Non-tenure Track Faculty

To justify non-tenure track faculty positions, they must be discussed with the Dean in advance of making an appointment.

Instructors

Contracts for Instructors are renewed each year; every three years the position must be advertised and recruited for. Upon the retirement or resignation of a faculty member, the department does not automatically receive funds for an instructor line since the salary from the vacant tenure track position is held at the provost's level (the chair's justification for an instructor position in such instances must address the teaching gap, specific courses to be taught and anticipated enrollments, and likelihood of successfully recruiting a candidate). The work assignments of instructors are determined by the chair and approved by the dean with the understanding that instructors are primarily hired to teach classes, and typically they teach 15 credit hours each semester. Instructors should be considered as members of the faculty and included in faculty meetings, etc.

Research Faculty

• "Faculty whose primary professional effort is devoted to research projects may be appointed to the rank of research professor, research associate professor, research assistant professor, or research instructor. Appointments for research faculty positions are annual appointments that may be renewed. Renewal of research faculty appointments is based upon availability of funding to support the position. The research faculty member's department or academic unit may expect the research faculty member to participate in securing external funding to support the position.
• Research faculty appointments are not tenure-track positions; therefore, research faculty are not eligible for tenure. Otherwise, research faculty appointments maintain essentially the same privileges and responsibilities as tenured and tenure-track faculty members. Research faculty are eligible for promotion under the same rules that apply to promotions for tenured and tenure track faculty, except that advancement within the research ranks is to be based primarily on excellence in research performance. All appointments and promotions to these ranks require the approval of the vice provost for research in addition to other required approvals.
• Research faculty may not vote on matters relating to appointment, retention, tenure, or promotion; however, research faculty may serve as members of appointed faculty committees, subject to the policies and requirements of their individual colleges and departments." (Faculty Handbook)
• If a research faculty member has been an employee of the University of Memphis for three or more years, they must be notified a year in advance should their position be terminated.

Clinical Faculty

"Faculty whose primary professional effort is devoted to clinical applications may be appointed to the rank of clinical professor, clinical associate professor, clinical assistant professor, or clinical instructor (Policy 5:02:03:00). Appointments for clinical faculty positions are annual appointments that may be renewed. Renewal of clinical faculty appointments is based upon availability of funding to support the positions. The clinical faculty member's department or academic unit may expect the clinical faculty member to participate in securing external funding to support the position.

Clinical faculty appointments are not tenure-track positions; therefore, clinical faculty are not eligible for tenure. However, clinical faculty appointments carry essentially the same the privileges and responsibilities as tenured and tenure-track faculty members. Clinical faculty are eligible for promotion under the same rules that apply to promotions for tenured and tenure track faculty, except that advancement within the clinical ranks is to be based primarily on excellence in clinical applications performance.

Clinical faculty may not vote on matters relating to appointment, retention, tenure, or promotion; however, clinical faculty may serve as members of appointed faculty committees, subject to the policies and requirements of their individual colleges and departments." (Faculty Handbook)

Post-Doctoral Fellowships

Post- doctoral fellows are typically supported by research grants. Postdocs are renewed annually. Postdocs supported by grants may receive raises only when the entire university has a raise cycle, regardless of what is built into the grant budget.

Visiting Faculty Members

Plans for inviting Visiting Faculty Members should be discussed with the Dean well in advance. These positions should be for one year only and are typically not renewed. They are primarily available when there are tenure track vacancies in a department (the chair's justification for such a position should address the teaching, research, and service gaps facing the unit, articulate specifically the contribution such a position would provide, and the likelihood of successfully recruiting a highly qualified candidate for only a temporary position) . Upon approval by the college, the dean will present the case to the provost for consideration. Assuring adequate funding (covering salary and benefits) and securing a position number may take several months.