Oakridge College Faculty Handbook

Overview

This section explains how faculty appointments, academic ranks, leadership roles, and promotions work at Oakridge College. Faculty rank defines a person’s academic standing. Appointment type defines the nature of their service. Promotion recognizes growth, contribution, and trust within the college.

The Details

Oakridge College uses faculty ranks to organize teaching authority, academic responsibility, department service, and promotion.

Faculty ranks are not only titles. They show the level of trust, experience, and responsibility a faculty member holds within the college. Higher rank usually means greater responsibility for students, courses, department work, curriculum, mentorship, and academic leadership.

A faculty member’s rank does not give them authority over every part of the college. Faculty authority is limited by department, appointment, assigned duties, and college policy.

Faculty Appointment Types

Oakridge uses several types of faculty and academic appointments.

Regular Faculty Appointment

A regular faculty appointment is an ongoing academic appointment within a department.

Regular faculty may teach courses, advise students, serve in department activity, support curriculum work, and become eligible for promotion.

Regular faculty ranks may include:

• Instructor
• Assistant Professor
• Associate Professor
• Professor
• Tenured Professor

Adjunct Faculty Appointment

Adjunct Faculty are part-time, temporary, or limited-service faculty.

Adjunct Faculty may teach specific courses, workshops, or academic activities. They are usually appointed because they have useful knowledge, professional experience, or availability for a specific academic need.

Adjunct Faculty are faculty members, but they do not have the same standing as regular full faculty. They do not normally vote in department elections, lead departments, or move through the regular promotion path unless they are later appointed to a regular faculty position.

Guest Lecturer Appointment

A Guest Lecturer is invited to teach, speak, or assist with a specific class, event, lecture, or workshop.

A Guest Lecturer is not a permanent faculty rank. The title does not grant regular faculty standing, voting rights, promotion eligibility, or department authority.

Guest Lecturers must work under the approval of the department, Department Chair, Dean, or appropriate college authority.

Teaching Assistant Appointment

A Teaching Assistant is a student academic support role.

Teaching Assistants are not faculty members. They do not hold faculty rank and do not have independent academic authority.

Teaching Assistants may support classes, help with approved activities, assist students under supervision, and help faculty with limited academic tasks. They may not grade independently, discipline students, approve coursework, change curriculum, or act as instructors.

Administrative Appointment

Some faculty may also hold administrative leadership positions.

Examples include:

• Department Chair
• Dean
• Vice President
• President

An administrative appointment is not the same thing as faculty rank. A Professor who becomes Department Chair remains a Professor while serving as Chair. A Dean may also hold a faculty rank, but the Dean’s authority comes from the administrative appointment.

Faculty Hierarchy

The roles below are described in the order the college uses: student and limited-service roles first, then the regular faculty ranks from lower to higher academic standing, then leadership appointments. Not all of them are faculty ranks.

The regular faculty ranks listed above, Instructor through Tenured Professor, form the promotion path. Adjunct Faculty is a faculty rank held on a limited-service appointment. Guest Lecturer is a temporary role for an invited speaker or contributor, and it is not a permanent faculty rank unless the person is separately appointed. Neither one normally moves through the promotion path unless the person is first appointed to a regular faculty position. Teaching Assistant is a student role and carries no faculty rank. Department Chair and Dean are leadership appointments rather than ranks, and they do not replace the faculty rank a person already holds.

Teaching Assistant

A Teaching Assistant is a student academic assistant assigned to support faculty or department activity.

Teaching Assistants may help with class preparation, supervised exercises, student support, study sessions, academic events, and basic department work.

Teaching Assistants are not faculty and should not be treated as independent instructors.

Adjunct Faculty

Adjunct Faculty are limited-service faculty appointed for specific teaching or academic needs.

Adjunct Faculty may teach courses, lead workshops, assist with programs, or provide professional knowledge in a field. Their authority is limited to the duties approved by the department or college.

Adjunct Faculty do not normally vote in department matters and do not normally hold department leadership.

Guest Lecturer

A Guest Lecturer is an invited speaker or temporary academic contributor.

A Guest Lecturer may support a course, public lecture, special event, workshop, or short academic activity. This role is temporary and does not create regular faculty standing.

Instructor

Instructor is the first regular teaching rank at Oakridge College.

An Instructor may teach approved courses, support students, participate in department activity, and carry out assigned academic duties.

This rank is appropriate for faculty who are capable of teaching but are still developing their long-term academic role within the college.

Assistant Professor

Assistant Professor is an early professorial rank.

An Assistant Professor is expected to teach with growing independence, support students, contribute to department work, and begin building a record of reliable academic service.

Assistant Professors may vote in Department Chair elections and may take part in department decisions when permitted by department rules.

Associate Professor

Associate Professor is a middle senior academic rank.

An Associate Professor has shown reliable teaching, department contribution, and sound academic judgment. Faculty at this rank may help guide curriculum, mentor junior faculty, assist with department planning, and take on larger academic responsibilities.

An Associate Professor may normally stand for Department Chair if otherwise eligible.

Professor

Professor is a senior academic rank.

A Professor is expected to show strong teaching, leadership, department service, and academic reliability. Professors may mentor junior faculty, support promotion review, lead programs, develop curriculum, and help maintain the standards of their field.

This rank carries significant trust within the department and college.

Tenured Professor

Tenured Professor is the highest regular academic rank at Oakridge College.

A Tenured Professor has demonstrated sustained teaching excellence, long-term service, academic leadership, institutional reliability, and deep commitment to the college.

Tenure represents trust, stability, and senior academic standing. It does not mean the faculty member is above review or exempt from conduct expectations.

A Tenured Professor may be called upon for senior academic advice, mentoring, promotion review, department leadership, and serious academic matters.

Department Chair

Department Chair is an elected department leadership position, not a faculty rank.

A Department Chair leads the daily academic work of a department. The Chair supports faculty, reviews department needs, helps organize courses, handles department concerns, and serves as the main link between the department and the Dean.

A Department Chair keeps their normal faculty rank while serving as Chair.

Dean

Dean is a senior academic administrative appointment.

A Dean leads an Academic School and oversees the departments within it. The Dean supports Department Chairs, reviews major academic matters, handles School-level concerns, and represents the School to senior college leadership.

A Dean may also hold a faculty rank, but Dean authority comes from the administrative appointment.

Rank and Authority

Higher rank gives greater academic standing, but it does not give unlimited authority.

Faculty authority depends on:

• Faculty rank
• Department appointment
• Assigned duties
• Administrative role, if any
• Approval from the Department Chair, Dean, or senior administration
• College policy

A Professor from one department does not automatically control the work of another department. A Tenured Professor does not override a Dean. A Department Chair has authority within their department, but not over the entire college.

Appointment Process

Faculty appointments should be approved through the proper academic structure.

A normal appointment should involve:

1. A department need is identified.
2. The Department Chair reviews the need.
3. The Dean reviews or approves the appointment.
4. Senior administration gives final approval when required.
5. The faculty member is assigned a rank, department, and duties.

Appointments should be clear before the faculty member begins work.

A faculty appointment should identify:

• Faculty name
• Department
• Academic School
• Rank or appointment type
• Expected duties
• Whether the role is temporary or ongoing
• Who supervises the appointment
• Whether the faculty member has voting rights
• Any limits on authority

No faculty member should assume a title or begin acting in a role without approval.

Appointment Expectations

Faculty are expected to understand the duties attached to their appointment.

These may include:

• Teaching courses
• Supporting students
• Holding office hours or student availability, if required
• Participating in department activity
• Attending required meetings
• Supporting curriculum or program work
• Maintaining professional conduct
• Reporting concerns properly
• Following college and department procedures

A faculty member who cannot meet the expectations of their appointment should speak with the Department Chair or Dean.

Promotion

Promotion is the process by which a faculty member moves to a higher academic rank.

Promotion is not automatic. It is based on contribution, reliability, conduct, teaching quality, department need, and the judgment of college leadership.

A faculty member may be considered for promotion when they have shown growth in their current rank and have contributed meaningfully to Oakridge College.

Promotion Path

The ordinary promotion path is:

• Instructor to Assistant Professor
• Assistant Professor to Associate Professor
• Associate Professor to Professor
• Professor to Tenured Professor

Adjunct Faculty and Guest Lecturers do not normally move through this promotion path unless they are first appointed to a regular faculty position.

Teaching Assistants do not move through the faculty promotion path because they are students, not faculty.

Promotion Criteria

Promotion may consider:

• Quality of teaching
• Reliability in assigned duties
• Student support
• Department service
• Professional conduct
• Communication with colleagues and leadership
• Contribution to courses or programs
• Participation in academic events
• Support of the college mission
• Mentorship of students or junior faculty
• Leadership appropriate to the current rank
• Readiness for greater responsibility

Promotion should not be based only on time served. A faculty member may remain in the same rank if they have not shown readiness for greater responsibility.

Teaching

Teaching is a central part of faculty review.

Faculty should show that they can:

• Prepare meaningful classes or academic activities
• Explain material clearly
• Support student learning
• Maintain classroom order
• Respond to students with fairness
• Use appropriate academic standards
• Keep the course connected to its stated purpose

A faculty member does not need to teach in the same style as another faculty member. Different fields require different methods. However, all teaching should be organized, purposeful, and respectful.

Service

Service means useful work done for the department, School, or college.

Service may include:

• Helping with department planning
• Supporting events
• Advising students
• Mentoring junior faculty
• Maintaining academic pages
• Helping develop courses
• Serving on committees
• Assisting with student opportunities
• Supporting recruitment or public academic activity
• Helping resolve department concerns

Service should be meaningful and reliable. It does not need to be dramatic or public to count.

Conduct

Professional conduct is part of promotion review.

A faculty member should not be promoted if they repeatedly misuse authority, ignore department standards, mistreat students, fail to communicate, act irresponsibly, or damage the academic environment.

Good conduct includes:

• Respect for students
• Respect for colleagues
• Clear communication
• Appropriate boundaries
• Reliability
• Fair use of authority
• Good judgment in public college spaces
• Respect for the college hierarchy

A faculty member may be strong in teaching but still not ready for promotion if their conduct creates serious problems.

Promotion Review

Promotion review normally begins at the department level.

A normal review may include:

1. The faculty member requests promotion or is recommended for review.
2. The Department Chair reviews the faculty member’s work.
3. The Department Chair gathers relevant information.
4. The department may provide input if appropriate.
5. The Department Chair sends a recommendation to the Dean.
6. The Dean reviews the recommendation.
7. Senior administration gives final approval when required.
8. The faculty member is informed of the decision.

The review process should be fair, but it does not need to be overly complicated. Oakridge is a small college, and promotion should remain manageable.

Possible Outcomes

A promotion review may result in:

• Promotion approved
• Promotion delayed
• Promotion denied
• Request for more evidence
• Recommendation for mentorship or improvement
• Change in duties
• Review by higher administration

A denied or delayed promotion should be explained clearly. The faculty member should be told what needs to improve before future review.

Tenure

Tenure is the highest regular academic recognition at Oakridge College.

Tenure represents long-term trust in a faculty member’s teaching, judgment, conduct, and service to the college.

Tenure may be considered for a Professor who has shown:

• Sustained teaching excellence
• Long-term reliability
• Strong department service
• Sound academic judgment
• Ethical conduct
• Respect for students and colleagues
• Commitment to Oakridge College
• Ability to mentor and support others
• Readiness for senior academic responsibility

Tenure is not granted only because a faculty member has been present for a long time. It must reflect trust earned through service and conduct.

Limits of Tenure

Tenure does not place a faculty member above college rules.

A Tenured Professor must still follow:

• Faculty conduct standards
• Department procedures
• College policy
• Campus safety rules
• Anti-harassment standards
• Student support procedures
• Professional boundaries

A Tenured Professor may still be reviewed for misconduct, serious neglect of duty, abuse of authority, or actions that harm the college.

Department Chair Appointment

Department Chair is an elected leadership position.

Eligible voting faculty within the department may elect a Chair. The election should be confirmed by the Dean or appropriate college authority.

Eligible voting faculty are:

• Assistant Professor
• Associate Professor
• Professor
• Tenured Professor

A Department Chair candidate should normally be Associate Professor or higher. An Assistant Professor may stand for Chair only when the department lacks enough senior faculty and the Dean approves.

Adjunct Faculty, Instructors, Guest Lecturers, Teaching Assistants, students, and non-department staff do not vote in Department Chair elections.

Dean Appointment

A Dean is appointed through college leadership.

A Dean may be selected from senior faculty or from an experienced external candidate. Traditionally, Deans are chosen from established professors or tenured professors, but Oakridge may appoint an external candidate when their experience, judgment, and leadership fit the needs of the School.

A Dean is accountable to the Vice President, President, and senior college administration.

Removal or Change of Appointment

A faculty appointment may be changed, limited, suspended, or removed when necessary.

Reasons may include:

• Failure to perform assigned duties
• Repeated absence or lack of communication
• Misuse of authority
• Serious misconduct
• Unsafe conduct
• Harassment or intimidation
• Impairment during official duties
• Refusal to follow college procedures
• Loss of department need
• Inactivity in the role
• Conduct that damages the college or students

Minor concerns should normally be handled first through correction, warning, or review. Serious concerns may be escalated directly to the Dean, Vice President, President, Campus Security, or other appropriate authority.

General Rule

Faculty rank should reflect trust, service, and responsibility.

Appointments should be clear.

Promotion should be earned.

Tenure should be rare and meaningful.

Oakridge College depends on faculty who teach well, act with care, respect the academic structure, and help preserve the standards of the college.