Rice University Policy No.
327
RESEARCH FACULTY
BACKGROUND
Research is an essential component of postbaccalaureate
education. It is the critical ingredient that distinguishes
graduate from undergraduate education. Outstanding research and
scholarship are required for any institution of higher learning to
have a distinguished graduate education program. Rice University is
committed to excellence in higher education at all levels,
including postbaccalaureate. This policy establishes a program
designed to enhance the research aspects of graduate education at
Rice University.
In many areas of research a need has developed for multiple
investigator research teams (e.g., National Science Foundation
Engineering and Science-Technology Centers). For Rice to compete
for and successfully maintain this kind of funding, the University
needs the ability to attract and keep extremely high quality
researchers in these areas of focus.
Given Rice's small size and limited resources and the desire to
maintain a University-wide programmatic balance among tenure-track
faculty, it is not practical for Rice to commit large numbers of
new faculty positions for these center activities. Moreover, it may
not be wise to use tenure-track positions in this way, since areas
of national research interest and support change, sometimes quite
rapidly.
To meet these needs, Rice University has established a research
faculty track designed to attract and keep people of high research
competence and visibility, yet without taxing the fiscal resources
or academic balance of the University. Research faculty will
contribute to graduate education in several ways: by securing
funding for and directing graduate thesis research projects; by
collaborating in research and engaging in mutually beneficial
interactions with tenure-track faculty, graduate students, research
associates, and research staff; and by enhancing Rice's reputation
and stature as a leading research institution.
DEFINITION
Research faculty positions are designated as faculty fellow,
senior faculty fellow and distinguished faculty fellow, in
ascending order of seniority. These are normally 12- month,
full-time positions that closely parallel the corresponding ranks
of assistant professor, associate professor and professor of the
tenure-track faculty with three important exceptions: research
positions carry no tenure, no financial support from the University
and no classroom teaching commitment.
TERM OF APPOINTMENT
Appointments to any rank of research faculty are made for a
specific period of time, usually no less than three nor more than
five years. Renewals of appointments are contingent upon
satisfactory performance as determined by the members of the
center, institute, laboratory, or department as appropriate; in
addition, the availability of external funds to support the
research is also required.
DUTIES
A. Research. The principal duty of a research faculty member
is to conduct research related to the academic program of the
department, center, institute, or laboratory in which the
appointment is made. The research program may involve students,
research associates, other faculty, and staff in addition to the
personal efforts of the research faculty member, and may be
conducted either on or off campus, as dictated by the nature of
the research.
B. Research Funds. Individual research faculty members are
responsible for securing external funding to support their
research program. Research faculty of all ranks may serve as
principal investigators on research funding proposals, which are
subject to the usual review and approval by the appropriate
center or institute or laboratory director, department chair and
University administration.
C. Supervision of Student Research. Research faculty may
direct theses and/or chair committees, as appropriate, for
undergraduate and graduate research projects subject to the usual
department approval; they may also serve on thesis committees for
other advanced degree candidates in accordance with University
policy on graduate studies.
D. Teaching. Although classroom teaching is not required of
research faculty, from time to time a research faculty member may
teach a course at the graduate or undergraduate level. In such
cases, a temporary appointment as lecturer must be made in
addition to the research faculty appointment. University
compensation for such teaching duties will be arranged on a
case-by-case basis.
E. University Service. While research faculty are not required
to serve on University standing committees, they are eligible to
serve in such positions subject to any constraints placed by the
funding agencies. Research faculty are not eligible to serve on
the University Council or on its Promotion and Tenure Committee.
They are, however, entitled to attend department and University
faculty meetings and to vote on matters arising therein except
those pertaining to tenure and exclusively undergraduate
curriculum and affairs. Within a department this right may be
modified by vote of the tenure-track faculty of that
department.
COMPENSATION
All compensation paid to research faculty to support their
research efforts is to be provided by external research funds,
although the amount of compensation is established by the
University.
A. Salaries. Research faculty salaries should in general be
compatible with salary levels for tenure-track faculty of
equivalent rank in the same school or division.
B. Benefits. Research faculty are eligible for benefits.
They will be governed by the same vacation policy that applies to
staff, such as benefit time, short-term disability, and medical
and dental insurances. Leaves of absence for research
faculty are allowed, provided no commitment for support from the
University is implied.
ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES
A. Department Affiliation. Although research faculty may be
affiliated with a center, institute, laboratory, or other such
interdepartmental or extradepartmental entity, each individual
research faculty member will have a primary affiliation with a
specific academic department. Research faculty positions shall
comprise neither more than one-fourth of the total (tenure-track
plus research) faculty positions in a given division or school,
nor more than one-third of the total (tenure-track plus research)
faculty positions in any given department.
Recommendations for initial appointments, promotions, salary
adjustments, or other personnel actions shall be initiated by the
appropriate department in a manner that parallels that of the
tenure-track faculty. Availability of space and support
facilities will be addressed at each level of approval.
B. Initial Appointments. Available positions must be
appropriately advertised. Recommendations for initial
appointments to the research faculty must demonstrate that the
research record and potential of the candidate are at least at
the level expected for appointment to the tenure-track faculty at
the equivalent rank. Documentation must include a complete resume
with list of publications or other scholarly works, letters of
recommendation from recognized distinguished researchers in the
candidate's field of expertise, and a description of the search
and selection process. Approval for these appointments must come
from the dean and provost in a manner parallel to that for
tenure-track faculty. All appointments must satisfy the equal
opportunity guidelines and affirmative action policies of the
University.
C. Promotions. Recommendations for promotion of research
faculty must be accompanied by a dossier essentially identical to
that prepared for tenure-track faculty. The steps taken and the
approvals required for promotion are the same as for the
tenure-track faculty. Performance in classroom teaching and
University service are not required but may be considered if
applicable. To be eligible for promotion to senior faculty
fellow, a faculty fellow must have demonstrated the ability both
to attract external funding and to develop a research reputation,
as measured by standard indices, that would indicate the same
stature in the field of research expected for promotion of
tenure-track faculty to tenured rank. Initial consideration of a
faculty fellow for promotion to senior faculty fellow will take
place before six years in grade. If a faculty fellow is deemed
unqualified for promotion by then, the appointment is terminated
with one year's notice. Promotions from the rank of senior
faculty fellow to distinguished faculty fellow are made only for
truly outstanding, internationally recognized researchers. This
stature must be unequivocally demonstrated in a parallel manner
to that for tenure-track faculty. As is true with tenure-track
faculty, research faculty have the right to appeal procedural
aspects of promotion decisions to the Appeals and Grievance
Committee of the Faculty Senate.
______________________
David W. Leebron, President
Policy No. 327
Issued: September 28, 1990
Revised: April 18, 2007