Classification of Appointments

Categories of Faculty Appointments

Centre College normally makes appointments in two broad categories:

1. Regular Appointments

1. Assistant/Associate/[Full]* Professor (on the tenure track or tenured)

1. Instructional Librarians at the rank of Assistant/Associate/[Full] Professor

1. Special Appointments 

1. Assistant/Associate/[Full] Professor (not on the tenure track)

1. Assistant/Associate/[Full] Professor of the Practice 

1. Visiting Assistant/Associate/[Full] Professor

1. Visiting Instructor

*Throughout the text, the word “Full” is used for syntactical symmetry in reference to the three levels of appointment, but the actual title for a Faculty member at this rank is Professor, rather than Full Professor.

Descriptions of the Appointment Categories

1. Regular Appointments

1. Assistant/Associate/[Full] Professors (on the tenure-track or tenured). These positions are described in the section of the handbook under Tenure, which also describes the steps for promotion. As noted by the American Association of University Professors (AAUP), “free inquiry, free expression, and open dissent are critical for student learning and the advancement of knowledge,” and tenure ensures academic freedom and stability of the College’s academic program. 

1. Instructional Librarians at the rank of Assistant/Associate/[Full] Professor are non-tenure-track positions with faculty status. Instructional librarians must hold terminal degrees (MLS, MLSIS, MLIS, MSLS) and are employed for 12-month appointments. Steps for promotion are detailed in Promotion of Faculty Librarians (Note: To be voted on separately). Though these positions do not regularly teach curricular offerings, they may participate in co-curricular instruction or serve as short-term visiting instructors as needed by the College (see sections on visiting appointments below). Information regarding library employees who do not carry faculty status can be found in the Staff Handbook.

1. Special Appointments

Although the College seeks to employ a full-time, tenure-track Faculty, it is occasionally necessary to fill special appointments that are non-tenure-track. These may be full- or part- time, depending on their contracts. Special Appointments are for faculty members whose appointments fill a specific need for which a tenurable appointment would not be standard; or for administrative staff members whose positions entail some teaching responsibilities and carry Faculty rank. Special Appointments may be continuing or term-limited depending on the contract and are subject to annual renewal. Faculty with Special Appointments are evaluated according to the schedule appropriate to the rank and/or position. When these appointments are part-time, appointees hold no responsibilities other than those related to their teaching, unless otherwise agreed between the appointee and the College (see Procedures for Part-Time Appointments to the Faculty)

Appointments may be made at the rank of Instructor, Assistant, Associate, or Full Professor depending on the appointee’s achievements and record of significant professional experience and accomplishments at the time of appointment. Appointments are made with the approval of the program and division chair, and recommendation for hire from the Dean to the President. Teaching effectiveness for non-tenure-track appointments shall be evaluated annually according to the procedures set forth in Evaluation of Faculty, particularly with respect to student reflections on learning (Student Reflection on Learning) and classroom visits (Appendix D: Evaluation Forms). Non-tenure track faculty may apply for promotion (see Promotion of Non-Tenure-Track Faculty). 

1. Assistant/Associate/[Full] Professor (not on the tenure track). These positions are short- or long-term, full- or part-time, non-tenure track faculty appointments for individuals that fall under one of two specific categories:

• i.Administrative staff who hold faculty appointments

• ii.Faculty whose primary teaching responsibilities are practical or applied in nature, such as music or laboratory instruction

While these non-tenure-track faculty members may be active and contributing scholars, there are typically no expectations for scholarly activity, which is an expectation for tenure-track faculty appointments.

1. Assistant/Associate/[Full] Professor of the Practice These positions are short- or long-term, full- or part-time, non-tenure-track faculty appointments for individuals who bring specialized expertise to the instructional programs of the College, thereby complementing the qualifications and contributions of regularly appointed faculty. Individuals appointed to these ranks are expected to be successful professionals in their field which may have been outside of academia. They may or may not hold the terminal degree in an academic or professional field, but their professional experience is commensurate with their rank.

1. Visiting Assistant/Associate/[Full] Professor appointments are term-limited as indicated in their letter of appointment. They are subject to renewal only at the initiative of the College. These appointees must have a terminal or professional degree in their program’s discipline (or a related discipline), along with professional certification(s) if relevant. These positions are typically used to replace faculty members on sabbatical or temporary leave-of-absence, but they may also be resourceful hires with secondary titles such as “Artist in Residence.”

1. Visiting Instructor appointments are term-limited as indicated in their letter of appointment. They are subject to renewal only at the initiative of the College. These appointees typically do not have a terminal degree at the time of appointment. These positions are typically used to replace faculty members on sabbatical or temporary leave-of- absence, but they may also be resourceful hires with secondary titles such as “Artist in Residence.”