Below are FAQs, policy updates, and informational forums regarding this initiative.
Term | Meaning |
---|---|
Fixed-term contract |
Employment contract with specific start and end dates |
Continuous appointment |
Employment appointment with a specific start date and no end date |
Advance Notice |
Prior notice of termination of employment or changes to terms and conditions of employment |
The professional faculty appointment will transition. Any other appointments will remain unchanged.
The Faculty Senate Executive Committee (FSEC) tasked a workgroup to consider additional ways in which to support professional faculty. The committee performed an analysis Spring 2020 through Fall 2020. The analysis showed broad support for the transition from fixed-term contracts to continuous employment. The FSEC then recommended transition to President Alexander and Provost Feser, who accepted the recommendation and tasked Faculty Affairs and University Human Resources with further defining the process to implement the new appointment model.
Eligible professional faculty will receive a Notice of Transition to Continuous Appointment in April or May of 2021. Notices will be issued via DocuSign. You will need to log in to DocuSign with your OSU credentials to access the letter. Once logged in, you can download or save a copy for the notice for your records.
Existing professional faculty appointments that will continue in fiscal year ’22 will transition on July 1, 2021. New and updated OSU policies will apply to these existing appointments on July 1 as well. OSU will begin offering new professional faculty appointments with continuous employment on April 1, 2021. New and updated OSU policies will apply to these appointments on the same date.
No.
Yes. Transition to continuous employment does not change that important relationship.
Professional faculty response to the Faculty Senate workgroup and survey indicated that the annual renewal process causes unnecessary anxiety, hinders recruitment and impacts retention. The transition to continuous employment is timed to address those concerns, not to respond to the pandemic.
The University of Oregon made similar changes a few years ago. The continuous employment model is common to many public universities.
Follow the below steps or click here for a guide with screenshots.
Begin communication to leaders and campus
community
Start new hire professional faculty on continuous employment appointments
Transition all existing professional faculty to continuous employment appointments
The Office of Faculty Affairs and University Human Resources are jointly facilitating information forums about the upcoming professional faculty transition to continuous employment. All professional faculty and supervisors are welcome to attend. Please pre-register for the session that best meets your availability. Note that all sessions will be recorded.