25 Faculty Titles

The below information outlines the faculty titles at NIC and the steps for becoming a Full-Professor.

Faculty Titles

1. Assistant Professor—all current full-time tenure-track faculty who have served fewer than four years or who have not yet achieved tenure will carry this title, all special appointment faculty, and all current full-time probationary librarian faculty.
2. Associate Professor—all current full-time faculty who have earned tenure will carry this title (the tenure process is quite rigorous and the move to Associate Professor is a reward for successfully going through this process) and librarian faculty that have completed the probationary period (outlined in Procedure #3.02.21).
3. Full Professor—all current full-time, tenured faculty and faculty librarians who have served full-time ten continuous years or longer or who are in their second post-tenure review will carry this title providing they can show that they meet the first mandatory criterion and at least 2 of the other criteria listed below in a one-page (minimum) self-evaluation.
4.  Adjunct Professor – All part-time faculty are considered adjunct professors.
5. Instructor – Dual credit and non-credit.
6. Lab Instructor – full-time, or part-time, not eligible for tenure, whether full or part-time, working in direct association with a lead faculty or supervisor.

Requirements for Move to Professor

Mandatory criterion:  Demonstrated excellence in teaching through student evaluations and classroom observations, consistently (at least the past 5 years) averaging above-average or higher on student evaluations and excellent/good quality peer/supervisor evaluations of teaching.  (College Values: Educational Excellence, Student Success)

Meet at least 2 of the following criteria: 

• Consistent service to the college beyond contractual obligations. Examples include consistently (three or more years, in a row): 1) serving on more committees than required; 2) Serving on highly active/intensive committees such as Senate, Cardinal Reads, or Curriculum Council; 3) Going beyond contractual obligations on advising; 4) Serving as a division chair, 5) Serving as a program coordinator or director, and/or 6) serving as a FET faculty mentor.  (College Values: Educational Excellence, Student Success, other values)
• Curriculum/program development/engagement beyond contractual obligations. Examples include going beyond contractual obligations in the major revision of a program, developing a new program, ongoing utilization of service learning in course(s), etc.  This can also include documented implementation of original teaching paradigms, creative approaches, and innovative methods.  (College Values: Educational Excellence, Student Success)
• Holding a terminal degree in one’s field or related area. Terminal degrees include, but are not limited to Ph.D., Ed.D., D.A., M.D., D.D.S., D.V.M., D.D.M., J.D., M.F.A.
• Regularly contributing to one’s field through scholarly publishing (commercial production, which includes articles, books, musical scores, recordings, software, or public art), research, or conference presentations (a minimum of 4 times in 10 years). (College Values: Educational Excellence, Student Success, Community Engagement)
• Eight years or more full-time experience working in professional field related to one’s primary instructional responsibilities, and one or more of the following over and above what is required in the job description:
  1. Master Journeyman status and industry  related to field
  2. Related industry/professional certifications

• Licensure in one’s field

(College Values: Educational Excellence, Student Success)

• Continuous, non-mandatory professional development activities congruent with the mission of the College, averaging at least once per year, evidencing positive impacts to students and/or the college. Examples include workshops, trainings, and/or conferences that are related to teaching, learning, students, leadership, ongoing education (500 level associated with one’s teaching or higher education leadership), etc.  (College Values: Educational Excellence, Student Success, other values)
• Active/ongoing work in and commitment to the college’s values of Community Engagement, Stewardship, and/or Diversity, exemplifying work that extends beyond the expected role of a faculty member, evidenced by formal acknowledgement/recognition of service, or project outcomes that illustrate faculty expertise and involvement. For example, Community Engagement can be demonstrated through active/ongoing participation in collaborative partnerships with businesses, organizations, and educational institutions.

Fillable Form Move to Professor