Academic Staff - Appointment Type Summary

This category applies only to appointments in the Cumming School of Medicine where there is a reasonable expectation of a continuing appointment. Pre-Tenure Track appointments are made for five (5) years. Such appointments can be converted to tenure track appointments at any time during the five (5) years by mutual agreement of the individual and the Parties. A conversion to tenure track will occur automatically after five (5) years unless the Head recommends to the Dean that the appointment will be discontinued. Department Heads must make a recommendation to the Dean no later than the end of the fourth (4th) year of the pre-tenure track appointment. In the case where the Head makes a recommendation to discontinue, the academic staff member may appeal this to the FTPC, following the procedures regarding the renewal of a tenure-track appointment.

CA 1.7 Tenure Track Appointment:

• A tenure track appointment shall end on June 30 and shall not be less than forty-six (46) months or more than fifty-seven (57) months. Other appointment lengths may be offered by agreement of the Provost and Vice-President (Academic) and Faculty Association.

• Tenure track appointees are eligible for a two-year renewal of the tenure track appointment if the original tenure track appointment was at the lowest-level rank within that stream

• Tenure track appointments may not be made at the rank of Professor or Teaching Professor. Except in the Cumming School of Medicine, tenure track appointments are not normally made at the rank of Associate Professor or Senior Instructor.

• The purpose of a tenure track appointment is to provide a period of mutual appraisal for the university and the academic appointee. The tenure track appointment implies that the university shall give serious consideration to an appointment with tenure.

CA 1.8 Appointments with Tenure

An appointment that confers tenure from the date of appointment normally shall be made at the rank of Professor, Teaching Professor, Librarian, Archivist, Curator or Senior Counsellor with the support of the selection committee. However, a candidate at any other rank who already holds tenure at another university may be considered for an appointment that confers tenure from the date of appointment.

Contingent Term appointments are those appointments of a specified term of more than twelve months' duration within the maximum complement authorized by the Board of Governors and funded 50% or more from outside the base operating budget of the University, and carrying no implication of renewal or continuation beyond the specified term. [CA 1.6 (b)]

• Contingent Term appointments may be made in any rank or position title.

• A part‑time Contingent Term appointment shall not be for less than half‑time.

• There is no limit on the number of times a Contingent Term appointment may be renewed depending upon the continued availability of specific non‑operating funds.

Limited Term appointments are those appointments of a specified term of more than twelve months' duration within the maximum complement authorized by the Governors and made in lieu of Continuing appointments in one or more of the following specified circumstances [CA 1.6 (c)]:

i) When the appointment is to replace a Continuing staff member who is on leave or on another assignment of duties for more than twelve months.

ii) When a person with the desired qualifications for the Continuing appointment is not available at the time.

iii) When the duties connected with the appointment are for a limited period and are expected to be no longer required after the specified date.

iv) When an individual states a preference, in writing, for a Limited Term appointment.

v) When the appointment is for a pilot or developmental project.

Limited Term appointments carry no implication of renewal or continuation beyond the specified term.

• Limited Term appointments may be made in any rank or position title.

• Limited Term appointments may be made for up to five years. The appointments are renewable.

• Limited Term appointments shall not be renewed except when the specified circumstances outlined in Section 2.3.5 continue to be present.

• A part‑time Limited Term appointment shall not be for less than half‑time.

CA 1.6 (d)

• Sessional appointments are appointments of a specified term made in circumstances more particularly defined in Article 23 of the Collective Agreement Between the Governors and the Faculty Association. Sessional appointments carry with them no implication of renewal or continuation beyond the specified term.

• Sessional appointments are outside the maximum complement authorized by the Board of Governors for Continuing appointments.

• Sessional appointments may be made in any rank or position title.

CA 1.6 (e) 

"Retired Short-term" appointments of a specified term made in circumstances more particularly defined in Schedule "A" clause 2.23 in the Collective Agreement Between the Governors and the Faculty Association.

Adjunct or Clinical appointees shall be persons with substantial experience in a profession or discipline who are from outside a Department, Division, or Faculty and who agree to contribute to the educational experience of students on a recurring basis through active participation in the academic programs of a Department, Division, or Faculty.

• The nature and extent of the duties of an Adjunct or Clinical appointment shall be decided by mutual agreement between the academic appointee and the Dean or Head, subject in the latter case to the approval of the Dean. The agreed duties shall be incorporated within the letter of appointment.

• In exceptional circumstances, a Dean or Head may request the approval of the Dean of Graduate Studies or, when appropriate, the Dean of the School for Architecture, Planning and Landscape for an appropriately qualified Adjunct or Clinical appointee to participate in the supervision of graduate students.

• Faculties having Adjunct or Clinical appointees shall establish criteria for the assessment of Adjunct or Clinical appointees that maintain the spirit of the criteria for the Rank while maintaining cognizance of the special nature of the form of appointment as well as any expectations spelled out in specific letters of appointment.

Honorary appointments are those appointments made on the recommendation of a Dean or equivalent in any rank or title for a stipulated period on an honorary basis for the benefit of the university and to confer distinction upon the appointee (e.g. Honorary Professor).

Faculty Professor Appointments provide a means whereby important and productive current research and scholarship need not be prematurely terminated by virtue of early retirements. Due to eligibility criteria for many granting agencies, Faculty Professors are usually a minimum of three year term. These appointments are normally without compensation.

These appointments are not available to all retiree positions and are not applied for by the candidate, but are proposed to the Vice-President (Research) by a letter of recommendation from a Dean.

If you have any further questions, contact Academic Contracts 403.220.5897 or hracadem@ucalgary.ca.

Administrative appointments include appointments such as Department Heads, Associate Deans, Academic Program Directors, etc. These are secondary appointments - academics appointed to these roles will already have an existing academic appointment.

CA Definitions e) Vice-Deans (Large Faculty) are not considered to be Administrative Appointments – these are Senior Leadership Team (SLT) Appointments which do not pay TUCFA dues. There are only 4 Vice-Deans, intended for large faculties (Medicine, Schulich, Arts and Science) with over 125 academic staff members (not including sessionals) . The appointment is made in accordance with selection procedures established by Faculty Council that includes an advisory committee, the majority of whose members are academic staff members.

CA Schedule B, Clause 2.23

An academic staff member who has retired from a Continuing, Contingent Term, or Limited Term appointment may be re-employed as academic staff with a Retired Short-term appointment for a period of up to three years (the retired must have reached age 55, resigned from Continuing, Contingent Term or Limited Term appointment and receiving pension payments from UAPP).

• Retired Short-Term appointments are appointments of a specified term made in circumstances more particularly defined in the Collective Agreement Between the Governors and the Faculty Association. Retired Short-Term appointments carry with them no implication of renewal or continuation beyond the specified term.
• Retired Short-Term appointments are outside the maximum complement authorized by the Board of Governors for continuing appointments.
• Retired Short-Term appointments may be made in any rank or position title.
• Post retirement shall normal be used for teaching or administrative duties
• Renumeration shall be paid on a half course equivalent basis, with the minimum rate established in Schedule B
• Individuals are not entitled to participate in the benefit plans but shall receive 4% in lieu of benefits and 4% in lieu of vacation.

All secondment agreements are handled by Academic Contracts and require approval by the Provost.

Procedure for Internal Secondment - Faculty to Faculty

• The Dean or equivalent from the Faculty/Unit who is interested in seconding a current Academic Staff Member from a different Faculty/Unit shall approach the candidate as well as the Dean/equivalent from the ‘Home’ faculty to initiate discussions on the secondment.
• Need to determine which Faculty shall remain the ‘Home’ Faculty, which will be responsible for merit assessments, etc., with appropriate input from the seconding faculty.
• Need to determine funding.

Procedure for External Secondments - University of Calgary employee to outside organization or vice-versa:

• The Provost has final authority to grant Secondment agreements.

If your Faculty is arranging an external secondment, contact Academic Contracts for guidance.

• If you have any further questions, contact Academic Contracts at 403.220.5897 or hracadem@ucalgary.ca

Chair and Professorship appointments are secondary appointments - academics appointed to these roles will already have an existing academic appointment. Chair appointments are typically awarded to an academic staff member via competition. Examples of some chairs include: Canada Research Chairs (Tier I and II).

The duration and terms of these appointments are described in Terms of Reference (TOR) or Notices of Award (NOA). Once the TOR or NOA has been obtained confirming the appointment, a formal letter from the Provost will be provided to the candidate outlining the details. 

If you have further questions, contact Academic Contracts at 403.220.5897 or hracadem@ucalgary.ca