Faculty Handbook & Constitution - Lee University

_________________LEE UNIVERSITY FACULTY HANDBOOK & CONSTITUTION_________________Continuing Contract Faculty – a voting member of the faculty with all rights and privilegesgranted the rank of Instructor or Assistant Professor. Continuing contracts are 1, 2, or 3-year contracts offered after the initial probationary period, renewable at the discretion ofthe university administration and board of directors.Adjunct Faculty and Senior Adjunct Faculty – a non-voting member of the faculty hiredannually. Pay is negotiable as related to duties required.Professor Emeritus – an associate member of the faculty with rights and privilegesdefined in Chapter 6 – Benefits of Faculty Service.Distinguished Professor – a rank awarded by the Board of Directors in those rarecircumstances in which a Lee professor has performed with great distinction over anextended period of time, and has performed at a level of excellence which has beenrecognized as exceptional among fellow Professors at the university. It is awarded at therecommendation of the President.A. Purposes1. To encourage the development of professional excellence on the part of individualfaculty members.2. To provide a clear understanding of one’s status and one’s opportunity foradvancement.3. To establish a basis for a pay scale commensurate with academic credentials,experience, and responsibilities.4. To develop an appealing program for recruiting and for maintaining an excellentfaculty.B. Personnel1. The ranking system is provided for the ranking of full-time academic personnel.2. Academic rank pertains to teachers. Members of the administration who alsoteach are ranked on the basis of their preparation for and participation in the task ofteaching.C. Methods of Assignment1. Assignment of Rank upon Employmenta. Teachers holding only a Bachelor’s degree may be employed only astemporary faculty.b. Teachers holding at least a Master’s degree or a first professional degree(i.e., M.Div., or their equivalent) may be assigned the rank of Lecturer.c. Teachers holding a Doctoral degree or other terminal degree may beassigned the rank of Lecturer or Assistant Professor.d. Teachers holding rank from other institutions may be employed at thesame rank, provided their rank meets approximately the same criteria asthat in practice at Lee University. However, at the discretion of thePresident, such persons may be employed at lower rank or advanced notmore than one grade above their present rank.2. Criteria for Promotiona. General Guidelines(1) Promotions from one rank to another shall be based primarily uponmerit by the criteria below and secondarily upon seniority.4 – 14 Faculty Constitution and Bylaws