Types of Appointments
Appointments for Faculty
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The University offers the types of appointments described below, and summarized on the Specifications for Appointment chart.
Specifications for Appointment Categories |
Categories of Appointment |
Minimum Degree Required |
Category of Position Type |
Standard load (per year) |
Length of appointment during probationary period |
Length of Probationary Period |
Eligible for Change in Status |
Eligible for Promotion |
Eligible for Travel Funds/ FR&D Funds |
Tenured |
Doctorate* |
Permanent |
24 Hours |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
To Professor |
Yes |
Tenure Track |
Doctorate* |
Permanent |
24 Hours |
1 year |
4, 5 or 6 years |
Tenure |
To Associate Professor |
Yes |
Continuing |
Doctorate* |
Permanent |
24 Hours |
1 year |
4 years |
Continuance Decision |
To Associate Professor and to Professor |
Yes |
Lecture Track |
Masters |
Permanent |
26-28 Hours |
1 year |
4 years |
Continuance Decision |
To Senior Lecturer |
Yes |
Visiting Appointment |
Masters |
Permanent |
24 Hours |
Annually for up to 3 years (May be renewed annually for up to 3 additional years) |
n/a |
May apply for Tenure Track, Continuing Track or Lecture Track, if available |
n/a |
Travel and FR&D non-sabbatical funds |
Limited Term |
Masters |
Temporary |
24 Hours |
Annually for up to 4 years total |
n/a |
May apply for Tenure Track, Continuing Track or Lecture Track, if available |
n/a |
Travel funds at Dean’s discretion |
Part-Time |
Meet SACS requirements |
Temporary |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
Librarian |
ALA Accredited MLS or MSIS |
Permanent |
n/a |
3 months |
4 years |
Continuance Decision |
To Associate Librarian and to Senior Librarian |
n/a |
*Or terminal degree in the field or unusual experiences/accomplishments
Tenured Appointments
E25N
As set forth in policies established by the Board of Trustees, Elon University seeks to appoint and maintain a full time permanent teaching faculty that is 85-90% tenured/tenure track.
Eligibility
Tenured appointments are for full time teaching faculty members who have been tenured.
(See section on Elon University’s process for hiring with tenure )
Faculty Load
On the 4-1-4 calendar, the standard load for faculty with tenure will be 24 semester hours.
Faculty Development
Faculty members on tenured appointments are eligible for travel funds and are eligible to compete for Faculty Research and Development funds.
Advancement Opportunities
Faculty on tenured appointments may stand for promotion from Associate Professor to Professor after at least six years in rank, of which at least four are at Elon University. Additional information on promotion may be found elsewhere in this Handbook.
Tenure Track Appointments
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As set forth in policies established by the Board of Trustees, Elon University seeks to appoint and maintain a full time permanent teaching faculty that is 85-90% tenured/tenure track.
Eligibility
Tenure track appointments are for full time teaching faculty in tenurable positions. Only full time faculty with tenure track appointments will be eligible for tenure. (see section on elon university’s process for hiring with tenure.
The doctorate, or highest degree in the discipline or field, will be a basic criterion for tenure. Exception to this standard may be made in unusual cases where work experiences and accomplishments in the discipline or field outweigh the terminal degree.
Faculty Load
On the 4-1-4 calendar, the standard load for tenure track appointments will be 24 semester hours.
Probationary Period
Tenure track appointments include a probationary period of four, five, or six years. During the probationary period these appointments are of a fixed term length, normally one academic year with no guarantee of reemployment. Following the probationary period and the tenure review process, the President may recommend tenured appointments to the Board of Trustees. The authority to grant tenure rests solely with the Board of Trustees. Those individuals not awarded tenure may be given one additional year of employment.
Faculty Development
Faculty members on tenure track appointments are eligible for travel funds and are eligible to compete for Faculty Research and Development funds.
Continuing Track Appointments
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Eligibility
The doctorate, or highest degree in the discipline or field, will be a basic criterion for continuing track appointments. Exception to this standard may be made in unusual cases where work experiences and accomplishments in the discipline or field outweigh the terminal degree.
Faculty Load
Continuing track appointments are for full time teaching faculty (24 semester hours/year) and provide for fixed term periods of employment with no expectation of tenure.
Probationary Period
Continuing track appointments include a probationary period of four years. During the probationary period, continuing track appointments are of fixed term length, normally one academic year, with no guarantee of reemployment. Information on the continuance decision may be found elsewhere in this Handbook.
Faculty Development
Faculty on continuing track appointments are eligible for travel funds equal to that of tenure/tenure track faculty and are eligible to compete equally for Faculty Research and Development funds.
Advancement Opportunities
Faculty on continuing track appointments may stand for promotion from Assistant to Associate Professor after at least six years in rank. They are also eligible to apply for promotion from Associate Professor to Professor.
Lecture Track Appointments
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Eligibility
The master’s degree will be the minimum criterion for lecture track appointments.
Faculty Load
Lecture track appointments are for full time teaching faculty (26-28 semester hours/year) and provide for fixed term periods of employment with no expectation of tenure.
Probationary Period
Lecture track appointments include a probationary period of four years. During the probationary period, lecture track appointments are of a fixed term length, normally one academic year, with no guarantee of reemployment. Information on the continuance decision may be found elsewhere in this Handbook.
Faculty Development
Faculty on lecture track appointments are eligible for travel funds equal to that of tenured/tenure track faculty and are eligible to compete equally for Faculty Research and Development funds.
Advancement Opportunities
Faculty on lecture track appointments may stand for promotion from Lecturer to Senior Lecturer after at least six years in rank. Additional information on promotion may be found elsewhere in this Handbook.
Visiting Appointments
E29R
Eligibility
The master’s degree will be the minimum criterion for visiting appointments.
Faculty Load
Visiting appointments are for full time teaching faculty (24 semester hours/year) and provide for fixed term periods of employment with no expectation of tenure.
Length of Employment
Visiting appointments are of fixed term length, normally one academic year, with no guarantee of reemployment, and can be renewed for a maximum of three years. If needed, a visiting appointment can be renewed up to an additional three years.
Faculty Development
Faculty on these appointments are eligible for travel funds equal to that of tenured/tenure track faculty and are eligible to compete equally for non-sabbatical Faculty Research and Development funds.
Employment Opportunities
Faculty on visiting appointments may apply for lecture track, continuing track, or tenure track appointments when they become available through the regular faculty recruitment process.
Limited Term Appointments
E33K
Eligibility
The master’s degree will be the minimum criterion for limited term appointments.
Faculty Load
Limited term appointments are for full time teaching faculty (24 semester hours/year) and provide for fixed term periods of employment, normally one academic year with no guarantee of reemployment.
Length of Employment
Limited term appointments can be renewed for a maximum of four years.
Faculty Development
Faculty on these appointments may be eligible for travel funds at the Dean’s discretion.
Employment Opportunities
Faculty on limited term appointments may apply for lecture track, continuing track, or tenure track appointments when they become available through the regular faculty recruitment process.