Chapter 4: Academic Staff: Teaching & Research

4.1 Academic Staff: Teaching

In the Medical School, Academic Staff–Teaching consists of two ranks, Lecturer and Senior Lecturer.

Individuals appointed as Lecturer or as Senior Lecturer are not members of the Academic Council; they are, therefore, not normally eligible to act as principal investigators on sponsored research projects (see the Research Policy Handbook for information about principal investigatorship). Lecturers and Senior Lecturers are not eligible to take sabbatical leaves.

In general and for the terms of appointment for Academic Staff - Teaching, see the University’ Faculty Handbook.

4.2 Lecturer

4.3 Criteria for Appointment

The title of Lecturer is used for individuals who perform a significant amount of the regular instruction with continuing programmatic need in departments and programs; for persons of special expertise or scholarly distinction either in the local community or on the nonteaching University staff who are asked on an occasional basis to give a course or part of a course in their special fields; and for individuals who are employed to meet specific departmental needs created by faculty leaves or unanticipated student load. In all of the above cases, the needed courses will be well defined and the goals will be established by the faculty of the department or program.

Lecturers who serve in positions for which continuing programmatic need exists teach under supervision by or with guidance from one or more faculty members and/or Senior Lecturers. Faculty members in departments and programs are responsible for defining the intellectual goals of the program at the time the Lecturer position is requested and for continuing supervision and review/revision of goals.

4.4 Terms & Other Conditions of Appointment

Lecturer appointments are expected to be full-time to the extent possible, except that some part-time positions provide the flexibility needed to accommodate enrollment variation, and some other needs are only part-time in nature.

Initial appointments of Lecturers at fifty-percent time or more are generally expected to be for one-year terms and should be no more than two-year terms.

Reappointment is possible for a term not to exceed five years of total service at fifty-percent time or more, after a review by the faculty and Senior Lecturer(s) responsible for the program. During the fifth year of employment at fifty-percent time or more, Lecturers may be reviewed for reappointment to an additional five-year term. There is no limit to the number of five-year reappointments a Lecturer may be granted as long as there is an outstanding teaching record and continued programmatic need.

Promotion to the rank of Senior Lecturer is possible when the needs of the program meet the criteria as determined by a review committee of up to six members, at least three of whom are Academic Council members.

Lecturers are entitled to annual conferences with department chairs or their designees to discuss their performance and department expectations.

Lecturers in positions of continuing programmatic need shall be integrated into the governance of their departments, although they do not have Academic Council membership. Departments should not expect Lecturers to take on departmental administration and advisory roles beyond those associated with the specific programmatic need for which they were appointed.

4.5 Appointments, Reappointments, and FTE Changes for Lecturers

For step by step instructions for appointing, reappointing, or changing the appointment or pay of Lecturers, and answers to frequently asked questions, see the Lecturers and Senior Lecturers web page.

4.6 Senior Lecturer

4.7 Criteria for Appointment

The title of Senior Lecturer is associated with a demonstrably higher level of responsibility and teaching excellence than that of a Lecturer, rather than with seniority or longevity. (See criteria for Lecturer above.) There are normally only a limited number of Senior Lecturer positions in any program.

The primary evaluation of a Lecturer for appointment or promotion to Senior Lecturer is by a review committee that is appointed by the department, program, or School and that consists of up to six individuals, at least three of whom are Academic Council members.

4.8 Terms & Other Conditions of Appointment

Initial appointments at the rank of Senior Lecturer may be for a continuing term or for a term of up to five years. Initial term appointments are allowable so long as the individual's immediately preceding appointment was not as a member of the Academic Council or as a Lecturer at Stanford.

Upon reappointment, Senior Lecturers on fixed terms must be given continuing appointments.

Individuals who are promoted to the rank of Senior Lecturer shall hold continuing appointments.

Senior Lecturers are entitled to annual meetings with department chairs or their designees to discuss performance and departmental expectations. Departments shall carry out regular, in-depth evaluations of Senior Lecturers no more frequently than every three years and no less frequently than every five years.

Senior Lecturers in positions of continuing programmatic need shall be integrated into the governance of their departments, although without Academic Council membership. Departments shall not expect Senior Lecturers to take on departmental administration and advisory roles beyond those associated with the specific programmatic need for which they were appointed.

4.9 Appointments, Reappointments, and FTE Changes for Senior Lecturers

For step by step instructions for appointing, reappointing, or changing the appointment or pay of Lecturers, and answers to frequently asked questions, see the Lecturers and Senior Lecturers web page.

4.10 Lecturer without Salary

This title may be used for highly qualified individuals who make occasional, specialized contributions to the teaching program on a voluntary basis. Appointments and reappointments are normally for a period of up to one year at a time.

4.11 Academic Staff: Research - Research Associate and Senior Research Scientist or Scholar

Academic Staff– - Research consists of two ranks: Research Associate and Senior Research Scientist or Scholar. For policies and guidelines pertaining to Academic Staff——Research, see the Research Policy Handbook.

Individuals appointed to these ranks are not members of the Academic Council or the University Professoriate and are not normally eligible to act as principal investigators on sponsored research projects. As a general proposition, Academic Staff—— - Research positions are coterminous with externally sponsored support and programmatic need.

General guidelines for the employment of Research Associates and Senior Research Scientists or Scholars are periodically revised by the Office of the Vice Provost and Dean of Research. Additional information can be found in the Research Policy Handbook and the University’ Faculty Handbook.