Professor. The title of Professor signifies that the holder is a mature scholar whose achievements have won outstanding approval both by scholars outside the University and by his or her faculty colleagues, and whose presence on the faculty enhances the prestige of the University. Appointment to this rank is not merely a recognition of length of service, but also of outstanding quality. Such an appointment is for an indefinite term.

     Associate Professor. Appointment to this rank is made only to a person who has demonstrated the personal and intellectual qualities that with increased maturity are expected to lead to appointment to a professorship. Appointment to the rank of Associate Professor may be for a fixed term or for an indefinite term.

     Assistant Professor. Appointment as Assistant Professor is accorded to a person who has completed his or her final earned degree or other professional certification relevant to his or her discipline and who has given evidence of superior potential for development in academic stature. As most persons in this rank are passing through an early period of their scholarly growth, an effort is made to design departmental and school policies in such a way as to provide them with a variety of educational experiences, including the opportunity to conduct original research and to participate in both undergraduate and graduate levels of instruction. Appointment in this rank provides a period during which an individual has an opportunity to confirm his or her own interest and motivation as being appropriate to the broad scope of University faculty responsibilities, and also one in which senior faculty may assess the promise and the competence of the faculty member's performance in both instruction and scholarly productivity. Appointment to the rank of Assistant Professor is always for a fixed term.