157.8 Faculty Rank

157.8 Faculty Rank

A. Background

Furman organizes its faculty on the basis of academic rank. Full-time faculty members are designated as either Instructor, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, or Professor. Other titles may be assigned when appropriate.

B. Policy

The academic rank of an individual faculty member shall be determined according to academic preparation, professional competence and stature, and quality and duration of service. All faculty are expected to teach effectively, and engage in both professional activity and institutional service, with teaching effectiveness being most important (Policy 152.2). Faculty are also expected to demonstrate devotion to duty, professional ethics, university citizenship, and, as appropriate, community service.

C. Guidelines

1. The different academic ranks may be broadly characterized as follows:

• Instructor: Faculty members who do not hold the appropriate terminal degree usually hold the rank of Instructor.
• Assistant Professor: Faculty members who have earned the doctorate or other appropriate terminal degree but who have limited teaching experience in an accredited senior college or university (normally fewer than six years) usually hold the rank of Assistant Professor.
• Associate Professor: Faculty members who hold the doctorate or other appropriate terminal degree, who have significant full-time teaching experience at the rank of Assistant Professor in an accredited senior college or university (normally six or more years), and whose achievements as teachers, scholars, and contributors to the work of the University indicate growing competence and stature usually hold the rank of Associate Professor.
• Professor: Faculty members who hold the doctorate or other appropriate terminal degree, who have extensive teaching experience at the rank of Associate Professor in an accredited senior college or university (normally seven or more years), and whose achievements as teachers, scholars, and contributors to the work of the University are consistent with its highest faculty rank usually hold the rank of Professor.
• With regard to library faculty ranks, see Policy 155.5, Corresponding Rank of Library Faculty.

2. Ordinarily the terminal degree is the doctorate. The designation of another degree as an appropriate terminal degree will be made by the relevant academic department in consultation with the Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean and will be clearly recorded in the original contract.

3. The rank of a new faculty member will be determined by the Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean in consultation with the appropriate academic department. Rank at appointment shall be clearly stated in the original contract.

4. For a fuller statement of the criteria and procedures which govern promotion in rank, see File 157.3  for tenure policies, see File 158.4.

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