Appointments, Terms and Reappointments1

The terms and conditions of every appointment to the full-time2 faculty shall be confirmed in writing, and a copy supplied to the faculty member.

  1. Tenured and tenure-track faculty

    With the exception of appointments clearly limited to a brief association with the institution, and reappointments of retired faculty members under special conditions, all full-time tenured/tenure-track appointments to the rank of assistant professor or higher are of two kinds: (1) appointments with continuous tenure and (2) tenure-track probationary appointments. Tenure-track faculty shall be informed each year in writing of his or her appointment, the number of probationary years remaining, and the year of tenure consideration.

    NOTICE OF NON-REAPPOINTMENT

    Regardless of the stated term or other provisions of any appointments, written notice that an appointment is not to be renewed shall be given to the faculty member in advance of the expiration of his or her appointment, as follows:

    1. For faculty in this classification in their first academic year of service,
      1. If the appointment expires at the end of that academic year, written notice shall be given no later than March 1 of the first academic year of service;
      2. If the appointment ends during the academic year or at the end of a calendar year, written notice shall be given at least three months before the end of that year.
    2. For faculty in this classification in their second academic year of service,
      1. If the appointment expires at the end of that academic year, written notice shall be given no later than December 15 of the second academic year of service;
      2. If the appointment ends during the academic year or at the end of a calendar year, written notice shall be given at least three months before the end of that year.
    3. At least twelve months before the expiration of an appointment after a period of service exceeding two years. 3

  2. Full-time non-tenure-track faculty4with the exception of research faculty and professors of the practice

    Faculty in this classification are appointed to the rank commensurate with their experience and credentials. Appointments are made by the dean on the basis of the recommendation of the full-time faculty and the department chair (or equivalent) in the relevant unit. A faculty member appointed in this classification must hold the doctorate or equivalent terminal degree in the field. A faculty member not holding the terminal degree may be appointed only with the prior approval of the Provost.

    Faculty appointments in this classification are renewable, contingent upon several factors at the sole discretion of the University, including satisfactory performance, external funding if appropriate, and unit and university need. Renewals of appointments are made by the college dean on the basis of the recommendation of the full-time faculty and the department chair (or unit head equivalent) in the relevant unit. The renewable terms are as follows:

    1. First level/rank (e.g., Assistant Teaching Professor) is at least one year and no more than two years;
    2. Second level/rank (e.g., Associate Clinical Professor) is three years; and
    3. Third level/rank (e.g., [Full] Teaching Professor) is five years.

    All appointments and reappointments are contingent upon faculty in this classification maintaining the appropriate visa status and work authorization. Upon promotion, the new contract will reflect the appropriate term length (e.g., when promoted from Assistant to Associate, the new contract term will be three years).

    NOTICE OF NON-REAPPOINTMENT

    No non-tenure-track faculty appointment, reappointment, or promotion carries a guarantee of future re-appointments or promotions. Non-reappointment of a faculty member in this classification may be based on several factors in the sole discretion of the university, including but not limited to insufficient funding or lack of need, unsatisfactory performance, or for cause. Northeastern University will provide faculty members with written notice of the university’s intent not to renew within the following guidelines:

    1. For faculty in this classification in their first academic year of service,
      1. If the appointment expires at the end of that academic year, written notice shall be given no later than March 1 of the first academic year of service;
      2. If the appointment ends during the academic year or at the end of a calendar year, written notice shall be given at least three months before the end of that year.
    2. For faculty in this classification in their second academic year of service,
      1. If the appointment expires at the end of that academic year, written notice shall be given no later than December 15 of the second academic year of service;;
      2. If the appointment ends during the academic year or at the end of a calendar year, written notice shall be given at least three months before the end of that year.
    3. For faculty in this classification beyond their second academic year of service, written notice shall be given at least twelve months before the expiration of an appointment.

    Where deadlines on notification with respect to the issuance of a terminal contract have been missed by reason of inadvertence, mistake, or misunderstanding, the university shall provide to the faculty member involved a contract extension equal to the time between the missed deadline and the issuance of the corrected contract.

  3. Non-tenure-track research faculty5 

    1. Rank,Title and Status
      Research faculty members are appointed to the professorial rank (Assistant Professor, Associate Professor or Professor) commensurate with their experience and credentials. All research faculty appointments are non-tenure track, and may not be converted to tenure-track status. Appointments reside at the department (or equivalent “unit”) level.
    2. Source and Level of Compensation
      Federal regulations recognize that in an academic setting faculty members engage in a range of research, teaching and service activities, and fulfill other administrative obligations to the university. A research faculty member’s primary effort is dedicated to research and such appointments should be supported almost exclusively with externally funded research agreements. The percentage of effort charged to those agreements will be based on the maximum effort allowed by the granting agency. Typically research faculty may charge up to 95% of their effort on research. The level of compensation and effort will be determined jointly by the dean and the unit head, and shall be consistent with applicable guidelines/limits of the funding organization and/or the specific grant/contract/award. Normally, research faculty salaries should be commensurate with salaries of tenure-track and tenured faculty of comparable rank in their discipline. Research faculty appointments may be renewed only if external funding continues.
    3. Appointment and Term
      Research faculty appointments are made by the dean based on recommendations from the unit faculty and subject to the review of the Senior Vice Provost for Research. Every research faculty appointment/renewal must have the potential to further the university’s research mission and advance the unit’s and the university’s current research goals. Research faculty must have earned a doctorate in the field in which they seek appointment or possess the equivalent terminal degree in their discipline. Initial Northeastern research faculty appointments at any level are made for a period of up to a maximum of three years or commensurate with the duration of the funding period, whichever is shorter. No research faculty appointment, reappointment or promotion carries a guarantee of future re­ appointments or promotions. All appointments are also contingent upon maintaining the appropriate visa status and work authorization.
    4. Reappointment
      Research faculty appointments are renewable, contingent upon several factors in the sole discretion of the university, including satisfactory performance, unit and university need, and continued external funding. Upon the recommendations of the unit head and with the approval the dean, renewals of research faculty appointments at the Associate Professor or Professor level may be made for a period of up to three years, concurrent with the current expected duration of outside funding. Research faculty appointments may not be used to extend the probationary period of a tenure-track faculty member. All reappointments are also contingent upon maintaining the appropriate visa status and work authorization.

  4. Professors of the practice6

    1. Rank,Title and Status
      Appointment as “Professor of the Practice” may be offered by the University to a limited number of eminently qualified creative, business, entrepreneurial, law, or other professionals who are recognized by peers as having made significant contributions to fields and disciplines important to Northeastern University programs. Because of the eminent stature of individuals offered these positions, this title has only two ranks: Professor of the Practice and Distinguished Professor of the Practice.Professor and Distinguished Professor of the Practice appointments are non-tenure-track, and service in these ranks may not be applied towards tenure consideration at Northeastern under any circumstances.

      For communications purposes, holders of such appointments may be referred to as “Professor [or Distinguished Professor] of the Practice of X;’ where X is an academic discipline or specialty.

    2. Rights and Responsibilities
      A Professor of the Practice makes a continuing commitment to both teaching and academic service and may maintain his or her professional activities outside of the university as long as these activities do not conflict with the duties of his or her academic appointment. Professors of the Practice may be appointed at any fraction of a full-time appointment. Professors of the Practice in benefits-eligible appointments are governed by Northeastern’s Conflict of Commitment and Interest policy; all Professors of the Practice, whatever the status of their appointment, must disclose, and cooperate fully with University officials in managing, potential conflicts of interest.The specific responsibilities and expectations of each Professor of the Practice position, including expectations or agreements concerning continued outside professional activity, will be approved by the dean of the hiring unit and itemized in the faculty member’s letter of appointment. At the discretion of the dean and with the approval of the Senior Vice Provost for Research, a Professor of the Practice may be considered a “Principal Investigator” for the purpose of submitting grants proposals through Northeastern, and may support some or all of his or her salary through external funding.
    3. Appointments, Terms, and Reappointments
      Faculty appointments as Professor or Distinguished Professor of the Practice are made by the dean with the approval of the Provost, following consultation with the faculty in the professor’s unit(s) of appointment. Faculty members are appointed to these ranks on the basis of outstanding and sustained professional accomplishment, which may or may not include possession of an earned terminal degree.Professors of the Practice will be appointed for a minimum of one semester or quarter and a maximum of five academic years, to be stipulated in the appointment letter, and the appointment may be renewed for a period of up to five years, to be stipulated in the new appointment letter at the discretion of the dean and with the concurrence of the faculty of the unit(s) and the Provost. A faculty member initially appointed at the rank of Professor of the Practice may, at the discretion of the dean and with the agreement of the Provost, be reappointed at the rank of Distinguished Professor of the Practice.

      All appointments and reappointments are contingent upon documentation of U.S. citizenship or upon maintaining the appropriate visa status and work authorization.

  1. Approved by the Faculty Senate 4/5/17, 29-0-0; approved by the Board of Trustees 6/7/17
  2. Full-time shall mean an academic appointment, which includes teaching and/or research in a faculty rank for two semesters in an academic year or not less than a full assignment for the academic year or any portion thereof.  Without limiting other sections of this Handbook with respect to Conflict of Interest and Commitment, it is understood that full-time faculty are prohibited from holding full-time faculty or teaching appointments at other educational institutions. For a description of the positions covered by the term full-time, see The General University Faculty and Bylaws.
  3. Where deadlines on notification concerning denial of tenure or with respect to the issuance of a terminal contract have been missed by reason of inadvertence, mistake, or misunderstanding, the institution shall provide to the faculty member involved a contract extension equal to the time between the missed deadline and the appropriate notification or the issuance of the corrected contract, which the case may be. (Approved by the Board of Trustees, June 18, 1982.)
  4. Full-time Non-tenure-track faculty titles may be found on the website of the Vice Provost for Academic Affairs.
  5. Approved by the Faculty Senate on 17 September 2015 and by the Board of Trustees on 27 March 2015.
  6. Passed by the Faculty Senate 30 January 2013; approved by the Provost 12 March 2013 and by the Board of Trustees 7 June 2013.