Appointment
The appointment of all members of the Faculty shall be made on the nomination of the President to the Board of Trustees and in accordance with the procedures for appointment that are stated in this section.
As a fundamental policy, the College appoints the most qualified applicant for a post, regardless of race, national origin, political beliefs, creed, handicap or disability, age, sexual orientation or gender. The College is committed to equal employment opportunity for all persons.
The ultimate purposes of the College's Faculty personnel policies are to provide Centre College with a Faculty of excellence and high achievement, and to ensure fairness, academic freedom, and appropriate professional security for each individual. All appointments, promotions, tenure, and salary decisions depend upon both the qualifications and performance of the individual and the College’s fiscal condition and long-term needs and priorities. All full-time members of the Faculty without continuous tenure are normally appointed for one-year terms.
In evaluating a prospective appointee, the College shall consider carefully the following factors: potential for excellence in teaching and scholarship; integrity; the originality and significance of the candidate's research and creative work; the candidate's breadth and liberality of their mind; the probability of continued intellectual growth; insight into and dedication to the objectives of liberal education; flexibility in response to changing curricular needs; willingness to abide by the Statement of Community; and respect for the values derived from the College’s historic Judeo-Christian tradition.
Classification of Appointments
- Categories of Appointment
Centre College normally makes appointments in two categories, based on their relation to tenure.
- Regular Appointments
Regular appointments are those that include tenure at the time of initial appointment or that carry eligibility for tenure. Such appointments are of two kinds.
- Appointments with Tenure (See Tenure)
- Probationary or Tenure-Track Appointments
Probationary appointments do not include tenure but may lead to consideration for tenure. Such appointments are normally for one-year terms. They are subject to renewal but contain no right of renewal.
- Visiting Appointments
Visiting appointments are those that neither include tenure nor carry eligibility for tenure. They are made under various special circumstances as indicated in the letter of appointment. Visiting appointments are described below.
- Full-time Visiting Appointments
Full-time visiting appointments are for a specified period. They are subject to renewal only at the initiative of the College. According to the terms outlined in the letter of appointment, the appointee may serve on the Council and its committees and hold other responsibilities associated with regular appointments. If a visiting appointment is followed consecutively by a regular appointment, the letter of regular appointment shall state whether or not the term of the visiting appointment shall apply toward eligibility for tenure. Full-time visiting appointments shall be evaluated according to the procedures of evaluation set forth in Evaluation of Faculty, particularly with respect to student course evaluations (Course Evaluation Form) and classroom visits (Appendix D: Evaluation Forms).
- Part-Time Visiting Appointment
Part-time visiting appointments are for persons who carry less than a full teaching load for a specified period of time. They are subject to renewal at the initiative of the College. Part-time appointees hold no responsibilities other than those related to their classroom instruction, unless otherwise agreed between the appointee and the College. The newly appointed part-time Faculty member shall be oriented with all new full-time faculty members prior to the start of the fall term. Should the new part-time faculty member be hired in mid-year, the Dean of the College shall arrange for an orientation session for that individual close to the beginning of the term. All part-time faculty members shall have a requirement of office hours and accessibility to students.
If there is the expectation or possibility of retention or rehiring of a part-time faculty member, the Division Chair or program chair shall arrange to make a classroom visit and class evaluation forms shall be distributed to half of the classes of the part-time faculty member. The Division Chair and the Associate Dean of the College shall conduct an annual review of continuing part-time faculty members at the time of the regular annual reviews of all faculty members.
Benefits for part-time faculty members shall be determined at the time of contractual agreement.
- Adjunct Appointment
Adjunct appointments are for persons whose principal association with the College is something other than classroom teaching; for example, research, music instruction, or consulting. Adjunct appointments may involve various institutional courtesies, as defined in the letter of appointment, and may or may not include remuneration. They are made for an indefinite period but may be terminated at any time by either the College or the appointee.
Procedures for Full-time Appointments to the Faculty
When a new full-time appointment to the Faculty is contemplated, the Dean of the College shall appoint a special search committee of at least five members of the Faculty. This committee, which shall normally include the Division Chair, one or more members of the program concerned, and at least one member from outside the program, shall work with the Dean to seek a person suitable for recommendation to the President of the College. Most often, search committees include three program members, the division chair, and one member from outside the program.
Recommendation for appointment shall be made by the search committee, in consultation with the members of the program, to the Dean of the College. The Dean shall review the recommendation with the President. The President shall review the recommendation and, if in agreement with it, the Dean shall make the offer of appointment. If a regular (tenured or tenure-track) offer is accepted, the President shall ask the Board of Trustees to approve the appointment at its April meeting.
The selection process for full-time faculty appointments includes: (1) search (recruitment) (2) screening, (3) campus interview, (4) recommendation, (5) appointment, and (6) report. Candidates shall be informed of the status of their application and of decisions that affect their candidacy.
- Search (Recruitment)
Normally, the search shall include a formal announcement of the opening in major publications and national journals, along with notice to graduate schools in the field as well as personal contact with colleagues. The announcement shall be prepared by the search committee in consultation with the Dean of the College. It shall include such information as rank, responsibilities, and deadlines, and shall specify materials to be submitted.
- Screening
An initial screening shall be conducted to identify superior candidates (usually from eight to ten). Screening shall be based upon a review of the resume‚ recommendations, and other materials submitted by the applicant. When feasible, an initial videoconference or preliminary interview at a professional meeting shall be arranged by the search committee. Information from this preliminary interview will be used to reduce the number of candidates for campus interviews to two (visiting positions) or three (tenure-track candidates). If additional on-campus interviewees are deemed necessary, permission should be sought from the Dean of the College. Candidates to be invited to campus are approved by the Dean of the College before an invitation is extended. Phone checks of references of final two or three candidates are made before inviting candidates to campus.
- Campus Interview
The College shall reimburse the invited candidate for travel expenses incurred and shall provide meals and lodging throughout the scheduled interview period. Normally, during the campus visit the search committee shall arrange meetings for the candidate with the President, the Dean of the College, members of the appropriate program, including students, and such other members of the campus community as may be helpful to the committee's considerations. The candidate normally shall give a lecture or other instructional presentation as additional evidence of his or her interests and teaching abilities. A presentation by the candidate on their research/professional scholarship may also be warranted.
- Recommendation
The search committee shall maintain confidentiality of all candidates and upload to Interfolio summary findings of all superior candidates and the on-campus finalists. In consultation with the members of the program, the search committee shall recommend a candidate to the Dean of the College. The recommendation should include rank and other terms of the appointment.
- Appointment
The President, upon the recommendation of the Dean of the College, shall offer to the individual selected formal appointment to the Faculty (when tenured or tenure track, subject to confirmation by the Board of Trustees). Following a successful background check, the offer shall be made in writing and shall specify rank, salary, and other conditions of appointment. Where appropriate, the individual shall be advised prior to probationary appointment of the criteria and procedures for reappointment and for tenure. The individual shall also be advised of the institutional factors that may affect his or her prospects for renewal and tenure.
- Report
The search committee chair shall submit a report to the Dean of the College indicating the manner in which the position was advertised, the total number of candidates broken down by gender, degrees held, and diversity information, the top candidates and their characteristics, and a rationale for the outcome. Detailed instructions for searches are provided to search committees early in the fall term.
Note: This search process shall be abbreviated when time does not permit. However, under such circumstances, no tenure-track offer shall be made.
Procedures for Part-Time Appointments to the Faculty
The need for a new part-time appointment to the Faculty shall be discovered and articulated by the program chair, who shall discuss that need with the Division Chair.
Should they agree, they shall consult with the Dean of the College and ask for funding. If the Dean agrees to fund the position, the chairs and Dean shall determine the length of service needed, the specific courses to be taught and the skills requisite for the service. Part time appointments are for two or fewer courses per term.
The position shall be advertised or broadcast as best suits the need, either by contacting universities in the area, consulting files of those already expressing interest in teaching at Centre College or by public posting.
Eligible individuals shall be identified by the program, by search or self-identification. After identification by the program, the Dean reviews curriculum vitae and qualifications of the eligible candidate(s) for the position. Normally, the candidate(s) meet with members of the program and rarely teach a sample class. The College does not pay for expenses for a campus visit. The Dean shall offer the successful candidate a contract in writing, contingent on a successful background check.
The Office of the Dean of the College shall maintain a complete file of materials associated with the hiring, qualifications, teaching evaluations and contractual data of each part-time faculty member until such time as there is no prospect of rehiring; then those materials shall be archived.
Procedures for Adjunct Appointments to the Faculty
The need for a new music adjunct appointment to the Faculty shall be discovered and articulated by the music program chair, who shall discuss that need with the Division Chair. Should they agree, they shall consult with the Dean of the College and ask for funding. If the Dean agrees to fund the position, the chairs and Dean shall determine the length of service needed, the specific courses to be taught and the skills requisite for the service.
The position shall be advertised or broadcast as best suits the need, either by contacting universities in the area, consulting files of those already expressing interest in teaching at Centre College or by public posting.
Eligible individuals shall be identified by the music program. Following a successful background check, the Dean shall offer the successful candidate a contract in writing.
The Office of the Dean of the College shall maintain a complete file of materials associated with the hiring, qualifications, teaching evaluations and contractual data of each adjunct faculty member until such time as there is no prospect of rehiring; then those materials shall be archived.