As per the Agreement on Conditions of Appointment for Faculty, the following titles and ranks are defined as: Acting Assistant Professor, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, and Professor.
Acting Assistant Professor
Appointment to this rank requires the completion, or promise of early completion, of academic qualifications and evidence of potential ability in teaching and research. Appointment is for a maximum term of two years. A person will not normally be reappointed as an Acting Assistant Professor. At the end of the second year of appointment, an appointment may be offered at the rank which would be an appropriate rank or the appointment may not be renewed. The pre-tenure period begins at the start of the appointment as Acting Assistant Professor.
Assistant Professor
- Appointment at or promotion to the rank of Assistant Professor normally requires completion of academic qualifications, and evidence of ability in teaching and scholarly activity. Evidence will ordinarily be required to demonstrate that the candidate for an appointment or promotion is involved in scholarly activity, is a successful teacher, and is capable of providing instruction at the various levels in his/her discipline, but it is sufficient to show potential to meet these criteria. The evidence may include the opinion of scholars familiar with the candidate’s work and capability.
- Initial appointments at this rank are normally for a term of four years, but in exceptional circumstances may be for a lesser period. Renewal of an individual’s appointment is for a term of four years with mandatory review for tenure and promotion in year 7.
- Decisions on the award of tenured appointments are made in accordance with the provisions of Article 2.03. In special cases an Assistant Professor may be given the rank of Senior Instructor and a tenured appointment.
Associate Professor
- Appointment at or promotion to the rank of Associate Professor normally requires evidence of successful teaching and of scholarly activity beyond that expected of an Assistant Professor. The candidate will be judged on teaching as defined in Article 4.02, on sustained and productive scholarly activity* on ability to supervise and mentor graduate students as applicable, with consideration to the norms of the unit, and on willingness to participate and participation in the affairs of the Department and the University. Promotion to this rank is not automatic or based on years of service and it is expected that some persons who may be granted tenured appointments will not attain this rank. In exceptional circumstances, initial appointment at this rank may be based upon evidence of the candidate’s potential to meet these criteria, including the opinion of scholars or other qualified persons familiar with the candidate’s work and capability.
- Initial appointments at this rank are normally for a term of three years, with review, but in exceptional circumstances may be for a lesser period or tenured. Renewal of these appointments that have been made for a term of three years will normally be tenured but if the initial term was made for less than three years, a tenure decision will not usually be made until the appointee is in the third year of service at the rank of Associate Professor.
*Effective 1 July 2024 the criteria for promotion will change from “sustained and Productive scholarly activity” to “a growing body of productive scholarly activity.”
Professor
- Appointment at or promotion to the rank of Professor is reserved for those whose contributions (judged by the criteria as set out in Article 4) are considered outstanding.
- These persons will have met appropriate standards of excellence and have wide recognition in the field of their interest. They must have shown high quality in teaching and sustained and productive scholarly activity* (effective July 1, 2024), have attained distinction in their discipline, and have participated significantly in academic and professional affairs. Promotion to this rank is neither automatic nor based on years of service and it is expected that some persons will not attain this rank.
- Initial appointments at this rank may be term appointments or tenured appointments. Renewal of a term appointments will normally be made without term.
*Effective 1 July 2024 the criteria for promotion will change from “sustained and productive scholarly activity” to “a growing body of productive scholarly activity.”
