EFFECTIVE DATE: January 05, 2021
ISSUE #: 2
PRESIDENT: Dr. Antonio Tillis (Interim)
PURPOSE
This Policy Statement (PS) describes the titles and ranks used in tenured and tenure-track
academic appointments at the University of Houston-Downtown (UHD). Tenured and tenure
track appointments are made using titles and ranks common throughout the University of
Houston System.
DEFINITIONS
2.1 Faculty: The faculty at UHD consists of full-time tenured or tenure-track faculty members,
full-time faculty members who are employed in non-tenure and no-tenure track positions,
and part-time faculty members employed in non-tenure and non-tenure track positions.
2.2 Tenure-Track Positions: The following ranks are considered part of the tenure track:
instructor, assistant professor, associate professor, and professor.
2.3 Non-Tenure & Non-Track Faculty Employees: These faculty members include
individuals who hold non-tenured and non-tenure track appointments of limited
duration, such as appointments for a single semester, and appointments for nonreoccurring service. Non- tenure and non-tenure track faculty include: lecturers and
senior lecturers, adjunct faculty, research associates and clinical faculty, visiting faculty,
faculty in residence, and graduate assistants.
POLICY
3.1 Commitment to Diversity: This policy statement incorporates the provisions of PS 02.A.20 Affirmative Action Policy and PS 02.A.21 Equal Opportunity Policy, which
applies to all employees and employment applicants. The University of HoustonDowntown is committed to a diverse academic environment that prepares students to
meet the challenges of the twenty-first century workforce.
3.2 Commitment to Quality: The University is committed to recruiting and employing the
most highly qualified individuals available for all academic appointments.
3.3 Commitment to Procedures: The University of Houston-Downtown will appoint
faculty members in accord with the procedures established in all relevant UHD policy
statements and University of Houston System Administrative Memorandum 06.A.09Academic Personnel Policies.
3.4 Commitment to the System of Tenure: UHD remains committed to the system of tenure
as delineated in 10.A.01, the Rank and Tenure System policy.
3.5 Ranks Used in Tenured and Tenure-Track Academic Appointments
3.5.1 Tenured and Tenure-Track Academic Appointments: The processes for hiring,
evaluation and promotion, dismissal and non-reappointment, and grievance for
all tenured and tenure-track appointments are outlined in this policy and other
relevant UHD policies.
3.5.1.1 Instructor: The rank of instructor is intended to allow an individual
completing their terminal degree to have a seamless transition into the
rank of assistant professor upon awarding of their terminal degree. The
rank of instructor is normally in the tenure-track with time spent as
instructor counted in the probationary period. No instructor, however, is
awarded tenure. Under special circumstances, the president may waive
the inclusion of an instructor in the tenure-track by written mutual
agreement.
Minimum Academic Preparation: A Master’s degree or significant
professional experience or preparation.
Minimum Experience: No experience is necessary as this is the first rank
in the academic ranking system.
Minimum Criteria for Rank: The applicant for instructor has all of
the qualifications for an associate professor position, with the exception
of the terminal degree.
3.5.1.2 Assistant Professor: Assistant Professors are hired with a probationary
period prior to tenure and promotion.
Minimum Academic Preparation: Appropriate terminal degree or
appropriate preparation to serve the mission of UHD.
Minimum Experience: A minimum of two years as an instructor, or
significant experience or training in subject area is preferred.
Minimum Criteria for Rank: The applicant for assistant professor has
strong potential in teaching, service/professional activities, and
scholarly/creative activities.
3.5.1.3 Associate Professor: In cases of new hires, associate professors may be
hired with tenure with the approval of a majority of the full departmental
rank and tenure committee, who will provide a written and signed
recommendation to the appropriate administrators. Otherwise, they must
serve a probationary period not to exceed four years.
Promotion to associate professor carries tenure unless otherwise justified
by special circumstances.
Minimum Academic Preparation: Appropriate terminal degree or
equivalent preparation to serve the mission of UHD.
Minimum Experience: Six years full-time college teaching experience,
including two years at UHD for those being promoted.
Minimum Criteria for Rank: As an assistant professor, the applicant for
associate professor has achieved and sustained a record of excellence in
teaching, service/professional activities in both the department and
university, and scholarly/creative activities.
3.5.1.4 Professor: In cases of new hires, professors may be hired with tenure with
the approval of a majority of the full departmental rank and tenure
committee who will provide a written and signed recommendation to the
appropriate administrators. Otherwise, they must serve a probationary period not to exceed two years.
Minimum Academic Preparation: Appropriate terminal degree or
equivalent preparation to serve the mission of UHD.
Minimum Experience: In recognition of the wide range of
accomplishments and other qualifications that may be possessed by
applicants, no specific time sequence is required for promotion from
associate professor to professor.
Minimum Criteria for Rank: Leadership in teaching, service/professional
activities in both the department and university, and scholarly/creative
activities is the defining Characteristic of the professor rank. Leadership
in scholarly/creative activities is defined as significant contributions to
the field. As an associate professor, the applicant for professor has
achieved and sustained a record of leadership and excellence in teaching,
service/professional activities in both the department and university, and
scholarly/creative activities. Based on accomplishments as associate
professor, and additionally as indicated by current work in progress, the
applicant exhibits the potential for sustained continuation of leadership
and excellence in teaching, service/professional activities in both the
department and university, and scholarly/creative activities. Each
department is required to articulate minimum criteria for promotion to
professor separate and distinct from the criteria for promotion to
associate professor.
3.5.2 Academic Administrators: Academic administrators appointed in tenure-track or
tenured positions also hold faculty positions. However, their tenure and
promotion is subject to the Rank and Tenure Policy (PS 10.A.01), and is held
within a particular department or discipline in compliance with rank and tenure
policies and does not apply to their administrative position
PROCEDURES
This section addresses hiring, evaluation, promotion, non-reappointment and dismissal, and
grievance procedures for all tenured and tenure-track faculty positions. The policies and
procedures for the rank and tenure system at UHD apply to all tenured and tenure-track appointments, as outlined in PS 10.A.01 Rank and Tenure System policy.
4.1 Hiring
4.1.1 Tenured and Tenure-track Appointments: Searches and employment offers for all
tenured and tenure-track faculty appointments, including endowed faculty
positions that are offered with a tenure/tenure-track appointment, shall follow
policy and employment process guidelines established in PS 10.A.13 Faculty Employment Policies. Specifically, the search and employment processes shall
follow the “Guidelines for the Faculty Employment Process” contained within PS 10.A.13.
4.1.2 Joint Appointments: When a faculty member holds a joint appointment in two or
more academic units within UHD or with two or more academic institutions, it
must be clearly indicated at the time of the appointment which academic unit will
bear the primary responsibility for the evaluation, promotion, and tenure. The
academic unit in which a jointly appointed faculty member holds tenure or is on
the tenure track must also be specified. In all cases of joint appointment, the
appointment letter must stipulate the division of responsibility and the weight
assigned to such responsibilities in the reviews for tenure, promotion, and/or merit
salary increases.
4.2 Evaluation: The evaluation procedures of all tenured and tenure-track academic
appointments, including endowed positions, is addressed in PS 10.A.05 Faculty Performance Evaluations.
4.3 Non-Reappointment and Dismissal of Faculty: Tenured and tenure-track faculty may be
dismissed for reasons described in PS 10.A.06 University of Houston-Downtown Faculty Dismissal Policy and Procedures. The guidelines in PS 10.A.06 and the timelines
established in Texas Education Code Section 51.943 Renewal of Faculty EmploymentContracts must be followed. Tenure-Track faculty may be non-reappointed as
described in PS 10.A.07 Faculty Non-Reappointment policy.
4.4 Grievance: Tenured and tenure-track faculty members may avail themselves of the
Grievance process, as outlined in PS 10.A.02 Faculty Grievance Policy, if they believe
they have been injured as a result of violation of university policies.
REVIEW PROCESS
Responsible Party (Reviewer): Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost
Review: Every five years.
Signed original on file in Employment Services and Operations.
POLICY HISTORY
Issue #1: 04/11/17
REFERENCES
Texas Education Code Section 51.943 – Renewal of faculty Employment Contracts
SAM 01.D.04 – Affirmative Action Policy
SAM 06.A.09 – Academic Personnel Policies
SAM 08.A.04 – Naming Opportunities
PS 02.A.20 – Affirmative Action Policy
PS 02.A.21 Equal Opportunity Policy
PS 10.A.01 – Rank and Tenure System
PS 10.A.02 – Faculty Grievance Policy
PS 10.A.05 – Faculty Performance Evaluations
PS 10.A.06 – University of Houston-Downtown Faculty Dismissal Policy and Procedures
PS 10.A.07 – Faculty Non-Reappointment Policy
PS 10.A.13 – Faculty Employment Policies
PS 10.A.16 – Performance Evaluation of Tenured Faculty
