Faculty Handbook - Fairmont State University

EXPERIENCE:
27
1) six years of college teaching experience or equivalent professional experience;
OR
2) four years of college teaching experience or equivalent professional experience after
attainment of the doctorate.
In addition, three years of teaching experience at the assistant professor rank must be acquired
at Fairmont State University prior to promotion.
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR:
To be eligible to apply for the rank of assistant professor, a faculty member must meet the
following minimum requirements:
EDUCATION:
1) hold an earned doctorate or terminal degree appropriate to the teaching field (See
Appendix A for additional certifications acceptable in lieu of a terminal degree);
OR
2) have been officially admitted to a doctoral program and have earned fifty semester hours of
graduate study 5 directed toward the completion of the doctorate;
OR
3) hold an advanced degree, a national certification and three years of non-teaching
industrial/professional experience. The appropriate national certification and experience
will be identified at the College/School level and subject to approval by the Faculty Senate; 6
OR
4) have achieved professional and scholarly stature (e.g., published extensively in nationally
recognized professional journals, received national professional awards or honors,
delivered professional papers at national conferences, served as consultant to nationally
recognized groups or agencies). Primary consideration will be given to that professional
and scholarly achievement since the attainment of the current rank.
EXPERIENCE:
The experience requirement may be waived for persons with an earned doctorate
appropriate to the teaching field.
1) three years college teaching experience or equivalent professional experience. Two years of
teaching experience must be acquired at Fairmont State University prior to promotion;
OR
2) Instructors with Bachelor's degrees who are teaching exclusively in two-year terminal
degree programs may be promoted to the rank of assistant professor after six years of
teaching experience are acquired at Fairmont State University prior to promotion. 7
5 Amended by Faculty Senate, October 11, 1988
6 Approved by the Faculty Senate, May 11, 1993
7 Amended by Faculty Senate, October 11, 1988