Adjunct (FA11-14) faculty may hold their primary position elsewhere. This person may be a P&S staff member at the University or employed elsewhere in the surrounding community, whose areas of expertise are insufficiently represented on the faculty. Adjunct faculty may or may not hold a terminal degree in the field (as determined by the college) and their responsibilities may involve teaching, teaching support, research, patient care, or clinical/practicum supervision. Information regarding the Adjunct promotion process can be found in the Promotion Procedures for Adjunct Faculty Members.

These appointments must be less than 50% and may or may not be compensated. Adjunct appointments are always temporary, part-time and do not include benefits.

An Equal Opportunity and Diversity search is not required and appointments may be made for up to three years. For a complete description of search/posting requirements, see Search/Posting Guidance document.

At the end of the appointment term, the faculty member and the position should be reviewed. If desired, reappointment for another term of up to three years can be made by processing a Change in Status Faculty Status form. The Appointment or Change in Status form and attachments are routed in workflow from the Department to the Dean's Office to the Office of the Provost for electronic signature. 

An Adjunct can be appointed at 0% and put into pay status by initiating an Adjunct Support Form. After indicating a start date for the period to be paid, choose the most appropriate paygroup. When paying a P&S employee for teaching duties via a Special Compensation form, a current 0% adjunct appointment must first be created (see Special Compensation).

Visiting (FV11-14) faculty appointments are fixed-term appointments and the position responsibilities may vary among colleges and disciplines.  These appointments range in length from one week up to a maximum of three years.  The length of appointment and position responsibilities are delineated in an offer letter.  Visiting faculty appointments that are 50% or greater for a duration of an academic year or longer are eligible for UI Benefits.

At the end of the initial appointment, the faculty member and the position should be reviewed.  If desired and if the initial appointment was less than 3 years, reappointment for another term (not to exceed a total of 3 years combined) can be made by processing a Change in Status - Faculty Status Change form.

An Equal Opportunity and Diversity search must be conducted for Visiting appointments that are 50% time or more and extend for more than one year.  Following a review of the candidate's qualifications by the hiring department, the College may request permission to extend an offer through the Search and Selection Summary (SSS) process.  For a complete description of search/posting requirements, see Search/Posting Guidance document.

Once a candidate is selected and the Search and Selection Summary is approved, an offer may be made.

The appointment form including required attachments is routed in Workflow.

Typically, the use of this rank indicates that the candidate is qualified to fulfill an assigned role within the tenure track but does not possess the discipline’s desired terminal degree or other credentials. Duties may include teaching, research, patient care, or other instructional or programmatic support.

This title is a short-term appointment used for an individual who will earn the title of Assistant Professor in the tenure-track upon imminent completion of Ph.D. requirements or fulfilling other requirements as determined by the college. The initial appointment is typically made for one year and may be renewed, depending on the terms at time of hire.  Renewal of the appointment term is permitted on the contingency of completion of the required credentials by processing a Change in Status-Faculty Status Change form and must be approved by the Associate Provost for Faculty.

In special cases the initial appointment for a tenure-track instructor (FS14) may be made for three years.  Three-year appointments are not renewable at this rank.  If appropriate, a notice of non-renewal should be made at the end of the second year.  Upon completion of the required credentials, the individual should be transferred to the rank of Assistant Professor by processing a Transfer form.  In the absence of an overriding agreement in the offer letter, years as an Instructor are included in the standard 6-year probationary period leading to a tenure decision.  The instructor job code (FS) should not be used for non-tenure track faculty.

Attachments and Remarks Requirements for Office of the Provost Workflow Form Approvals

The offer letter is a formal document that outlines the terms of appointment between the University of Iowa and a prospective faculty member. Further information found at: Faculty Recruitment.