Joint Appointment Procedures
"Joint appointment" refers to the situation in which a faculty member is a member of more than one department, school or division. Such appointments carry a percentage of FTE in each department, school or division.
Joint appointments are voted on by the departments, recommended by the Dean(s) and the Academic Senate is consulted by the Vice Provost for Academic Personnel. The resulting package is sent to the Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost for approval.
Faculty having joint appointment status have voting rights in the departments they are members of. Likewise, those departments are obligated to review and vote on all academic personnel actions of such individuals.
The purpose of having official status in more than one department may be to reflect the individual’s research interests and achievements, and/or to reflect the individual’s teaching interests, capabilities and expertise.
The procedure by which joint departmental (school or division) status is established is as follows:
- A written statement is prepared by the faculty member who is seeking a joint appointment indicating the percentage of appointment FTE and the proposed duties and activities, outlining the reasons for the requested appointment, and identifying the qualifications for membership in the proposed host department. The larger percentage of FTE dictates the faculty member’s home department. If the joint appointment is 50/50, the faculty member must designate in writing which of the two departments will be considered the home department. The home department initiates all academic personnel reviews.
- The statement is presented to the chair of the home department who convenes the eligible voting members. The faculty reviews the written statement and discusses and votes on the proposal, in accord with its established procedures. The chair of the home department prepares a statement of how the proposed joint appointment will affect the home department.
- The statement and departmental vote are presented by the chair to the chair of the host department, who convenes the eligible voting members. The faculty reviews the written statement and discusses and votes on the proposal, in accord with its established procedures. The chair of the host department prepares a statement of how the proposed joint appointment would benefit the department.
- The above statements, with a written record of the votes and discussions of the two departments, are sent to the Dean (or Deans), who makes an assessment and recommendation to the Vice Provost for Academic Personnel.
- The Vice Provost for Academic Personnel presents the material to the Senate for its recommendation then sends the package to the Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost for final decision. The Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost notifies the two departments of the decision and copies the Deans, VPAP, Academic Planning and Budget, the Academic Senate, Affirmative Action Office, and Academic Scheduling.
Joint departmental status may be discontinued at any time; such action should be conducted independently of regular academic personnel actions. The process of discontinuation is initiated by the host department, which forwards its recommendation through the same process used for appointments.