2.5.F. Duration of Appointments

It is the normal practice in the School of Medicine that new appointments, reappointments and promotions in the Research Line be made for a term of years.  However, at the discretion of the department, and with approval by the Vice Dean for Academic Affairs, reappointment or promotion to Associate Professor (Research) or Professor (Research) may be considered for a continuing term (see below).

The usual duration of an appointment (subject to relatively rare exceptions granted by the Provost for good cause and on a case-by-case basis) for each rank is:

Rank

Initial Appointment

Reappointment or Promotion

Assistant Professor (Research) Normally 4 years Normally 3 years;  the total length of time spent in rank is not to exceed 7 years
Associate Professor (Research) Normally 5 years

Renewable for an unlimited number of 5 year terms or for a continuing term

Professor (Research)


Normally 5 years

Renewable for an unlimited number of 5 year terms or for a continuing term

1. Term Appointments

Although term appointments are frequently made with the clear possibility of reappointment or promotion, there is no entitlement to such action at the end of the term, and it is not automatic.  Instead, decisions on reappointment and promotion, like decisions on initial appointment, are subject to the exercise of professional and scholarly judgment and discretion by the School’s departmental faculty and the School’s academic leadership.

Reappointment and promotion reviews are generally (but not always) initiated one year in advance of the appointment end date. (For further information on the timing of reviews, see Section 2.5.G.  At this time, the faculty member will receive a communication from the Vice Dean for Academic Affairs that confirms the initiation of the review and includes information regarding criteria for the reappointment or promotion action, along with a general description of the process.  Departments are then responsible for following up with more specific information.

Deans and department chairs are reminded that consideration of reappointment and promotion cases (especially those with term appointments) should include an account of the future of the department/division and/or School, which may include consideration of programmatic need (including budgetary considerations).

Appointments to the Research Line, even if stated as for a term of years, are normally coterminous with continued salary and other research support from sponsored projects, or the continuation of contract support.  Should such funding cease, the appointment normally would end at that same time – without the completion of the term or the requirement of a period of notice.  Although School funding beyond the point at which the faculty member’s funding support terminates may be possible in certain instances, it is not an entitlement.  Such situations are handled on a case-by-case basis.

2. Extension of Term Appointments

Circumstances that may extend a term appointment in the Research Line include part-time appointments, leave without salary, New Parent Extension, childcare leave, and (with the approval of the Provost) some personal circumstances that significantly disrupt teaching and scholarly activities for an extended period.

Circumstances that do not extend a term appointment in the Research Line include pregnancy disability leave, short-term disability leave, sabbatical leave, leave for periods of pure research, and administrative appointments.

Service at the rank of Assistant Professor in the Research Line may not normally exceed ten years, irrespective of the circumstances that might be offered to extend the term or terms.  Any exceptions can only be granted by the Provost for extraordinary personal or institutional circumstances.

Further information on extensions of term appointments and the request and approval process for such extensions is available in Chapter 2.5.3. and 2.5.4. of the University Faculty Handbook.

3. Continuing Term Appointments

As stated previously, it is the normal practice in the School of Medicine that new appointments, reappointments and promotions be made for a term of years.  However, at the discretion of the department, and with approval by the Vice Dean for Academic Affairs, reappointment or promotion to Associate Professor (Research) or to Professor (Research) may be considered for a continuing term appointment, which provides security of appointment without requiring formal reappointment.  (See University Faculty Handbook Chapter 2.2.3(2).)  Continuing term appointments may also carry certain additional benefits (e.g., enhanced housing assistance).

Reappointment or promotion to a continuing term presumes that the programmatic need has been firmly established.  In recommending a continuing term appointment, it is particularly important to provide evidence of an established history of outstanding scholarly contributions and the basis for departmental confidence in future scholarly productivity, including the ability to obtain sustained external funding.

Appointments to the Research Line, even if stated as for a continuing term, are normally coterminous with continued salary and other research support from sponsored projects, or the continuation of contract support.  Should such funding cease, the appointment normally would end at that same time – without the requirement of a period of notice.  (See University Faculty Handbook Chapter 2.8.3(1).)  Although School funding beyond the point at which the faculty member’s funding support terminates may be possible in certain instances, it is not an entitlement.  Such situations are handled on a case-by-case basis.

Continuing term appointments may be terminated for just cause, or (upon proper notice) when satisfactory performance ceases or for programmatic reasons (including budgetary considerations).  Although a department or school may expect a continuing programmatic need at the time of reappointment or promotion to a continuing term appointment, that need may change and, in rare cases, could lead to termination of the appointment.   For example, a department or school may decide to phase out a particular area altogether, or an area may simply be scaled down, decreasing the required number of faculty.  Alternatively, a department or school may decide to develop or treat an existing program in ways that may require either the reassignment of duties to another faculty line, or an appointment in a faculty line other than the Research Line.  Other reasons may involve funding considerations.

Termination of any continuing term appointment must be discussed in advance with the Vice Dean for Academic Affairs and subsequently approved by him or her.