Faculty Appointment, Reappointment, and Promotion Policy

Responsible Unit: Provost’s Office | Executive lead: Provost 
Created: 05/14/2020 | Reviewed/Revised: 02/2021, 10/2022, 03/2024 | Effective: 04/2024
Compliance: NWCCU 2.F.1, 2.F.2, 2.F.3, COCA 5.4, COCA 7.2, WAC 250-61-100 
Approving Body: PAC | Classification: Institution-wide 

Policy:  
Faculty appointment, reappointment, and promotion are a function of the respective college, school, program, or center to which the faculty has their primary appointment. The procedures and criteria established for appointment, reappointment, and promotion by each college, school, program, or center shall adhere to Federal and State requirements and associated accreditation standards, align with the PNWU bylaws and Faculty Credentialing Policy, and include endorsement by the Provost and President.   

Academic programs are responsible for ensuring that faculty appointment, reappointment, and/or promotion procedures and/or criteria: 

  • meet programmatic and institutional standards as well as state and federal requirements,  
  • have been reviewed and approved by HR and the Provost Office to ensure alignment with university timeline/processes prior to finalization,   
  • have been communicated out to stakeholders in a timely manner.  
  • are easily accessible within the PNWU community,  
  • include an opportunity for faculty to appeal reappointment and promotion decisions   
    • Appeal procedures must include:    
      • The opportunity to resolve the decision/recommendation informally   
      • Details on how to file an appeal and to whom the appeal is made    
      • A specific time frame for when the appeal is filed and a response is delivered     

Faculty may have appointments in programs other than their primary appointment.  
 
Faculty initial rank is determined through the processes and within the criteria set by the respective college, school, program, or center seeking the appointment and in consultation with the academic officer (e.g. dean, program director).   
 
Upon appointment, faculty are provided written information about their term of appointment; responsibilities; lines of communication; privileges and benefits; performance evaluation, reappointment, promotion, and remediation; terms of dismissal; and if relevant, practice earnings.  
 
Upon retirement and approval of a faculty emeritus/a nomination, emeriti faculty have official status with the university that includes: bestowment of the emeritus/a title; library, email, and parking privileges; building access; and, invitation to university events. Desk and/or laboratory access approval is a function of the college, school, program, or center the faculty member is retiring from however support may be limited based on the availability of resources, given other needs and priorities. Specific agreements should be documented in writing and for a specific time period.   
 
Faculty Emeriti are expected to uphold PNWU’s values and adhere to the Ethical Conduct Policy. The Faculty Emeritus/a designation may be removed by the Provost and President for behavior/actions unbecoming a representative of the University and not in accordance with the values or ethics of Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences.   

Definitions:   
 
Appointment: A designated period and set of responsibilities or affiliation assigned to an individual in accordance with the title/rank for which the individual is qualified as determined by the appointing authority.   
 
Primary appointment: College, school, program, or center at which the individual has more than 50 percent of their appointment.  
 
Academic rank: Title based on criteria associated with academic classification. The standard ranks are instructor, assistant professor, associate professor, and professor. Each may be further clarified with the addition of modifiers such as but not limited to emeritus/a, clinical, research, adjunct, or visiting. Other academic ranks may also be used such as lecturer and may be further clarified with modifiers such as but not limited to senior or master.  
 
Faculty emeritus/a: An appointment (title of “emeritus” or “emerita” granted to full-time faculty retiring at the rank of associate professor or professor who have made sustained and meaningful contributions to Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences through their teaching, scholarly activity, service, clinical practice, and/or administration. A minimum of 10 years of employment is required to be eligible for this honor.  

Procedure:  
N/A 

Related Documents:  
PNWU Faculty Credentialing  
Reappointment of Faculty Procedure   
Promotion of Faculty Procedure   
PNWU Faculty Reappointment Flow Chart   
PNWU Faculty Promotion Flow Chart   
Recommendation for Faculty Reappointment Form   
Recommendation for Faculty Promotion Form 


Policy Resources

For assistance with policies and procedures contact:

Lori Fulton
lfulton@pnwu.edu