Academic Hiring Manual University Approved Academic Positions/Ranks

Academic Hiring Manual

Academic Hiring Manual University Approved Academic Positions/Ranks

Also see University Approved Academic Titles.
"Emeritus" is added to the position/rank only for those granted this designation from MSU. Once emeritus status has been granted, any reappointments should show the position/rank emeritus as primary position/rank.
"Visiting" may be applied to any position/rank, when appropriate. The visiting designation is only to be used for faculty and academic staff who are visiting on a short-term basis (i.e., a year or less) and who intend to return to their home institution or agency from which they are visiting.
"Clinical" is added in front of the position/rank of Faculty/Academic Staff appointed at no pay, whose duties involve patient care, or whose duties require a professional degree in a health or social services field. For example, Clinical Associate Professor.
"Adjunct" is added in front of the position/rank of Faculty/Academic Staff appointed on a no pay basis (except when "clinical" is appropriate). For example, Adjunct Assistant Professor, or Adjunct Visiting Research Associate.

RANKED FACULTY	COMMENTS
Professor	Must have terminal degree. Must be appointed in academic unit. Endowed chair and other special designations apply to the rank of professor. (For example, John A. Hannah Distinguished Professor, or University Distinguished Professor.)
Associate professor	Must have terminal degree. Must be appointed in academic unit.
Assistant professor	Must have terminal degree. Must be appointed in academic unit.
	Health Programs, (HP), faculty must have terminal medical degree. Must be clinician faculty member appointed in the College of Human Medicine, Osteopathic Medicine, Veterinary Medicine or Nursing. Must have a valid license to practice medicine, veterinary medicine, nursing or other clinical credential accepted by the State of Michigan appropriate for the professional role and function.
Professor HP	Professor (Health Programs)
Asc Professor HP	Associate Professor (Health Programs)
Ast Professor HP	Assistant Professor (Health Programs)
	FRIB/NSCL positions must be appointed in the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams/National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory.
Professor FRIB/NSCL	Professor (Facility for Rare Isotope Beams/National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory)
Asc Professor FRIB/NSCL	Associate Professor (Facility for Rare Isotope Beams/National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory)
Ast Professor FRIB/NSCL	Assistant Professor (Facility for Rare Isotope Beams/National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory)
	Research faculty are supported by sponsored projects or other non-appropriated University funds.
Research Professor	Must have terminal degree. Must be appointed in academic unit.
Research Asc Professor	Must have terminal degree. Must be appointed in academic unit.
Research Ast Professor	Must have terminal degree. Must be appointed in academic unit.
	* More information related to research faculty positions can be found on the Research Faculty Appointment Category page.
Senior Instructor	Must have master's degree or have been employed as an instructor or equivalent elsewhere. Must be appointed in academic unit. Only available as a promotional title; not available as a title for initial hire.
Instructor	Must have master's degree or have been employed as an instructor or equivalent elsewhere. Teaching experience as a graduate assistant is not included. Must be appointed in academic unit.
Instructor/Fellow	Must have master's degree.
Instructor/Intern	Must have master's degree.
Instructor/Resident	Must have master's degree.
ACADEMIC STAFF	COMMENTS
Archivist IV
Archivist III
Archivist II
Archivist I
Librarian III	For Academic Governance purposes, Librarians are included in the term "faculty". Must have master's degree in library or information science.
Librarian II	For Academic Governance purposes, Librarians are included in the term "faculty". Must have master's degree in library or information science.
Librarian I	For Academic Governance purposes, Librarians are included in the term "faculty". Must have master's degree in library or information science.
	MSU Extension positions.
District Director Extension
Associate Program Leader
Senior Extension Educator
Extension Educator
Senior Extension Specialist
Extension specialist
Senior Program Leader
Program leader
Sr conservation sci	Senior Conservation Scientist (MSUE Natural Features Inventory)
Conservation sci	Conservation Scientist (MSUE Natural Features Inventory)
Conservation assoc	Conservation Associate (MSUE Natural Features Inventory)
	FRIB/NSCL positions must be appointed in the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams/National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory.
Senior engineer FRIB/NSCL	Senior Engineer (Facility for Rare Isotope Beams/National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory)
Staff engineer FRIB/NSCL	Staff Engineer (Facility for Rare Isotope Beams/National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory)
Engineer FRIB/NSCL	Engineer (Facility for Rare Isotope Beams/National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory)
Senior physicist FRIB/NSCL	Senior Physicist (Facility for Rare Isotope Beams/National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory)
Staff physicist FRIB/NSCL	Staff Physicist (Facility for Rare Isotope Beams/National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory)
Physicist FRIB/NSCL	Physicist (Facility for Rare Isotope Beams/National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory)
Instructor FRIB/NSCL	Instructor (Facility for Rare Isotope Beams/National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory)
	Academic specialists must be appointed in academic units or unit reporting to the Provost or the Vice President for Research and Innovation. Duties must be consistent with a functional category described on the Specialist Position Description form.
Sr Spec - Advisor	Senior Specialist - Advisor
Sr Spec - Curr Dev	Senior Specialist - Curriculum Development
Sr Spec - Outreach	Senior Specialist - Outreach (Public Service)
Sr Spec- Research	Senior Specialist - Research - In order to hold the Specialist-Research title, one must either: 1) be designated as the PI on a research project, or alternatively, 2) take a lead role on research projects (not as PI, but performing duties which require a doctorate degree).
Sr Spec - Teacher	Senior Specialist - Teacher
Specialist - Advisor	Specialist - Advisor
Specialist - Curr Dev	Specialist - Curriculum Development
Specialist - Outreach	Specialist - Outreach (Public Service)
Specialist - Research	Specialist - Research - In order to hold the Specialist-Research title, one must either: 1) be designated as the PI on a research project, or alternatively, 2) take a lead role on research projects (not as PI, but performing duties which require a doctorate degree).
Specialist - Teacher	Specialist - Teacher
Artist in residence
Assistant instructor	Must have a bachelor's degree.
Consultant	If position/rank is only Consultant, job duties must be reviewed by Faculty and Academic Staff Affairs and Human Resources prior to offer.
Coordinator	If position/rank is only Coordinator, job duties must be reviewed by Faculty and Academic Staff Affairs and Human Resources prior to offer.
Curator
Editor
Assistant Editor
Fellow	Never use if position is Instructor/Fellow.
Head coach	Intercollegiate Athletics position
Associate head coach	Intercollegiate Athletics position
Assistant head coach	Intercollegiate Athletics position
Coach	Intercollegiate Athletics position
Associate coach	Intercollegiate Athletics position
Assistant coach	Intercollegiate Athletics position
Head trainer	Intercollegiate Athletics position
Trainer	Intercollegiate Athletics position
Intern	Never use if position is Instructor/Intern.
Interpreter IV	Usually On-Call but can be paid
Interpreter III	Usually On-Call but can be paid
Interpreter II	Usually On-Call but can be paid
Interpreter I	Usually On-Call but can be paid
Lecturer	Lecturers are appointed on a fixed-term basis for teaching duties. They generally have professional experience or expertise in the area of instruction and are not required to have an academic degree/
Postdoctoral fellow	Recipient of postdoctoral fellowship. Appointment does not confer MSU employee status.
Program presenter	Must be On-Call.
Ast program presenter	Assistant Program Presenter. Must be On-Call.
Research associate	Research Associates are appointed on a fixed-term basis to work on research projects with MSU faculty; they are members of the academic staff of MSU. Employment as a Research Associate is limited to a maximum of 60 full-time-equivalent service months. Research associates must have a doctoral degree. (Ph.D., Ed.D., M.D., D.O., D.V.M.) or its equivalent. Exceptions will be considered for the following: 1. Individuals without a doctoral degree may be appointed with the rank of research associate for nine months provided the following condition is satisfied: Satisfactory completion of the Ph.D. dissertation defense/orals with minimal revisions needed that are expected to be completed within three to six months. A letter from the chairperson of the department/school in which the Ph.D. work is being taken indicating the nature of the work to be completed and an estimated time-frame for completion must be submitted with the appointment form. Any reappointment beyond nine months requires proof of degree or a statement from the Dean of the Graduate School, or other appropriate University official, that the requirements have been completed. 2. Individuals who have completed all requirements for the doctoral degree, but the degree has not been formally awarded, may be appointed for up to twelve months. A letter from the Dean of the Graduate School, University Registrar's Office, or other appropriate University official must be submitted with the appointment form.
Sr research assoc	Senior Research Associates are appointed on a fixed-term basis to work on research projects with MSU faculty; they are members of the academic staff of MSU. The senior research associate is distinguished from the research associate by a substantial research publication record and scholarly recognition in the field and is expected to participate intellectually with faculty and graduate students. A Ph.D. or its equivalent is required with experience to develop a substantial research and publication record. May have any number of full-time-equivalent service months. Appointment at this job title requires review and approval by Faculty and Academic Staff Affairs.
Resident	Never use if position is Instructor/Resident.
Scholar	Must be a no pay.
Visiting scholar	Must be a foreign national.
Teacher
Tutor

Back to Academic Hiring Manual