Appointments are required in KSAS for all faculty and research positions. The Academic Council governs the policies and procedures for making faculty and other academic/research appointments in the School. The Dean must approve all appointments, regardless of title.

Appointment procedures may differ slightly based on the type of appointment. Types of appointments include Tenure/tenure-track; Non tenure-track (includes adjunct, visiting, research, part-time, courtesy); Postdoctoral Fellows. (View Academic Titles Table II)

• Tenure/tenure-track faculty (see Appointment and Promotion Procedures)

• Non tenure-track faculty (see Description of Academic Titles)

• Research Staff (see Description of Academic Titles)

SEARCHES
A search for a qualified candidate should be performed for all benefits bearing positions. A search involves seeking to identify a diverse pool of qualified candidates from which to select the individual whose background, experience, and/or field of expertise best meets the needs of the position. The candidate pool is usually arrived at through advertising for the position in the newspaper, on the web, in trade journals, with professional associations or academic institutions, etc. An Affirmative Action Report should be completed at the end of every search. A handbook for conducting searches is available through the Provost's Office, entitled, Resource Guide for Search Committees.

If the search is for a tenure/tenure-track position, the slot must first be approved by the Dean.

1. The Department Chair requests permission in a letter to the Dean to conduct a faculty search.
   

2. Upon Dean's approval, the department Chair selects a departmental faculty search committee, usually comprised of three faculty members (optional: graduate student participation), which submits an advertisement for the position for the Dean's approval. Items to be included in the advertisement are: deadline for submission, area(s) of specialization, a list of required application materials, and an Affirmative Action Statement. Refer to Resource Guide for Search Committees
   
3. At the close of the application period, applications are considered and finalists selected to interview. The interview process includes a meeting with the Dean (usually for senior appointments only), a seminar presentation, individual meetings with departmental faculty, and a group meeting with graduate students.
   
4. Once the departmental search yields a final selection of one candidate, the Chair notifies the Dean. For appointments above the rank of Assistant Professor, the Chair requests the Dean to form an ad hoc committee to consider the candidate. For non-tenured or junior candidates, the department presents its candidate to the Dean, and negotiations commence. The candidate is presented to the Academic Council for approval.

The Dean of Research must approve research appointment and promotion requests. In accordance with the rules outlined in the Description of Academic Titles , certain candidates are presented to the Board of Review for approval.

THE APPOINTMENT REQUEST LETTER
Once a qualified candidate is identified, a letter requesting an appointment is written by the Department Chair to the appropriate Dean, together with specific information pertinent to the particular type of appointment. David Bell, Dean of Faculty, approves all appointments for tenure/tenure-track faculty ("professors"), visiting faculty, adjunct faculty, courtesy appointments, visiting scientists, and research scientists. Request letters may be forwarded to Alicia Felder. Dean Lattman approves appointments for all research positions (research scientists and scholars) and Postdoctoral Fellows. Requests for Postdoctoral Fellow appointments and Visiting Student invitations may be sent to Lisa Jia.

Following is a list of items to be included in all letters, along with a completed Appointment Form (PDF). Department chairs/administrators are encouraged to add any additional information that will provide the Dean with sufficient facts to proceed. View a sample letter for a Research Scientist position or a Visiting Scientist position (both in MS Word format).

1. Include full name of appointee and appropriate title for appointee.
   
2. Name the department/program/institute the appointment will be in.
   
3. Provide specific dates of appointment, generally one full year, i.e., 07/01/02-06/30/03.
   
4. Give reason for appointment. Examples: if for teaching a course provide course number and title, and why individual was selected; if for research appointment, provide details concerning the project including the director, the name of the project, source of funding, and how the individual will contribute to the project.
   
5. Amount of compensation and source.
   
6. Include a copy of the current vita.
   
7. The record of the vote of the departmental tenured faculty

REAPPOINTMENTS
Reappointments, or appointment renewals, are requested by the department Chair via a letter to the appropriate Dean, depending on the type of appointment, together with a completed Appointment Form (described above.)

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• Homewood Schools Academic Council
  
• Academic Council Appointment Procedures

• Sample letters for a Research Scientist position and a Visiting Scientist position and a Non Tenure Track Appointment (MS Word format)
  
• Appointment Form (PDF)
  
• Chart for appointment process (MS Excel format)
  
• Resource Guide for Search Committees available through the Provost's Office
  
• Preliminary Affirmative Action Report Form (PDF)
• Affirmative Action Report Form (PDF)

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Joan Spoltore
A&S Human Resources Manager
(410) 516-4138
FAX: 410-516-8480
237 Mergenthaler Hall

Alicia Felder
Assistant to Dr. David A. Bell
Dean of Faculty
Phone: 410-516-8483
FAX: 410-516-4100

Sally Marcin
Academic Council Coordinator
(410) 516-8213
237 Mergenthaler Hall

Kate Lessman
Faculty Appointment Coordinator
(410) 516-7068

Ray Gillian
Vice Provost for Institutional Equity
205 Garland Hall
(410) 516-8075

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