FACULTY TITLES DICTIONARY

For all Faculty and Staff in the AAUP Bargaining Unit

NON-TENURE TRACK POSITIONS


ACADEMIC ASSISTANT TITLES
EXTENSION PROFESSORIAL TITLES
SPECIAL INTERNAL LECTURER TITLES (Speech Pathology and Audiology)
SPECIALIST A TITLES
 
 

ACADEMIC ASSISTANTS TITLES

Academic Assistant Titles include: Academic Assistant V, Academic Assistant IV, Academic Assistant III, Academic Assistant II, Academic Assistant I (high to low).  The work of these positions may be comparable in many respects, but salary and title distinction are based on the level of degree attainment and the experience which the individual brings to the position. These titles are similar to Research Assistants and Associates except that incumbents provide technical support for on-going departmental research activities, rather than for a single Principal Investigator. Appointments are normally for eleven months (a full year of work with the extra month generally considered vacation time) and are usually not grant-funded. Generally, departments with a substantial investment in and commitment to research establish these positions to fill a permanent need for on-going technical and research support.

These positions report to an administrative head, but may be assigned to provide research support for other faculty members.  After a probationary period of one year, staff in these positions are eligible for annual appointments up to a maximum of five (5) one-year appointments. Beginning with the seventh year (i.e., upon the completion of an initial successful probationary year plus five one-year appointments) these employees are eligible for three-year contracts. (See AAUP Collective Bargaining Agreement, Article 13.)
 
 

Academic Assistant V

This job is similar to a Research Associate III except that the job is designed to provide direct technical support for a department's on-going research activities rather than for a single PI. Employees in this title report to the administrative head and assist in research projects as assigned by the head. They are normally considered a technical resource to the department as a whole and may be responsible for the proper use of research equipment and instruments, and/or for the effective and safe management of one or more departmental laboratories. A person in this position would possess a Ph.D. and substantial experience. The description for a Research Associate III provides a detailed duties list which may help in identifying comparabilities for this position within a department.
 

Academic Assistant IV

This job is similar to a Research Associate II except that the job is designed to provide direct technical support for a department's on-going research activities rather than for a single PI. Employees in this title report to the administrative head and assist in research projects as assigned by the head. They are normally considered a technical resource to the department as a whole and may be responsible for the proper use of research equipment and instruments, and/or for the effective and safe management of one or more departmental laboratories. A person in this position would possess a Ph.D. and some experience. The description for a Research Associate II provides a more detailed duties list which may help in identifying comparabilities for this position within a department.
 

Academic Assistant III

This job is similar to a Research Associate I except that the job is designed to provide direct technical support for a department's on-going research activities rather than for a single PI. Employees in this title report to the administrative head and assist in research projects as assigned by the head. They are normally considered a technical resource to the department as a whole and may be responsible for the proper use of research equipment and instruments, and/or for the effective and safe management of one or more departmental laboratories. A person in this position would possess a Ph.D. with little experience or a Master's degree with extensive experience. The description for a Research Associate I provides a more detailed duties list which may help in identifying comparabilities for this position within a department.
 

Academic Assistant II

This job is similar to a Research Assistant III except that the job is designed to provide direct technical support for a department's on-going research activities rather than for a single PI. Employees in this title report to the administrative head and assist in research projects as assigned by the head. They are normally considered a technical resource to the department as a whole and may be responsible for the proper use of research equipment and instruments, and/or for the effective and safe management of one or more departmental laboratories. A person in this position would normally possess a Master's degree with experience. The description for a Research Assistant III provides a more detailed duties list which may help in identifying comparabilities for this position within a department.
 

Academic Assistant I

This job is similar to a Research Assistant II except that the job is designed to provide direct technical support for a department's on-going research activities, rather than for a single PI. Employees in this title report to the administrative head and assist in research projects as assigned by the head. They are normally considered a technical resource to the department as a whole and may be responsible for the proper use of research equipment and instruments, and/or for the effective and safe management of one or more departmental laboratories. They may possess a Master's degree with little experience or a Bachelor's degree with substantial experience. The description for a Research Assistant II provides a more detailed duties list which will help in identifying this position within a department.
 
 

EXTENSION PROFESSORIAL TITLES

Extension professorial titles include: Extension Professor, Associate Extension Professor, Assistant Extension Professor and Extension Instructor.  For the most part these titles are used in those divisions or colleges which have a major outreach component. In addition to the service emphasis, extension faculty are responsible for teaching credit and non-credit courses throughout the University system and the State. Such appointments are non-tenure track and for eleven months. (An eleven month appointment is for a full year of work with the extra month generally considered vacation time.) After a probationary period of one year, staff in these positions are eligible for annual appointments up to a maximum of five (5) years. Beginning with the seventh year (i.e., upon the completion of a successful probationary year plus five one-year appointments), these employees are eligible for three-year contracts. (See AAUP Collective Bargaining Agreement, Article 13.)
 

SPECIAL INTERNAL LECTURER TITLES (Speech Pathology and Audiology)

Special Intneral Lecturer titles include: Special Internal Lecturer I, Special Internal Lecturer II and Special Internal Lecturer III (Speech Pathology and Audiology).

These are nine or eleven month non-tenure track positions usually indicating Master's level clinical faculty whose primary function is to assist graduate students in acquiring clinical skills used in the professional setting.

This title is restricted to audiologists and speech pathologists who work in the Speech and Hearing Clinic in the Department of Communication Sciences and function as practicing clinicians.

Special Internal Lecturers are eligible for three-year appointments at the beginning of their seventh year, after serving a successful initial probationary year and a maximum of five one-year appointments. Other terms and conditions of appointment are specified in Article 13 of the AAUP Collective Bargaining Agreement.
 

SPECIALIST A TITLES

Specialist A titles include: Specialist IVA, Specialist IIIA, Specialist IIA and Specialist IA (high to low).

These are non-tenure track titles for coaches and trainers in the Division of Athletics. The individual's title is determined by his/her experience, salary requirements and marketability.

The terms of appointment for these positions are specified in the AAUP collective bargaining agreement (see below).  Individuals may be hired and/or renewed for multiple year contracts. However, the appointment terms of assistant coaches may not be longer than that of their head coach. In cases where a head coach has a five year appointment, the appointment terms of assistant coaches may vary within the limits of that five year appointment.

Article 13.6 of the AAUP Collective Bargaining Agreement reads in part:

". . . . Head coaches and assistant coaches may be hired and/or renewed for multiple year contracts. However, in no case may an assistant coach be hired or renewed for a term longer than the head coach in his/her sport."

"In those instances where a head coach has a five-year appointment, the assistant coaches in that sport may be appointed to varying employment terms which coincide with the employment term of the head coach. When a head coach leaves for any reason before the end of his/her contract, assistant coaches may be terminated. If the decision is to terminate the assistant coach(es), he/she shall continue to be employed until the end of the academic year (June 30) or receive six months' notice (or salary in lieu thereof), whichever is longer."
 
Last reviewed January 2008