4.1 Faculty Ranks and Titles
4.1.1 Tenured and Tenure-Track Faculty
Professor, Associate Professor, and Assistant Professor Ranks
These ranks are assigned to tenured or tenure-track faculty members who are required to perform duties involving teaching, scholarship, and professional service.
4.1.2 Non-Tenure-Track Faculty
This paragraph provides a description of the basic characteristics of the faculty positions listed below. Specific details regarding the level of time commitment required, job duties, and the employment benefits associated with a particular position will be addressed in an employee's employment contract or employment offer letter; details about ranks eligible to request Graduate Faculty status are in Section 4.3. A faculty member holding one of the ranks or titles listed below is not eligible for tenure while serving at that rank.
A. Teaching Professor, Teaching Associate Professor and Teaching Assistant Professor Ranks
These ranks are assigned to part-time and full-time instructional faculty members with assignments primarily devoted to teaching. These positions are anticipated to be at least one full academic year in duration. Faculty members holding these titles are expected to remain current with developments in their fields so as to deliver the highest quality of instruction and are encouraged to attend and participate in department activities and shared governance in keeping with the normal practices of the academic unit(s) that form the locus of their positions. They are required to fulfill all applicable requirements of the Faculty Handbook. Teaching faculty may serve as the principal investigator on Mines proposals. Teaching faculty are members of the Academic Faculty (Section 4.2).
Teaching Faculty are initially hired on one-year renewable contracts. Entering a faculty member’s third year at Mines, Teaching Faculty contracts are extended to two-year contracts renewed annually. Non-renewal notification provisions for both types of contracts are defined in Section 9.2.1.
B. Professor of Practice
This position is appropriate for exceptional practitioners in fields aligned with Mines. Professors of Practice shall have terminal degrees in disciplines related to Mines’ programs or equivalent professional experience and shall have achieved exceptional distinction as practitioners in such disciplines. Professors of Practice are selected on a year-to-year basis, contingent upon sufficient need and funding within the hiring department. Positions may be part-time or full-time. Professors of Practice are members of the Academic Faculty.
Professors of Practice are generally expected to devote a substantial portion of their professional life to Mines. The Professor of Practice title is not appropriate for individuals whose external affiliation is or has been primarily academic. A Professor of Practice may not hold active, full-time positions elsewhere. An individual, however, may be on leave from a non-academic position for the duration of the Mines position.
Involvement by the Professor of Practice in institutional activities will vary according to programmatic needs. Duties and responsibilities may include teaching, research and service. Professors of Practice may have full responsibility for course instruction and may serve as principal investigators on Mines proposals.
C. Librarian, Associate Librarian, Assistant Librarian
These ranks are applied to Academic Faculty members whose assignments are primarily devoted to the practice of librarianship. Librarianship is an applied interdisciplinary field involving the selection, acquisition, organization and use of information in teaching, learning and research. Librarianship is an inherently collaborative field that requires expert understanding of information systems, policies and practices, as well as other disciplines and how they discover, disseminate and use information. Librarianship is a discipline guided by its own academic preparation, national and international information standards, and ethical constructs. Library faculty also conduct research that informs practice and advances the profession related to their area of librarianship and are expected to serve, appropriate to their rank, on Library, university and national and international committees.
D. Research Professor, Research Associate Professor, and Research Assistant Professor
The title "research" coupled with the appropriate rank is used to describe faculty members whose primary responsibilities are obtaining research funding, performing independent research equivalent to that required for Tenured and Tenure-Track Faculty of equivalent rank (Section 4.1.1), advising or co-advising graduate student research, and whose primary affiliation is Mines. Research faculty are expected to develop and maintain a funded research program and may engage in teaching and service by mutual agreement with their department head. Research faculty may serve as the principal investigator on Mines research proposals subject to Mines’ policy and guidelines of the Office of Research Administration and the Vice President for Research. Research Faculty are members of the Academic Faculty.
E. Other Research Related Titles
The titles listed below are primarily responsible for supporting the institution’s research enterprise by providing assistance and support to Academic Faculty in obtaining research funding and performing research. When remunerated, these positions are funded through grant or contract sources. Employees with these titles are not members of the Academic Faculty.
- Visiting Faculty
This title is used to describe faculty members with positions at other universities who are temporarily associated with Mines. The primary responsibilities of Visiting Faculty involve performing research and providing assistance in directing graduate student thesis projects. When remunerated, their salaries are generally paid from non-State funds. Visiting Faculty may hold their positions for up to two years and may serve with or without remuneration. Visiting Faculty are ineligible for tenure. - Postdoctoral Fellow
This title is used to describe researchers who have a doctoral degree and who are expected to lead part of a project or research grant. The Postdoctoral Fellow may engage in teaching and provide assistance in directing graduate student thesis projects. Postdoctoral Fellows may serve as principal investigator of individual proposals if approved by their direct supervisor, Department Head, Dean, Vice President for Research, and the Office of Research Administration. The Postdoctoral Fellow must provide a clear description of how submitting this grant as principal investigator contributes to their professional development. The normal term of employment will be for up to two years, although the arrangement may be extended for a third year with the approval of the Dean and Provost. - Research Staff (I-V)
This title series is used to describe research support staff positions that are exempt from the State classified system based on the source of funding for the positions (grants, gifts, or revenues generated through auxiliary activities). These positions will perform general administrative or lab support functions related to a research project, center, or department. - Research Administrative Staff
This title is used to describe a staff position that is exempt from the State classified system based on the funding source for the positions (grants, gifts, or revenues generated through auxiliary activities) A staff person in this position typically has director or managerial responsibilities. - Research Technical Staff
This title is used to describe a staff position that is exempt from the State classified system based on the source of funding for the position (grants, gifts, or revenues generated through auxiliary activities). A staff person in this position provides high-level technical expertise in a particular discipline and performs duties at a senior level. Research Technical Staff may serve as principal investigator or co-principal investigator of individual proposals if approved by their direct supervisor, Department Head, Dean, Vice President for Research, and the Office of Research Administration. The Research Technical Staff must provide a clear description of how submitting this proposal as principal or co-principal investigator contributes to their professional development. - Affiliate Faculty
This title is used to describe individuals with mutually beneficial ties to Mines in circumstances that warrant such a position. Such individuals may be employed elsewhere. Typically, Affiliate Faculty work directly with Mines faculty members and their research programs. Affiliate Faculty are not permitted to serve as the principal investigator or co-principal investigator on Mines proposals. Affiliate Faculty may hold their positions for up to three years, and these appointments may be renewed by approval of the department head and appropriate dean. Affiliate Faculty relationships will be reviewed annually by the department head. - External Joint Faculty
This title is conferred upon a special category of Affiliate Faculty who have full or part-time positions with external entities where Mines has established a Joint Appointment Program and who have strong collaborations with Mines and Mines faculty. Joint Faculty may serve as principal investigator on Mines research proposals with a Mines co-investigator with appropriate approvals from their employer and from Mines. Since Joint Faculty are not Mines employees, they cannot have signature authority on research contracts and grants; this must be assigned to their co-principal investigator(s) who is a Mines employee. The Joint Faculty member may also engage in teaching with appropriate approvals from the Mines Department Head and their employer. Joint Faculty may hold their appointment for a mutually agreed upon timeframe, with the possibility of renewal.
F. Adjunct Faculty
The title "Adjunct Faculty" is used to describe temporary faculty members who are engaged on a semester-by-semester basis, contingent upon sufficient need and resources within the hiring department, to teach a course. Adjunct faculty status does not confer rights to serve as an advisor for graduate students, nor as the principal investigator or co-principal investigator on Mines’ research proposals. Employees with this title are not members of the Academic Faculty.
G. Visiting Scholars
This title is used for scholars such as graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and researchers from other institutions who wish to associate themselves with Mines for a period of time. Visiting scholars may hold their positions for up to two years and may serve with or without remuneration. Employees with this title are not members of the Academic Faculty.
4.1.3 Named Faculty Distinctions
Faculty positions (Professor, Associate Professor, or Assistant Professor) made possible through endowments and other gifts enable the school to attract and support outstanding educators and scholars. The following are the categories of distinctions that can be named in response to a donor's wishes. The naming and rotation of such distinctions is the sole prerogative of Mines. The granting of tenured status at Mines does not grant or imply tenure rights in any named distinction.
A. Distinguished Endowed Chair
A distinguished endowed chair signals the highest honor Mines can bestow upon a faculty member. Funding from the endowment, in combination with funds from other sources, will be used to support the chair holder’s compensation package and supply discretionary funds to support the teaching and scholarly activities of the chair. Although chairs are not normally rotated, circumstances may necessitate changing the holder of a chair, and Mines reserves the right to do so at any time for any reason.
B. Endowed Chair
An endowed chair recognizes teaching and research excellence of a Mines faculty member. Funding from the endowment, in combination with funds from other sources, will be used to support the chair holder’s compensation package and supply discretionary funds to support the teaching and scholarly activities of the chair. Although chairs are not normally rotated, circumstances may necessitate changing the holder of a chair, and Mines reserves the right to do so at any time for any reason.
C. Endowed Professorship
An endowed professorship is awarded to professors in recognition of their outstanding teaching, research, and service. Income from the endowment or gift will be used in combination with other funds to partially support the teaching and scholarly activities of the recipients. Endowed professorships may be renewed or rotated within a department or among several departments at Mines.
D. Developmental Professorship
A developmental professorship provides support for the teaching and scholarly activities of the recipients. Developmental professorships may be renewed or rotated within a department or among several departments at Mines.
E. Teacher-Scholar
A teacher-scholar award will be utilized to recognize excellence in scholarly achievements by faculty members. The award will provide support for teaching and scholarly activities, such as travel to technical or professional conferences, summer support, and professional advancement activities.
4.1.4 Emeritus/Emerita Faculty Status
At the time of their retirement, in recognition of their years of dedication and service to Mines, tenured, teaching, library faculty and professors of practice who have completed 10 or more years of full-time service may be nominated for emeritus/emerita status. An individual is nominated for emeritus/emerita status by the department head of the department in which they held a faculty appointment, in consultation with the department’s Professors and Teaching Professor and relevant dean. Faculty not meeting the 10 years of service requirement can be approved for nomination by the provost. The provost’s recommendation on nominations for emeritus/emerita status shall be submitted to the Board of Trustees for a final decision. If approved, the title of “emeritus” or “emerita” is coupled with their final academic rank at retirement.
Recipients of emeritus/emerita status shall receive special recognition at the annual April Awards Celebration. Additional privileges bestowed upon emeritus/emerita faculty members include the issuance of a permanent faculty identification card, a listing in the university catalog, continued use of their mines.edu email address and full continued use of library and athletic facilities. Mines emeritus/emerita faculty may be considered for nonremunerated adjunct roles when there is a clear mutual benefit to support such a position. From time to time, Mines may make other facilities, services, or amenities available for the use of emeritus/emerita faculty members. However, emeritus/emerita status does not confer tenure. Emeritus/emerita faculty remain subject to all university policies applicable to their continued use of Mines resources (including Mines-issued email address) and facilities.
4.1.5 Academic Faculty with Administrative Appointments
Academic Faculty may be qualified to apply for part-time or full-time administrative appointments. These positions require performance of specialized professional duties in addition to, or in partial or in whole replacement of, academic faculty responsibilities. The administrative appointments are designated by function or title, not by academic rank. Administrative appointments are at-will, terminable at any time, and are governed by the university staff handbook. Termination of an administrative appointment does not affect the underlying academic faculty appointment.
4.1.6 Non-Remunerative Volunteer Positions
Upon the review and positive recommendation of the Department Head and the Dean, an individual may be nominated for a non-remunerative, volunteer faculty position. For non-remunerative positions not involving faculty rank, nominations may be made upon the recommendation of the department head without the need for input from the Dean. Non-remunerative research faculty positions should be used for people transitioning in or out of academic faculty positions.
For non-remunerative positions in Academic Affairs, nominations are submitted to the Provost for approval.
Subject to applicable employment laws and regulations non-remunerative positions may be approved for a maximum of two calendar years and may be renewable. These positions must provide clearly defined value to the department and Mines as well as to the individual, and specific responsibilities must be detailed. Like all other faculty, non-remunerative faculty are governed by the provisions of the Faculty Handbook. Non-remunerative faculty are ineligible to receive benefits with the exception of provisions set forth in Section 5.2 of this Handbook.
Non-remunerative research faculty positions must follow the process described in Section 4.5.2 C.
4.1.7 Special Positions and Titles
A. University Distinguished Professor
Colorado School of Mines University Distinguished Professor is the highest honorific title that can be conferred on a tenured faculty member at Mines. It is granted selectively to faculty who have brought great recognition to Mines through the impact of their teaching, mentoring, discovery, innovation efforts, and international recognition. At any given time, the distinction of being named a “University Distinguished Professor” will be accorded to a maximum of 15 tenured faculty members. Once selected, a faculty member will generally hold this title until retirement, subject to the discretion of and revocation at any time by the President. Faculty shall not hold this title concurrently with an endowed chair distinction.
Any Mines employee may submit a nomination. The Mines University Distinguished Professor Review Committee, which is formed and chaired by the Provost, will screen the nominations and identify the most competitive candidates. The Provost will recommend finalists to the President who has final authority to award these titles.
B. University Distinguished Teaching Professor or Professor of Practice
The Colorado School of Mines University Distinguished Teaching Professor or Professor of Practice will be the highest honorific title that can be conferred on a teaching professor or professor of practice faculty member at Mines. It will be granted selectively to faculty who have brought great recognition to Mines through the impact of their teaching, mentoring, pedagogical innovations, and scholarship. At any given time, the distinction of being names a "University Distinguished Teaching Professor or Professor of Practice" will be accorded to a maximum of eight (8) faculty members who hold the rank of Professor. Once selected, faculty will generally hold this title until retirement, subject to the discretion of and revocation at any time by the President. Faculty shall not hold this title concurrently with an endowed chair distinction.
Any Mines employee may submit a nomination. The Mines University Distinguished Teaching Professor or Professor of Practice Review Committee, which is formed and chaired by the two portfolio Deans, will screen the nominations, and identify the most competitive candidates who will then be forwarded to the Provost. The Provost will then recommend finalists to the President who has final authority to award these titles.
C. Honorary Titles
Special honorary titles may be conferred by the Provost in conjunction with non-remuneration positions on a case-by-case basis.
D. Mines Presidential Faculty Fellow
From time to time, the President may ask a faculty member to perform special duties in service to the institution and will recognize the faculty member’s broader institutional role by naming that faculty member a Mines Presidential Faculty Fellow for (descriptive title). Typically, such honorary titles are limited to three years, but may be extended at the discretion of the President. Such honorary title may come with appropriate service, teaching, and research relief as negotiated by the President, faculty member, and the faculty member’s Department Head.
E. University Librarian
The position of University Librarian is open to any candidate holding the rank Librarian. The University Librarian articulates a vision of the Library that promotes and supports the University’s mission, and implements a strategic plan to advance that vision. The University Librarian integrates diverse resources and technologies, seeks new opportunities, collaborates with university constituents, and cultivates a vibrant research and learning community. The University Librarian fosters an organizational and educational climate that promotes diversity and provides effective leadership to collectively achieve our strategic initiatives. Overseeing management of the Library’s virtual and physical space, the University Librarian collaborates with Library faculty, staff, students, and external entities to identify, evaluate, and implement programs that provide services and facilities, enhancing the quality of resources, and increase operational efficiency within the Library. Providing leadership and facilitating library-wide communication, the University Librarian functions as the chief fiscal officer of the Library providing transparent reporting on the budget, supporting a balance between the student-centered library, research support, and the traditional core functions of the Library for the Mines community.