401-1 Faculty Qualifications
| Title: |
Faculty Qualifications |
| Owner: |
Office of the Provost |
| Last Updated/Revised: |
11/01/2024 |
Policy: In alignment with USU's accreditation, the University has clear policies on faculty qualifications.
Full-time faculty are ranked per the qualifications described below; adjunct faculty are not ranked. Deans must ensure that Faculty also meet criteria specific to state regulations and/or programmatic accrediting bodies.
Full-Time Faculty Academic Ranks
Instructor
An Instructor shall:
- Hold at least a Master's degree from an accredited school recognized by the Department of Education with a concentration in the appropriate specialty area.
- Have experience as a teacher in higher education 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 other terminal professional degree from an accredited school recognized by the Department of Education.
- Under exceptional circumstances, a full-time Faculty member may be appointed to the rank of Assistant Professor without a terminal degree, provided that the Faculty under consideration has completed at least 75% of coursework toward a terminal degree and is actively engaged in completing the degree. In such cases, the responsible College Dean, in consultation with the College faculty, will make a recommendation to the Provost. In consultation with the Faculty Senate, the Provost 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 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.
- Have a minimum of five (5) years of teaching experience.
Associate Professor*
An Associate Professor shall:
- Hold the appropriate earned doctorate or terminal professional degree from an accredited school recognized by the Department of Education.
- 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 to scholarly and creative activities (e.g., publications, performances);
- Contributions to the profession in service activities;
- Contributions to community service activities.
- Have a minimum of 5 years of full-time teaching as an Assistant Professor, except in extraordinary circumstances.
Professor*
A Professor shall:
- Hold the appropriate earned doctorate or terminal professional degree from an accredited school recognized by the Department of Education.
- Demonstrate superior performance in teaching and mentoring in higher education.
- Provide substantial evidence of accomplishments and leadership in one's field of expertise, demonstrated accomplishments 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 as an Associate Professor, except in extraordinary circumstances.
*Full-time Faculty working with doctoral students must have earned a Doctoral degree from an accredited school recognized by the Department of Education.
Application of Qualifications for Academic Rank
A rank will be awarded based on meeting the qualifications for the rank, and it must be awarded in sequence. A higher rank may be considered based on documentation of achievement of the previous rank and meeting the qualifications for the applicable rank.
Adjunct Faculty Qualifications (Doctoral Level)
- Hold the appropriate earned doctorate or terminal professional degree from an accredited school recognized by the Department of Education.
- 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 to scholarly and creative activities (e.g., publications, performances);
- Contributions to the profession in service activities;
- Contributions to the community service activities;
- Have a minimum of 5 years of full-time teaching as an Assistant Profession, except in extraordinary circumstances.
Adjunct Faculty Qualifications (Masters Level)
Except in extraordinary circumstances, adjunct Faculty must hold the following qualifications:
- Hold at least a Master's degree from an accredited school recognized by the Department of Education with a concentration in the appropriate specialty area.
- Relevant teaching experience
Purpose: The purpose of this policy is to establish qualifications for Faculty.
Procedure:
- Faculty qualifications are verified via transcripts and resumes by the Human Resources Department or designee.
- Any advancement in rank occurs during annual employee evaluations.
Scope: The scope of this policy applies to all current faculty.
Documents and Forms: