2.1.0 Types of Faculty Contracts
All faculty members at the college will have a written contract for their work. The contract describes the employment relationship between the faculty member and the college.
2.1.1 Full-Time Contracts
2.1.1.1 Full-Time Regular Contract
(revised 02/07/2020 board meeting)
These positions have teaching assignments that normally consist of 24 course credits or the equivalent during an academic year. Additional faculty duties ordinarily include:
- Attendance and participation in department meetings and events.
- Attending faculty meetings and convocations.
- Service on committees or other special assignments if eligibility rules allow such service.
- Holding regular office hours and advising students.
Full-time faculty members may choose to supervise independent studies, course by arrangement and internships during the regular academic year as part of their regular full-time contract. In extradordinary circumstance, compensation may be offered by the Academic Dean. The office of Simpson Online and Graduate Studies compensate faculty for supervision of summer studies.
At the time of the hire, academic rank (instructor, assistant professor, associate professor, professor) will be assigned as appropriate to their academic credentials.
These faculty members are considered to be on a probationary contract until they receive tenure.
2.1.1.2 Full-Time Term Contract
(added 02/07/2020 board meeting)
Full-time term contracts may be used in cases where the college administration believes a full-time contract is warranted, but is unsure about the stability of student demand for the course offerings associated with the position.
These positions are oriented toward teaching, and have teaching assignments that normally consist of 24 course credits or the equivalent during an academic year. Additional faculty duties ordinarily expected include:
- Attendance and participation in department meetings and events.
- Attending faculty meetings.
- Service on committees, if the eligibility rules of the committee allow such service.
- Holding regular office hours.
If related to new programs, these positions may also be assigned duties related to the recruitment and advising of students in those programs.
At the time of the hire, academic rank (instructor, assistant professor, associate professor, professor) will be assigned as appropriate to their academic credentials.
Three years after the creation of these positions, the administration, in consultation with the Faculty Council, shall determine if student demand for the courses associated with the position are strong and that the institution sees an ongoing need for the position. At this point, there are three options:
- the position shall become tenure-track.
- the position shall be renewed for up to two years for final evaluation and determination of on-going institutional need
- the position shall be discontinued
The second option may only be taken once. The administration must then select either option 1 or 3.
If the position becomes tenure-track, the holder of the contract may or may not be considered for the tenure track appointment.
2.1.1.3 Full-Time Teaching Specialist Contract
(revised 02/07/2020 board meeting)
Teaching Specialists are faculty hired primarily for the purpose of providing specialized instructional support outside of the traditional classroom. Ordinarily, they are not expected to teach traditional credit-bearing courses.
Supervisors who seek to replace a teaching specialist when a vacancy occurs or add a new teaching specialist position should make their request directly to the Senior VP & Academic Dean. Decisions about adding and replacing teaching specialists are made solely at the discretion of the Senior VP & Academic Dean in consultation with the appropriate departmental supervisor and the Faculty Council.
If Teaching Specialists do teach traditional courses as a part of their contract they must have appropriate qualifications for doing so and the assigned traditional teaching load must not exceed 12 credits per academic year. If the position demands more than 12 credits of teaching as part of the normal load, the academic dean and department chair shall convert the position to a Full-Time Term contract (see 2.1.1.2).
Full-time Teaching Specialist faculty may be elected to committees, if the eligibility rules of the committee allow such service.
Academic rank (instructor, assistant professor, associate professor, professor) for Teaching Specialist faculty will be assigned as appropriate to their academic credentials at the time of hire. They are not eligible for tenure. If originally hired at the rank of instructor, teaching specialists are not eligible for promotion beyond the rank of assistant professor. Provisions regarding review criteria, notice of renewal or termination will be specified at the time of appointment.
2.1.1.4 Full-Time Joint Contract in a Single Department
A joint contract divides between two faculty members the rights and responsibilities equivalent to one full-time position, and may be negotiated after consultation with the department. Each faculty member sharing a joint contract is eligible individually for promotion and tenure in accordance with the regular criteria and procedures. A provision may be included in the initial contract that if one member of a joint appointment ceases for any reason to be a member of the faculty, the remaining member may assume the responsibilities of one position at the rank and tenure status of the remaining member. If that provision is not included in the initial contract, the remaining member retains tenure, if tenured, and may negotiate a full-time position by mutual agreement among the remaining member, the department, the Faculty Personnel Committee and the academic dean. If mutual agreement cannot be reached, at the discretion of the academic dean, the faculty member may be issued a one-year terminal contract.
2.1.1.5 Full-Time Contract in Multiple Departments
Faculty members may teach courses in more than one department, but all regular faculty must hold an appointment in a single academic department.
2.1.2 Other Types of Contracts
(revised 02/07/2020 board meeting)
These members of the faculty do not vote in faculty meetings.
2.1.2.1 Adjunct Contract
(revised 02/07/2020 board meeting)
Faculty members on term contracts who are not teaching a full load (24 credits or its equivalent) but rather have been hired to address enrollment or other curricular needs of the college will be appointed as adjunct faculty. Academic rank (instructor, assistant professor, associate professor, professor) will be assigned as appropriate to their academic credentials. They are not eligible for tenure or promotion; provisions regarding notice of renewal or termination will be specified at the time of appointment.
All adjunct faculty members will be expected to understand and complete the learning objectives for the classes they teach, and also participate fully in all other assessments of student learning objectives. Non-compliance and/or poor performance in these areas may be grounds for dismissal or non-reappointment.
2.1.2.2 Part-Time Teaching Specialist Contract
(added 5/13/2016 board meeting)
Faculty members providing service to the institution in a less than full-time capacity as described in Part II, Section 2.1.1.3 are considered part-time teaching specialists. Requirements for appointment will be consistent with those outlined for full-time teaching specialists, as will the assignment of academic rank.
2.1.2.3 Research Fellow
(added 05/13/2016 board meeting)
An individual appointed as a research fellow may conduct research, supervise students in research, supervise independent studies, guest lecture in classes and perform other tasks as determined by the institution. The term will be one calendar year. The appointment may be renewed upon mutual agreement. Compensation, if any, will be negotiated at the time of appointment and be included in a formal written agreement.
2.1.2.4 Full-Time Visiting Faculty Contract
(added 02/07/2020 board meeting)
Full-time visiting faculty contracts may be used to fill a specific short-term vacancy (late resignation, sabbatical replacement, grant-funded scholar, etc.) if the courses associated with the position cannot be filled through the use of adjuncts and overloads.
These positions are oriented toward teaching and have teaching assignments that ordinarily consist of 24 to 28 course credits or the equivalent during an academic year. Additional faculty duties ordinarily expected of full-time visiting faculty members include:
- Attendance and participation in department meetings and events.
- Holding regular office hours.
At the time of the hire, academic rank (instructor, assistant professor, associate professor, professor) will be assigned as appropriate to their academic credentials.
These contracts may be issued for one or two years. If the administration, Faculty Council, and department determine that there is a need beyond that, the position should be covered by a full-time term or tenure-track contract.
2.2.0 Types of Appointments
Whereas the term contract is used to describe the employment relationship between the college and the individual, the term appointment is used to describe the status of the relationship between the college and the individual.
2.2.1 Term Appointments
Faculty members on teaching specialist and adjunct contracts will be appointed for terms of one year or other stated periods. Term appointments may be renewable or non-renewable as stipulated at the time of appointment. Persons with term appointments are not eligible for tenure or promotion beyond the rank of assistant professor.
2.2.1.1 Visiting Appointments
Faculty members on term contracts filling a specific vacancy (late resignation, sabbatical replacement, grant-funded scholar, etc.) will be appointed as visiting faculty. Academic rank (instructor, assistant professor, associate professor, professor) will be assigned as appropriate to their academic credentials.
2.2.2 Probationary and Tenured Appointments
Faculty members with regular or joint appointments will be on probationary appointments or on appointments with continuous tenure.
2.2.2.1 Probationary Appointments
Probationary appointments may be made for one year, or for other state periods up to a maximum of six years; a probationary appointment may be renewed, but no such appointment implies a presumption of renewal. Appointment to a probationary contract does not guarantee tenure.
Previous service at Simpson College and other institutions of higher education may be included in the probationary period subject to limitations agreed upon in writing at the time of appointment. If not previously agreed upon in writing, a person with more than three years previous probationary service completed after the terminal degree has been earned will be appointed for a probationary period of not more than four years, even though a person’s total probationary period in the academic profession is thereby extended beyond the normal maximum of seven years.
2.2.2.2 Appointments with Continuous Tenure
Appointments with continuous tenure are made after a probationary period of not more than six years. Time spent on leaves of absence will not be included in the six years of probationary service, unless the faculty member and the college agree in writing to the contrary at the time the leave is granted. Tenure may be granted earlier, but not later, than the expiration of the probationary period. The appointment to continuous tenure will follow the policies outlined in Simpson College Handbook Part II: Personnel Policies, Section 8 and the procedures described in Simpson College Handbook Part III: Personnel Procedures, Section 5 .
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