Professor or Clinical Professor and others of like nature, where the holder does not have full-time responsibilities or pay associated with that title.  This category also includes certain academic appointments for persons having primary appointments of an administrative nature.

  3. Appointments to positions involving duties substantially different from those of regular appointees, such as academic field staff appointments in Extension; Lecturer, Assistant Instructor, Research Assistant, Research Associate, *Graduate Research Assistant, *Graduate Teaching Assistant, Extension Assistant, Extension Associate, *Student Assistant, and others of like nature; coaches of intercollegiate athletics....” 

Titles in this category may not apply to tenured/tenure track faculty.

*NOTE: The following set of policies do not apply to Graduate Research Assistants, Graduate Teaching Assistants, or Student Assistants.

College of Business classifications of part-time/non-regular faculty include:

Visiting – The “visiting” designation applies to non-regular faculty who are expected to stay no more than two years.  Titles include: visiting assistant professor, visiting associate professor, and visiting professor.  Title designations are to be negotiated with the dean and the respective unit head.

Adjunct – The “adjunct” designation applies to non-regular faculty who are hired for extended contracts of more than two years.  Titles include: adjunct assistant professor, adjunct associate professor, or adjunct professor.

Lecturer – The “lecturer” designation applies to non-regular faculty who on an occasional basis provides instructional support.  A lecturer would typically teach only one or two classes in a semester.

Hiring Policies

Hiring Process

Lecturer faculty may be hired by the unit head without review from a faculty committee.

Visiting and adjunct faculty should be interviewed and/or reviewed by a unit committee comprised of the unit head and at least two faculty members (one of which must be a regular faculty member).

Guidelines for Salaries

Lecturer faculty: Salary ranges are established by the dean, based upon the following criteria: (1) relevant teaching experience, (2) other relevant credentials [e.g., work in this field], and (3) supply and demand considerations.  The dean’s approval for the position is necessary prior to making an offer.

Visiting and adjunct faculty: Salary will depend upon a variety of factors, including (1) relevant teaching experience, (2) other relevant credentials, (3) strength of department’s needs, and (4) supply and demand considerations.  The dean’s approval for the position and the appointment of the applicant is necessary prior to making an offer.  Upon promotion to a higher rank, the non-regular faculty members are eligible to receive a special salary adjustment.

Workload

Teaching load for lecturer faculty is negotiated on a case-by-case basis, but usually is one or two courses per semester.  There are usually no service obligations.

Teaching load for Visiting and adjunct faculty is three (3) courses per semester unless otherwise specified.  Service obligation may vary, but it is generally expected that full-time, continuing non-regular faculty will have some service obligations.

Determination of Initial Appointment Rank

The “determination of initial appointment rank” policy applies only to non-regular visiting and adjunct faculty who are terminally degreed.

It is the unit head’s responsibility, in coordination with the dean, to determine the appropriate initial appointment rank for new visiting and adjunct faculty members.  New visiting and adjunct faculty with terminal degrees will be appointed at the rank of Adjunct Assistant, Associate, or Full Professor, depending on their prior academic and/or professional experience. The criteria for initial appointment above the rank of Adjunct Assistant Professor are the same as those specified below for promotion.

Prior academic experience as a tenure-track or full-time non-regular faculty member at another university or at this university should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis to determine whether to grant one or more years of credit toward promotion to the next rank.  In assessing initial appointment rank or years of service to grant toward promotion, it may be necessary to obtain letters or other evidence of the nature of the individual’s prior academic service.

Annual Performance Review

Teaching is a priority in the College of Business.  Learning (results) is more important than process (approach).  All non-regular teaching faculty, in most cases, are expected to engage primarily in teaching and student-related activities, and to continuously strive to improve student learning.  Pertinent activities include the following:

Activities related to classroom instruction

  1. Use of effective teaching methods, including interactive methods (where appropriate)
  2. Application of fair and reliable means of measuring/evaluating student learning
  3. Development of helpful course materials (e.g., cases, syllabi)
  4. Demonstration of current knowledge and understanding of relevant subject matter
  5. Continuous efforts to improve instructional methods and approaches
  6. Availability and willingness to counsel/advise students outside of class
  7. Consideration of the number, level, and size of classes
  8. Classroom-related activities not otherwise mentioned

All non-regular faculty teaching will be evaluated in accordance with the College of Business Teaching Evaluation Policies.

Any full-time or continuously employed, non-regular faculty (visiting professor, adjunct faculty, or lecturer) must submit an annual activity report and supplemental activity report, inclusive of their teaching and service activity as well as professional development activity engaged in during the performance review period in accordance with unit annual performance review procedures.

MBA Director input regarding all non-regular faculty members’ MBA-level instructional qualifications is encouraged for all MBA-level Business Administration courses.

Promotion

The “promotion” policy applies only to adjunct titles with terminal degrees.

Promotion to Adjunct Associate Professor

Eligibility:  During their sixth year of full-time service at MU, or any subsequent year, an Adjunct Assistant Professor may request in writing to the unit head that he/she be considered for promotion to Adjunct Associate Professor.  The candidate may receive up to three years of credit for full-time teaching experience at other institutions of higher education.

Criteria: Promotion shall be based on evidence of sustained teaching excellence and at least satisfactory service performance, if service is expected of the position.  Factors such as evidence of developing innovative teaching methods, participation in curriculum improvement and course development activities, involvement with student organizations, significant external service, and professional recognition for teaching innovation may provide additional evidence of suitability for promotion. 

Process: The candidate for promotion is responsible for preparing a promotion dossier that should include, among other items, the candidate’s curriculum vita, statement of teaching philosophy, teaching evaluation summaries, teaching materials, and other information that in aggregate demonstrate the candidate’s teaching excellence and fulfillment of the criteria described in this section.  (See the appendix to this document for specific format and content of the portfolio/dossier.)  The promotion process shall adhere to the following calendar:

(Note: Each of the following actions must be completed by the date indicated.)

Not later than:

February 15: The candidate requests promotion in writing to his/her unit head.

March 15: The unit head provides the unit’s faculty with the candidate’s curriculum vita and a promotion dossier prepared by the candidate.

April 1: The chair of the unit’s Promotion and Tenure Advisory Committee or, in the absence of such a committee, the unit’s senior regular faculty member, convenes a meeting of the unit’s regular faculty to evaluate and vote by secret ballot on the candidate’s promotion.   Within 10 days, the committee chair or senior regular faculty member, as appropriate, provides written notice of the outcome of the faculty’s vote and its recommendation.  This letter and all subsequent administrator and committee letters are included as part of the promotion dossier.

April 20: The unit head provides his/her recommendation regarding promotion and forwards the promotion dossier to the chair of the College of Business (COB) Promotion and Tenure Advisory Committee.

May 1: The COB Promotion and Tenure Advisory Committee evaluates and votes by secret ballot on the promotion.

May 15: The chair of the COB Promotion and Tenure Advisory Committee provides written notice to the dean and unit head of the Committee’s vote and recommendation.

July 1: The dean approves or disapproves the promotion and notifies the candidate and unit head of the decision.

September 1: If approved by the dean, the promotion becomes effective.

Promotion to Adjunct Professor

Eligibility: After at least five years of service at the adjunct associate professor level at MU, an adjunct associate professor may be considered for promotion to the rank of Adjunct Professor.  The candidate may receive up to two years of credit for full-time teaching experience at other institutions of higher education.

Criteria: As with regular faculty, promotion to Adjunct Professor requires evidence of national recognition for one’s accomplishments.  Promotion to this level is contemplated only in exceptional cases involving superior achievement that goes well beyond simply sustaining a record of teaching excellence.  A candidate with primarily teaching responsibilities shall demonstrate a record of significant educational leadership or national reputation for teaching excellence.  Evidence of educational leadership may include such activities as significant leadership in innovative curriculum or course development, providing extra-classroom learning opportunities for students, and authoring papers or making presentations at professional programs that promote educational excellence.

Process: The process and calendar for promotion to the rank of professor are essentially the same as for promotion to the associate level, except that the faculty member shall submit a request to the unit head in writing not later than January 15 of the year in which the promotion will be effective.  The unit head must obtain three to five supporting letters from accomplished teaching faculty at other universities or knowledgeable individuals with professional organizations.  Two of the external evaluators may be selected by the candidate, with the remainder selected by the unit head.  External evaluators should be provided the candidate’s promotion dossier, a copy of this document, and clear instructions for conducting the external evaluation. Not later than March 15, the unit head shall provide unit faculty with the candidate’s promotion dossier, which includes the external evaluation letters.  The remainder of the promotion process follows the same calendar specified for promotion to Associate Adjunct Faculty.

The teaching portfolio section of the promotion dossier (see the appendix) should contain documentation beyond that specified for promotion to the associate level.  Additional materials that should be provided include teaching-related publications, conference proceedings, examples of educational leadership, and other information that in aggregate provide evidence that the criteria for promotion to professor have been met.

Required Communication

Candidates for promotion shall be informed in writing of the outcome of each stage of the evaluation process.  The dean shall communicate the final promotion decision by letter not later than July 1, with promotion, if approved, to be effective September 1.

Right to Appeal

Any candidate for promotion may appeal any negative promotion recommendation from the regular faculty or unit head, or disapproval of promotion by the dean.  The candidate shall initiate an appeal in writing to his/her unit head in case of a negative recommendation at the unit level, or to the dean in case of disapproval.  Within one week of receiving the appeal, the unit head or dean shall arrange a personal meeting between the candidate and the unit faculty, unit head, or dean, as appropriate.  The candidate shall have the opportunity to state his/her case and introduce relevant new evidence, especially pertaining to any reported weakness. In the case of an appealed negative faculty recommendation, the faculty shall take an additional vote.  The senior regular faculty member present shall report in writing to the candidate and the unit head the result of the new vote and the faculty’s revised or confirmed recommendation.   Any written document(s) submitted as part of the appeal process shall become part of the candidate’s dossier.  The dean of the college has the final voice on adjunct faculty related matters.

Governance

University and College bylaws specify that only tenure/tenure-track (regular) faculty may participate as voting members of University and College committees.  However, any non-regular faculty may participate as non-voting members of College committees, at the discretion of committee chairs.

Participation of any non-regular faculty as voting members of unit-level committees is left to the discretion of individual units.

Unit heads and deans may consider other non-governance activities where non-regular faculty could be involved such as mentoring of student organizations, advising, and being part of graduation attendance rotations.

Support of Teaching and Service Excellence

Adjunct faculty will be allocated a total of $550 in College travel funds per year during the duration of their contract.

Contractual adjunct faculty responsible for computer application based instruction should receive appropriate priority for college-wide computer upgrade.

Gift and development funds for instructional support and professional development for visiting and adjunct faculty are strongly encouraged at the unit level and modest matching funding will be available at the College level.

Adjunct faculty are eligible to compete for the College of Business O’Brien Excellence  in Teaching Award and the Outstanding Faculty Service Award.

Any non-regular faculty may participate in all campus-wide instructional development programs that permit non-regular faculty enrollment.  All College of Business matching support regarding these instructional development programs apply equally to non-regular faculty.

Academic Grievance Procedures

All non-regular faculty follow the Academic Grievance Procedure, section 370.010 of the University of Missouri Collected Rules and Regulations, for grievances relating to their status or activities as faculty members.

Approved by College of Business Faculty
January 31, 2003

 
 
APPENDIX
 
Format and Contents
of the
Promotion Dossier

General: The specific contents of the dossier may vary from candidate to candidate, but generally should contain the items specified in this appendix.  In general, the total contents should not exceed 25 pages, excluding the items specified in Tabs A through D.  Tab E, Sections V, VI, and VII, apply primarily to candidates to promotion to the rank of professor, but information can be provided in these sections, if available, by candidates for promotion to associate professor.   Voluminous materials such as article reprints, samples of students’ work, and such should be provided in a separate binder.  The dossier should use a soft-cover binder that facilitates removal and insertion of pages.  A three-ring notebook binder should not be used.

Tab A: The candidate’s written request for promotion consideration or the unit head’s nomination

Tab B: The candidate’s curriculum vita

Tab C: A summary form providing spaces for the unit faculty’s, unit head’s, and COB Promotion and Tenure Committee’s recommendation as “yes” or “no,” and the dean’s final promotion decision, “yes” or “no.”  (A form similar to that used by MU for promotion of regular faculty can be used for this purpose.)  In addition, the written recommendations of the unit faculty, unit head, COB Promotion and Tenure Committee, and the dean’s notification letter should be contained in this section.

Tab D:  For promotion to the professor level, external review letters should be contained in this section.

Tab E: Teaching Materials, as follows:

  1. Teaching assignments, including the number and title of courses taught by semester for the years since appointment or previous promotion and course enrollments.
  2. A statement of teaching philosophy and goals.
  3. Representative teaching materials, including syllabi, course outlines, and examples of innovative teaching materials such as handouts, case assignments, visual aids, learning tools, and computer applications.
  4. Evaluations of teaching performance, including summaries of student evaluations and peer evaluations, if available, for all semesters and terms since appointment at MU or previous promotion.
  5. Teaching or pedagogy scholarship, including articles, books, or monographs published, papers published in conference proceedings or presented at national or regional conferences, and development of state-of-the-art delivery systems.
  6. Teaching awards and honors, including source of the award, criteria for award, and whether competitive.
  7. Other teaching accomplishments, including participation in curriculum or educational program development, design of new courses or significant redesign of existing courses, supervision of readings or problems courses, participation in national, regional, or state professional associations related to teaching, and service on editorial boards of teaching or educational journals.
  8. Examples of development activities undertaken to improve teaching skills, such as participating in specialized training programs, courses, or seminars.

Tab F: Service accomplishments (Consistent with assigned responsibilities)

  1. Describe internal service activity, such as service on MU, College, or unit committees or task forces and service to students (e.g., faculty advisor, faculty mentor, etc.)
  2. Describe external service activity, such as service to national, regional, or state professional organizations or service to the community.

Last Edited: Not Applicable