4.10 Academic Rank

Academic rank is predicated on academic preparation and/or experience, professional service, scholarship, excellence in teaching, and effectiveness in advising students. All faculty should hold a Master’s degree that includes 18 graduate credit hours in the field in which they are teaching. The following are additional qualifications for appointment or promotion to specific academic ranks. The University reserves the right to waive one or more of these requirements.

1. Instructor: For appointment to this rank, candidates should hold a Master's degree that includes 18 graduate credit hours in the field in which they are teaching.  This rank denotes a faculty member’s temporary status and carries no expectation of renewal at the end of the term of employment.
2. Assistant Professor: For appointment to this rank, candidates should hold a master’s degree that includes 18 graduate credit hours in the field in which they are teaching.
3. Associate Professor: For appointment to this rank, candidates should hold a master’s degree that includes 18 graduate credit hours in the field in which they are teaching.  Candidates for promotion to this rank must provide evidence of a career that has been consistently distinguished by excellence in teaching and evidence of continuing professional development. The candidate must also have at least five continuous years of successful teaching experience at Piedmont University at the rank of Assistant Professor.
4. Professor: For appointment to this rank, candidates should hold the earned doctorate or terminal degree in their teaching field. In lieu of the earned doctorate or terminal degree, comparable academic preparation and/or experience, professional service, and scholarship appropriate to the field may be substituted. Candidates for promotion to this rank must provide evidence of service to Piedmont University characterized by maturity and superiority in teaching, professional development, and service to the university and community. The candidate must have at least eight continuous years of successful teaching experience at Piedmont University at the rank of Associate Professor.
5. Fellows and Senior Fellows: The appointment of fellows is limited to individuals with extraordinary or exceptional talents. Senior Fellow is equivalent in rank to professor; Fellow is equivalent in rank to associate professor. These appointments are evaluated annually based upon performance and value to the institution. Recommendations concerning appointment and reappointment reside with the dean of the appropriate academic school with the approval of the Vice President for Academic Affairs and President. Fellows and Senior Fellows are non-tenure track positions and are not eligible for the award of tenure.