PURPOSE / SCOPE:
Provide guidelines for Faculty Hiring and Initial Appointments
POLICY:
Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine requires employees to exemplify the highest principles of integrity, truthfulness, and compassion. In addition, all employees are required to maintain high standards of moral conduct, personal appearance, and professional performance. ICOM conducts annual evaluations of all faculty based on established methods of faculty evaluation outlined in the Employee Handbook as part of its Commitment to continuous improvement.
Faculty members of the Medical School and all ICOM and ICOM-affiliated educational and teaching sites are appointed by the Dean of ICOM. When determining faculty competencies and acceptable qualifications, ICOM documents the qualifications of all its faculty based on compliance with its established faculty academic credentialing or approval procedures as outlined in the Employee Handbook and the Policies and Procedures of the College which are incorporated herein by reference.
All offers of appointment to prospective faculty members are contingent on verification of necessary academic credentials, licensure, and certifications. Faculty members must provide, at their own expense, official transcripts of their highest degree earned for positions requiring official transcripts. See also the Employee Handbook: Faculty Appointment.
For adjunct faculty, the appointment carries no obligation to either ICOM or the appointee for re-appointment. For adjunct faculty, credentials are reviewed annually. All offers of appointment to prospective adjunct faculty members are contingent on verification of necessary academic credentials, licensure, certifications, prior promotion portfolios, and recommendations to the Dean of ICOM following a review of these materials by the Academic Appointment & Promotion Committee (see below).
Initial Faculty Appointment
Initial faculty appointment is at one of four possible ranks (see Employee Handbook: Faculty Appointment: Section I: Determination of Initial Academic Rank for Incoming Faculty):
Instructor
This rank is used for a faculty member who may or may not possess the terminal degree in their discipline with primary responsibility in instruction. It does not carry an expectation for documented professional accomplishments in the academic endeavors of scholarly activity and service.
Assistant Professor
This rank is used for a faculty member who possesses the terminal degree in their discipline and shows promise in the areas of teaching, scholarly activities, service, and clinical activities (as applicable). The requirement of a terminal degree may be waived for a faculty member with documented professional accomplishments in the pillars of teaching, service, and/or scholarly or clinical activity.
Associate Professor
This rank is used for the faculty member who exceeds the criteria for the rank of Assistant Professor and displays a sustained and significant record of accomplishments in the pillars of teaching, service, scholarly, and clinical activity (as applicable). Additional consideration is given to the advanced faculty member’s evidence and documentation of: demonstrated development of effectiveness in all required pillars; achievement in scholarly activity establishing the individual as a consistent contributor to the field or profession with potential for peer-recognition and distinction; appropriate balance of institutional and professional service; appropriate balance of breadth and depth of all pillars in accordance with the faculty member’s supervisor’s guidance regarding division of responsibilities in each; professional influence on a national level; and responsible presence as a colleague with a collaborative, professional demeanor.
Professor
The rank of Professor is granted to a faculty member who has distinguished themselves in their discipline, including at the national or international level. The faculty member must demonstrate a sustained record of outstanding achievements in teaching, scholarship, service, and clinical activity (as applicable). The faculty member is expected to participate in all required pillars and demonstrate significant activity in at least one area. Although other factors will be considered, consultantships, professional publications, invited editorships and lectureships, and holding of a professional societal office will be important elements in assessing a faculty member's accomplishments. Additionally, evidence and documentation regarding the senior faculty member’s attention and efforts to: consistent and independent professional growth over time; peer and learner-recognized distinction in teaching, service, clinical roles, and any other assigned duties as evident in personal professional development and sustained effectiveness in these areas; new and innovative teaching, curricular development, and national/international recognition; distinction in scholarship, as evident in the candidate’s widening recognition and significant contributions to the field or profession; exemplary and balanced institutional and professional service - especially at a national and/or international level; and exemplary professionalism, mentorship, and leadership roles among colleagues.
Additional detail on criteria for each academic rank is included in the Employee Handbook in the Faculty Appointment section. At the discretion of the Dean of ICOM, with recommendations from the hiring supervisor, faculty with prior academic experience or with unique scholarly and teaching backgrounds may be recommended for appointment at a specific academic rank based on the credentials, supporting documentation, and experience of the candidate. These credentials, documents, and experiences should be consistent with the definitions, descriptions, and requirements for the academic ranks noted above. Initial appointments to any rank require review by the Academic Appointment & Promotion Committee to confirm appropriate rank in recommendation to the Dean of ICOM.
Initial Independent Contractor Appointment
Adjunct (Promotion Track)
The term ‘Adjunct’ is appended before each designated faculty title to indicate independent contracted faculty less than 0.5 FTE, as well as non-contracted faculty (i.e. Preceptors). Community clinical faculty are either engaged in, or retired from, the private practice of medicine outside ICOM (ICOM is not the primary employer). The adjunct faculty member is appointed at an initial rank appropriate to their experience and is eligible for promotion based upon the criteria for each rank, outlined above, with emphasis placed upon clinical teaching, service, and research in the academic realm. The minimum documentation required for review by the AAP Committee includes a current CV, and any promotion portfolios from recent or previous academic employment. Adjunct titles include:
- Adjunct Instructor
- Adjunct Assistant Professor
- Adjunct Associate Professor
- Adjunct Professor
Adjunct (Non-Promotion Track)
The term ‘Adjunct’ is appended before each designated faculty title to indicate independent contracted faculty less than 0.5 FTE, as well as non-contracted faculty (i.e. Preceptors). Community clinical faculty are either engaged in, or retired from, the private practice of medicine outside ICOM (ICOM is not the primary employer). Independent contractors hired on the non-promotion track will not require documentation review by the AAP Committee and can begin teaching immediately upon signing their contract and providing verification documentation, including current CV, to the Academic Affairs Coordinator.
- Adjunct Clinical Instructor
- Adjunct Clinical Faculty
- Adjunct Biomedical Science Faculty
- Adjunct Resident Instructor
POLICY OWNER:
Assistant/Associate Dean of Academic Affairs
Assistant/Associate Dean of Clinical Affairs
CROSS REFERENCE DOCUMENTS:
Employee Handbook
BOARD APPROVAL:
Effective: 5/11/23
Last Reviewed: 1/25/24
Review Requirement: 5 Years