Instructional Faculty Title Series

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

• Which current faculty should be considering a transition to the instructional title series?

  Current TXST faculty with the following characteristics may be eligible to transition: 

  • full-time faculty employee (75% full-time equivalent FTE or higher)
  • lecturer or senior lecturer job title
  • reasonable expectation the full-time instructional position is needed to meet current and future enrollment needs and student demand
  • meet or exceed academic unit performance expectations as determined by the annual evaluation process

  The instructional title series is not designed for per-course appointments, visiting faculty, program faculty, emeritus faculty, temporary hires, and other appointment types. Questions may be directed to the appropriate department chair/school director. 

• What is changing on September 1, 2024?

  Effective September 1, 2024 (FY25), qualified lecturers and senior lecturers may be appointed to the ranks of assistant professor, associate professor, or professor of instruction. In collaboration with their academic units, current lecturers and senior lecturers will determine whether to 1) pursue the new title and rank or 2) remain in their current job title.  This opportunity will be available to approximately 500 faculty members at TXST.  See the timeline below.  

• Why create a new instructional faculty title series?

  As a result of faculty feedback and national trends, Texas State's Faculty Senate, the Nontenure Line Faculty Committee, and academic leaders worked collaboratively to create the title and ranks of assistant professor of instruction, associate professor of instruction, and professor of instruction. This new title series provides career advancement opportunities for faculty dedicated to the university's teaching and instructional mission. Many R1 institutions similarly employ promotion-eligible instructional faculty. 

• What policy will provide guidance on instructional faculty appointments?

  AA/PPS 04.01.26, Faculty of Instruction Appointments.  

• What role do departments/schools and colleges have in the policy process?

  Departments/schools and colleges are responsible for discussing and developing guidelines for the ranks of assistant, associate, or professor of instruction by February 2, 2024.  The guidelines will be developed in collaboration with all voting faculty in the academic unit and consistent with parameters in AA/PPS 04.01.26.  

  Chairs/directors are available to discuss the new title series with lecturers and senior lecturers. Lecturers and senior lecturers should discuss the opportunity with chairs/directors during the annual evaluation period in early spring 2024.  

  
   

• What role do faculty have in the policy process?

  Faculty were encouraged to engage with their departments/schools, the Faculty Senate, the Nontenure Line Faculty Committee, and others in 1) providing feedback on AA/PPS 04.01.26 and 2) developing department guidelines and qualifications for the new job title and ranks.  

  Current lecturers and senior lecturers should discuss the opportunity to transition to the new title with their chairs/directors during the annual evaluation period in spring 2024.  

• Will the senior lecturer title exist after September 1, 2024?

  Current senior lecturers may elect to retain their job titles after September 1, 2024.  No additional faculty will be hired or transitioned into the senior lecturer title after August 31, 2024.

• Will the lecturer title exist after September 1, 2024?

  Current lecturers may choose to retain their job titles rather than transitioning to the instructional faculty title series.  The lecturer title will remain in use for new faculty, primarily those appointed on a temporary or part-time basis (less than 75% FTE; per-course).  

• What is the timeline for current lecturers and senior lecturers to transition to the new instructional title series?

  January – March 2024: Departments finalize guidelines for initial appointments, including evidence, documentation, and process to evaluate faculty who intend to make the transition. Based on department guidelines, eligible lecturers and senior lecturers will discuss their intentions and possible entry rank with department leadership/faculty leadership during the annual evaluation cycle. 

  April - May 2024: Eligible lecturers and senior lecturers will formally request the instructional faculty title and rank based on departmental criteria, discussion with department leadership/faculty leadership, and any application materials required by the department. Departments will review and finalize recommendations based on guidelines and supporting evidence. 

  May 2024: After receiving departmental recommendations, colleges will make final recommendations to the Provost's Office on transitioning eligible lecturers and senior lecturers to the new instructional title and appropriate rank. Faculty approved to transition to the new title/rank will submit background check authorization. 

  June 2024: Faculty recommended to transition to the new title/rank will submit background check authorization by June 15, 2024. The authorization is sent to TXST email addresses. 

  July 2024: Faculty, departments/schools, and colleges are notified of President and Provost decision.

  September 1, 2024: New instructional titles go into effect. 

  See timeline on this webpage. 

   

• When will departments and colleges make recommendations on faculty transitioning to the new title?

  In late May 2024, departments and schools will make recommendations to their college dean on each eligible faculty member for 1) entry into instructional title, 2) initial rank, and 3) any years of service credit toward the next promotion.  By May 31, 2024, each college dean will make recommendations to the Provost’s Office. President Damphousse and Provost Aswath have final decision authority on these faculty appointments. 

  See timeline on this webpage. 

• How are years of teaching experience calculated?

  Years of teaching experience may include full-time teaching experience at Texas State as well as other universities. Departments will rely on faculty vita to determine the years of teaching service that is calculated for consideration at the assistant, associate, or professor rank.  It is important to note that the qualifications for each rank are much broader than number of years of teaching experience. For example, each qualification references current and contemporary competency in the teaching discipline as well as evidence of development, growth and/or leadership. 

• Will Texas State provide years of teaching experience credit toward "time in rank" for current faculty transitioning to the new title series?

  Yes, during the initial implementation of the instructional title series effective fall 2024, Texas State will approve up to three years of time in rank toward promotion.  Departments/schools and colleges are responsible for recommending the years in rank based on faculty vita and supporting documentation. 

• Can a current faculty member who is eligible to transition to the instructional title choose to transition into a clinical or practice line instead? Or vice versa?

  On a case-by-case basis, and with the support of the academic unit and college leadership, this option will be considered by the Provost's Office. The faculty member would have to fully meet all criteria as outlined in AA/PPS 04.01.22 Clinical Faculty Appointments, AA/PPS 04.01.23 Faculty of Practice Appointments, or AA/PPS 04.01.26, Faculty of Instruction Appointments. 

• Are faculty who fluctuate between 50% and 75% eligible to transition to the instructional title series?

  Assistant, associate, and professors of instruction need to be consistently employed on a 100% basis, with some allowable variance to 75% when student demand for courses naturally fluctuates.  Faculty who fluctuate between 50% to 75% should continue in the lecturer title. 

• Will initial appointment decisions for the new instructional title series be processed through Faculty Qualifications?

  For the initial implementation of the title series effective fall 2024, academic units are using Sharepoint/Teams, Canvas, or other software for their processes. 

  In the future, Faculty Qualifications will be used by instructional faculty who apply for promotion. 

• Will faculty be required to complete a background check upon transition to instructional title series?

  Yes, all faculty who transition to the new instructional title will be required to complete authorization for a faculty background check by June 15, 2024. During the initial transition effective fall 2024 (FY25), the Provost's Office will provide funding for these faculty background checks.

• How do academic units submit their guidelines for initial appointments into the instructional title series?

  Department chairs and school directors utilized a SharePoint site to upload their individual academic unit guidelines. This site was organized by college with folders for each department/school. These guidelines were reviewed by the Office of the Provost and academic unit leaders notified when approved. 

  The guidelines for initial appointment were required to include the required qualifications listed in AA/PPS 04.01.26, sections 04.03 (assistant professor), 04.04 (associate professor), and 04.05 (professor).  

  To ensure consistency across the university, a template is available for departments, schools, and colleges to use in preparing guidelines. 

• Does part-time teaching experience count in determining a faculty member’s years of full-time teaching experience?

  Part-time teaching experience is not used to determine years of full-time teaching experience (e.g., two years of part-time teaching experience does not count as one year of full-time teaching experience). Part-time teaching experience may be used as evidence of current and contemporary competence in the teaching discipline, which is a required qualification for the assistant, associate, and professor ranks in Section 04 of AA/PPS 04.01.26. This approach is consistent with policies for faculty of practice and clinical faculty, both of which require full-time professional work/clinical experiences in determining the rank at initial appointment. 

• Are there any caps or limitations of the number of faculty who may transition to the associate professor or professor rank?

  No, the university has not set any restrictions on the number of eligible faculty who may transition to a specific rank. Eligibility for the assistant professor, associate professor, and professor rank is based on faculty qualifications in AA/PPS 04.01.26 (Section 04) and guidelines established by each academic unit. 

• Will there be a salary adjustment if current lecturers or senior lecturers transition to the instructional faculty title series?

  The university has allocated $2.2 million for salary adjustments associated with the launch of the title series in FY25.  Salary adjustments apply to faculty members approved to transition to an associate professor of instruction or professor of instruction. 

  Assistant Professor of Instruction: Faculty approved to transition to this rank receive no salary adjustment and may use the new title as of fall 2024.

  Associate Professor of Instruction: Faculty approved to transition to this rank receive a 7 percent salary adjustment effective September 1, 2024, and may use the new title as of fall 2024.

  Professor of Instruction: Faculty approved to transition to this rank receive a 7 percent salary adjustment effective September 1, 2024 and a 7 percent salary adjustment effective September 1, 2025. These faculty may use the new title as of fall 2024.

• Will there be a salary adjustment for current lecturers or senior lecturers who transition to the rank of assistant professor?

  Faculty approved to transition to the assistant professor rank will not receive a salary adjustment. However, these faculty will now be in a promotion-eligible job title and may pursue future promotion based on criteria and guidelines established by academic units.