Chapter 5: Appointments

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5.F Types of Appointments

The terms of appointments can vary according to a number of factors, including duration and location. The most commonly used types of appointment are defined as follows.

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5.F.1 Academic-year Appointments

These are commonly referred to as University-year appointments. See section  5.F.9 “University-year Appointments (Academic-year Appointments.)”

5.F.2 Additional Appointments

Additional appointments are appointments that extend the term of service of faculty on University- year appointments. Instructional faculty who are on university-year appointments may receive additional appointments not to exceed two months beyond the university-year appointment in Ann Arbor and UM-Flint or three additional months in UM-Dearborn. Exceptions may be allowed by the appropriate dean. (SPG 201.04)

Librarians, Archivists, and Curators appointments may be eligible for additional appointments, in accord with Article XI in the LEO-GLAM collective bargaining agreement

5.F.3 Annual Appointments

Annual appointments are twelve-month appointments. Instructional faculty members on annual appointment perform academic duties for eleven months and receive one month of paid vacation.

5.F.4 Joint Appointments

Annual appointments are twelve-month appointments. Instructional faculty members on annual appointment perform academic duties for eleven months and receive one month of paid vacation. See handbook section 6.H “Joint Appointments.”

5.F.5 Librarians, Archivists, and Curators Appointments

Librarians, Archivists, and Curators are covered by a collective bargaining agreement that establishes the terms and conditions of their appointment. All positions in the bargaining unit are classified as either term appointment or regular appointment, as defined in Article XI in the LEO-GLAM collective bargaining agreement.

5.F.6 Multi-year Appointments

Multi-year appointments are term appointments for more than one year. Instructors and assistant professors, and associate and full professors when appointed without tenure, may be appointed for terms of up to four years within the probationary period. Under the terms of the collective bargaining agreement with LEO, some Lecturer IVs may be appointed for up to five years. The term of appointment is established by the dean and executive committee in most schools and colleges. See also handbook section 6.D “Extensions of the Probationary Period for Childbearing, Dependent Care, or Medical Leave.”

5.F.7 Open-ended Appointments

Open-ended appointments are appointments that do not have a specified ending date. Tenured instructional faculty and most research faculty (including research scientists and research professors), librarians, curators, and archivists hold open-ended appointments. An open-ended appointment continues until the head of the employing unit requests a change.

5.F.8 Partial Appointments

A faculty member with less than 80% effort may wish to consider the impact of appointment level changes on benefits. Also see SPG 201.13 and section 6.I “Partial Appointments.”

5.F.9 Term Appointments (Closed-ended Appointments)

Term appointments are appointments for a fixed period of time. Adjunct and visiting instructional faculty appointments are always closed-ended appointments. Term appointments vary in length of time but are often for one or two years. Most lecturer appointments (and some adjunct appointments) are governed by the provisions of the collective bargaining agreement with LEO. A term appointment carries with it the same benefits and obligations as an open-ended appointment.

5.F.10 University-year Appointments (Academic-year Appointments)

The University conducts three full academic terms each year: fall (Term I), winter (Term II) and the spring and summer half terms (Terms III-A and III-B). A University-year appointment is composed of two of the three full terms. On the Ann Arbor and UM- Flint campuses, a University-year appointment is for nine months; on the UM- Dearborn campus, it is for eight months. A University-year salary is paid in twelve equal monthly installments. See handbook section 14.C “Salary Payments.”