Policy 3003 — Policy on the Appointment of Adjunct Professors

Policy section:
Section 3000-3099 Special Appointments
Policy number:
3003
Subject:
Adjunct Professors
Group:
Academic Staff
Approved By:
President's Executive Group
Approved date:
September 1, 2013
Effective date:
September 1, 2013
Administered by:
Provost and Vice-President, Academic and Research

1 — REASON FOR POLICY

1.1 To define the process and principles for the appointment of qualified professionals (external to a Department/Program or Faculty, or external to the University) to support the research and teaching missions of the University, and thereby add value to Mount Allison University. 

1.2 To set out the terms and conditions that will govern those individuals appointed as Adjunct Professors.

2 — POLICY STATEMENT 

2.1 Mount Allison University recognizes that qualified professionals whose primary professional affiliation is outside a Department/Program or Faculty, or outside the University can contribute significantly to teaching, training, and/or research. In such instances, it may be in the best interests of both the individual and the Department/Program or Faculty to appoint such a person to a nil-salaried position as an Adjunct Professor both to recognize and to facilitate such contributions. To make such appointments meaningful to their recipients as well as to assure their positive contribution to the reputation of the Department/Program or Faculty, and the University, and pursuit of scholarly excellence, such appointments shall be made in keeping with University policy related to academic appointments.

2.2 An individual holding an appointment as an Adjunct Professor will be involved in substantial activities in one or more of the following areas: (a) research; (b) undergraduate honours or graduate student training and/or supervision; and/or (c) teaching at the undergraduate or graduate level. Adjunct Professors may be differentiated as Ainternal@ (currently holding a primary appointment at Mount Allison, with an adjunct appointment held in another academic department or Faculty) or Aexternal@ (currently holding a primary appointment outside of Mount Allison University).

3 — RELATED DOCUMENT

Procedures: Appointment of Adjunct Professors

1.0 — REASON FOR THE PROCEDURES

To set out the Appointment Procedures secondary to the Policy entitled Adjunct Professors.

2.0 — APPOINTMENT PROCEDURES

2.1 Because Adjunct appointments are outside of the Collective Agreement between Mount Allison University and the Mount Allison Faculty Association, adherence to the normal processes for the appointment of faculty do not apply. However, it is expected that Departments and Faculties will establish procedures for the review and recommendation of individuals seeking an appointment as an Adjunct Professor. Processes that accord with the Collective Agreement hiring practices should inform recommendations for the appointment of an Adjunct Professor. Specifically,

a. the nomination of an individual to an Adjunct appointment shall be considered by a personnel committee consisting of members of the Department/Program (either a committee of the whole, or a subset of the Department/Program);

b. on the basis of this departmental review process, the Department/Program Head shall make a recommendation to the Dean on the appointment of an individual as an Adjunct Professor, providing the following:

  • (i) a rationale for the appointment, including a detailed written description of the proposed working relationship and the area(s) in which the individual will make a contribution to Mount Allison University;
  • (ii) a recommended term of appointment and justification for same;
  • (iii) in the case of external Adjunct appointments, confirmation from the individual that their employer has authorized the activities contemplated as an Adjunct Professor at Mount Allison University; and
  • (iv) a current curriculum vita.

c. the Dean shall review the Department/Program recommendation, and provide the Provost and Vice-President, Academic and Research with a recommendation on the appointment; and

d. approval of an Adjunct Professor shall be made by the Provost and Vice-President, Academic and Research.

2.2 When an appointment is authorized, a letter of offer shall be issued by the Provost and Vice-President, Academic and Research setting out the terms and conditions that shall apply, including the following:
 
a. a clearly articulated statement of the relationship with Mount Allison University (e.g., teaching, mentorship, research, etc.);

b. acknowledgement that the Adjunct Professor is bound by the policies, procedures, and regulations of Mount Allison University including, but not limited to, workplace harassment, conflict of interest, academic regulations, policies related to the responsible conduct of research, human ethics, and/or animal ethics, intellectual property, copyright, computer use (if relevant), and financial administration policies;

c. a statement of the period of the appointment (i.e., one, two, or three year renewable terms)

d. a statement that the Adjunct Professor shall receive no remuneration, but privileges such as library access and a computer account may be extended to the individual for the period of their appointment; and

e. an indication as to whether or not office space will be provided (depending on the availability of space, financial and other considerations, as well as the nature of the individual's involvement in activities at Mount Allison University).

2.4 Adjunct Professors are not entitled to:
a. apply for grants adjudicated and awarded by Mount Allison University. They may be eligible to apply for externally adjudicated and awarded grants, subject to the regulations of granting agencies and authorities. Where an Adjunct Professor has received funding from an external body, the financial administration of funding shall be determined in consultation with the Director of Finance-Controller and/or Financial Services.

b. participate in university governance at the Department, Faculty, or University levels.

3.0 — TERMINATION OF ADJUNCT APPOINTMENTS

3.1 An adjunct appointment will normally end at the conclusion of the term specified in the letter of offer. However, the appointment may be terminated at any time by mutual agreement between the appointee and the Department/Program Head or the Dean, or by request of the Department/Program Head or Dean, or the individual.

Where an Adjunct Professor is involved in teaching that is subject to the terms and conditions set out in the Collective Agreement between Mount Allison University and the Mount Allison Faculty Association, they will receive remuneration as dictated by that contract.

4 — ACCOUNTABILITY

The President is responsible for ensuring compliance with this Policy. 

5 — REVIEW 

Formal Policy reviews will be conducted every ten (10) years. The next scheduled review date for this Policy is September 1, 2023. 

6 — EFFECT ON PREVIOUS STATEMENTS

This Policy supersedes the previous policy on Adjunct Professorships and all previous statements on Adjunct Professorships.