Home > Offices > Provost/Dean of the Faculty > Tenure, Promotion & Appointment > Policy

(I.) A. THE TEMPORARY INSTRUCTIONAL STAFF

1. Definition:

   The regular Faculty of Smith College shall consist of all members of the teaching Faculty who are members of either the temporary or the permanent instructional staff. Members of the permanent instructional staff are those holding tenure of office at Smith College. Members of the temporary instructional staff are those persons on temporary appointments leading toward consideration for tenure. All members of the temporary instructional staff shall enjoy the same academic freedom as do members of the permanent staff. Normally only members of the regular faculty shall vote on appointments, reappointments, tenure and promotion, as detailed below.

2. Terms of Appointment:
   1. Appointments to the regular Faculty may be made at the rank of Instructor, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, or Professor.

      Candidates for initial appointment to the Faculty who do not hold the Ph. D. or comparable terminal degree may be appointed at the rank of Instructor. If by September 1 of the initial year of appointment the College receives notification of the candidate's completion of the degree from an accredited institution of graduate study, the appointment will be changed to the rank of Assistant Professor and the salary increased retroactively to July 1 of that year. If notification of completion of the degree is received after September 1 of the initial year of appointment but prior to January 1 of that year, the appointment will be changed to the rank of Assistant Professor and the salary increased effective January 1. If the College does not receive official notification of the completion of the requirements for the degree by January 1 of the initial year of appointment, the appointment will remain at the rank of Instructor and promotion to the rank of Assistant Professor upon completion of the degree must be recommended to the President in accordance with the procedures of this Policy.

   2. Appointments and reappointments to the temporary instructional staff normally will be for one, two, or three years.

   3. The precise terms of every appointment and reappointment shall be stated in writing and shall be in possession of the administration, the department, and the appointee.

   4. A copy of this Policy shall be furnished all persons offered initial appointment to the Faculty.

   5. At the time of appointment or reappointment of individuals appointed to tenure track positions, the department Chair, after consultation with the President, shall apprise each individual in writing of the then existing circumstances in the College or the department that could affect future decisions with respect to reappointment and tenure, including institutional considerations identified at the meeting specified in II.B.1.a. The Chair's statement of these circumstances shall have the express consent of the majority of those members of the department present and eligible to vote on the appointment or reappointment in question. For candidates appointed in tenure track positions after 1982 but before 1985, institutional considerations specified in II.A. will not apply to decisions regarding reappointment or tenure.