2-2 Academic Rank and Faculty Qualifications
Academic Rank at United States University is reserved for core faculty only. See academic qualifications for adjunct faculty below.
2.2a General Guidelines
United States University strives to select Faculty who demonstrate particular competence in and enthusiasm for the art of teaching. Doing so weighs academic and intellectual components that contribute to the well-being of the United States University. Eligibility for rank is based in part on the academic degrees held. Possession of minimum qualifications for a rank makes a Core Faculty member eligible for that rank but does not entitle them. The rank and term of the initial appointment are determined by the Dean's recommendation and approved by the Provost per the provisions of this Chapter.
2.2 b Core Faculty Academic Ranks and Qualifications
United States University has a tradition and an ongoing intention of welcoming excellent practitioner-scholars to the faculty.
Instructor
An Instructor shall:
● Hold at least a Master's degree from a recognized graduate school with a concentration in the appropriate specialty area.
● Have evident ability as a higher education teacher with substantial promise for successful development as a faculty member and University community member.
Assistant Professor
An Assistant Professor shall:
● Hold an appropriately earned doctorate or another appropriate professional degree from a recognized graduate school.
○ Under certain circumstances, a Core Faculty member may be appointed to Assistant Professor's rank without a terminal degree based on years of teaching experience and or the Core Faculty member under consideration has completed at least 75% of coursework toward a terminal degree and is actively engaged in completing the appropriate terminal degree.
○ In such cases, the responsible College Dean will recommend the Provost in consultation with the College faculty.
The Provost, in consultation with the Faculty Senate, will make the final appointment determination.
● Demonstrate ability as a teacher and mentor in higher education.
● Provide substantial evidence of professional expertise in one's area of specialization, commitment to the university's primary mission and goals, and the potential to function as an engaged University citizen.
● Demonstrate additional strength in one of the following areas:
○ Involvement in scholarly or creative activities;
○ Involvement in service to the profession;
○ Involvement in service to the community.
● Has a minimum of five (5) years of teaching experience
Associate Professor
An Associate Professor shall:
● Hold the appropriately earned doctorate or terminal professional degree from a recognized graduate school.
Demonstrate established excellence in teaching and mentoring in higher education.
● Provide substantial evidence of contributions to and reputation in one's field of expertise, demonstrated translation of the University mission and goals into one's teaching and professional activities, and demonstrated contributions as a productive member of the academic community.
● Demonstrate additional strength in one of the following areas:
● Contributions in scholarly and creative activities (e.g., publications, performances);
● Contributions to the profession in service activities;
● Contributions to community service activities.
● Shall have a minimum of 5 years of full-time teaching at Assistant Professor's rank, except in extraordinary circumstances.
Professor
A Professor shall:
● Hold the appropriately earned doctorate or terminal professional degree from a recognized graduate school.
● Demonstrate superior performance in teaching and mentoring in higher education.
● Provide substantial evidence of accomplishments and leadership in one's field of expertise, demonstrated achievements and leadership in translating the University mission and goals into one's teaching and professional activities, and demonstrated accomplishments and leadership as an exemplary citizen of the academic community.
● Demonstrate additional strength in one of the following areas:
○ Accomplishments and leadership in scholarly and creative activities (e.g., publications, performances)
○ Accomplishments and leadership to the profession in service activities;
○ Accomplishments and leadership to the community in service activities.
● Have a minimum of 5 years of full-time teaching at Associate Professor's rank, except in extraordinary circumstances.
Application of Qualifications for Academic Rank
No Core Faculty member previously hired by the University shall lose their appointed academic rank by applying the qualifications outlined in this Faculty Handbook. Rank will be awarded based on meeting the qualifications for the rank and must be awarded in sequence. A higher rank may be considered based on documentation of the previous rank's achievement and meeting the qualifications for the applicable rank; Adjunct Faculty are not ranked at USU.
College of Nursing and Health Sciences Faculty Qualifications
The nursing faculty who teach the APRN courses will have a current unencumbered RN license or a multi-state privilege to practice registered nursing in California, a current unencumbered California APRN certificate, a graduate degree in nursing or a health-related field in the population focus, two years of APRN clinical experience, existing knowledge, competence and certification as an APRN in the role and population focus consistent with teaching responsibilities. For certain states, faculty may require further RN and APRN licensure.
2.2 c Adjunct Faculty Academic Qualifications
Except in extraordinary circumstances, adjunct faculty must hold the following qualifications:
• Terminal degree appropriate degree level appropriate for a program from a regionally accredited or equivalent institution
• Three to five years of relevant work experience; an appreciation of the vitality of the scholar-practitioner model of instruction
• Familiarity with higher education, curriculum planning, best teaching practices, and administrative practices
• Dedication to the ongoing and systemic assessment of student learning
• Commitment to curriculum planning, the adoption of best teaching and administrative practices, and/or a record of teaching excellence
• LMS facility (whenever applicable); understanding of the various methods of learning
• Demonstrable commitment to student support