Appointment of Faculty

Executive Memorandum B-48, “Principles and Policies for Academic Freedom, Responsibilities and Tenure, and Procedures for Termination of Faculty Appointments for Cause,” is Purdue University’s official statement on academic freedom, tenure, and the procedures to be used in terminating faculty appointments for cause.  The College of Liberal Arts incorporates much of the spirit of the “Statement of Principles on Academic Freedom and Tenure” of the American Association of University Professors in its’ personnel policies.  In addition to the statement on academic freedom, the probationary periods for faculty hired at the various academic ranks are described in Executive Memorandum B-48.  Also included is a description of the conditions under which part-time faculty are eligible for tenure.  Of all policies and procedures developed by the University, Executive Memorandum B-48 is one of the most significant, for it is the cornerstone of academic freedom on this campus; a copy of it is distributed to every new faculty member hired at Purdue.

Executive Memorandum B-50, “Terms and Conditions of Employment of Faculty Members,” describes the procedure for appointing faculty members, in both ladder and non-ladder rank appointments.  It also describes procedures to be followed in the non-renewal of appointments and resignations by faculty members.  

In 1994, the University Senate approved the establishment of a clinical/professional faculty track.  Clinical/professional faculty lines have a primary focus on clinical teaching and supervision in specific programs on campus. Incumbents may be promoted to associate professor and/or professor within the clinical/professional rank.  They do not, however, receive tenure.  For a description of the clinical/professional classification, click on “Clinical/Professional Faculty Appointment and Promotion,  (VI.F.10)” and Procedures for Appointing and Promoting Clinical/Professional Faculty. Promotion and tenure procedures for clinical/professional faculty are in the “Liberal Arts Promotion and Tenure Procedures” and in "Procedures for Appointing and Promoting Clinical/Professional Faculty."

In spring 2019, the College of Liberal Arts provided options for the titles of clinical faculty as the most suitable in order to reflect their speciality in teaching and practice. For details please see Titles of Teaching/Practice Faculty.

The employment classification of research faculty was approved by the University Senate in 2005. Faculty appointed to these positions are non-tenure-track and are fully supported financially by extramural funds. See University guidelines for research faculty appointments and promotion. For the College of Liberal Arts Implementation Guidelines, click here.

Another classification with a primary focus on teaching is that of lecturer.  There are two types of lecturers at Purdue.  Limited-term lecturers are employed for one academic semester to instruct a specific course or courses.  Continuing lecturers are employed on an ongoing basis and perform other duties relating to the course or courses, their students, and the department’s instructional programs.  Continuing lecturer appointments are at 0.50 FTE or higher.  A national or regional search is required prior to the appointment of continuing lecturers, but not for limited-term lecturers.  Some departments in CLA regularly employ limited-term lecturers and continuing lecturers to assist in the teaching programs.  Terms and conditions of employment of continuing and limited-term lecturers are described in University Policy IV.14.4.

Occasionally, a department wishes to allow an individual to affiliate who is not receiving a salary from the University.  Executive Memorandum C-12, “Classes of Purdue University Appointments for Personnel Not on the University Payroll,” describes the procedures for appointing individuals into adjunct, associate, affiliate, or visiting scholar categories.  Courtesy appointments may be extended to faculty members in other departments in return for academic services, such as frequent guest lecturing in courses and serving on student committees. For CLA courtesy appointment procedures, please click here. Faculty at other universities providing similar services may be appointed as adjunct faculty. Offer letters must be approved by the dean.

A final University document,http://www.purdue.edu/policies/ethics/iiib3.html ,describes Purdue’s anti-nepotism policy and procedures to be followed in the employment of related individuals.

Offer Letters

When preparing offer letters for faculty candidates (and other instructional staff), please note that your  department business manager has templates for most of the appointments you will make. Click here for a guide to use when preparing offer letters for new faculty.  All offer letters must be reviewed by the CLA dean’s office before they are sent. The University requires varying levels of approval, depending on the level of the hire. 

If tenure-track faculty begin their appointments after August of the academic year in which they are hired, they may be eligible for having that year excluded from their maximum probationary period. Approval from the provost is required prior to the effective date of the contract; however, this approval will be pro forma if the appointment date is January 1 or later. Click on “Faculty Probationary Periods” for the policy on excluding partial years of employment from the probationary period.

If a candidate for a faculty position has not completed his/her terminal degree prior to employment, the initial rank and salary will be reduced. The Faculty Completion of Degrees memorandum explains how those appointments are handled and the required documentation to change the rank and increase the salary once the degree is completed.

Faculty hired at the associate or full professor rank may be offered tenure upon appointment. The procedure that must be followed is described in memorandum “CLA policy for offering immediate tenure to associate and full professors who hold tenure at another institution.”

For additional information on the selection of faculty and staff members, contact your departmental business manager; Kirke Willing, CLA Director of Financial Affairs; or Wei Hong, Senior Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs, or Tera Bivins, HR Liaison with CLA.