Normal Term of Employment
Before an individual can teach on a part-time basis, he or she must be appointed as an adjunct faculty member. The normal term of appointment is three years. However, appointment as an adjunct faculty member does not guarantee employment as a teacher at any time during the term of appointment. Rather, adjunct status is a necessary precondition to teach.

The University employs an adjunct instructor to teach a course only when a full-time member is not available to be assigned to the course. No guarantee of employment is made until registration for the course has been completed; an adjunct instructor will not be employed for a course canceled due to inadequate enrollment or for a course reassigned to a full-time faculty member.

After input from the faculty, the chair or director recommends appointment of an adjunct faculty to the dean. Upon approval, the dean reports the action to the Provost.

Certification
Part-time faculty teaching graduate-level courses (those numbered 500 or higher) must be certified for graduate instruction. Normally, faculty teaching graduate courses must have a terminal degree in the field and have evidence of scholarly activity in recent years. The chair or director will assist adjunct faculty in the certification process if graduate instruction is part of their teaching load.

Criteria for Rank
Criteria for academic rank of adjunct faculty are consistent with those for full-time faculty. Instructors typically lack the terminal degree. Assistant professors have the terminal degree but have not yet demonstrated significant accomplishment in research or creative activity. Associate professors hold the terminal degree and have demonstrated substantial accomplishment in research or creative activity. Professors have terminal degrees and national reputations for scholarship or creative activity.

Forms Required for Adjunct Appointment
Numerous forms are required before an adjunct appointment is finalized and stipends can be paid. A checklist of these forms is provided in this document. Many of these forms may be downloaded from the Human Resources website.