1. What is the customary progression of reappointment for term faculty? 
2. Is there a salary increase for rank promotion? 
3. Can I move from the professorial lecturer sequence to the term professor sequence? 
4. What types of HR benefits are available for term and continuing appointment faculty? 
5. As a term or continuing appointment faculty member, what kind of professional development opportunities are available to me?
6. As a term faculty member, am I eligible for research grants/support and travel grants/support? 

1. What is the customary progression of reappointment for term faculty? 
The university makes initial term faculty appointments in one-year increments during the first three years of a term faculty member’s service at the University. In rare cases and with approval from the dean of faculty, a two-year initial appointment is possible. Reappointments after the first three years of service are usually for three-year terms. However, the unit may recommend reappointments of fewer than three years, including one-year terminal appointments. 

Under the normal progression, eligible term faculty members will apply for continuing appointment in their sixth year of service. Once continuing appointment status has been achieved, faculty are not subject to further reappointment processes. Please see FAQs on Continuing Appointment Process below for additional information. 

2. Is there a salary increase for rank promotion? 
A salary increase is granted when a term faculty member is promoted from Professorial Lecturer to Senior Professorial Lecturer and from Assistant Professor to Associate Professor or Senior Professorial Lecturer. A salary increase is granted when a term faculty member is promoted from Senior Professorial Lecturer to Hurst Senior Professorial Lecturer and from Associate Professor to Full Professor or if they switch tracks, from Associate Professor to Hurst Senior Professorial Lecturer.  

3. Can I move from the professorial lecturer sequence to the term professor sequence? 
AU’s Faculty Manual describes two promotion sequences for term faculty. All new term faculty at AU are hired into one of the professorial lecturer ranks and most seek promotion along that sequence. Those ranks are: instructor, professorial lecturer, senior professorial lecturer, and Hurst senior professorial lecturer. 

A term faculty member with an exceptional portfolio of research/scholarship—equivalent to that of a newly tenured colleague—may apply for promotion to associate professor, which entails moving to the term professor sequence. These and all other promotions follow the procedures and criteria established in the Faculty Manual and your academic unit’s guidelines.  

Note: although the title of assistant professor is no longer used when hiring new term faculty, it continues to be used for term faculty hired before the change. Term faculty at the rank of instructor or professorial lecturer may not change their rank to assistant professor. 

4. What types of HR benefits are available for term and continuing appointment faculty? 
There are a variety of HR benefits for full-time term and CA faculty including parental and family leave, retirement savings matching, college tuition for children, and medical and dental care plans. For the full list please visit this website: https://www.american.edu/hr/benefits/ 
 

5. As a term or continuing appointment faculty member, what kind of professional development opportunities are available to me? 
The Center for Teaching, Learning, and Research holds teaching, research, and other professional development workshops throughout the year and all faculty are eligible and encouraged to participate. 

The ADVANCE AU grant also provides professional development opportunities for all faculty through its peer mentorship program each year and its mini grants for career development, symposia and workshops throughout the year. 

AU has an NCFDD institutional membership which allows all faculty to set up a complimentary profile and participate in professional development webinars related to teaching, writing, and research. 

6. As a term faculty member, am I eligible for research grants/support and travel grants/support? 
Each academic unit provides faculty support funds for term faculty. Faculty support funds typically may be used for traveling to conferences or seminars. Please check with your Dean’s Office for further information. 

Additionally, faculty funding opportunities are available on the OSARA webpage.