Introduction to Faculty Positions
UT faculty titles
The faculty at The University of Texas comprises all tenured and tenure-track Professors, Assistant Professors, and Associate Professors. In addition, many non-tenured faculty members teach at UT campuses: Instructors, Lecturers, Senior Lecturers, Assistant Instructors and Teaching Associates, Teaching Assistants, Faculty Associates, Specialists, Researchers and Clinicians, Visiting Professors, Endowed and Honorific Chairs and Professorships, Regental Professors, and individuals who hold an Emeritus status.
University faculty statuses
Faculty tenure statuses are as follows:
- Tenured – Denotes a status of continuing appointment as a member of the faculty at a component institution. Only members of the faculty with academic titles of Professor and Associate Professor may be granted tenure.
- Tenure track – Applies to faculty whose appointment is probationary. Tenure-track personnel (e.g., non-tenured associate professors and assistant professors) can become eligible for permanent tenure by observing university policies and regulations and by demonstrating academic and service-related development.
- Non-tenured – Refers to faculty members who hold current appointments; employment beyond the term of the faculty member's current appointment must be approved by the Board of Regents. To be eligible for tenure, full-time academic service as Instructor or Assistant Professor is required.
- Emeritus – The titles Professor Emeritus or Associate Professor Emeritus confer lifetime academic appointments upon faculty members who held the rank of professor or associate professor during their period of active service at the university.
Holders of emeritus titles have the following privileges and perquisites:
- Membership (without vote) in the General Faculty and in the college and department faculties in which membership was held at the time of retirement.
- Eligibility to serve on graduate committees, subject to the approval of the Vice President and Dean of Graduate Studies.
- Listing in the faculty directory and in the appropriate college catalog.
- Use of the campus mail service.
- Office space, when available and with the approval of the chairman of the department, the dean of the college or school, and the President.
Faculty position types
- Primary – A faculty member's main position within a single academic department.
- Joint – A position held in another academic department in addition to the faculty member's main position. Both positions constitute formal full-fledged faculty relationships with the respective academic departments.
- Courtesy – A professional relationship a faculty member may have with an academic department, academic center, or research center in addition to his or her primary or joint position. This less-formal relationship is without funding.
Retirement categories
- Full retirement – A retiree is any tenured faculty member who voluntarily terminates employment with the university and who meets the service requirements for retirement under the Teacher Retirement System or the Optional Retirement Program.
- Phased retirement – Phased retirement refers to reduced appointments in teaching service and/or scholarship to assist an individual in preparing for full retirement. A post-retirement contract is entered into for up to three years. A tenured faculty member who officially retires maintains a part-time (50% or 25%) term appointment without tenure until the expiration of the contract.
- Modified Service – The Board of Regents may appoint a faculty member who has retired to modified service. Recommendation for and appointment to modified service shall be made only if the individual's service will significantly benefit the university. Appointment to modified service is without tenure, limited to half time, and spans no more than one academic year.
NOTE: HRMS also recognizes non-tenured (retired) faculty members, which refers to tenured professors who have retired and are eligible for retirement under the Teacher Retirement System or the Optional Retirement Program.
Prior Approval Request (UT Austin only)
The Prior Approval Request (PAR) process ensures that academic units secure all funds and appropriate approvals before extending an offer of employment to a prospective faculty member. The PAR process includes new hires (all ranks) and current faculty being offered a new or modified appointment. A PAR must be completed for every offer of new or modified employment except those approved via the promotions process.
After posting and advertising the position and identifying and interviewing the candidate, the academic unit creates the Prior Approval Request packet for the selected candidate, following the steps outlined below. The academic unit may begin informal negotiations before the PAR process is complete, but it does not yet make a formal job offer until the PAR reaches “Offer Pending Status.”
PARs for prospective tenured/tenure-track faculty currently employed in a tenured/tenure-track position at another institution of higher education must receive final approval from the Provost’s Office and the offer must be extended to the candidate by May 1 for employment beginning in the fall semester. After this date, offers may not be extended until the provost requests permission from the responsible administrative officer at the other institution.