Faculty Titles

University of Maryland Policy on Appointment, Promotion, and Tenure of Faculty (II-1.00(A)) specifies the titles that may be used for appointees to faculty status. Only the titles defined below may be used for faculty appointments. Click the title for more information about appointment and hiring procedures.

Tenured and Tenure Track Appointments

Extension Agent Titles

Agent

This rank is parallel to the rank of Assistant Professor. The appointee must hold a master's degree in an appropriate discipline and show evidence of academic ability and leadership skills. The appointee shall have an educational background related to the specific position. Appointments as Agent may be for one to three years. Similarly, reappointments may be for one to three years.

Category: Extension Agent Titles

Senior Agent

This rank is parallel to the rank of Associate Professor. In addition to the qualifications of an Agent, the appointee must have demonstrated achievement in program development and must have shown originality and creative ability in designing new programs, teaching effectiveness, and evidence of service to the community, institution, and profession. Appointment to this rank may carry tenure.

New appointments at the rank of Professor and Associate Professor with tenure and Principal and Senior Agent with tenure must be reviewed by faculty committees and administrators at all levels. No offer of appointment at the rank of Associate Professor, Professor, Senior Agent or Principal Agent (regardless of tenure status) is valid without presidential approval. (New Assistant Professor and Agent appointments are not handled by the University APT process.)

Category: Extension Agent Titles

Principal Agent

This rank is parallel to the rank of Professor. In addition to the qualifications of a Senior Agent, the appointee must have demonstrated leadership ability and evidence of service to the community, institution, and profession. The appointee must also have received recognition for contributions to the Cooperative Extension Service sufficient to establish a reputation among State, regional and/or national colleagues, and should have demonstrated evidence of distinguished achievement in creative program development. Appointment to this rank carries tenure.

Category: Extension Agent Titles

Professorial Titles

Assistant Professor

The appointee shall have qualities suggesting a high level of teaching ability in the relevant academic field, and shall provide evidence of potential for superior research, scholarship, or artistic creativity in the field. Because this is a tenure-track position, the appointee shall at the time of appointment show promise of having, at such time as he or she is to be reviewed for tenure and promotion in accordance with paragraph I.C.3 of the University System of Maryland Policy and paragraph III.C.3 of the University of Maryland Policy and Procedures on Appointment, Promotion, and Tenure of Faculty, the qualities described under "Associate Professor" in that policy. In most fields the doctorate shall be a requirement for appointment to an assistant professorship. Although the rank normally leads to review for tenure and promotion, persons appointed to the rank of Assistant Professor after the effective date of this policy shall not be granted tenure in this rank.

Category: Professorial Titles

Associate Professor

In addition to having the qualifications of an Assistant Professor, the appointee shall have a high level of competence in teaching and advisement in the relevant academic field, shall have demonstrated significant research, scholarship, or artistic creativity in the field and shall have shown promise of continued productivity, shall be competent to direct work of major subdivisions of the primary academic unit and to offer graduate instruction and direct graduate research, and shall have served the campus, the profession, or the community in some useful way in addition to teaching and research. Promotion to the rank from within confers tenure; appointment to the rank from without may confer tenure.

Category: Professorial Titles

Professor

In addition to having the qualifications of an Associate Professor, the appointee shall have established a national and, where appropriate, international reputation for outstanding research, scholarship or artistic creativity, and a distinguished record of teaching. There also must be a record of continuing evidence of relevant and effective professional service. The rank carries tenure.

Category: Professorial Titles

Distinguished University Professor

The title, Distinguished University Professor, will be conferred by the President upon a limited number of members of the faculty of the University of Maryland at College Park in recognition of distinguished achievement in teaching; research or creative activities; and service to the University, the profession and the community. College Park faculty who, at the time of approval of this title, carry the title of Distinguished Professor, will be permitted to retain their present title or to change to the title of Distinguished University Professor. Designation as Distinguished University Professor shall include an annual allocation of funds to support his or her professional activities, to be expended in accordance with applicable University policies.

Category: Professorial Titles

Permanent Status Appointments

Library faculty hold the ranks of Librarian I-IV. Each rank requires a master’s degree from an American Library Association accredited program or a graduate degree in another field where appropriate. The master’s degree is considered the terminal degree.

Permanent status is an institutional commitment to permanent and continuous employment to be terminated only for adequate cause (for example, professional or scholarly misconduct; incompetence; moral turpitude; or willful neglect of duty) and only after due process in accordance with relevant USM and campus policies. Permanent status is available for library faculty holding the rank of Librarian III and Librarian IV. Those candidates without permanent status applying for the rank of Librarian III and Librarian IV shall be considered concurrently for permanent status.

Librarian I

This is an entry level rank, assigned to librarians with little or no professional library experience. This rank does not carry permanent status.

Category: Librarians

Librarian II

Librarians at this rank have demonstrated professional development evidenced by achievement of a specialization in a subject, service, technical, administrative, or other area of value to the library. The rank normally leads to review for permanent status and promotion.

Category: Librarians

Librarian III

Librarians at this rank have a high level of competence in performing professional duties requiring specialized knowledge or experience. They shall have served the Libraries, the campus, or the community in some significant way; have shown evidence of creative or scholarly contribution; and have been involved in mentoring and providing developmental opportunities for their colleagues. They shall have shown promise of continued productivity in librarianship, service, and scholarship or creativity. Promotion to this rank from within the Libraries confers permanent status; appointment to this rank from outside the Libraries may confer permanent status.

Category: Librarians

Librarian IV

Librarians at this rank show evidence of superior performance at the highest levels of specialized work and professional responsibility. They have shown evidence of and demonstrate promise for continued contribution in valuable service and significant creative or scholarly contribution. Such achievement must include leadership roles and have resulted in the attainment of Libraries, campus, state, regional, national, or international recognition. This rank carries permanent status.

Category: Librarians

Other Faculty Appointments: Not Eligible for Tenure

The following are the official descriptions of faculty titles per the University of Maryland Policy on Appointment, Promotion, and Tenure of Faculty (II-1.00(A)). Please note that only the faculty titles listed below may be used for appointees to faculty status.

Adjunct and Affiliate Faculty

Adjunct Assistant Professor, Adjunct Associate Professor, Adjunct Professor

The appointee shall be associated with the faculty of a department or non-departmentalized school or college, but shall not be essential to the development of that unit's program. The titles do not carry tenure. The appointee may be paid or unpaid. The appointee may be employed outside the University, but shall not hold another paid appointment at the University of Maryland at College Park. The appointee shall have such expertise in his or her discipline and be so well regarded that his or her appointment will have the endorsement of the majority of the members of the professorial faculty of the academic unit.

Any academic unit may recommend to the administration persons of these ranks; normally, the number of adjunct appointments shall comprise no more than a small percentage of the faculty in an academic unit.

Category: Adjunct and Affiliate Faculty

Affiliate Assistant Professor, Affiliate Associate Professor, Affiliate Professor

These titles shall be used to recognize the affiliation of a faculty member or other university employee with an academic unit other than that to which his or her appointment and salary are formally linked. The nature of the affiliation shall be specified in writing, and the appointment shall be made upon the recommendation of the faculty of the department with which the appointee is to be affiliated and with the consent of the faculty of his or her primary department. The rank of affiliation shall be commensurate with the appointee's qualifications.

Category: Adjunct and Affiliate Faculty

Artist-in-Residence Ranks

Assistant Artist-in-Residence

This title, generally parallel to Assistant Professor, is intended for those persons whose professional activities are of a creative or performance nature, including but not limited to theatre, dance, music, and art. Normally, appointees to this rank shall hold the terminal degree in the field and/or have demonstrated superior ability in professional activities.

Category: Artist-in-Residence Ranks

Associate Artist-in-Residence

This title is generally parallel to Associate Professor. In addition to the qualifications of the Assistant Artist-in-Residence, the appointee's record of professional activities shall demonstrate a national reputation among colleagues.

Category: Artist-in-Residence Ranks

Artist-in-Residence

This title is generally parallel to Professor. In addition to the qualifications of the Associate Artist-in-Residence, appointees shall demonstrate a sustained record of superior proficiency and excellence, and an international reputation among colleagues in the field. Appointments are typically made as five-year contracts. Appointments for additional five-year terms can be renewed as early as the third year of any given five-year contract.

Category: Artist-in-Residence Ranks

Assistant Research Faculty Ranks

Assistant Research Engineer

This rank is generally parallel to Assistant Professor. Appointees shall have a demonstrated record of superior engineering practice, design, and development. Appointees should be qualified and competent to direct the work of others (such as technicians, graduate students, other engineering personnel). An earned doctoral degree will be a normal minimum requirement for appointment at this rank. Appointments to this rank are typically one to three years and are renewable.

Category: Assistant Research Faculty Ranks

Assistant Research Professor

This rank is generally parallel to Assistant Professor. Appointees shall have demonstrated superior research ability and potential for contributing to the educational mission through teaching or service. Appointees should be qualified and competent to direct the work of others (such as technicians, graduate students, other research personnel). An earned doctoral degree will be a normal minimum requirement for appointment at this rank.

Category: Assistant Research Faculty Ranks

Assistant Research Scholar

This rank is generally parallel to Assistant Professor. Appointees to this rank shall have demonstrated superior scholarly research ability and be qualified and competent to direct the work of others (such as technicians, graduate students, other research personnel). An earned doctoral degree will be a normal minimum requirement for appointment at this rank.

Category: Assistant Research Faculty Ranks

Assistant Research Scientist

This rank is generally parallel to Assistant Professor. Appointees shall have demonstrated superior scientific research ability. Appointees should be qualified and competent to direct the work of others (such as technicians, graduate students, other research personnel). An earned doctoral degree will be a normal minimum requirement for appointment at this rank.

Category: Assistant Research Faculty Ranks

Faculty Specialist

The appointee shall hold a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant area and show potential for excellence in the administration and/or management of academic or research programs. Faculty Specialists are expected to engage in activities such as developing curriculum and/or innovative means for delivering curriculum, supervising the non-research activities of graduate or post-doctoral students, serving as grant writers or authors of other publications for an academic or research program, conducting specialized research duties or other such duties that would generate intellectual property to which the faculty member shall retain the rights.

Category: Assistant Research Faculty Ranks

Associate Research Faculty Ranks

Associate Research Engineer

This rank is generally parallel to Associate Professor. In addition to having the qualifications required of the Assistant Research Engineer, appointees shall have a record of significant engineering achievement, show promise of continued productivity, and have the ability to propose, develop, and manage engineering projects.

Category: Associate Research Faculty Ranks

Associate Research Professor

This rank is generally parallel to Associate Professor. In addition to the qualifications required of the Assistant Research Professor, appointees shall have extensive successful experience in scholarly or creative endeavors, the ability to propose, develop, and manage major research projects, and proven contributions to the educational mission through teaching or service.

Category: Associate Research Faculty Ranks

Associate Research Scholar

This rank is generally parallel to Associate Professor. In addition to the qualifications required of the Assistant Research Scholar, appointees shall have extensive successful experience in scholarly or creative endeavors sufficient to have established a regional and national reputation among colleagues, and where appropriate, the ability to propose, develop, and manage research projects. Appointees should provide tangible evidence of sound scholarly production in research, publications, professional achievements, or other distinguished and creative activities.

Category: Associate Research Faculty Ranks

Associate Research Scientist

This rank is generally parallel to Associate Professor. In addition to having the qualifications required of the Assistant Research Scientist, appointees shall have significant scientific research accomplishments, show promise of continued productivity, and have the ability to propose, develop, and manage research projects.

Category: Associate Research Faculty Ranks

Senior Faculty Specialist

In addition to showing superior ability to administer academic or research programs, as evidenced by successfully discharging responsibilities such as those of the Faculty Specialist, the appointee shall hold a Master’s degree or have at least 3 years full-time experience as a Faculty Specialist (or similar appointment at another institution), or its equivalent.

Category: Associate Research Faculty Ranks

Clinical Titles

Assistant Clinical Professor

The appointee shall hold, as a minimum, the terminal professional degree in the field, with training and experience in an area of specialization. There must be clear evidence of a high level of ability in clinical practice and teaching in the departmental field, and the potential for clinical and teaching excellence in a subdivision of this field. The appointee should also have demonstrated scholarly and / or administrative ability.

Category: Clinical Titles

Associate Clinical Professor

In addition to the qualifications required of a Clinical Assistant Professor, the appointee should ordinarily have had extensive successful experience in clinical or professional practice in a field of specialization, or in a subdivision of the departmental field, and in working with and/or directing others (such as professionals, faculty members, graduate students, fellows, and residents or interns) in clinical activities in the field. The appointee must also have demonstrated superior teaching ability and scholarly or administrative accomplishments.

Category: Clinical Titles

Clinical Professor

In addition to the qualifications required of a Clinical Associate Professor, the appointee shall have demonstrated a degree of excellence in clinical practice and teaching sufficient to establish an outstanding regional and national reputation among colleagues. The appointee shall also have demonstrated extraordinary scholarly competence and leadership in the profession.

Category: Clinical Titles

Emeriti Faculty

The word emerita or emeritus after any academic title listed above shall designate a faculty member who has retired from full-time employment in the University of Maryland at College Park after meritorious service to the University in the areas of teaching, research, or service. Associate Professors, Professors, Distinguished University Professors, Senior Agents, Principal Agents, Librarians III, Librarians IV, Professors of the Practice, Research Professors, Research Scientists, Research Scholars, Research Engineers, Artists-in-Residence, Principal Agent Associates, Clinical Professors, Principal Lecturers, and Principal Faculty Specialists, who have been members of the faculty of the University of Maryland at College Park for the equivalent of ten or more years of full-time service, and who give to their Chair or Dean proper written notice of their intention to retire, are eligible for nomination to emerita/emeritus status (see I.F.12 Emerita, Emeritus). Only in exceptional circumstances may faculty with fewer than the equivalent of ten years of full-time service to the institution be recommended for emerita/emeritus status.

The decision whether or not to award emeritus standing shall be based primarily on the candidate's record of significant accomplishment in any of the three areas of (1) teaching and advisement, (2) research, scholarship, creative and/or professional activity, and (3) service.

More information about process and timelines is available on the Retirement Procedures page and in the APT Guidelines.

Dossiers for emeritus/a candidates may be submitted at any time, but the preferred time period is between April 1 and May 15. Please specify the date on which emeritus/a status is to become effective.

Category: Emeriti Faculty

Field Faculty

Agent Associate

Appointees shall be able to: teach research-based subject matter from the University for community residents based on local issues and needs; assume leadership for educational development plans; deliver educational programs directly to clientele, peers, and/or volunteers through train-the-trainer or other similar venues in order to extend programming efforts throughout the state. An earned Bachelor’s degree will be a normal minimum requirement for appointment at this rank.

Category: Field Faculty

Principal Agent Associate

In addition to the qualifications of the Senior Agent Associate, appointees shall show evidence of excellence in establishing and expanding successful UME programs through mentoring, scholarship, and service. An earned PhD or five years’ full-time experience as a Senior Agent Associate will be a normal minimum requirement for appointment at this rank.

Category: Field Faculty

Senior Agent Associate

In addition to the qualifications of the Agent Associate, appointees shall show evidence of superior ability in establishing the foundation of a successful University of Maryland Extension program. An earned Master’s degree or 3 years’ full-time experience as an Agent Associate will be a normal minimum requirement for appointment at this rank.

Category: Field Faculty

Instructional Faculty

Lecturer

The title Lecturer will ordinarily be used to designate appointments of persons who are serving in a teaching capacity for a limited time or part-time. The normal requirement is a Master's degree in the field of instruction or a related field, or equivalent professional experience in the field of instruction.

Category: Instructional Faculty

Principal Lecturer

In addition to the qualifications required of the Senior Lecturer, appointees to this rank shall have an exemplary teaching record over the course of at least 5 years full-time service or its equivalent as a Senior Lecturer (or similar appointment at another institution) and/or the equivalent of 5 years full-time professional experience as well as demonstrated excellence in the areas of research, service, mentoring, or program development.

Category: Instructional Faculty

Senior Lecturer

In addition to having the qualifications of a Lecturer, the appointee shall have an exemplary teaching record over the course of at least five years of full-time instruction or its equivalent as a Lecturer (or similar appointment at another institution) and shall exhibit promise in developing additional skills in the areas of research, service, mentoring, or program development.

Category: Instructional Faculty

Professor of the Practice

This title may be used to appoint individuals who have demonstrated excellence in the practice as well as leadership in specific fields. The appointee shall have attained regional and national prominence and, when appropriate, international recognition of outstanding achievement. Additionally, the appointee shall have demonstrated superior teaching ability appropriate to assigned responsibilities. As a minimum, the appointee shall hold the terminal professional degree in the field or equivalent stature by virtue of experience. Appointees will hold the rank of Professor but, while having the stature, will not have rights that are limited to tenured faculty. This title does not carry tenure, nor does time served as a Professor of the Practice count toward achieving tenure in another title.

Category: Professor of the Practice

Research Faculty

Faculty Assistant

The appointee shall be capable of assisting faculty in any dimension of academic activity and shall have ability and training adequate to the carrying out of the particular techniques required, the assembling of data, and the use and care of any specialized apparatus. A baccalaureate degree shall be the minimum requirement.

Category: Research Faculty

Post-Doctoral Associate

The appointee shall have been trained in research procedures, shall be capable of carrying out individual research or collaborating in group research at the advanced level, and shall have had the experience and specialized training necessary for success in such research projects as may be undertaken. An earned doctorate shall normally be a minimum requirement.

Category: Research Faculty

Research Faculty Ranks

Principal Faculty Specialist

In addition to a proven record of excellence in managing and directing an academic or research program, the appointee shall hold a Ph.D. or have at least 5 years of full-time experience as a Senior Faculty Specialist, or its equivalent. Appointments are typically made as five-year contracts. Appointments for additional five-year terms can be renewed as early as the third year of any given five-year contract.

Category: Research Faculty Ranks

Research Engineer

This rank is generally parallel to Professor. In addition to having the qualifications required of the Associate Research Engineer, appointees shall have established a national and, where appropriate, international reputation for outstanding engineering practice, design, and development. Appointees should provide tangible evidence of sound scholarly production in research, publications, professional achievements, or other distinguished and creative activity.

Category: Research Faculty Ranks

Research Professor

This rank is generally parallel to Professor. In addition to the qualifications required of the Associate Research Professor, appointees shall have demonstrated a degree of proficiency sufficient to establish an excellent reputation among regional and national colleagues. Appointees should have a record of outstanding scholarly production in research, publications, professional achievements or other distinguished and creative activity, and exhibit excellence in contributing to the educational mission through teaching or service.

Category: Research Faculty Ranks

Research Scholar

This rank is generally parallel to Professor. In addition to having the qualifications required of the Associate Research Scholar, appointees shall have demonstrated a degree of proficiency sufficient to establish an excellent reputation among national and international colleagues. Appointees should provide tangible evidence of an extensive, respected record of scholarly production in research, publications, professional achievements, or other distinguished and creative activity.

Category: Research Faculty Ranks

Research Scientist

This rank is generally parallel to Professor. In addition to having the qualifications required of the Associate Research Scientist, appointees shall have established a national and, where appropriate, international reputation for outstanding scientific research. Appointees should provide tangible evidence of sound scholarly production in research, publications, professional achievements, or other distinguished and creative activity.

Category: Research Faculty Ranks

University of Maryland Professor

This title may be used for nationally distinguished scholars, creative or performing artists, or researchers who have qualified for full-time appointments at the University of Maryland, Baltimore at the level of professor, who are active in MPowering the State programs, and who also qualify for full-time appointment at the University of Maryland, College Park at the level of professor. Holders of this title may provide graduate student supervision, serve as principal investigators, and participate in departmental and shared governance. Initial appointments are for three years and are renewable annually upon recommendation to the Provost by the unit head and dean. For appointment of professors from the University of Maryland, Baltimore, the initial appointment must follow this University of Maryland Professor appointment procedure, using this transmittal form.

Category: University of Maryland Professor

Visiting Appointments

The prefix Visiting before an academic title, e.g., Visiting Professor, shall be used to designate a short-term professorial appointment without tenure.

Category: Visiting Appointments

Non-Renewal & Termination

Tenure Track Faculty

Non-Renewal

The first year of the initial appointment shall be a probationary year, and the appointment may be terminated at the end of that fiscal year if the appointee is so notified by March 1. In the event that the initial appointment is for two years, the appointment may be terminated if the appointee is so notified by December 15 of the second year.

After the second year of the initial appointment, the appointee shall be given one full year's notice if it is the intention of the University not to renew the appointment. If the appointee does not receive timely notification of nonrenewal, the initial appointment shall be extended for one additional year. Note that the formal intermediate review of tenure-track faculty often takes place in the third (and final) year of the initial appointment. Hence, in order to provide the required timely notification, the faculty member should be given a one year terminal appointment.

Tenured and Tenure-Track Faculty

Termination

For tenure track faculty, a term of service may be terminated by the appointee by resignation, but it is expressly agreed that no resignation shall become effective until the termination of the appointment period in which the resignation is offered except by mutual agreement between the appointee and the President.

For tenured and tenure track faculty, the President may terminate the appointment of a tenure-track appointee for moral turpitude, professional or scholarly misconduct, incompetence, or willful neglect of duty, provided that the charges be stated in writing, that the appointee be furnished a copy thereof, and that the appointee be given an opportunity prior to such termination to request a hearing by an impartial hearing officer appointed by the chief executive officer or a faculty board of review as provided for by the relevant institutional policy body. For additional information, see USM Policy II - 1.00 7 & 8.

The University may terminate any appointment because of the discontinuance of the department, program, school or unit in which the appointment was made; or because of the lack of appropriations or other funds with which to support the appointment. Such decisions must be made in accordance with standards and procedures set forth in written institutional policies.

Appointments shall terminate upon the death of the appointee.

Professional Track Faculty

Non-Renewal

Faculty with continuous full-time service of less than seven years must be provided written notice on non-renewal at least 90 days prior to the end of the appointment term. If such service is for seven years or more, the notice period is at least six months.

In all other cases, e.g., part-time faculty, faculty whose appointment term is less than an academic year, or full-time faculty with discontinuous service, the notice period is at least 30 days. If the length of required notice of non-renewal cannot be completed within the time remaining in the appointment term, this may be remedied by extending the Agreement by the number of days necessary to complete the notice requirement.

For more information, see the Policy on Notification for Professional Track Faculty Contract Changes.

Termination

University contract language details five reasons that a professional track faculty member's appointment may be terminated. Before terminating a faculty appointment prior to the end of term, it is recommended that the unit head consult with the Office of General Counsel.