For all Faculty and Staff in the AAUP Bargaining Unit.

This section pertains to the following titles: Academic Assistant I, II, III, IV, V, Extension Professor, Associate Extension Professor, Assistant Extension Professor, Extension Instructor, Assistant Cooperative Extension Educator, Associate Cooperative Extension Educator, Cooperative Extension Educator, Senior Cooperative Extension Educator, Lecturer, Facilities Scientist I, II, III, IV, V, and all faculty with Clinical and In-Residence titles (AAUP Article 13).

Academic Assistants Titles

Academic Assistant Titles include: Academic Assistant V, Academic Assistant IV, Academic Assistant III, Academic Assistant II, Academic Assistant I (high to low). The work of these positions may be comparable in many respects, but salary and title distinction are based on the level of degree attainment and the experience the individual brings to the position. These titles are similar to Research Assistants and Associates, except that incumbents provide technical support for on-going departmental research activities, rather than for a single Principal Investigator. Appointments are normally for 12 months (a full year of work with a month generally considered vacation time) and are usually not grant-funded. Generally, departments with a substantial investment in and commitment to research establish these positions to fill a permanent need for on-going technical and research support.

These positions report to an administrative head, but may be assigned to provide research support for other faculty members. After a probationary period of one year, staff in these positions are eligible for annual appointments up to a maximum of five (5) one-year appointments. Beginning with the seventh year (i.e., upon the completion of an initial successful probationary year plus five one-year appointments) these employees, upon reappointment, will receive multi-year contracts between three (3) and five (5) years. (See AAUP Collective Bargaining Agreement, Article 13.)

This job is similar to a Research Associate III except that the job is designed to provide direct technical support for a department’s on-going research activities rather than for a single PI. Employees in this title report to the administrative head and assist in research projects as assigned by the head. They are normally considered a technical resource to the department as a whole and may be responsible for the proper use of research equipment and instruments, and/or for the effective and safe management of one or more departmental laboratories. A person in this position would possess a Ph.D. and substantial experience. The description for a Research Associate III provides a detailed duties list which may help comparing positions within a department.

This job is similar to a Research Associate II except that the job is designed to provide direct technical support for a department’s on-going research activities rather than for a single PI. Employees in this title report to the administrative head and assist in research projects as assigned by the head. They are normally considered a technical resource to the department as a whole and may be responsible for the proper use of research equipment and instruments, and/or for the effective and safe management of one or more departmental laboratories. A person in this position would possess a Ph.D. and some experience. The description for a Research Associate II provides a more detailed duties list which may help comparing positions within a department.

This job is similar to a Research Associate I except that the job is designed to provide direct technical support for a department’s on-going research activities rather than for a single PI. Employees in this title report to the administrative head and assist in research projects as assigned by the head. They are normally considered a technical resource to the department as a whole and may be responsible for the proper use of research equipment and instruments, and/or for the effective and safe management of one or more departmental laboratories. A person in this position would possess a Ph.D. with little experience or a Master’s degree with extensive experience. The description for a Research Associate I provides a more detailed duties list which may help in comparing positions within a department.

This job is similar to a Research Assistant III except that the job is designed to provide direct technical support for a department’s on-going research activities rather than for a single PI. Employees in this title report to the administrative head and assist in research projects as assigned by the head. They are normally considered a technical resource to the department as a whole and may be responsible for the proper use of research equipment and instruments, and/or for the effective and safe management of one or more departmental laboratories. A person in this position would normally possess a Master’s degree with experience. The description for a Research Assistant III provides a more detailed duties list which may help comparing positions within a department.

This job is similar to a Research Assistant II except that the job is designed to provide direct technical support for a department’s on-going research activities, rather than for a single PI. Employees in this title report to the administrative head and assist in research projects as assigned by the head. They are normally considered a technical resource to the department as a whole and may be responsible for the proper use of research equipment and instruments, and/or for the effective and safe management of one or more departmental laboratories. They may possess a Master’s degree with little experience or a Bachelor’s degree with substantial experience. The description for a Research Assistant II provides a more detailed duties list which will help in identifying this position within a department.

Clinical Faculty Titles

Clinical Faculty Titles include: Clinical Professor, Associate Clinical Professor, Assistant Clinical Professor and Clinical Instructor.

These titles are used in the Schools of Pharmacy, Nursing and Law for temporary, non-tenure track appointments hired part-time or full-time to provide clinical instruction and supervision on site.

After a probationary period of one year, staff in these positions are eligible for annual appointments up to a maximum of five (5) one-year appointments. Beginning with the seventh year (i.e., upon the completion of an initial successful probationary year plus five one-year appointments) these employees, upon reappointment, will receive multi-year contracts between three (3) and five (5) years. (See AAUP Collective Bargaining Agreement, Article 13.)

Cooperative Extension System Field Faculty Titles

These titles are used in the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources for faculty in Cooperative Extension System programs who are not ordinarily members of an academic department. The titles are parallel to Professor, Associate Professor, Assistant Professor and Instructor.

Educators disseminate research and experience-based information to the public through informal educational programs. Additionally, educators organize, plan and promote endeavors, through learning partnerships, with the goal of empowering individuals to improve their lives and communities.

Educators deliver programs in a number of areas, including agriculture, consumer and family sciences, natural resource management, environmental quality and positive youth development. Incumbents develop volunteer partners and collaborate with government, business and industry to address the above issues. They serve as liaisons with University research and teaching faculty, and the community at large, to bring community needs to the resources of the University for further research and development.
These positions are part of a Federal-State-local partnership and may be funded by either State or Federal (Smith-Lever) funds or a combination of both. They are non-tenure track, eleven month positions. Individuals in these positions are encouraged on an on-going basis to take graduate courses and in-service training related to their field of expertise.

Note: when funded by projects with specific end dates, position titles include “in-residence”.

After a probationary period of one year, staff in these positions are eligible for annual appointments up to a maximum of five (5) years. Beginning with the seventh year (i.e., upon the completion of an initial successful probationary year plus five one-year appointments) these employees, upon reappointment, will receive multi-year contracts between three (3) and five (5) years. (See AAUP Collective Bargaining Agreement, Article 13.)

Individuals in this position have, through demonstrated ability, established a respected reputation among both regional and national colleagues. They have presented tangible evidence of scholarly production and other distinguished achievement in creative program development.

This position requires a minimum of a Master’s degree in a related field with at least 10 years of experience as a Cooperative Extension Educator or the equivalent, or a Ph.D. with at least five years of experience. In addition, incumbents must provide evidence of appropriate teaching, research and service.

These individuals demonstrate leadership ability and enjoy recognition for their contributions to the Cooperative Extension System and its clientele. They possess current knowledge of their field of expertise and of proven methods for working with the public. They have demonstrated effectiveness in working, both locally and regionally, with other professionals and extension clientele in the field.

The minimum requirements are a Master’s degree in a related field and at least five years of experience as an Associate Cooperative Extension Educator or the equivalent. In addition, incumbents must provide evidence of appropriate teaching, research and service.

These individuals demonstrate achievement in program development and implementation. They exhibit proven originality and creativeness in designing new programs and adapting new teaching methodologies. They possess effective communication skills and the ability to establish environments that encourage leadership in the community and among the staff. They evaluate and analyze the problems and programmatic needs of clients, organize and coordinate the activities that are necessary to carry out educational programs, and compile reports on program activities and results.

The position requires a minimum of a Master’s degree in a related field and at least five years of experience as an Assistant Cooperative Extension Educator or the equivalent. In addition, incumbents must provide evidence of appropriate teaching, research and service.

These positions require a demonstrated ability to work with extension clientele and the public, the creativity to plan and implement extension programs, and demonstrated competence to assume a leadership role in a particular field of assignment.

The minimum requirement for this position is a Master’s degree in a related field with the appropriate qualifications and related experience.

Extension Professorial Titles

Extension professorial titles include: Extension Professor, Associate Extension Professor, Assistant Extension Professor and Extension Instructor. For the most part these titles are used in those divisions or colleges which have a major outreach component. In addition to the service emphasis, extension faculty are responsible for teaching credit and non-credit courses throughout the University system and the State. Such appointments are non-tenure track and for twelve months. (A twelvemonth appointment is for a full year of work with a month considered vacation time.) Beginning with the seventh year (i.e., upon the completion of an initial successful probationary year plus five one-year appointments) these employees, upon reappointment, will receive multi-year contracts between three (3) and five (5) years. (See AAUP Collective Bargaining Agreement, Article 13.)

Facility Scientists

Facility Scientist titles include: Facility Scientist V, Facility Scientist IV, Facility Scientist III, Facility Scientist II, Facility Scientist I (high to low). The work of these positions may be comparable in many respects, but salary and title distinction are based on the level of degree attainment and the experience which the individual brings to the position. These titles are similar to Academic Assistants except that the jobs are designed to provide direct technical and training support within a core research facility. Appointments are normally for 12 months (a full year of work with a month generally considered vacation time) and are usually not grant-funded.

Employees in these titles typically report to a Core Facility Director and assist in providing core research service as outlined by the Director. They are normally considered technical resources to the University as a whole and may be responsible for the proper use of research equipment and instruments, and/or for the effective and safe management of one or more core research facilities.

After a probationary period of one year, staff in these positions are eligible for annual appointments up to a maximum of five (5) one-year appointments. Beginning with the seventh year (i.e., upon the completion of an initial successful probationary year plus five one-year appointments) these employees shall be awarded three-year or five-year contracts. (See AAUP Collective Bargaining Agreement, Article 13.)

This job is similar to an Academic Assistant 5 except that the job is designed to provide direct technical and training support within a core research facility serving the needs of the faculty and trainees across the University. Employees in this title are free to plan, develop and organize their work within broad objectives and the intent of their research. They work with a Core Facility Director or PI to discuss progress and difficult problems and to review results. They are also major participants in the overall research effort and contribute original ideas of major methodological significance to the investigation.

An incumbent in this position would normally possess a Ph.D. with substantial experience. Other minimum qualifications for this position include: the ability to perform complex methods which requires extreme finesse; a broad body of knowledge used to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of various techniques; a comprehensive understanding of the interrelationship of a series of complex steps and sequences; the skills to evaluate the validity of results and to modify methods where results seem questionable.

This job is similar to an Academic Assistant 4 except that the job is designed to provide direct technical and training support within a core research facility serving the needs of the faculty and trainees across the University. Employees in this title independently plan the day to day research activities for others, as well as for themselves. They are free to plan, develop and organize their work within broad guidance and may develop procedures and methods which do not conflict with research objectives. They periodically check with the Core Facility Director or PI to discuss progress and unusual problems and to review the results of their work.

An incumbent in this position would normally possess a Ph.D. with some experience. Other minimum qualifications for this position include: the ability to participate in the overall research effort, test and implement new methods, and recommend changes in experimental design and protocols; ability to write scientific papers and progress reports for grants; ability to contribute to grant proposals; and ability to present research results at scientific meetings.

This job is similar to an Academic Assistant 3 except that the job is designed to provide direct technical and training support within a core research facility serving the needs of the faculty and trainees across the University. Employees in this title will plan and carry out assignments with little supervision. They work closely with a Core Facility Director or PI on a research plan and reports back by means of occasional conferences to discuss work progress or new problems which require advice. They participate in the overall research effort, test and implement new methods, recommend changes in experimental design and protocols and resolve new, unusual or difficult problems in consultation with the PI. They are expected to weigh and determine the most appropriate approach to the project at hand and they may custom-design and modify extremely complex lab equipment.

An incumbent in this position would normally possess a Ph.D. with little experience or a Master’s degree with extensive experience. Other minimum qualifications for this position include: the ability to perform difficult laboratory techniques and procedures; the skill to make good judgments when conditions require modifications and problem solving (and where errors may be difficult to detect or resolve); the ability to understand the effect of various techniques on the accuracy of results; the ability to conduct in-depth literature searches and write scientific papers; and the ability to operate, maintain, calibrate, troubleshoot, and resolve major problems with lab instruments and equipment.

This job is similar to an Academic Assistant 2 except that the job is designed to provide direct technical and training support within a core research facility serving the needs of the faculty and trainees across the University. Employees in this title receive a general outline of duties and are usually free to plan and arrange their own work within a wide range of practices and procedures. Their work is periodically checked for progress and conformance to established objectives. They independently test and modify established methods, develop new procedures under guidance and modify or custom-design lab equipment which is highly specialized and complex. They are expected to perform highly specialized tasks and laboratory techniques of moderate difficulty.

An incumbent in this position would normally possess a Master’s degree with experience. Other minimum qualifications for this position include: precision, accuracy and problem solving; sound knowledge of scientific principles/ability to write comprehensive analytical reports for inclusion in publications and grant progress reports; and the ability to operate, calibrate, troubleshoot and resolve difficult problems with sophisticated or sensitive lab instruments and equipment.

This job is similar to an Academic Assistant 1 except that the job is designed to provide direct technical and training support within a core research facility serving the needs of the faculty and trainees across the University. Employees in this title receive general instructions and independently carry out established methods; their work is periodically checked for accuracy and progress. They test and modify established methods and may modify or custom-design specialized equipment under guidance. They perform a variety of specialized tasks and standard laboratory techniques of ordinary difficulty and finesse; the need for accuracy and repeatable results in their work requires the application of problem-solving skills with some regularity.

An incumbent in this position would normally possess a Master’s degree with little experience or a Bachelor’s degree with substantial experience. Other minimum qualifications for this position include: a working knowledge of scientific principles; ability to write routine analytical reports; and ability to operate, maintain, calibrate, trouble-shoot and resolve ordinary problems with complex lab instruments and equipment which require substantial training and judgment to use safely and proficiently.