PROFESSORIAL TITLES
COOPERATIVE
EXTENSION SYSTEM FIELD FACULTY TITLES
These titles are used for tenure track and tenured positions usually appointed for a nine month period. Normally, the maximum time one may spend in the tenure track is seven years. The University Laws and ByLaws (12th Edition Revised, 4/12/96) describe the qualifications for appointment and promotion to each rank (Appendix A and below with each title). The annual Chancellor's memorandum outlines selected procedures for Promotion, Tenure and Reappointment (PTR), including the dates for each step (Appendix B).
To provide continuing medical benefits for nine month faculty, their salary is paid out over a twelve month period on a bi-weekly basis. Those positions which require year round work are identified as eleven month faculty positions. The position title is appended with the eleven month designation, e.g., Associate Professor - 11 month. The twelfth month is usually considered vacation time.
University policy permits nine month faculty (August 23 through May 22) to receive payment from the University over and above their nine month salary. During the summer, faculty may earn up to an additional three ninths (3/9) of their full time base salary from all University sources, including grants and contracts.
When nine month faculty are employed for summer session teaching at the University, they are paid on the special payroll. The terms and conditions of summer session credit teaching are contained in the AAUP Summer School Agreement. (Appendix E)
When the summer work at the University is an administrative assignment, the special payroll title is "Special Professional Services as Summer Administrator". If external funding is used to support summer work, the title is "Research Specialist", again on the special payroll.
For additional information on summer employment see Appendix D, Memo to Deans, Directors and Department Heads on "Summer Employment 1996".
In addition to summer employment, the University's extra compensation policy (Appendix C) permits additional earnings of up to 10% of the faculty member's regular salary for participating in non-credit continuing education and public service activities in the Division of Extended and Continuing Education.
Both outside consulting and professional practice require prior University
approval. Procedures for these arrangements are in Appendix I.
University Professor
This title is awarded by the University's Board of Trustees to tenured
nine month faculty members for outstanding scholarship and distinguished
service to the University. As of July 1996 the title has been bestowed
on six faculty members throughout the University's history: Harry J. Hartley,
Anthony T. DiBenedetto, John Patterson (Health Center), Kenneth Wilson,
Albert Cohen and Hildegard Emmel.
Professor
The University ByLaws describe the qualifications for this faculty rank as follows:
"(1) Service here or elsewhere as an associate professor of at least
five years except when there is evidence that he or she is of superior
ability as compared with other associate professors. (2) Evidence that
he or she is regarded by colleagues within and without the University as
a capable, mature teacher, and a recognized scholar." (Article XV.J.3.d)
Associate Professor
The ByLaws describe the qualifications for Associate Professor as follows:
"Continued growth in the qualities desired in all teachers, especially,
consensus among colleagues that the faculty member is making a substantial
contribution to the advancement of knowledge in his or her field." (Article
XV.J.3.c)
Assistant Professor
The ByLaws describe the qualifications for Assistant Professor as follows:
"(1) The possession of the Ph.D. degree or its equivalent. (2) A record of success in his or her work, based on all obtainable information. This may include the judgment of colleagues, information from students, and occasionally the comparisons of the progress and achievement of his or her students with that of groups of approximately equal ability in the same or similar courses. (3) Ordinarily, those in the rank of assistant professor are not eligible for tenure.
Note: Ordinarily, six years is regarded as the normal length of service in the rank of assistant professor." (Article XV.J.3.b)
The text continues with the following note regarding assistant professors:
"These ranks include the majority of those who under present rules have
not completed the seven-year probationary period in the profession. Hence
it is essential that departments exercise extreme care in their recommendations
for reappointment, in order that the purpose of limited tenure may be accomplished.
This requires formal revaluation of the teacher by the department, the
dean of the school or college, and the appropriate Chancellor and Provost.
Continued eappointment of a person, after it is clear that he or she will
not become eligible for permanent tenure, cannot be justified on grounds
of immediate convenience. In his or her own interest and that of the University,
he or she should be released after the customary notice." (Article XV.J.3.b)
Instructor
An individual appointed to this position is presumed to be intending to move to the tenure track when the terminal degree is completed.
The Laws and ByLaws of the University describe the qualifications for this position:
"(1) Training or experience appropriate to the performance of his or her assigned responsibilities. In many cases this will mean the possession of, or evidence of, substantial progress toward the Ph.D. degree or its equivalent. If a young teacher who does not hold that degree is appointed, the University should in most cases insist that this essential preparation be completed early, and should afford such practical assistance as is reasonable by providing working facilities and by lightening his or her load or granting [unpaid] leave.
(2) A consensus on the part of those qualified to judge that the faculty member's training, experience, and interest in his or her subject are appropriate for the performance of the duties to be assigned.
Note: Two years is regarded as the normal length of service in the rank of instructor for those qualified for advancement at the end of this period.
For certain types of teaching, it may be more desirable to appoint persons whose qualifications will not ordinarily entitle them to advance into the upper levels of rank and salary. In some fields, for example in the creative arts, the possession of the Ph.D. is not the best criterion of professional competence." (Article XV. J. 3.a)
The ByLaws continue with the following note regarding instructors:
"These ranks include the majority of those who under present rules have
not completed the seven-year probationary period in the profession. Hence
it is essential that departments exercise extreme care in their recommendations
for reappointment, in order that the purpose of limited tenure may be accomplished.
This requires formal revaluation of the teacher by the department, the
dean of the school or college, and the appropriate Chancellor and Provost.
Continued Reappointment of a person, after it is clear that he or she will
not become eligible for permanent tenure, cannot be justified on grounds
of immediate convenience. In his or her own interest and that of the University,
he or she should be released after the customary notice." (Article XV.J.3.b)
COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SYSTEM FIELD FACULTY TITLES
These titles are used in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources for faculty in Cooperative Extension System programs who are not ordinarily members of an academic department. The titles are parallel to Professor, Associate Professor, Assistant Professor and Instructor.
Educators disseminate research and experience-based information to the public through informal educational programs. Additionally, educators organize, plan and promote endeavors, through learning partnerships, with the goal of empowering individuals to improve their lives and communities.
Educators deliver programs in a number of areas, including agriculture, consumer and family sciences, natural resource management, environmental quality and positive youth development. They develop volunteer partners and collaborate with government, business and industry to address the above issues. They serve as liaisons with University research and teaching faculty, and the community at large, to bring community needs to the resources of the University for further research and development.
These positions are part of a Federal-State-local partnership and may be funded by either State or Federal (Smith-Lever) funds or a combination of both. They are tenure-track, eleven month positions. Individuals in these positions are encouraged on an on-going basis to take graduate courses and in-service training related to their field of expertise.
Note: when funded by projects with specific end dates, position titles
include "in-residence" and the position itself is non-tenure track.
Senior Cooperative Extension Educator
Individuals in this position have, through demonstrated ability, established a respected reputation among both regional and national colleagues. They have presented tangible evidence of scholarly production and other distinguished achievement in creative program development.
This position requires a minimum of a Master's degree in a related field
with at least 10 years of experience as a Cooperative Extension Educator
or the equivalent, or a Ph.D. with at least five years of experience. In
addition, incumbents must provide evidence of appropriate teaching, research
and service.
Cooperative Extension Educator
These individuals demonstrate leadership ability and enjoy recognition for their contributions to the Cooperative Extension System and its clientele. They possess current knowledge of their field of expertise and of proven methods for working with the public. They have demonstrated effectiveness in working, both locally and regionally, with other professionals and extension clientele in the field.
The minimum requirements are a Master's degree in a related field and
at least five years of experience as an Associate Cooperative Extension
Educator or the equivalent. In addition, incumbents must provide evidence
of appropriate teaching, research and service.
Associate Cooperative Extension Educator
These individuals demonstrate achievement in program development and implementation. They exhibit proven originality and creativeness in designing new programs and adapting new teaching methodologies. They possess effective communication skills and the ability to establish environments that encourage leadership in the community and among the staff. They evaluate and analyze the problems and programmatic needs of clients, organize and coordinate the activities that are necessary to carry out educational programs, and compile reports on program activities and results.
The position requires a minimum of a Master's degree in a related field
and at least five years of experience as an Assistant Cooperative Extension
Educator or the equivalent. In addition, incumbents must provide evidence
of appropriate teaching, research and service.
Assistant Cooperative Extension Educator
These positions require a demonstrated ability to work with extension clientele and the public, the creativity to plan and implement extension programs, and demonstrated competence to assume a leadership role in a particular field of assignment.
The minimum requirement for this position is a Master's degree in a
related field with the appropriate qualifications and related experience.
Last reveiwed January 2008