2.12 Initial Appointments of Faculty - Faculty Handbook   

 

 

Abstract: 
This section of the Faculty Handbook describes recruitment process guidelines for initial appointments at UAB.

Effective Date: 08/15/2024

 

Review/Revised Date: 08/15/2024

 

Category: Faculty Affairs

 

Policy Owner: Faculty Senate

Policy Contact: Faculty Policy and Procedures Committee

 

   
 
 
INITIAL APPOINTMENTS OF FACULTY

2.12 Initial Appointments of Faculty

2.12.1 Appointments with Tenure
2.12.2 Appointments as Instructor
2.12.3 Appointments as Assistant Professor or Associate Professor
2.12.4 Appointments as Professor

 


2.12 Initial Appointments of Faculty
 
For all full-time regular tenured or full-time regular tenure-earning positions, recruitment at the national level is required. For all full-time regular or part-time regular non-tenure-earning positions, recruitment at the national level is required unless in rare and extenuating circumstances a waiver is justified and approved by the dean and Provost as described in the UAB Faculty Search Waiver Guidelines. Contingent, temporary, visiting, or volunteer appointments do not require a search.

The process to make a new appointment is initiated by the department chair upon completion of recruitment and selection in accordance with all approved department, school, college, UAB Libraries, and UAB policies and proceduresUpon recommendation of the department chair and approval by the appropriate dean and the Provost, an offer of appointment may be made by the chair. An offer should minimally include applicable initial compensation, duration of appointment, and terms of potential changes to compensation. Faculty can be hired only at the ranks and tenure status (or lower) that is described in the advertised position description. This offer shall be contingent on final approval by the President.
 
All appointments must be made in accordance with UAB hiring practices and government regulations and, following acceptance by the candidate of the initial offer of appointment must be approved by the President.            

All appointments must be made in compliance with "Faculty Credentials," the procedures for documenting and verifying credentials must be followed, and the documentation must be included in the prospective faculty member's recruitment file.  In part because the credential guidelines are based on earned degrees, before an appointment may be finalized an official transcript of the course work completed for the terminal degree(s) is required.  All offers of appointment must include a request for the transcript.  After the faculty member has accepted appointment to UAB, the documentation verifying credentials must be retained and maintained as part of the faculty member's official, permanent UAB personnel file.

In the case of tenure-earning appointments, the date which defines the start, and therefore the completion, of the tenure-earning period shall be determined by the date of appointment if it is October 1.  If the appointment date comes after October 1, the October 1 which next follows the initial appointment date to a tenure-earning position shall determine the start of the tenure-earning period.

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2.12.1 Appointments with Tenure
 
The school, library, and, if applicable, department tenure and promotion committees  shall review an offer of initial appointment with tenure prior to approval of such an offer by the dean, the Provost, and the President. 

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2.12.2 Appointments as Instructor
 
Unless otherwise specified in writing, initial appointments at the rank of Instructor at UAB shall be for one year and may be renewed annually.  The appointment is non-tenure-earning.

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2.12.3 Appointments as Assistant Professor or Associate Professor
 
Initial tenure-earning appointments at the ranks of Assistant Professor or Associate Professor at UAB shall be for two years unless a different period between one to five years is designated in the letter of offer. Tenure-earning appointments may be renewed annually for one year thereafter until the probationary period expires (Section 2.15.4) or tenure is awarded.

Non-tenure-earning faculty appointed to these ranks may be appointed or reappointed for periods of one to five years.

All appointments below the rank of Associate Professor shall be without tenure. Initial appointment at the rank of Associate Professor or above may be offered with or without tenure.

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2.12.4 Appointments as Professor
 
Appointments to the faculty at the rank of Professor may be tenured, tenure-earning or non-tenure-earning. Tenure-earning appointments to this rank are made two years unless a different period between one to five years is designated in the letter of offer and may be renewed annually until tenure is awarded or the tenure-earning (probationary) period expires (Section 2.15.4). Non-tenure-earning faculty may be appointed to this rank for periods of one to five years.

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