Tenure Track Positions: For all universities in the University of Houston System, the following ranks are considered part of the tenure track: assistant professor, associate professor, and professor.
Assistant professor is normally a probationary rank although in special cases, the Chancellor/President may request that tenure be awarded to an assistant professor.
Associate professors may be appointed with tenure or, alternatively, may be required to serve a probationary period not to exceed four years before tenure is awarded.
Professors are usually appointed with tenure but may be required to serve a probationary period not to exceed four years, which shall be stated in the appointment letter.
Non-tenure Track Positions: The University of Houston Victoria may choose to utilize other faculty titles to convey certain meanings specific to the University. All such titles must be filed with the Office of the Provost. The several designations used at the University of Houston are listed and defined below:
Lecturer: A full-time, non-tenured, non-tenure track, non-clinical position. Primary responsibilities revolve around teaching.
Senior Lecturer: A full-time, non-tenure track, non-clinical position. Primary responsibilities revolve around teaching but can include service to the University. Lecturers may be promoted to this position.
Instructor: The term "instructor" designates persons assigned to teach one or more specific courses.
Adjunct Faculty: The term “adjunct faculty” will be used for persons who have an appointment for a specific semester and course and denotes a part-time position.
Adjunct Professor: The term “adjunct professor” will be used for persons who have an appointment for a specific semester and course, hold a part-time position, and have tenure at a different university where employed full time.
Visiting Faculty: The visiting faculty will consist of members with the following titles: visiting assistant professor, visiting associate professor, and visiting professor. The term "visiting" is used for persons who assume a teaching responsibility at the University of Houston Victoria for a specified period. Visiting faculty are usually appointed for either a semester or an academic year.
Clinical Faculty: Clinical faculty appointments are non-tenure track appointments which may be assigned the ranks clinical assistant professor, clinical associate professor, and clinical professor. Such appointments are outside the University of Houston Victoria tenure system and are governed by policies of the respective colleges and the Promotion and Tenure Committee and must be approved by the Vice President for Academic Affairs.
Part-time Faculty: A part-time faculty member is one who is employed less than full-time and who does not hold a tenured, tenure track, or clinical appointment. The possibility of reappointment is contingent upon the required approvals, the availability of funding, satisfactory annual review by the department or college, and a continued need for the position within the department or college.
Teaching Faculty: Teaching faculty appointments are non-tenure track appointments which may be assigned the ranks teaching assistant professor, teaching associate professor, and teaching professor. Such appointments are outside the University of Houston-Victoria tenure system and are governed by policies of the respective colleges and the Promotion and Tenure Committee and must be approved by the Vice President for Academic Affairs.
