Simpson College defines its policies for appointment, promotion and tenure as stated herein. These policies are regularly administered by appropriate faculty, administrative and trustee groups. The procedures for the implementation of these policies can be found in Simpson College Faculty Handbook Part III: Personnel Procedures, Section 2 .
Faculty appointments, promotions and tenure are governed by the force of the currently approved policies and procedures. Faculty who sign a contract for the ensuing year tacitly agree to the policies and procedures in force for that year.
3.1.0 Degree Criteria for Initial Appointment
The following minimal degree criteria have been established for initial appointment in the various types of faculty contracts.
3.1.1 Degree Criteria for Initial Full-Time Appointments
(revised 02/07/2020 board meeting)
The appropriate academic degree required for full-time appointment to a probationary and term contract will be the earned doctorate except in the following cases:
- Accounting: Masters, plus C.P.A.
- Athletic Training: Master’s in field related to area of teaching, plus significant professional experience
- Communication and Media Studies: Ph.D., or Master’s in field related to area of teaching, plus significant professional experience
- Computer Science: Ph.D., or a master’s in a field related to area of teaching, plus significant professional experience
- English-Creative Writing: Master of Fine Arts
- Library: Master of Library Science
- Management: Doctorate in Management or Doctorate in another field (including J.D.,) plus a Master’s in business-related area, or an MBA plus relevant professional experience.
- Physical Education: Master’s in field related to area of teaching, plus significant professional experience
- Social Work: Master of Social Work (MSW)
- Studio Arts: Master of Fine Arts
- Theatre-Acting/Directing: Master of Fine Arts
- Theatre-Design: Master of Fine Arts
The above listed degrees are considered to be terminal degrees for the purpose of tenure and promotion. In some cases, a faculty member may be hired in a tenure-track position before the terminal degree is complete. Expectations for degree completion will be included in the original contract. The academic dean, after consultation with the department and the Faculty Personnel Committee, may approve alternate degrees for initial appointment, tenure, and promotion. The approval of alternate degrees for appointment, tenure, and promotion will be documented in writing and included in the faculty member’s file.
3.1.2 Degree Criteria for All Adjunct and Teaching Specialist Faculty Initial Appointments
The appropriate degree and/or professional experience for adjunct and teaching specialist faculty appointments will be determined by the academic dean in consultation with the department at the time of original appointment.
3.2.0 Academic Rank
(revised 02/07/2020 board meeting)
The college recognizes four academic ranks: instructor, assistant professor, associate professor and professor.
It is understood that the academic dean, after consultation with the FPC, may waive certain criteria for initial appointment.
3.2.1 Instructor
(revised 02/07/2020 board meeting)
Faculty must have an appropriate degree or significant professional experience or expertise. See 3.1.1 for details.
3.2.2 Assistant Professor
Earned doctorate in the appropriate discipline or other appropriate degree as listed in 3.1.1.
3.2.3 Associate Professor
The earned doctorate in the appropriate discipline or other appropriate degree as listed in 3.1.1 and have achieved the rank of associate at another accredited institution or a meritorious record of achievement in another relevant way.
3.2.4 Professor
The earned doctorate in the appropriate discipline or other appropriate degree as listed in 3.1.1 and have achieved the rank of professor at another accredited institution or a meritorious record of achievement in another relevant way.
3.2.5 Professor Emeriti
(revised 02/02/2010 board meeting)
A faculty member who retires from service at Simpson College is eligible to be considered for appointment to the status of professor emeritus and shall, if appointed, be so designated irrespective of the rank at retirement. A faculty member must be at least 55 years old and have held a full-time appointment at the college for at least ten of the preceding thirteen years. Procedures for appointment to professor emeriti may be found in Simpson College Handbook Part III: Personnel Procedures, Section 1.4.0. Current privileges of faculty emeriti status may be found in the Simpson College Handbook Part V: Information . Emeriti may be given additional contracts to teach part-time or to perform other part-time duties at the college.
3.2.6 Academic Rank for Full-time Administrators
Academic rank for administrators and other non-faculty employees will be determined at the time of hire by the president or academic dean in consultation with the Faculty Personnel Committee. Full-time administrators with faculty rank will not normally receive appointment to an academic department unless their duties include significant teaching responsibility.
3.3.0 Faculty/Administration Appointments
3.3.1 Appointment of Faculty to Administrative Positions
A faculty member tenured at Simpson who accepts a non-faculty appointment shall retain tenure and faculty rank, and if negotiated in the initial administrative appointment contract and upon the approval of the department, may return to her or his department upon the conclusion of administrative service.
3.3.2 Appointment of Administrators to Regular Faculty
College administrators and other non-faculty employees appointed to regular faculty (tenure-track or tenured) positions must qualify on the basis of the same criteria as other faculty. As a general rule, such appointments are to be made at the discretion of the president of the college and with the approval of the academic dean, the Faculty Personnel Committee, and the appropriate department. Academic rank (instructor, assistant professor, associate professor, professor) will be assigned as appropriate to their academic credentials.
Non-faculty employees appointed to regular faculty may be promoted on the basis of total contribution to the college under the same standards of excellence in performance of assigned duties, time in rank, and degree requirements as other faculty members.
3.3.3 Appointment of Non-faculty Employees to Adjunct Faculty
(revised 02/07/2020 board meeting)
Administrators and other non-faculty employees appointed to adjunct positions (teaching less than 24 credits or its equivalent) must qualify on the basis of the same criteria as other faculty. As a general rule, such appointments are to be made at the discretion of the academic dean upon consultation with the appropriate department. 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.
(added 02/15/2013)
All full-time faculty members are expected to regularly engage in their professional discipline as part of their employment at the college. For most faculty, this expectation is included within the normal criteria for promotion and tenure and is done within the scope of their normal duties.
From time to time, the proportion of time spent by faculty members may exceed the normal expectations. This might be as editor of a national publication, contracted research or serving as a leader of a national association. In these cases, a faculty member may petition the Senior VP & Academic Dean for a reduction in teaching load. Normally, this will be a course release without additional compensation to or from the college. In certain limited circumstances, money may be available to pay for someone to teach the released course(s). The decision to grant the release and the decision on replacement is at the sole discretion of the Senior VP & Academic Dean.
Faculty interested in receiving a reduction in teaching assignment load should talk to the Senior VP & Academic Dean before accepting an assignment which would necessitate a reduction in load.
3.4.0 Terms and Conditions of Appointment
Appointment to the faculty will be stated or confirmed in writing by the president of the college and a copy of the appointment document will be supplied to the faculty member. Any subsequent extensions or modifications of any appointment and any special understandings will be confirmed in writing and a copy furnished to the faculty member. An appointment to the faculty is not confirmed until a contract is issued, signed by both parties, and received by the college.
3.5.0 Degree Completion
Faculty members who are hired in regular (tenure-track or tenured) contracts without the appropriate terminal degree will have any conditions regarding the completion of the degree stated in the original contract of hire. If a faculty person does not complete the requirements for the appropriate terminal degree by the end of the period stated in the initial contract, at the discretion of the academic dean the subsequent contract may include a notice of termination.
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