Research Faculty

(Source: Office of the Provost -- August 5, 1983)

    The purpose of Research Faculty appointments is to increase the quality and productivity of the research programs in the University by permitting the appointment of scholars to the faculty on a non-tenure basis in order to participate in and cooperate with the research efforts of faculty with tenure significant appointments. Salaries over the period of the appointment are derived from research grants or other external funds.

    An individual on the research track should not be supported for an extended period of time from funds derived from the unrestricted budget.

     Members of the Research Faculty do not acquire tenure. The Research Faculty will be appointed in the Associated Faculty on a full-time basis only. Part-time appointments in the Research Faculty are not offered. As a full-time employment category, recommendations for appointment to the Research Faculty must be in compliance with the Affirmative Action Plan of the University.

     The Research Faculty is composed of individuals who hold a terminal degree and who choose to concentrate on research. Appointees are not part of the teaching faculty, although invitations to present guest lectures may be accepted. Members of the Research Faculty may not take responsibility for courses or seminars in their home departments or in other departments of the University, nor may they supervise theses or doctoral dissertations unless prior approval of the Provost is obtained for each such activity. However, if the individual wishes to participate in the training of students in an area of expertise in which he or she is uniquely qualified, the department chair may permit a limited teaching assignment in a course or seminar for which a faculty member with a tenure-significant appointment holds responsibility. Over the term of an appointment, teaching by a member of the Research Faculty may not exceed 10% of the total teaching load of a member of the Standing Faculty in the school and in any one year no more than 10% of the teaching in a department may be done by research faculty. Under no circumstances may a member of the Research Faculty be continuously engaged over an extended period in the same activities as faculty members having tenure or serving in a probationary period for tenure. Appointments to the Research Faculty should not be made to displace or make unnecessary the appointment of individuals in the tenure-significant ranks.

     Permissible ranks are: research professor, research associate professor, and research assistant professor. These titles are to be written in full whenever used on documents, in listings of University personnel, and in correspondence. All appointments are for the term specified, or for the duration of the external financial support, whichever is shorter. Research professors and research associate professors may be appointed for terms of up to 5 years and may serve without limit of time through successive reappointments. Research assistant professors may be appointed for terms up to 4 years but in no case may a person hold that rank for more than 7 years. All individuals holding Research Faculty appointments will be subject to the same departmental review with regard to research as is customary for other faculty in their department.

     Initial appointments may be made as research assistant professor. An individual appointed initially as assistant professor in the Standing Faculty may request review for transfer to the research faculty prior to reappointment. Time served in the tenure probationary appointment will be counted as part of the seven-year maximum period for research assistant professors. In the sixth year of the single-track or combined-track appointment, research assistant professors are subject to a mandatory review for promotion to research associate professor. Failure to obtain promotion requires termination of the faculty appointment at the end of the seventh year assuming external funding is available for the terminal year appointment.

     Members of the Research Faculty do not normally move to positions on the Standing Faculty, and they may do so only in conjunction with a national search. If a Research Assistant Professor moves to an untenured position on the Standing Faculty, the beginning of the tenure probationary period in the Standing Faculty will be set at the date at which the probationary period for promotion to Research Associate Professor had begun. If the move occurs within a school the tenure probationary period may not be extended. If the move involves a change of schools, a maximum of two additional years in the tenure probationary period may be granted with the Provost's approval. Under no circumstances may appointment to the Associated Faculty be used as a device to extend the tenure probationary period.

     Because appointments to the Research Faculty are contingent upon external funding and may be terminated when the funding ceases, indefinite continuity of appointment at any rank should not be assumed. For that reason all initial appointments and reappointments shall specify the sources of funding. The tentativeness of research appointments reflects the University's policy to limit guaranteed long-term appointments to faculty who contribute in significant measure to both the teaching and the research mission of the University. Quality of investigative effort is measured as scrupulously for research track faculty as for tenure track faculty. Research Faculty appointments are solely for enhancement of research programs, particularly in those areas where unique expertise is required.

     While imposition of a firm limit on the relative size of the Research Faculty may be harmful in its application to a particular program, the number of Research Faculty in a school may not exceed 20% of the combined Standing Faculty and Standing Faculty-Clinician-Educator in the school or five positions, whichever is larger.

     The faculty of a school may grant the Research Faculty voting rights in the school's faculty. Voting rights in the appointees' home department are at the discretion of the respective departments. Members of the Research Faculty may not vote on matters related to Standing Faculty appointments and promotions, or on matters concerning the teaching mission of the school. Members of the Research Faculty may not serve on any committees concerned with teaching (i.e., curriculum, student advising, academic standards, etc.) or with personnel decisions involving the Standing Faculty. Individuals in the research track enjoy all the rights and privileges of academic freedom and responsibility and have access to the grievance procedures of the University.

     As noted above, failure to secure promotion to research associate professor by the end of the six-year probationary period will result in a one-year terminal reappointment provided external funding is available.

     Although continued funding may be available, reappointment may be denied for the following reasons: 1. Lack of suitable facilities; 2. Inconsistency with the research priorities of the department or school; 3. Failure to maintain excellence in the quality of research and productivity. In such instances, the individual should be given a one-year advance notice in writing that, at the conclusion of the term appointment, he or she will not be recommended for reappointment or promotion.

     An appointment can be terminated prior to the expiration of its term only if the source of external funding for the research faculty member has ended. In that event, the individual should be notified immediately of the cessation of funding. An attempt may be made to carry the individual on other funding sources, either to conclusion of the term appointment or for a reasonable period in which the individual may attempt to secure other employment. When there is reason to believe that the individual may be eligible for transfer of employment to another University research group, efforts should be made to effect such placement.

     Research Faculty are subject to termination for "just cause" as customarily determined within the University.

     At the time a Research Faculty position is offered to a candidate, the relevant Dean shall inform the candidate in writing of the conditions and limitations on such appointments.

  Clinical Faculty

(Source: Standing Resolution of the Trustees, September 9, 1983, revised June 2000 and June 2001)

    This group is composed of persons who are members of the Faculties of Medicine, Dental Medicine, Nursing or Veterinary Medicine, who provide professional services and participate in educational programs on a part-time basis. The professional careers of the Clinical Faculty are primarily independent of their University affiliations with the exceptions noted below. Persons may serve in full or part-time status in the Clinical Faculty without limit of time through successive reappointments. The University does not assure continuity of appointments for any person in the Clinical Faculty. Academic ranks in the Clinical Faculty are Clinical Professor, Clinical Associate Professor, and Clinical Assistant Professor; e.g., Clinical Professor of (specialty) in the Faculty of (school). These titles are to be written in full whenever used on documents, in listings of University personnel and in correspondence.

    In the School of Nursing, the School of Medicine and the School of Dental Medicine, the professional careers of the Clinical Faculty may be in University owned clinical practices. In the School of Dental Medicine the clinical faculty may not exceed 20% of the standing faculty.

  Adjunct Faculty

     This group is composed of faculty members whose primary careers are outside the University faculty, whether self employed or with other institutions of higher education, business or non-profit organizations, or government agencies. Such persons may be appointed to part-time academic status in the University while continuing their principal associations or careers elsewhere.

     Appointment to the Adjunct Faculty may also be used for academically qualified persons employed by the University for nonacademic or administrative duties. Persons may serve in the Adjunct Faculty without limit of time through successive reappointments. The University does not assure continuity of appointment for any person in the Adjunct Faculty. Academic ranks in the Adjunct Faculty are Adjunct Professor, Adjunct Associate Professor, and Adjunct Assistant Professor. These titles are to be written in full whenever used on documents, in listings of University personnel and in correspondence.

  Visiting Faculty

     This group normally is confined to persons who are temporarily appointed by the University while they have continuing academic appointments in another institution of higher education, or have continuing associations with business or nonprofit organizations, or with government agencies. A Visiting Faculty member is a full-time member of the University while on leave from the institution, organization or agency with which he or she is affiliated. Full-time appointment as a Visiting Professor is limited to three consecutive years, and normally such appointments are for one year or less. Academic ranks in the Visiting Faculty are Visiting Professor, Visiting Associate Professor, and Visiting Assistant Professor.

  Visiting Executive Professor

     This group is made up of full professors in the Wharton School who have held very senior positions in business or government. They impart real-world knowledge to students and serve as role models and advisors as well. Appointments are made for terms of up to five years; no individual shall serve as a Visiting Executive Professor for more than five years; not more than five appointments in this faculty category may be current at any one time.

  Practice Professor

     This category is confined to a small number of untenured full professorships in the Law School, the Graduate School of Education and the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences.  Practice professorships in the Law School shall not exceed 20% of the number of standing faculty, with each appointment for a term of five years, renewable in accordance with the Trustee resolution of October 30, 1992.  Practice professorships in the Graduate School of Education are limited to two at any given time, with each appointment for a term of five years, renewable for not more than a single additional five-year term.  Practice professorships In the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences may not exceed 5% of the standing faculty, with each appointment for five years renewable In accordance with the Trustee Resolution adopted May 17, 2001.

 Practice Faculty in the Graduate School of Fine Arts

    This category is intended for associate professors of practice and full professors of practice in the Graduate School of Fine Arts, who continue to carry on distinguished practices in their field, and whose skills and knowledge are essential to the educational process. The positions are untenured and appointments may be made for terms of up to five years, renewable. The number of  appointments is limited to no more than 30% of the number of standing faculty in the school, and may not exceed the number of standing faculty in any academic department.

  Practice Faculty in the Wharton School

(Source: Resolution of the Trustees, June 20, 1997)

There shall be established a Practice Faculty consisting of full-time Practice Professors, Practice Associate Professors, and Practice Assistant Professors, who are members of the Associated Faculty of the University, to take effect on July 1, 1997. All appointments in this category are without tenure or tenure-probationary status. Practice Professors in the Wharton School holding appointments as of June 30, 1997 shall be covered by these policies.

These persons shall staff courses with a substantial professional skill-based development focus, in particular those courses with a skills-oriented subject matter. Among the courses in this category are those in leadership, negotiation, communication, deal structuring, tax accounting, and auditing. Practice Faculty shall have such teaching and administrative duties within the Wharton School as are determined according to normal Wharton School policies and procedures.

Appointments

(a) An appointment in this category shall be recommended by the faculty on recommendation of the Wharton Personnel Committee, following a search, using a standard of promise of superior performance in skills-oriented education. Appointees will have a high level of educational achievement and relevant practice experience and commensurate with the level of appointment. Appointment criteria include excellent teaching, commitment to collegial service, relevant experience and publications in practitioner journals on subject matter related to the topic being taught or on pedagogical approaches to the teaching of such material. A reappointment or promotion within this category shall be recommended by the faculty on recommendation of the Wharton Personnel Committee, using a standard of past performance in fulfilling the promise and justifying an expectation of continued growth in professional skill, productivity, and recognition.

(b) Appointments, reappointments, and promotions must be reviewed and approved in normal course by the Dean, the Provost, and the Trustees of the University.

(c) Persons who currently hold appointments in the Standing Faculty are not eligible to transfer their appointment to the Practice Faculty. A person who has previously held a Standing Faculty appointment at the University shall not be eligible for an appointment to the Practice Faculty for three years after leaving the Standing Faculty. Appointment shall be based on the criteria stated in (a) above.

(d) Term of Appointment

(1) The initial term of appointment as Practice Professor shall be for not more than five years. Successive reappointments of Practice Professors for terms of five years are permitted until retirement.

(2) The initial term of appointment for Practice Associate Professor shall be for three years. Practice Associate Professors may be reappointed once to a three-year term, but may not be further reappointed (except to a terminal one-year appointment) unless promoted to Practice Professor.

(3) The initial term of appointment for Practice Assistant Professor shall be for three years. Practice Assistant Professors may be reappointed once to a three-year term, but may not be further reappointed (except to a terminal one-year appointment) unless promoted to Practice Associate Professor.

(e) Reappointment in the Practice Faculty may be made if the individual has demonstrated superior performance in skills-oriented education and other criteria as outlined in section 3 (a).

(f) Employment for persons appointed in this category may be terminated because of

(1) failure to satisfy the standard for reappointment at the conclusion of the initial or of any succeeding term;

(2) reduction in skills-oriented course offerings by the Wharton School in the subject area taught by the individual; or

(3) for "just cause" as customarily determined with the University under its policies.

One year's notice shall be required for termination under subsections (f)(1) and (f)(2).

Titles

An appointee in this category will hold the title Practice Professor, Practice Associate Professor, or Practice Assistant Professor of [name of department] at the Wharton School. The modified title must be written in full whenever the appointee indicates his/her affiliation with the University, such as in documents (printed or electronic media), in correspondence, in curriculum vitae, and in listings of University personnel.

Contracts of Employment

A Practice Professor, Practice Associate Professor, or Practice Assistant Professor shall have a written contract with the University that contains a clear statement of, or specifically incorporates by reference documents (e.g., this policy) defining:

(a) the conditions of employment;

(b) the conflict of interest policies that are applicable;

(c) the circumstances under which the contract can be terminated;

(d) the responsibility of the Wharton School or other budgetary unit for payment of salary and all specified benefits; and

(e) the rights of persons to due process by mechanisms available to University faculty in the event of grievance or alleged failure to protect the individual rights accorded a faculty member.

Benefits

Members of the Practice Faculty are entitled to full University faculty benefits. Leaves of absence will be granted in accordance with the University policy applicable to the Standing Faculty, with the exception that scholarly leaves of absence are not applicable to members of the Practice Faculty.

University Policies

Members of the Practice Faculty are subject to all University and Wharton School policies, including the University and Wharton School policies on conflict of interest.

Voting Rights

(a) Members of the Practice Faculty shall not have voting rights on items submitted to the Wharton faculty for a vote.

(b) Members of the Practice Faculty shall not vote on appointments or promotions.

(c) Whether members of the Practice Faculty have voting rights in department meetings on matters other than appointments and promotions shall be determined by the faculty of the department in which they are appointed.

The number of persons appointed in the Practice Faculty shall not exceed ten percent of the number of standing faculty that the Wharton School may at any given time be authorized to fill.

This policy will apply to any person appointed to the Practice Faculty beginning July 1, 1997, and is without prejudice to the rights of any person appointed under existing categories in the Associated Faculty prior to June 30, 1997.

This category of appointment will be reviewed periodically in conjunction with the regular re-accreditation review of the Wharton School, without prejudice to the rights of any person previously appointed in this category.

     Members of the scientific staff of the Wistar Institute who hold appointments in the Associated Faculty of the University hold titles prefixed by the modifiers "Wistar Institute".