5.F Types of Appointments

The terms of appointments can vary according to a number of factors, including duration and location. The most commonly used types of appointment are defined as follows.

These are commonly referred to as University-year appointments. See Section 5.F.9, "University-year Appointments (Academic-year Appointments.)"

Additional appointments are appointments that extend the term of service of faculty on University-year appointments. Instructional faculty who are on University-year appointments may receive additional appointments not to exceed two months beyond the University-year appointment in Ann Arbor and Flint or three additional months in Dearborn. Exceptions may be allowed by the appropriate dean. (SPG 201.04)

Annual appointments are twelve-month appointments. Instructional faculty members on annual appointment perform academic duties for eleven months and receive one month of paid vacation.

A faculty member may hold concurrent appointments in more than one academic unit, in both an academic unit and a research unit, or in an academic unit and an administrative unit; this is known as a joint appointment. See Section 6.H, "Joint Appointments."

Multi-year appointments are term appointments for more than one year. Instructors and assistant professors, and associate and full professors when appointed without tenure, may be appointed for terms of up to four years within the probationary period. Under the terms of the collective bargaining agreement with LEO, some Lecturer IVs may be appointed for up to five years. The term of appointment is established by the dean and executive committee in most schools and colleges. See also Section 6.D, "Extensions of the Probationary Period for Childbearing, Dependent Care, or Medical Leave."

Open-ended appointments are appointments that do not have a specified ending date. Tenured instructional faculty and most research scientists are on open-ended appointments. The appointment continues until a change is requested by the unit head.

A partial appointment is an appointment that is less than 100% effort. If a partial appointment is less than 80% effort, special rules apply regarding the tenure clock. See SPG 201.13 and Section 6.I, "Partial Appointments."

Term appointments are appointments for a fixed period of time. Adjunct and visiting instructional faculty appointments are always closed-ended appointments. Term appointments vary in length of time but are often for one or two years. Most lecturer appointments (and some adjunct appointments) are governed by the provisions of the collective bargaining agreement with LEO. A term appointment carries with it the same benefits and obligations as an open-ended appointment.

The University conducts three full academic terms each year: fall (Term I), winter (Term II) and the spring and summer half terms (Terms III-A and III-B). A University-year appointment is composed of two of the three full terms. On the Ann Arbor and Flint campuses, a University-year appointment is for nine months; on the Dearborn Campus, it is for eight months. A University-year salary is paid in twelve equal monthly installments. See Section 14.C, "Salary Payments."