Instructional Faculty Title Series

Instructional faculty appointments are reserved for individuals who make a unique contribution to Texas State University’s mission by dedicating their time and expertise to teaching, learning, and instructional activities that complement and enhance the goals of students, academic units, and the university.  To ensure career advancement opportunities, Texas State is pleased to introduce a new title and ranks for qualified instructional faculty effective September 1, 2024 (FY25).  During FY24, Texas State will implement a process to transition qualified faculty to assistant professors, associate professors, and professors of instruction. AA/PPS 04.01.26, Faculty of Instruction Appointments guides the process. 


  • Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

    • 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. 

    • 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.  

    • 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. 

    • AA/PPS 04.01.26, Faculty of Instruction Appointments.  

    • 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.  


       

    • 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.  

    • 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.

    • 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).  

    • 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. 

       

    • 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. 

    • 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. 

    • 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. 

    • 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

    • 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. 

    • 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. 

    • 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.

    • 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. 

    • 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. 

    • 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. 

    • 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.

    • 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. 

       

Was your question not addressed in the FAQ? 


Timeline for the New Title Series

 Fall 2023 AA/PPS 04.01.26, Faculty of Instruction Appointments finalized.
February -March 2024 In collaboration with all voting faculty, academic units finalize guidelines and qualifications for achieving the rank of assistant, associate, or professor of instruction. Guidelines are concurrently reviewed by the college and Faculty and Academic Resources.
January to March 2024Faculty annual performance evaluation occurs, including discussion with lecturers and senior lecturers on transitioning to the new title.
April - May 2024 Current lecturers and senior lecturers finalize their intent to transition to the new title or remain in their current title to their academic unit leader no later than May 8, 2024. Academic units determine eligibility and appropriate rank for lecturers and senior lecturers who intend to transition to the new title.
 May 2024 Colleges review department recommendations and provide final recommendations on new titles and ranks to  Faculty and Academic Resources no later than May 31, 2024. A background check will be initiated for those transitioning to the promotion-eligible line. No additional conversions of current faculty will be considered after this deadline. 
June 2024June 2024 Faculty recommended to transition to the new instructional title series must complete background check authorization by June 15, 2024. The authorization will be sent to TXST email addresses in the first week of June 2024.
July 2024Faculty, departments/schools, and colleges are notified of final decisions made by President Damphousse and Provost Aswath.
Fall 2024 Assistant professor, associate professor, and professor of instruction are available job titles at TXST!