2.2. Definitions of Faculty

La.R.S. 17:3304 defines college and university faculty as “members of the instructional staff of each college and university having the rank of instructor or higher and persons engaged in library, artistic, research and investigative positions of equal dignity. The head of each college or university and its academic officers shall be members of the faculty.”

For contract purposes, “academic faculty” shall be defined to include faculty who carry academic rank, academic titles, or special academic status as set forth below. Academic faculty shall be employed by faculty contracts.

2.2.1.1 Ranked Academic Faculty

The academic titles approved by the University are listed in Section titled Titled Academic Faculty of this Manual. The four academic ranks approved by the University are Instructor, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, and Professor.

The University has also approved a system of title and rank equivalency for the University Library. These labels and their corresponding academic titles and ranks are as follows:

Lecturer shall be called Library Lecturer in the University Library;

Instructor shall be called Instruction Librarian in the University Library;

Assistant Professor shall also be called Assistant Librarian in the University Library;

Associate Professor shall also be called Associate Librarian in the University Library;

Professor shall also be called Librarian in the University Library.

Ranked academic faculty with the exception of instructors shall be employed only on probationary or tenure contracts. Instructors shall be employed under term contracts. Persons holding rank under the terms and conditions of previous handbooks shall retain rank with the adoption of this Policy & Procedure Manual.

2.2.1.2 Titled Academic Faculty

The eight academic titles approved by the University include Lecturer, Adjunct Faculty, Visiting Faculty, Faculty/Research Associate, Faculty–in–Residence, Endowed Chair/Professorship, Distinguished Service Professor, Alcee Fortier Distinguished Professor, and Distinguished Professor. It should be stressed that a title is an honor with no attached tenure rights.

The faculty member holding the title may be on individual term, probationary, or tenure contract. At times, separate contracts may be issued that designate special arrangements made by the University with titled academic faculty. These contracts shall be term contracts and are subject to the following conditions unless otherwise specifically provided in their individual appointment contract or elsewhere in this chapter:

They shall have only those faculty responsibilities as assigned by the appropriate Dean in consultation with the Department Head.

Adjunct and Visiting Professorships shall be determined on the basis of the individual’s rank qualifications.

The use of academic titles shall not be construed as the conferring of rank.

Appointments of titled academic faculty may be exempted from the faculty search and screen process with the approval of the Affirmative Action Officer and the President.

See also Academic Titles and Special Awards on the internal administrators’ drive (V drive).

2.2.1.2.1 Lecturer

The title of “Lecturer” may be given to a person who teaches a limited number of courses in a specific area of expertise. Lecturers are term contract employees.

2.2.1.2.2 Adjunct Faculty

The title of “Adjunct” may be given to a person who possesses the credentials and/or experience to hold rank but whose primary employment relationship is outside the University. A full definition of adjunct faculty (along with other information concerning adjunct faculty) appears throughout this Policy and Procedure Manual. All adjunct positions are term contract. Procedures and requirements for Adjunct Faculty are listed in Academic Titles and Special Awards on the internal administrators’ drive (V drive).

2.2.1.2.3 Visiting Professor

The title of “Visiting Professor” may be given to a person who has a temporary or permanent association at another institution of higher education and is associated with the University while on leave from such other institution or who is otherwise hired to fill a faculty position on a temporary basis. Visiting Professors are term contract employees.

2.2.1.2.4 Faculty/Research Associate

The title of “Faculty /Research Associate” may be given to a person appointed to a position supported by external grant funds. Associates are term contract employees.

2.2.1.2.5 Faculty–in–Residence

.The title of “Faculty–in–Residence” may be given to an individual who is associated with the University by term contract to perform specific limited duties within an area of special expertise or training under conditions established by the University and upon the recommendations of the appropriate Dean and Department Head. Residence faculty may be term, probationary, or tenure contract employees.

2.2.1.2.6 Endowed Chairs/Professorship

The title of “Endowed Chair” or “Endowed Professor” may be given to a distinguished scholar whose position is supported by endowment funds. See section titled Policy for Endowed Professorship in this Manual for the policies regarding the endowed professorship.

2.2.1.2.7 Distinguished Service Faculty

The award recognizes faculty members who have distinguished themselves in one or more of the following areas: teaching, research, service to the University, administration, public service, or by any other outstanding contributions to the University. The award consists of a one–time, $2500 base pay adjustment (based on nine month academic year). Only employees with tenure contracts can be considered for positions of Distinguished Service Faculty. Procedures and requirements for Distinguished Service Faculty are listed in Academic Titles and Special Awards on the internal administrators’ drive (V drive).

2.2.1.2.8 Alcee Fortier Distinguished Professor

The Alcee Fortier Professorship is an honorific title award in recognition of academic excellence carrying a supplementary stipend of $2500 (one–time base–pay adjustment) per nine–month academic year. Procedures and requirements for Alcee Fortier Distinguished Professor are listed in Academic Titles and Special Awards on the internal administrators’ drive (V drive).

2.2.1.2.9 Distinguished Professor

The title of Distinguished Professor may be given to faculty members who have distinguished themselves in research, service, or teaching (or combinations thereof) where this work may have occurred at a different institution. This title is different from the title of Distinguished Service Professor and the Alcee Fortier Distinguished Professor in that the title Distinguished Professor carries with it no monetary rewards.

2.2.1.3 Policy for Endowed Professorship

As supported through the board of regents support fund, Endowed Professorships are established to recruit superior new faculty and/or retain faculty whose research, teaching, and/or public service have uniquely contributed to the missions of their departments and the University.

The professorships are flexible and intended to meet the needs of widely varying disciplines, and academic units in one or more of the following ways:

To provide salary or discretionary spending supplements that will increase the retention of exemplary professors;

To enhance research competitiveness in achieving funding;

To improve research ties with industry ;

To strengthen the capacity of departments to achieve regional and/or national eminence in education or research.

Endowed Professorship funds will be handled through the Nicholls Foundation and invested according to Board of Regents Policy.

Awarding of Professorships shall be guided by Board of Regents Policy as follows:

Except under defensible, extenuating circumstances, a time limitation of no more than two years shall elapse from the funding of a professorship to its award. If an endowed professorship should become vacant, the same rule shall apply—a maximum of two years is allowed to make the award.

A professorship can be split only among multiple recipients under defensible justification.

Professorships shall be awarded on the basis of merit.

The unit shall develop, for each Endowed Professorship, goals, objectives and accountability measures appropriate for the department in which the professor resides, e.g. grant funding, publications, patents, teaching, industrial ties, and other academic and/or economic activities. Based on these accountability measurements, units shall evaluate the progress of the recipient relative to the established goals and objectives periodically, but not less than every three years.

In addition to Board of Regents Policies, Nicholls State University has established the following policies.

The availability and amount of the award will be made known in the month of November prior to the award beginning the next academic year.

A screening committee will review applications and make a recommendation to the Vice President for Academic Affairs through the appropriate department head and dean.

The recipient may not hold any other endowed chair or professorship.

An annual report, describing the accomplishments of the preceding year, must be submitted through the department head and dean to the Vice President for Academic Affairs by the recipient. Funds (if available) will not be released for the next year until this report has been approved by the Vice President for Academic Affairs. The deadline for the report is June 1 of the award year.

The term of the award will be for a maximum of three years. The recipient is eligible to apply for the award for one additional term.

The award will be based as follows:

60% of the maximum allowable spending (according to the BOR guidelines, normally 3% of five-year average market value) for salary, down to the nearest $100.

20% of the maximum allowable spending, normally 1% of five-year average market value for: 1) fringe benefits (retirement and Medicare), 2) minimum of $500 for travel, supplies, etc. for support of the recipient, down to the nearest $100, and 3) with the approval of the department head and dean any support funds, above the $500 minimum, may be used as salary supplement (down to the nearest $100) and corresponding fringe benefits.

The remaining 20% of the maximum allowable spending (normally 1% of five-year average market value) will be retained in the endowment to help insure the viability of the endowment.

If the spending policy does not allow a monetary award, the recipient shall keep the title, so long as the established goals and objectives are met, without monetary support until the monetary support has been made available for at least a period of three years.

Whenever an award is to be made (either as a renewal or new), the award will be at 3.75% (instead of 3%) for salary with 1.25% (instead of 1%) for fringe and travel/supplies (as close to 5% which is allowed by Regents after rounding to nearest $100), if the “Over Baseline” will cover at least 3 years worth of this increased supplement.

To the extent possible within a given budget year, Nicholls State University will request reimbursement of funds expended for the total compensation of Endowed Professorships and Chairs from the Nicholls State University Foundation on or after May 1 of the current budget year. This will allow the University to maximize the earnings of the endowment funds within the Foundation without imposing an undue burden upon the University’s operating budget.

Any exceptions to the above must be approved, in writing, by the Vice President for Academic Affairs.

2.2.1.3.1 Interaction between the Campus and Donor

As feasible, the department shall develop and maintain feedback procedures and interaction between the campus and donors, including annual program reports as presented to the Vice President for Academic Affairs to the respective donors and involvement of donors in awards ceremonies.

2.2.1.3.2 Intra/Inter-Campus Interaction

In order to promote interactions among and between endowed professors, a web page shall be developed and maintained which is devoted to the Endowed Professorships. The format of the web page shall, at a minimum, contain a brief current vita of each endowed professor.

2.2.1.3.3 Crediting the Board of Regents Support Fund

All internal and external materials regarding the program including campus procedures, news releases and promotional materials, shall appropriately credit the Board of Regents Support Fund.

2.2.1.4 Special Status Academic Faculty

Special status academic faculty include emeriti and affiliate faculty. Appointments of special status academic faculty are exempt from the faculty search and screen process. See also Academic Titles and Special Awards on the internal administrators’ drive (V drive).

2.2.1.4.1 Professor Emeritus

According to Board of Supervisors policy, the university president may approve the title of Professor Emeritus based upon established university criteria and procedures. Such titles may be granted to honor, in retirement, loyal faculty and administrators who have made distinguished professional contributions and have served significant portions of their careers at the institution: for example, emeritus professor of chemistry, emeritus Dean of education, emeritus president. A guideline for length of service at an institution is ten years immediately prior to retirement. The document titled Academic Titles and Special Awards, located on the V drive, gives specific guidelines for the process of appointing the title of Professor Emeritus at Nicholls State University.

2.2.1.4.2 Affiliate Faculty

Defined: An individual who contributes to and/or participates in major functions that accomplish the mission of the department or University. Such contributions are under direction of, or in collaboration with, a regular faculty member. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following: co-advising graduate student with regular faculty member, participating in joint programs with University faculty, providing guest lectures in classes or assisting in outreach activities, and advising a student organization with regular faculty member

Duration of appointment: Duration of status is to be specified in the letter of appointment generated by the University based upon recommendation by the dean of college and given to the affiliate faculty member. Affiliate faculty status automatically terminates after three years unless renewed. Status may be extended through issuance of new letter of appointment. Such status, however, can be revoked at any time by recommendation of department head and dean.

Determination of Rank/Compensation/Eligibility for Promotion/Publication of Title: An affiliate faculty member does not hold rank and may not receive financial compensation from the University. He/she is not to hold another position at the institution for which he/she receives compensation, and may not be an affiliate faculty member in more than one department. He/she is not eligible for promotion. Any individual granted this status is limited to identifying him/herself in any vita, business card or other publication as an “affiliate faculty member” of the University.

Process to Initiate Affiliate Faculty Status: Departmental request to name an affiliate faculty member is submitted to the dean of the college for approval. The letter of request, accompanied by an R-2, is then approved by the vice president for academic affairs, and the president, with the approved copy being forwarded to the Office of Human Resources.

If the person to be recommended as an affiliate faculty member holds a J-1 Exchange Visitors visa, the department must contact the Office of International Education at the time of initiating the affiliate faculty status.

Periodic Review: The department head will review appropriateness of continuation of affiliate faculty status no less than annually. Department heads are expected to be aware of and hold each individual accountable for activities associated with affiliation, and to maintain appropriate records.

Privileges: An affiliate faculty member may be eligible for a University ID card and associated privileges, such as purchasing parking permits and using library services; but is not eligible for staff fee privileges.

Sponsored Research/Graduate Faculty Status: An affiliate faculty member is not eligible to be a principal investigator in a research project. He/she may be eligible for appointment to the graduate faculty if appropriately qualified, typically for minor participation in graduate instructional activities, with approval of Graduate Council. However, it is not to be expected that every affiliate faculty member will hold graduate faculty appointment.

Faculty Senate Participation: An affiliate faculty member does not have voting privileges for representation in the Faculty Senate.

2.2.1.5 Special Faculty Groups

2.2.1.5.1 Honors Faculty

Description: a cohort of university faculty active in and committed to both academic and extracurricular activities of the University Honors Program.

Purpose: to recognize faculty service to the Honors Program; to engage a broader range of faculty as ambassadors of Honors education; to engage a broader range of faculty as advisors to the Honors Program; to help students recognize campus leaders in Honors education; to support university student and faculty recruiting efforts by demonstrating the university’s commitment to education of high-achieving students.

Membership: a limited number of positions selected from the full- and part-time university faculty at any rank selected with involvement of both the Honors Committee (faculty) and the Honors Council (students) and according to the needs of program students and program administration and for a three-year period. In addition to the selected membership, a standing membership shall consist of current instructors of regularly offered Honors courses, current program administration (director, assistant/associate director, student activities coordinator) and past directors/coordinators), and special services faculty (Honors Abroad Coordinator, Quiz Bowl Advisor). The size of the Honors faculty shall not exceed 10% of the total number of permanent faculty on campus (currently about 25 members).

Criteria for Selected Membership:

(1) nomination by Honors Council or Honors Committee

(2) demonstrated outstanding service to the Honors Program, which may include course leadership, guest lecturing, thesis mentoring, Honors course credit mentoring, and participation in extramural events, and which will be assessed by Honors Council.

(3) exemplary student evaluations

(4) activity in professional scholarship

(5) willingness to abide by program mission, goals, objectives, and philosophy

(6) willingness to mentor honors students in independent study projects, including honors theses

(7) willingness to support program requirements and serve as ad hoc advisor to program

(8) willingness to help grow the program through student recruitment, retention, and completion

(9) willingness to support extracurricular activities of the program.

2.2.2 Administrative Faculty

For contract purposes, “administrative faculty” shall be defined to include administrative employees who carry academic rank. Department Heads are excluded from the definition of Administrative Faculty. Administrative Faculty shall be employed by administrative contracts; terms and conditions of employment of Administrative Faculty are provided for in administrative faculty personnel policies.

Changes to Section of Manual

Section	Effective Date	Origin	Change Form
2.2.1.5	05/02/2019	Honors Program	PPM change form 2.2.1.5

Nicholls State University

FACULTY/STAFF POLICY & PROCEDURE MANUAL