Revised: February 20, 2023
At Oregon State University, academic faculty provide service to the university in the areas of instruction, research and scholarship, and service. These guidelines specify how academic faculty ranks are assigned.
Academic Ranks
Tenured/Tenure-Track Classification
| Ranks | Purpose | Minimum Degree Requirement | FTE | Other Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assistant Professor Associate Professor Professor |
Appointments that are either eligible to be considered for, or have received, indefinite tenure. Primary duties are in instruction, scholarship, and service. |
Doctoral-level degree** | 0.50 FTE or greater* | Tenure-track positions are used for faculty members in Extension and the Library at professorial ranks. |
The expectation for tenure-track/tenured positions is that both scholarship/creative work and teaching effort are sizable and relatively balanced, alongside a small percentage devoted to service. While 15% is the minimum scholarship and creative work requirement, it is highly unusual in practice and should largely exist in situations where there are administrative or other significant but temporary duties that result in the need to reduce scholarly/creative responsibilities.
* Some tenure-related positions may carry less than a 1.0 FTE tenure commitment following the granting of indefinite tenure. These tenured commitments must be 0.50 FTE or greater.
**Limited exceptions may apply.
Fixed-Term Classification
Professorial Categories
Academic faculty appointments are primarily engaged in extension, research, clinical practice, or community practice and carry an expectation of scholarship, but are not eligible for tenure. These appointments may not be converted to tenure-track or tenured. Such a change requires the establishment of a new position and search, or requesting a waiver of search.
| Ranks | Purpose | Minimum Degree Requirement | Scholarly Accomplishment* | Other Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assistant Professor (Clinical) Associate Professor (Clinical) Professor (Clinical) |
Used for appointments with primary duties in the area of clinical instruction or research. | Doctoral-level degree in a field appropriate to the clinical service | Generally 15%**, often contributing to professional issues or program development | |
| Assistant Professor (Extension) Associate Professor (Extension) Professor (Extension) |
Used for academic faculty appointments with primary duties in the areas of instruction, scholarship, and service. | Master’s degree |
At least 15% |
Must be funded 50% or more from non-recurring funds.
If more than 50% recurring funds (e.g. departmental, college), the programming cannot exceed 6 years. |
| Assistant Professor (Practice) Associate Professor (Practice) Professor (Practice) |
Used for academic faculty appointments with primary duties in professionally related instruction and service. | Master’s degree |
Generally 15%**, often contributing to effective educational program delivery and research application at local or regional levels. |
|
| Assistant Professor (Sr Res) Associate Professor (Sr Res) Professor (Sr Res) |
Used for academic faculty appointments with primary duties in scholarship, including developing and conducting research and securing grant, contract, and other funds. | Doctoral-level degree |
At least 15% |
Must be funded 50% or more from gifts/grants/contracts. |
| Assistant Professor (Teaching) Associate Professor (Teaching) Professor (Teaching) |
Used for academic faculty appointments with primary duties in for-credit instruction coupled with curricular design and development and/or pedagogical strategies and practices. Graduate-level advising may also be appropriate. Research and scholarship are also a necessary component of this position. | Doctoral-level degree | Minimum of 15% not to exceed 20% | Research and scholarship is likely to be pedagogical but may also relate to the conduct of other basic or applied sciences, depending on the needs of the unit or college. |
| Visiting Assistant Professor Visiting Associate Professor Visiting Professor |
Used for academic faculty appointments for individuals who are appointed to provide professorial duties for a fixed period of time with primary duties in the area of instruction in their field of expertise. Many visiting faculty members hold faculty appointments at another institution or positions in the private or public sector. |
Master’s degree |
Initial appointments are typically one-year with renewal at the college/unit hiring authority’s discretion, up to a maximum of 3 years. Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs may approve extensions for one year at a time beyond the initial 3 years. |
**In limited circumstances, scholarship FTE may be approved at lower or higher levels, but never less than 5%
Research Categories
Academic faculty appointments with primary duties related to research and do not have an expectation for scholarly accomplishment. These appointments may not be converted to professorial ranks. Such a change requires the establishment of a new position and search, or requesting a waiver of search.
| Ranks | Purpose | Minimum Degree Requirement | Other Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Faculty Research Assistant Senior Faculty Research Assistant I Senior Faculty Research Assistant II |
Used for academic faculty appointments with primary duties as members of a research team under the direct supervision of other faculty researchers. | Bachelor’s degree | |
| Research Associate Senior Research Associate I Senior Research Associate II |
Used for academic faculty appointments with primary duties in the area of research, typically undertaken as part of a research team or lab. | Typically requires a Doctoral-level degree | May serve as principal investigator |
Instructional Categories
Academic faculty appointments with primary duties related to instruction and do not have an expectation for scholarly accomplishment. These appointments may not be converted to professorial ranks. Such changes require the establishment of a new position and search, or requesting a waiver of search.
| Ranks | Purpose | Minimum Degree Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Instructor Senior Instructor I Senior Instructor II |
Used for academic faculty appointments with primary duties in the area of undergraduate and/or graduate instruction. | Master’s degree |
| Instructor (ALS) Senior Instructor I (ALS) Senior Instructor II (ALS) |
Used for academic faculty appointments with primary duties in the area of instruction of Academic Learning Services. | Bachelor’s degree |
| Instructor (ESL) Senior Instructor I (ESL) Senior Instructor II (ESL) |
Used for academic faculty appointments with primary duties in the area of instruction of English as a Second Language. | Bachelor’s degree |
| Instructor (PAC) Senior Instructor I (PAC) Senior Instructor II (PAC) |
Used for academic faculty appointments with primary duties in the area of instruction of Physical Activity Courses (PAC). | Bachelor’s degree |
| Lecturer Senior Lecturer I Senior Lecturer II |
Used for academic faculty appointments with primary duties in the area of instruction that may include significant responsibilities for graduate-level instruction. | Experience related to the academic program, but may not require formal, related academic preparation. |
Length and Types of Academic Faculty Appointments
Term-by-Term Appointments
Academic faculty appointments that are anticipated to be less than three consecutive terms in an academic year, without an expectation of further employment.
Fixed-Term Appointments
Academic faculty appointments anticipated to be three consecutive terms in an academic year or longer, with receipt of a renewal notice no later than one month prior to the end of the annual appointment. Non-renewal notification is required one month prior to the end of the appointment for an academic faculty who has not yet achieved promotion and four months’ notice prior to the end of the appointment for a promoted academic faculty member.
Multi-Year Fixed-Term Appointments
Multi-Year Fixed-Term appointments are reserved for academic faculty that have been promoted within their rank. Promotion to a fixed-term Senior I or Associate Professor rank carries at least a 2-year fixed-term appointment, with the most common practice of extending a 2-year fixed-term appointment. Promotion to a fixed-term Senior II or Professor rank carries at least a 2-year fixed-term appointment, which may in some circumstances be extended to a 3-year appointment. Academic faculty on a multi-year fixed-term appointment receive a renewal notice of appointment no later than one month prior to the end of the final year of their multi-year appointment.
Tenure-Track Appointments
Academic faculty on tenure-track appointments receive a notice of appointment no later than one month prior to the end of the academic year (9-month employees) or fiscal year (12-month employees) during the probationary period. Should a tenure review be unsuccessful, the candidate will be provided a terminal appointment of one academic year.
Tenured Appointments
Upon the achievement of tenure, academic faculty have a reasonable expectation of ongoing employment. Once tenure is received, these faculty members do not receive regular appointment notices (information is available at MyOregonState > Online Services Employee Dashboard > Job Summary > Job Information). Tenure is continued indefinitely, except in the case of resignation, retirement, tenure relinquishment, termination for cause, financial exigency, program eliminations, reorganizations, or reductions in size.
Short-Term Academic Faculty Appointments
Short-term appointments, with primary duties that align with one of the academic classifications and ranks, may be appointed to an academic wage appointment. See the Academic Wage Appointments page for additional information about academic wage appointments.
Exceptions
Upon recommendation of the academic faculty member’s Dean or Vice President, the Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs may consider exceptions to the guidelines above on a case-by-case basis.
Representation
Academic faculty positions are represented by United Academics of Oregon State University (UAOSU), AAUP/AFT, AFL-CIO unless the individual supervises other represented academic faculty or is deemed a confidential employee. These positions are subject to a collective bargaining agreement between Oregon State University and UAOSU. More information regarding the contract is available at beav.es/faculty-union-bargaining.