NON-TENURE TRACK PERSONNEL

BOR Reference: USG Academic Affairs Handbook: 4.1 http://www.usg.edu/academic_affairs_handbook/section4/

Institutions of the University System are authorized to establish professional positions designated as non-tenure track positions. Each institution shall prepare annually, along with its budget, a list of positions so designated for submission to the approval by the Chancellor. Subsequent requests for such designations submitted during the budget year must also be approved by the Chancellor. Positions designated as non-tenure track positions or as tenure track positions may be converted to the other type only with approval by the Chancellor.

Non-tenure track positions may be established for full-time professional personnel employed in administrative positions or to staff research, technical, special, career, and public service programs or programs which are anticipated to have a limited life-span or which are funded, fully or partially, through non-system sources. There shall be no maximum time limitation for service in positions in this category.

The following provisions shall apply to all non-tenure track professional personnel:

(a) Individuals employed in non-tenure track positions shall not be eligible for consideration for the award of tenure.

(b) Probationary credit toward tenure shall not be awarded for service in non-tenure track positions.

(c) Notice of intention to renew or not to renew contracts of non-tenure track personnel who have been awarded academic rank (instructor, assistant professor, associate professor, professor) shall follow the schedule required for tenure track personnel. This schedule of notification shall not apply to other professional personnel.

(d) Individuals employed in non-tenure track positions may apply, on an equal basis with other candidates, for tenure track positions which may become available.

The transfer of individuals from tenure track positions to non-tenure track positions shall be effected on a voluntary basis only.

Guidelines - Non-Tenure Track Positions

Only positions requiring Board of Regents' approval may be considered for non-tenure track classification.

Non-tenure track designations may be utilized for full-time positions carrying academic rank (instructor, assistant professor, associate professor, professor) or for full-time positions carrying research, public service, or professional librarian titles.

Non-tenure track designations may be utilized for full-time positions budgeted in the instruction, research, and public service categories. These designations may also be utilized for full-time professional librarian positions budgeted in the academic support category.

Such designations may not be utilized for positions budgeted in the academic support (with the exception of professional librarian positions), student services, and institutional support categories unless the positions carry academic rank (instructor, assistant professor, associate professor, professor). The non-tenure track designation will apply only to the rank assigned, not the title.

The redesignation of any currently occupied tenure track position as a non-tenure track position may be effected only upon request for redesignation by the individual occupying the position, with a written statement from the individual indicating "an understanding of the non-tenure track policy and a voluntary acceptance of the position reclassification" to be maintained on file in the appropriate office at the institution, with a copy forwarded to the Chancellor.

Advertisements or announcements of a vacant position classified as non-tenure track must clearly indicate that the position is so classified.

Non-tenure track designations are limited by the Board policy and by these guidelines to positions in four categories:

(a) Administrative positions which carry academic rank (instructor, assistant professor, associate professor, professor)

(b) Positions in certain program areas:

Research - full-time positions with research titles

Technical - full-time positions in vocational-technical areas at the associate degree level.

Special - full-time positions in programs which do not offer predominately degree credit, may include Learning Services.

Career - full-time positions for which a need is not permanent in programs which are purely occupational in nature.

Public Service - full-time positions with public service titles.

(c) Positions which carry academic rank (instructor, assistant professor, associate professor, professor) in programs established for a specific period of time.

(d) Positions which carry academic rank (instructor, assistant professor, associate professor, professor) in programs which are funded, fully or significantly, from non-system sources.

The designation of positions as non-tenure track has no relationship to the existing classification of professional and administrative employees as defined in the Business Procedures Manual, Vol. 3 A, Revised. Institutional classification of such employees is not affected by the utilization of non-tenure track designations. Beginning with the 1984 fiscal year, positions designated as non- tenure track should be listed as "NTT" in the institutional budget under the "title" column.

TENURE POLICY

TENURE PROCEDURES