2.6.E. Duration of Appointments

It is the normal practice in the School of Medicine that new appointments at the rank of Associate Professor and Professor be made for a term of years.  Likewise, reappointments as Associate Professor are normally for a term of years.  However, at the discretion of the department, and with approval by the Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, reappointment as Associate Professor (Teaching) may be considered for a continuing term (see below).

Conversely, reappointments as and promotions to Professor (Teaching) are generally made for a continuing term.  However, at the discretion of the department, and with approval by the Vice Dean for Academic Affairs, such actions may be considered for a term of years.

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
Associate Professor (Teaching)

Generally 5 years

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

Professor (Teaching) Generally 5 years Renewable for a continuing term or for an unlimited number of 5 year terms.

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 2.6.F.   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, and it is the faculty member’s obligation to provide materials that are requested, such as an up-to-date curriculum vitae and candidate’s statement.   The Office of Academic Affairs will work with departments to create a schedule so that the reappointment or promotion review is conducted in a timely manner.

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).

2. Extension of Term Appointments

Circumstances that may extend a term appointment in the Teaching 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 activities for an extended period.

Circumstances that do not extend a term appointment in the Teaching Line include pregnancy disability leave, short-term disability leave, sabbatical leave, and administrative appointments.

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

Promotion to the rank of Professor (Teaching) usually confers a continuing term, which provides security of appointment without requiring formal reappointment.  Continuing term appointments may also carry certain additional benefits (e.g., enhanced housing assistance.)

As stated previously, it is the normal practice in the School of Medicine that reappointments as Associate Professor in the Teaching 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 as Associate Professor (Teaching) may be considered for a continuing term.

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 teaching contributions and the basis for departmental confidence in future excellence and productivity that will fulfill programmatic need.

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 Teaching 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 in consultation with the Dean.