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  1. University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
  2. Center for Faculty Excellence
  3. Initial Appointments and Academic Pathways (Tracks)

Initial Appointments and Academic Pathways (Tracks)

COMPENSATED PATHWAYS

Four broad labels are used to designate the compensated academic pathways:  Basic Scientist, Clinical Scientist, Clinical Educator, and Clinical Attending.  Within the first three of these categories there is both a tenure-eligible pathway and a non-tenure-eligible pathway.  Each faculty member who is financially compensated for work done on behalf of the College of Medicine shall be appointed to one of the seven academic pathways: Basic Scientist-Tenure Pathway, Basic Scientist-Non-Tenure Pathway, Clinical Scientist-Tenure Pathway, Clinical Scientist-Non-Tenure Pathway, Clinical Educator-Tenure Pathway, Clinical Educator-Non-Tenure Pathway, and Clinical Attending (a Non-Tenure Pathway)   Each faculty member’s specific pathway appointment shall be based on the person’s credentials, expertise, career goals and demonstrated potential to succeed. The number of faculty members on each pathway within each department will be determined by the needs of the College and the department.  It is the shared responsibility of the Department Chairs and the Dean to assess and determine these needs. 

Basic ScientistClinical ScientistClinical EducatorClinical Attending
TP; NTPTP; NTPTP; NTPNTP

The criteria that will be used to assess the achievements of faculty appointed on the Clinical Scientist-Tenure Pathway and the Clinical Scientist-Non-tenure pathway are identical.  The distinction is whether an individual, with the approval of the Department Chair and the Dean, may request tenure.  The same principle applies to the Clinical Educator-Tenure Pathway and the Clinical Educator-Non-tenure pathway.  The criteria that will be used to assess the achievements of faculty appointed on the Basic Scientist-Tenure Pathway are very similar to those for faculty appointed on the Basic Scientist-Non-Tenure Pathway, as will be specified in Tables 3 and 4 of these Guidelines.   

An individual who is to receive an initial appointment at any given rank shall have credentials and experience equivalent to individuals already promoted to that same rank from within the College faculty.  Before the time of initial appointment, the appointing Department Chair, after careful review of the individual’s credentials and qualifications, will meet with the faculty candidate to determine and record his or her work responsibilities, expectations, and career goals, as well as the individual’s initial time and effort distribution.  These deliberations will determine the Chair’s request to the Dean for the appropriate appointment at a specific rank on one of the seven academic pathways.  Requests for appointment at the rank of Associate Professor and Professor must also be reviewed and approved by the College Promotion and Tenure Committee.  Accepted titles for faculty members appointed to all seven compensated pathways shall be Assistant Professor, Associate Professor and Professor.  Instructors play important roles in the College.  Individuals appointed at the rank and with the title of Instructor are not assigned to a specific academic pathway until the time of promotion to Assistant Professor.  

VOLUNTARY NON-COMPENSATED PATHWAYS (Adjunct Appointments)

The College values the voluntary service of fully qualified individuals to help achieve its mission.  It is the shared responsibility of the Department Chairs and the Dean to determine the need for specific voluntary services.  When such need exists, adjunct appointments may be made to one of two pathways:  Adjunct Clinical Pathway and Adjunct Basic Scientist Pathway.  The requirements for appointment and reappointment on these two pathways are specified within two documents available through the UAMS Faculty Center: Principles for Adjunct Faculty Appointments and Principles for Regional Program Adjunct Faculty Appointments.

Candidates on the adjunct pathways may request promotion upon satisfying the criteria specified in Appendix B for Adjunct Clinical faculty and Appendix C for Adjunct Basic Scientist faculty.  Accepted titles for faculty members appointed to the Adjunct Clinical Pathway are Adjunct Clinical Instructor, Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor, Adjunct Clinical Associate Professor and Adjunct Clinical Professor.  Similarly, accepted titles for faculty members appointed to the Adjunct Basic Science Pathway are Adjunct Basic Science Instructor, Adjunct Basic Science Assistant Professor, Adjunct Basic Science Associate Professor, and Adjunct Basic Science Professor.

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