3. Definition of Faculty

3.1 Faculty Rank

Academic employees of the Louisiana State University System are grouped as follows:

1. Faculty. Full-time members of the academic staff on the various campuses with the rank of Instructor or above and equivalent ranks.
2. Other Academic. Part-time members of the academic staff; members of the academic staff below the rank of Instructor or equivalent; and other personnel with academic responsibilities not holding faculty rank.

[Article II, Section 1-A-1 of the LSU Board of Supervisors Rules and Regulations (9/13/21).]

3.2 Academic Ranks

I. Full-Time Academic Ranks

Academic personnel employed on a full-time basis by the University System shall be recognized by one of the following ranks:

A. Associate

1. Criteria - Personnel who are employed primarily for research assignments, whose duties and responsibilities are essentially the same level as those of Instructor are appointed to the rank of Associate. Associates are expected to perform specialized research, instructional, extension, service, or artistic routines under the supervision of a member of the professorial ranks. The individual must have graduated from a regionally accredited college or university or have extensive (4 or more years) research, instructional, extension or artistic experience in the subject or a closely related area.
2. Faculty Status - This rank does not carry faculty status. A change in rank from Associate to Instructor shall be regarded as an appointment to the faculty and not as a promotion.
3. Tenure and Appointments - Associates do not earn tenure and are appointed for a specified term.

B. Library Associate

1. Criteria - The individual must have graduated from a regionally accredited college or university or have extensive (4 or more years) library experience. Library Associates are expected to perform the simpler and specialized library routines under the supervision of a professional librarian.
2. Faculty Status - the same as for Associate
3. Tenure and Appointments -the same as for Associate

C. Instructor

1. Criteria - Individuals appointed to this rank normally should possess the highest degree requisite in the subject matter area (a minimum of a master’s degree). Each department, in collaboration with the dean of its college, should establish definite standards to indicate what degree it considers requisite for the rank of Instructor. In addition to the above academic requirement, the individual should show promise of the ability to perform successfully the duties (teaching, research extension, or other scholarly activity) for which he/she was employed or which may be assigned in the future.
2. Faculty Status - The rank of Instructor carries faculty status.
3. Tenure and Appointments -Instructors do not earn tenure and are appointed for a specified term.

D. General Librarian

1. Criteria - Minimum qualifications include graduation from a regionally accredited college or university, a degree from a library school accredited by the American Library Association or the equivalent combination of education and experience in a library or archive, plus library experience.The individual is expected to perform, under supervision, library tasks of a complex nature and to exercise responsible judgment in administering library routine.
2. Faculty Status - The same as for Instructor.
3. Tenure and Appointment - The same as for Instructor.

E. Assistant Professor

1. Criteria - The individual shall meet the standards which govern appointment to the rank of Instructor and shall normally possess the commonly accepted terminal degree in the subject matter area. In addition, the person should exhibit clear evidence of potential for excellence in teaching, research, extension, or other scholarly activity.
2. Faculty Status - Assistant Professors have faculty status.
3. Tenure and Appointments - Term appointments at this rank are to be for one, two, or three years. During the sixth year of service in rank as an Assistant Professor, a “pre-tenure review” will be conducted to evaluate the individual’s performance so that before the end of the sixth year of service the individual will be informed of the University’s position regarding his/her retention. Upon reappointment after seven (7) years of service in rank on a particular campus, tenure is automatic and appointments are for an indefinite period of time. Individuals at this rank who are paid from grant or contract funds shall not acquire tenure through the passage of time but may become tenured only by specific individual recommendation through appropriate channels and approval by the President.

F. Assistant Librarian

1. Criteria - Minimum qualifications include graduation from a regionally accredited college or university, a degree from a library school accredited by the American Library Association or the equivalent combination of education and experience in a library or archive, plus varied experience in college and university libraries. A graduate degree in a subject field, in addition to the graduate degree in library science, is desirable for this rank. Individuals are under the supervision of a library administrator to supervise the work of professional and nonprofessional assistants and to aid in the development of materials and services to meet the instructional, research, and extension needs of the University.
2. Faculty Status - The same as for Assistant Professor.
3. Tenure and Appointment: The same as for Assistant Professor.

G. Associate Professor*

1. Criteria - The individual shall meet the standards which govern appointment and promotion to the rank of Assistant Professor. In addition, he/she shall have established a consistently good reputation as a scholar and have demonstrated a high quality of productivity. Normally, the individual will have served at least three (3) years as an Assistant Professor.
2. Faculty Status - Associate Professors are senior members of the faculty.
3. Initial appointments of Associate Professors who join the campus at that rank and their subsequent reappointments may be made for a specific term through not more than five (5) years of total service on that campus. Persons promoted to the rank of Associate Professor after less than five years of service on the campus may be continued to term appointment no more than the fifth year. Individuals paid from grant or contract funds do not acquire tenure through the passage of time but may become tenured only by specific individual recommendation through appropriate channels and approval by the President with the exceptions noted above, Associate Professors are tenured and are appointed for an indefinite period of time.

*Exemptions to the rules pertaining to tenure and term appointments at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center and the Paul M Hebert Law Center are found in Article II, Section 7 of the Rules and Regulations of the LSU Board of Supervisors.

H. Associate Librarian

1. Criteria - Same as for Assistant Librarian. In addition, this rank calls for proven administrative qualities of leadership, and other personal and academic qualifications should be contributing factors. The individual, as delegated by the Director of the Library, assists in the administration or major areas of library service and contributes to the formulation and execution of an effective library program.
2. Faculty Status - The same as for Associate Professor.
3. Tenure and Appointment - The same as for Associate Professor.

I. Professor

1. Criteria - Individuals appointed or promoted to the rank of Professor shall possess all of the criteria and meet all of the standards for Associate Professor. He/she shall have demonstrated and excellence in teaching, research, extension, and/or other scholarly activity in the subject matter area. The faculty member shall have established a commendable academic reputation through publications, extension educational outreach and service, or other creative work. Normally, the individual will have had at least five (5) years of successful service as an Associate Professor.
2. Faculty Status - Professors are senior members of the faculty.
3. Tenure and Appointment - Initial appointments of Professors who join the campus at that rank and their subsequent reappointments may be made for a specific term through not more than five (5) years of total service on that campus. Persons promoted to the rank of Professor after less than five years of service on the campus may be continued to term appointment no more than the fifth year. Individuals paid from grant or contract funds do not acquire tenure through the passage of time but may become tenured only by specific individual recommendation through appropriate channels and approval by the President. With the exceptions noted, Professors are tenured and are appointed for an indefinite period of time.

J. Librarian

1. Criteria - Minimum qualifications are the same as for Associate Librarian. In addition, this rank calls for extensive administrative experience in which responsibility and judgment of an independent nature are required. The individual should be capable of exercising the top administrative functions of the library. Librarians assist in the administration of all aspects of library service and operation and share in the formulation and execution of policy.
2. Faculty Status - The same as for Professor.
3. Tenure and Appointment -The same as for Professor

K. Assistant Professor, Full-Time Affiliate (FTA)
Associate Professor Full-Time Affiliate (FTA)
Professor, Full-Time Affiliate (FTA)

1. Criteria - Individuals employed jointly by the Medical Center and an affiliated hospital who have academic responsibilities equivalent to the full-time University faculty may be designated as Full Time Affiliate Faculty.
2. Faculty Status - Full-Time Affiliate Faculty are members of the faculty.
3. Tenure and Appointment - Full-Time Affiliate Faculty are appointed for term appointments of one, two or three years and are not eligible for tenure. Those who are gratis or whose University contribution to salary is less than 25 percent shall be considered as volunteer faculty insofar as employee benefits are concerned. However, if the University contributes 25 percent or more of their total salary, the percentage of University contribution should be indicated and employee benefits appropriate to that percentage provided.

L. “Professional”-in-Residence

1. Criteria - This is an umbrella title for professionals, appointed to instructional positions, with working titles, such as Writer-in-Residence, Artist-in-Residence, Architect-in-Residence, Journalist-in-Residence, etc. The professional may be in residence at irregular intervals and may be scheduled individually in order to meet obligations to the University.
2. Faculty Status - Individuals holding this title will be granted participation in departmental/school/college faculty meetings comparable to their part-time or full-time non tenured faculty.
3. Tenure and Appointment - Tenure and Appointment: Tenure is not awarded to individuals holding this title Appointment to this title may be annual, or limited, not to exceed three (3) years per appointment and may be full time or part-time

M. Visiting Instructor
Visiting Assistant Professor
Visiting Associate Professor
Visiting Professor

1. Criteria - These courtesy titles are to be given to visitors from another institution of higher education who are on a temporary duty assignment with a component of the LSU System. The individual shall be given the equivalent academic rank as assigned by his/her home institution with the designation, “Visiting”, added to the title. The “Visiting” title may also be used for individuals who are not on leave from another Institution but who meet the standards for the rank specified and who are hired for a limited period.
2. Faculty Status - Individuals holding these ranks are not given the right to vote in faculty matters.
3. Tenure and Appointment -Tenure is not awarded to individuals holding these ranks. Employees holding these ranks are to be given term appointments not to exceed one year in length.

N. Assistant Curator

1. 1. Criteria - These ranks are limited to individuals holding full-time appointments on a campus with the majority of his/her total effort being an assignment to the museum staff. Persons appointed to one of the curatorial ranks normally shall possess the commonly accepted terminal degree in the subject or closely related area. Assistant Curators, Associate Curators, and Curators shall meet the standards which govern appointment and/or promotion to the respective professorial rank.
2. Faculty Status - These ranks have faculty status.
3. Tenure and Appointment - These ranks have the same rules and rights of appointment and tenure as the equivalent professorial rank.

O. Designated Professorships

1. Criteria - Appointment to the rank of Boyd Professor, Alumni Professor, Distinguished Professor, or any other designated professorships are governed by rules and regulations developed specifically for those purposes.
2. Faculty Status - Designated Professors are senior members of the faculty.
3. Tenure and Appointment - See specific rules and regulations for that particular designated professorship.

P. Postdoctoral Researcher
Senior Postdoctoral Researcher
Instructor - Research or Extension
Assistant Professor - Research or Extension
Associate Professor - Research or Extension
Professor - Research or Extension

1. Criteria - Only individuals whose primary responsibility is conducting research or extension education and who often are paid from grant or contract funds are to be appointed to these ranks.
   1. Persons appointed to the rank of Postdoctoral Researcher must possess a Ph.D. or equivalent degree. They are expected to assist and perform specialized research or extension service routines under the general supervision of a member of the professorial ranks.
   2. Senior Postdoctoral Researchers must possess a Ph.D. or equivalent degree and shall normally have a minimum of three years postdoctoral experience in a laboratory or in extension education. Persons appointed to this rank are expected to perform independent research or extension service under the direction of a member of the professorial staff.
   3. Instructor Research or Extension must possess a Bachelor’s degree and usually would have a minimum of a Master’s degree. Persons appointed to this rank are expected to engage in research or extension related activities under the general supervision of a member of the professorial ranks.
   4. Appointees to the rank of Assistant Professor -Research or Extension must possess a Ph.D. or equivalent degree and shall normally have at least five years of postdoctoral experience in a research laboratory or five years’ experience as an extension professional. In addition, the individual is expected to meet the standards which govern appointment to the rank of Assistant Professor, excluding the instructional criteria.
   5. A Ph.D. or equivalent degree and a minimum of nine years of postdoctoral experience in a research laboratory or nine years of experience as an extension professional is normally required for appointment as an Associate Professor - Research or Extension. The individual is also expected to meet the standards for appointment as Associate Professor, excluding the instructional criteria.
   6. Persons appointed to Professor -Research or Extension must possess a Ph.D. or equivalent degree and shall normally have a minimum of 12 years postdoctoral experience in a research laboratory or I2 years’ experience as an extension professional. Also the individual should meet the same standards for appointment as Professor, excluding the instructional criteria.
2. Faculty Status - Individuals appointed to these ranks shall have faculty status except that these individuals may not vote on academic standards or policy matters.
3. Tenure and Appointment - Individuals in these ranks do not acquire tenure through the passage of time and may become tenured only by specific individual recommendation through appropriate channels and approval by the President. If an individual in one of these ranks is temporarily switched from grant or contract funds to permanent funds, that time does not count toward tenure unless specifically approved through channels by the President.

Q. Assistant Professor of Clinical ___________________ *
Associate Professor of Clinical ___________________ *
Professor of Clinical ___________________*

*Any clinical specialist (i.e., Medicine, Psychology, Pedodontics, etc.)

1. Criteria - This is non-tenure track for full-time faculty in the clinical sciences who are effective in teaching and service programs and are essential for patient care, but whose research publications or scholarly activity does not warrant appointment or promotion to tenured positions.
2. Faculty Status - Individuals appointed to these ranks shall have faculty status except that these individuals may not vote on academic standards or policy matters.
3. Tenure and Appointment - Tenure is not awarded to individuals holding these ranks. Term appointments are made for a specified term.

R(A). Adjunct Clinical Professor of (clinical specialty)

1. Criteria - This is non-tenure track for non-full-time faculty in the clinical sciences who are effective in teaching and service programs and are essential for patient care, but whose research publications or scholarly activity does not warrant appointment or promotion to tenured positions.
2. Faculty Status - Individuals appointed to these ranks shall have faculty status except that these individuals may not vote on academic standards or policy matters.
3. Tenure and Appointment - Tenure is not awarded to individuals holding these ranks. Term appointments are made not to exceed one year.

S. Assistant Professor-Professional Practice
Associate Professor-Professional Practice
Professor-Professional Practice

1. Criteria - This is a non-tenure track for full-time faculty in the professions (e.g. Education) who are effective in teaching and service programs and are essential for coordinating field work and supervising students in the field, but whose research publications or scholarly activity do not warrant appointment or promotion to tenured positions.
2. Faculty Status - Individuals appointed to these ranks have the same faculty status as full-time members of the faculty with equivalent rank. They may be enfranchised to the degree deemed appropriate by the faculty unit (system, campus, college, division, or department).
3. Tenure and Appointment - Tenure is not awarded to individuals holding these ranks.

T. LSU Agricultural Center Extension Agents

Academic personnel employed on a full-time or part-time basis by the University System to serve in the LSU AgCenter Extension Service to conduct educational programs on a parish-multi parish/area or regional basis shall be recognized by one of the following ranks:

1. Assistant Agent
   1. Criteria - The individual must possess a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in an appropriate subject matter field from a regionally accredited college or university .The individual shall also possess such specialized training as the particular position may require. In addition to the above academic requirement, the individual should show promise of the ability to perform successfully the duties for which he/she was employed or which may be assigned in the future.
   2. Faculty Status - The rank of assistant agent carries faculty status.
   3. Tenure and Appointment - Assistant agents do not earn tenure and are appointed for a specified term not to exceed one year in length. Appointment is on a fiscal year basis unless a different term of appointment is stated on the personnel action form (excluding funds end dates).
2. Associate Agent
   1. Criteria - Individuals appointed to this rank normally must possess a minimum of a master’s degree in an appropriate subject matter field from a regionally accredited college or university and have at least three years successful experience as an extension associate, assistant agent, or the professional equivalent. A bachelor’s degree and successful completion of at least fifteen hours of the degree requirements for the master’s degree may be substituted for the master’s degree if the individual has three years of experience in the Extension Service.
   2. Faculty Status - The rank of associate agent carries faculty status.
   3. Tenure and Appointment - Associate agents do not earn tenure and are appointed for a specified term not to exceed one year in length. Appointment is on a fiscal year basis unless a different term of appointment is stated on the personnel action form (excluding funds end dates).
3. Agent
   1. Criteria - Individuals appointed to this rank normally must possess a minimum of a master’s degree in an appropriate subject matter field from a regionally accredited college or university and have at least eight years successful experience as an extension associate, assistant agent, or the professional equivalent. At least three years of experience must have been at the rank of associate agent or the professional equivalent.
   2. Faculty Status - The rank of agent carries faculty status.
   3. Tenure and Appointment - Same as for assistant agent.

II. Part-Time Academic Ranks

Academic personnel employed on a part-time basis by the University System shall be recognized by one of the following ranks:

A. Associate, Part-Time
Instructor, Part-Time
Assistant Professor, Part-Time
Associate Professor, Part-Time
Professor, Part-Time

1. Criteria - Individuals who meet the criteria and standards for designation at a specific full-time academic rank, but who are employed on less than a 100-percent basis by a component of the University System, are to be accorded one of the respective ranks listed above.
2. Faculty Status - As a class, individuals with the rank of Instructor, Part-time; Assistant Professor, Part-time; Associate Professor, Part-time; and Professor, Part-time may be enfranchised to the degree deemed appropriate by the faculty unit (i.e. System, campus, college, division, or department).
3. Tenure and Appointment - Personnel holding one of the above ranks do not receive tenure. Appointments at these ranks are made for terms not to exceed one academic or fiscal year in length.

B. Adjunct Instructor
Adjunct Assistant Professor
Adjunct Associate Professor
Adjunct Professor

1. Criteria - These ranks are to be conferred upon those individuals whose Primary employment is outside the department, but who make substantial contributions to the instructional, extension, and/or research programs of the LSU System. Recommendations for such ranks are to be made in the same manner as for the equivalent full-time rank.
2. Faculty Status - Personnel appointed to one of these ranks are not allowed to vote on faculty matters.
3. Tenure and Appointment - Tenure is not awarded to individuals in these ranks. Term appointments not to exceed one academic or fiscal year in length are awarded in these ranks.

C. Special Lecturer

1. Criteria - This title is limited to part-time appointments without rank designation and is restricted to specialists and professional men and women whose primary occupation is the practice of their profession.
2. Faculty Status - Personnel appointed to this rank are not given the right to vote on faculty matters.
3. Tenure and Appointment - Tenure is not awarded to individuals in this category. Term appointments not to exceed one academic or fiscal year in length are awarded in this category.

D. Adjunct Clinical Instructor, Part-Time

1. Criteria - A person whose primary role within the Law Center is related to a clinical setting in any internship program or other clinical or skills instructional program.
2. Faculty Status - The same as for Adjunct professorships.
3. Tenure and Appointment - The same as for Adjunct professorships.

E. Clinical Instructor
Clinical Assistant Professor
Clinical Associate Professor
Clinical Professor

1. Criteria - Part-time personnel whose primary role is related to a clinical setting shall be given the appropriate rank listed above. Recommendations for these ranks are to be made in the same manner as for the equivalent full-time rank. When an individual holding one of the above ranks is also appointed as a department head/chairman, the designation “Clinical” is dropped.
2. Faculty Status - As a class, individuals with one of these ranks may be enfranchised to the degree deemed appropriate by the faculty unit (i.e., System, campus, college, division, or department).
3. Tenure and Appointment - Personnel holding one of these ranks do not receive tenure. Appointments are made on a term basis of not more than one academic or fiscal year.

F. Library Associate, Part-Time
General Librarian, Part-Time
Assistant Librarian, Part-Time
Associate Librarian, Part-Time
Librarian, Part-Time

1. Criteria - Individuals who meet the criteria and standards for designation at a specific library rank, but who are employed on less than a 100-percent basis by a component of the University System, are to be accorded one of the respective ranks listed above.
2. Faculty Status - As a class, individuals with the rank of General Librarian, Part-time; Assistant Librarian, Part-time; Associate Librarian, Part-time; and Librarian, Part-time may be enfranchised to the degree deemed appropriate by the respective unit of the System, campus, college, division, or department.
3. Tenure and Appointment - Personnel appointed to one of the above ranks do not receive tenure. Appointments at these ranks are made for terms not to exceed one academic or fiscal year in length.

[LSU System. Permanent Memorandum 23. (6/22/17). Ranks, Provisions, and Policies Governing Appointments and Promotions of the Academic Staff. https://www.lsu.edu/administration/policies/pmfiles/pm-23.pdf]

3.3 Boyd Professorships

1. Eligibility

A faculty member on one of the various campuses of the University who has attained national or international distinction for outstanding teaching, research, or other creative achievement may be designated a “Boyd Professor.” The “Boyd Professorship” shall be regarded as the highest professorial rank awarded by the University. No Professor holding an administrative position of the rank of director or above shall be eligible for designation as a “Boyd Professor.”

2. Procedure for Nomination

Nomination of a Professor for designation as a “Boyd Professor” shall originate with a dean or deans (in the case of split appointments) or a director of a school, which is not a college, in which a nominee holds professorial status. The nomination shall be addressed to a review committee through the Chancellor of the campus on which the nominee is a faculty member or, for faculty members of LSU, through the President or his or her designee. The nomination by deans or directors shall be reviewed by a committee comprised of the chief academic officer of the University, who shall serve as chair, two emeriti Boyd Professors, and three current Boyd Professors appointed by the President from throughout the University.

[Article II, Section 14 of the LSU Board of Supervisors Rules and Regulations (9/13/21).]

3.4 Emeritus Ranks

Upon recommendation by the appropriate campus, the title Professor Emeritus shall be conferred upon all persons who upon retirement have attained the title of Professor and who have been in the service of the University for a period of at least ten (10) years. The said title may also be conferred, upon recommendation of the appropriate campus, upon a person who upon retirement has attained the title of Professor even though the period of service is less than ten (10) years, if it is determined that the person has made outstanding contributions to the University in either the field of scholarship or public service.

Any person who has held the position of academic dean, director, or department head for a period of ten (10) years may be retired with the title Dean, Director, or Department Head Emeritus. Where applicable to other positions within the University, an Emeritus title may be conferred upon the recommendation of the President in appropriate cases.

Approval of emeritus status shall be governed by the Personnel Action Approval Policy.

[Article IV, Section 5 of the LSU Board of Supervisors Rules and Regulations (9/13/21).]

3.5 Employment of Retirees

The retirement laws governing re-employment are complicated and place conditions and restrictions on re-employment. Retirees returning to work are required to meet certain stipulations that pertain to the state retirement plan of the retiree.  If considering re-employment, the retiree should contact Human Resources - Benefits at 318-675-5632 to review return-to-work eligibility, procedures and preclusions that exist.

Details regarding requirements, procedures and preclusions related to Teachers’ Retirement System of Louisiana (TRSL) and Louisiana State Employees’ Retirement System (LASERS) can be found at the followings URLs:

TRSL: http://fluxconsole.com/files/item/202/20799/rtw_WEB.pdf

LASERS: https://lasersonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/19-MH-ReEmployed-Retirees_bw.pdf

3.6 Administrators With Faculty Rank

A faculty member who accepts an administrative position maintains faculty status and tenure rights.