Policy for Adjunct and Clinical Faculty Appointments--Spring 2004                                                            1

 

Issues Related to Adjunct & Clinical Faculty Appointments                                                                         2

Graduate Faculty Status                                                                                                                  2

Liability                                                                                                                                          2

 

Protocol for Establishing and Maintaining
an Adjunct & Clinical Faculty Program                                                                                           3

 

Appendix 1.  Adjunct & Clinical Faculty Summarized by Department                                                          5

 

Appendix 2.  Sample Letter of Appointment                                                                                                6

 

Appendix 3.  Example of an Adjunct Faculty Program Summary                                                                  7

 

 

 

 

 

 

The university currently offers a number of academic programs that require the participation of community resource people who are not provided regular faculty appointments.  Recognizing the need for the expertise of such individuals in academic programs, it is recommended that they be non-remunerative, academic staff appointments as adjunct and clinical faculty. The function designations and titles for use in making such appointments are listed immediately below this paragraph.  Differences between title levels should reflect differences in experience and/or educational preparation.  If occasion demands use of other function designations and titles (e.g., the CSC function designation and related titles used by the Department of Clinical Science), approval must be sought from the Academic Staff Council and ultimately the Chancellor or Vice Chancellor.  Appointments are to be made officially by the dean of the appropriate college upon recommendation of the appropriate department.  Copies of the appointment letter should be sent to the Academic Staff Council, Office of Human Resources, Student Activities and Centers, and the department that recommended the appointment.   Appointments with these titles carry no tenure and require no probationary period.  Appointees to the adjunct and clinical faculty will be issued a university identification card and will be granted limited use of specified university facilities such as the library, campus network, and other facilities required to conduct activities related to their appointment.  Adjunct and clinical faculty will be listed by department or program in the Undergraduate and Graduate Catalogs of the University.  Appointments are to be reviewed annually by the department making the recommendation of an individual for adjunct or clinical faculty status.  If it is determined that an adjunct or clinical faculty member is no longer active or is not interested in continuing the appointment, the department should recommend to their dean that the appointment be terminated.

 

 

1.             Adjunct Function Designation with titles of Adjunct Instructor or Adjunct Professor.  Primarily for individuals engaged in instruction and/or supervision of students.  Appointees are expected to be persons employed outside the university and have a professional status in their field.

 

2.             Clinical Function Designation with titles of Clinical Instructor or Clinical Professor.   Primarily for individuals who (a) are in the health sciences and other disciplines with clinical practices, and (b) are engaged in instruction and/or supervision of students typically in the clinical setting.  Appointees are expected to be persons employed outside the university and have a professional status in their field. 

 

3.             Researcher Function Designation with titles of Associate Researcher and Researcher.  Primarily for those engaged in directing student research projects or associated with the university faculty on research projects, but not directly involved in classroom teaching.  Appointees are expected to be persons employed outside the university and have a professional status in their field.

 

 

 

 

Graduate Faculty Status  

A related type of appointment is that of appointment to the Graduate Faculty, which is required for adjunct/clinical faculty to engage in activities such as (1) teaching graduate courses and (2) serving on committees for culminating graduate products, such as theses and seminar papers, and on exam committees.  The review process for this type of appointment could be done at the same time as for basic adjunct/clinical faculty status.  The Department of Biology & Microbiology, for example, does both reviews simultaneously and then submits two recommendations for the individual to the Dean of the College of Science & Allied Health (SAH)--one for appointment to the Adjunct & Clinical Faculty and one for nomination to the Graduate Faculty.  The Dean of SAH then (1) writes the letter of appointment of the individual to the Adjunct & Clinical Faculty and (2) forwards the nomination of the individual to the Graduate Faculty to the Director of University Graduate Studies.

 

 

Liability  

UW-La Crosse Protective Services should be notified if an adjunct/clinical faculty member is going to be performing some “out-of-the-ordinary” activity with a class or some other university group--e.g., some type of field trip.  For such out-of-the-ordinary activities, the Director of Protective Services would provide the adjunct/clinical faculty member with guidelines about UW-La Crosse and UW-System policies regarding such activities.

 

 

 

 

The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse has a very active and successful Adjunct & Clinical Faculty Program--one that greatly strengthens several departments and programs.  Where appropriate, departments and programs that do not presently have an Adjunct & Clinical Faculty Program are encouraged to initiate one.  Other departments and programs are encouraged to continue and/or expand their Adjunct & Clinical Faculty Programs. 

 

In order to provide some university-wide uniformity, the following items are offered as a protocol for establishing and/or maintaining and expanding an Adjunct & Clinical Faculty Program.

 

1.             Each department or program should use the adjunct and clinical faculty titles listed and defined as follows:

 

a.             Adjunct Function Designation with titles of Adjunct Instructor or Adjunct Professor.  Primarily for individuals engaged in instruction and/or supervision of students.  Appointees are expected to be persons employed outside the University and have a professional status in their field.

 

b.             Clinical Function Designation with titles of Clinical Instructor or Clinical Professor.  Primarily for individuals who (a) are in the health sciences and other disciplines with clinical practices, and (b) are engaged in instruction and/or supervision of students typically in the clinical setting.  Appointees are expected to be persons employed outside the University and have a professional status in their field.

 

c.             Researcher Function Designation with titles of Associate Researcher and Researcher.  Primarily for those engaged in directing student research projects or associated with university faculty on research projects, but not directly involved in classroom teaching.  Appointees are expected to be persons employed outside the University and have a professional status in their field

 

If occasion demands use of some other title, approval must be sought from the Academic Staff Council and ultimately the Chancellor.  In 1996, for example, the Clinical Science Department was granted approval for the use of the CSC function designation with titles of Instructor CSC, Assistant Professor CSC, Associate Professor CSC, and Professor CSC.

                               

2.             Each department or program should develop a procedure for (1) soliciting/inviting applications from candidates and (2) reviewing and acting upon the applications.  After acting upon an application, the department or program  should send a letter to the dean of their college requesting that an individual be awarded an appointment to the Adjunct & Clinical Faculty.  The recommended title of the appointment should be specified in the letter.  The dean of the college will then write the letter of appointment.

 

If a prospective adjunct/clinical faculty member is likely to be involved with a graduate program, departments should consider nominating the candidate for graduate faculty status (according to Graduate Faculty Policy) at the same time the candidate is being considered for adjunct/clinical faculty status.  In this case, the nomination for graduate faculty status should likewise be forwarded to the dean of their college.  The college dean will review the nomination and forward it with his/her recommendations to the Director of University Graduate Studies.

 

3.             The appointment letter from the Dean will state the following (see example letter in Appendix 2):

 

•  the individual is being appointed as an academic staff member of a specified department at UW‑La Crosse with the title of ______ _________,

• the appointment is not a tenure-track appointment and, therefore, there is no probationary period,

• the appointment will be reviewed annually,

• how the individual can obtain a University identification card,

• that the ID card will enable the individual to have limited use of the library, campus network, and other facilities required to conduct activities related to their appointment, and

• the individual’s name will appear in the next edition of the UW-La Crosse Undergraduate and/or Graduate Catalogs.

 

4.             Appointments are to be reviewed annually by the department making the recommendation of an individual for adjunct or clinical faculty status.  If it is determined that an adjunct or clinical faculty member is no longer active or is not interested in continuing the appointment, the department should recommend to their dean that the appointment be terminated.  The review process will help to insure that the listings of Adjunct and Clinical Faculty in the University Undergraduate and Graduate Catalogs remain current.

 

5.             Each department or program should consider creating a summary of its adjunct and clinical faculty program (see example in Appendix 3), which could include the following:

 

                Overview of their department or program.

                Objectives of their Adjunct & Clinical Faculty Program.

                Roles of adjunct and clinical faculty.

                Application procedures, titles, and descriptions of adjunct/clinical faculty appointments.

                A list of adjunct and clinical faculty, including their appointment date, date of their highest academic degree and institution from which it was attained, and place of employment.

 

 

A summary such as this could serve the department in the following ways: 

• A recruiting tool for prospective candidates for adjunct and clinical faculty status.

• A recruiting tool for prospective candidates for faculty positions within the department.  It demonstrates that faculty within the department work with partners outside the University and that our institution encourages them to continue existing professional relationships and to establish new ones.

• It demonstrates to granting agencies that the University is not only involved with professionals outside the institution, but that it has greater depth and breadth of expertise because of the adjunct and clinical faculty.

 

6.             Each department should annually recognize the contributions of their adjunct and clinical faculty.  This could be done by individual departments or collectively by the College or the University, e.g., via a reception, letters of appreciation, or some other mechanism.

 

 

 

Adjunct and clinical faculty appointments total 281 at UW-La Crosse (1997-1999 Undergraduate Catalog and 1997‑2000 Graduate Catalog).

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

                                                                                                 

Department or Program                          Number of Appointments                          Appointment Titles

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

Biology & Microbiology                                                    45                           Adjunct Professor, Adjunct Instructor, Research Associate

 

Chemistry                                                                                 2                           Adjunct Instructor                                              

 

Clinical Science                                                                     15                           Assistant Professor (CSC), Professor (CSC), Clinical Assistant Professor, Clinical Instructor

 

Exercise & Sport Science                                                    5                              Adjunct Faculty

 

Geography & Earth Science                                                  3                           Adjunct Professor, Adjunct Instructor

 

Health Education & Health Promotion                                7                           Adjunct Faculty

 

La Crosse Exercise & Health Program                               24                           Physician

 

Medical Technology                                                            12                           Clinical Professor, Clinical Instructor

 

Nuclear Medicine Technology                                           14                           Clinical Professor, Clinical Instructor

 

Philosophy                                                                               2                           Adjunct Professor

 

Physical Therapy                                                                 103                          Clinical Professor, Clinical Instructor,

                                                                                                                                Clinical Associate

 

Psychology                                                                            11                           Adjunct Professor, Adjunct Instructor, Clinical Professor

 

Recreation Management/Therapeutic Recreation           12                           Adjunct Faculty

 

School of Education--Special Education                             7                           Adjunct Professor

 

Social Work                                                                           19                           Adjunct Instructor, Clinical Instructor

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

 

 

 

 

 

November 13, 1997

 

 

Dr. _________ ____________

Department of Population Dynamics

Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD 21205-2179

 

Dear Dr. ____________:

 

On the recommendation of Dr. _______ __ ___________, Chairperson of the Department of ________________, it is my pleasure to appoint you as an academic staff member of the Department of _____________ at the University of Wisconsin- La Crosse with the title of ____________ ______________.  This is not a tenure-track appointment; therefore, there is no probationary period.  Your appointment will be reviewed annually, and your name will be published as a member of the Adjunct and Clinical Faculty in the next edition of the UW-La Crosse Undergraduate and Graduate Catalogs.

 

To accept this appointment, please sign both copies of this letter and return one copy to me in the enclosed envelope and keep one copy for yourself.  To obtain a University identification card, take your copy of this letter to Student Activities and Centers.  The ID card will be necessary for you to use the library, campus network, and other facilities required to conduct activities related to your appointment.

 

My colleagues and I look forward to a stimulating, productive, and mutually beneficial relationship.

 

Sincerely,

 

_________ __ __________

Dean

 

 

copies to:               Academic Staff Council

                                Office of Human Resources

                                Student Activities and Centers

                                Department of _______________

 

 

 

**************************************************************************************************

 

I have received this appointment letter, read it, understand it, and accept the terms and conditions of my appointment stated herein.

_______________________________________________                  __________________________________________

Signature                                                                                             Date

 

___________________

Social Security Number

 

 

 

 

 

 

UW-L has attained a critical mass of faculty devoted to the study of life at a molecular level, which is reflected in substantial changes to both the curriculum and research focuses within the College of Science and Allied Health (CSAH), specifically in the Departments of Biology, Microbiology, and Chemistry. In recognition of the importance of teaching, research, and outreach activities of faculty with expertise in molecular bioscience at UW-L, the Institute for Biomolecular Sciences in the CSAH was established in Fall 2003.  The formation of the Institute for Biomolecular Sciences will serve as a formal mechanism to bring together as a cohesive group all interested faculty with expertise in this discipline.  The Institute for Biomolecular Sciences will increase collaboration within the campus and will increase and strengthen partnerships with industry, government, and other academic institutions in the region and nation. Heightened visibility of this group both on campus and externally

 

The Institute of Biomolecular Sciences contains faculty members from three departments, Biology, Microbiology and Chemistry. Four formal curricular concentrations are supported within the Biology major--Aquatic Science, Biomedical Science, Cellular & Molecular Biology, and Environmental Science.  The Microbiology major, which has been designated as a Center of Excellence by the Board of Regents, supports several informal tracks, including Public Health Microbiology, Microbial Genetics & Biotechnology, Food & Industrial Microbiology, and Environmental Microbiology. The Chemistry Department offers degrees in both Chemistry (American Chemical Society Certified) and Biochemistry (established in Spring 2003).

 

The Biology Department also offers a Master of Science degree in Biology.  Most students in this traditional program emphasize thesis research and coursework in aquatic science and microbiology; however, other areas of biology, such as botany, ecology, molecular biology, and physiology are also supported. There are two additional focuses within the M.S. in Biology--one in Clinical Microbiology and the other in Nurse Anesthesia, which is offered in conjunction with St. Francis Hospital and leads to both an M.S. in Biology and Certification as a Registered Nurse Anesthetist.

 

 

 

 

The Adjunct & Clinical Faculty Program in the Institute of Biomolecular Sciences at UW-L consists of adjunct professors, adjunct instructors, and associate researchers from various governmental agencies, medical institutions, businesses, and universities who participate in our academic and research programs. The incorporation of adjunct faculty into our programs greatly increases the diversity of professional expertise and experiences we can offer our students.  Adjunct faculties teach sections of some of our courses and serve as advisors to many of our graduate and undergraduate students who are conducting research and participating in internships. 

 

Much of the research conducted by our faculty is done cooperatively with adjunct faculty listed in this document.  Moreover, the governmental agencies, medical institutions, and businesses where the adjunct faculties are employed serve as internship/employment sites for many of our students. 

 

Objectives

 

Encourage professional collaboration between UW-L faculty and interested scientists outside the university.

 

Increase the curricular and research expertise in undergraduate and graduate programs of the department.

 

Increase the research and/or educational expertise of both UW-L faculty and adjunct & clinical faculty through joint participation in research and educational programs at their respective facilities.

 

Composition and Roles of Adjunct & Clinical  Faculty

 

Most adjunct & clinical faculty are local scientists who are employed at federal and state facilities, medical facilities, and private companies.  Several, however, are from varied locations around the region and nation.

 

Roles of adjunct & clinical faculty are voluntary and flexible.  The extent of involvement is a function of the individual's interests and time availability as well as the needs of the department and adjunct faculty's facility.  Typically, involvement is collaborative with department faculty.

 

Examples of Adjunct & Clinical Faculty Activities

 

Serving as a co-major advisor or thesis committee member for a graduate student conducting a research project in the adjunct faculty member's area of expertise.

 

Serving as a co-advisor for an undergraduate student conducting a research project in the adjunct or clinical faculty member’s area of expertise.

 

Examples of Adjunct & Clinical Faculty Activities, continued

 

Co-authoring research proposals and collaboratively conducting research with department faculty.

 

Co-authoring presentations and articles for publication in scientific journals.

 

Co-teaching and/or guest lecturing in an undergraduate or graduate course .

 

Serving as supervisors and mentors of student interns.

 

Co-instruction and/or supervision of students in clinical settings

 

Application Procedure

 

Adjunct & Clinical Faculty Status.  Individuals interested in adjunct or clinical faculty status are encouraged to submit to the department  (1) a cover letter stating their reasons for seeking adjunct or clinical faculty status and (2) a resume.  They are also encouraged to contact a faculty member who would sponsor their application.  Applications are reviewed by the departmental graduate committee, which forwards its recommendation to the department.  The department acts upon the recommendation and forwards its recommendation to the Dean of the College of Science & Allied Health for final action.   The departmental graduate committee should review adjunct and clinical faculty appointments annually.  If it is determined that an adjunct or clinical faculty member is no longer active or is not interested in continuing the appointment, the department should recommend to the Dean of the College of Science & Allied Health that the appointment be terminated.

 

Graduate Faculty Status.  A related issue is that of appointment to the graduate faculty, which is required for adjunct and clinical faculty to engage in activities such as (1) teaching graduate courses, i.e., those with course numbers of 500 and greater, and (2) serving on thesis, seminar paper, and/or examination committees for graduate students.  The departmental graduate committee does the review process for this type of appointment at the same time as review for basic adjunct or clinical faculty status.  The department then submits its nomination of an individual for graduate faculty status to the Dean of the College of Science & Allied Health.