The academic work of Indiana University is done by individuals holding academic appointments in different classifications. The classification chosen is directly associated with the responsibilities of the faculty member.
To find a brief description of requirements, limitations, and benefits for the faculty type you are considering, choose that type in the top drop-down, and click on “View Results.” To compare two types, make a choice in both drop-downs before clicking on “View Results.”
For approval to extend an offer, an aggregated packet must include the appropriate cover sheet, a draft offer letter, the candidate’s CV, and any other required items for the particular type of hire intended. This applies to all the appointment types below where OAA approval is indicated.
Research scientist positions and postdocs do not need a search BUT OAA approval of offer letters is required; use email to send the offer letter and CV to ude[dot]ui[at]rhdaca.
Research associate positions must be approved as positions prior to any hire.
Substantive changes in a draft offer (after initial approval) must be approved by the Office of Academic Affairs (ude[dot]ui[at]rhdaca): more than 5% change in salary or start-up funding, 10-month vs. 12-month, rank, and credit towards tenure. Changes in start date do not need review.
Review the Faculty Career Timelines for decision points for a faculty appointment. (Refer to this information for appointments in the School of Medicine, which has a longer probationary period for tenure-track faculty).
Tenured and Tenure-Track
Tenured and tenure-track faculty are responsible for teaching, research, and service. Through this work, and through their participation in faculty governance, tenure-track faculty and librarians have primary responsibility for the accomplishment and the integrity of the university’s academic mission.
Titles are professor/librarian, associate professor/associate librarian, and assistant professor/assistant librarian. Initial appointment may be for one, two or three years.
Clinical appointments are those in which the primary duties are teaching and service, including providing professional service in the clinical setting.
Titles are clinical professor, clinical associate professor, and clinical assistant professor. The initial appointment may be for one, two, or three years.
Lecturers are responsible for teaching, and for research and service that support teaching. Titles are lecturer, senior lecturer, and teaching professor. The initial appointment may be for one, two, or three years.
Scientists/Scholars are responsible solely for research. Titles are senior scientist/scholar, associate scientist/scholar, assistant scientist/scholar, or alternatively, senior research professor, associate research professor, assistant research professor. These are individuals who have the terminal degree.
Research associates are individuals who normally do not have the terminal degree, and work under the direction of a faculty member or scientist/scholar doing research. Consider staff positions instead.
The initial appointment is for one year or is dependent upon funding dates.
Research associate positions must be approved before being searched and filled. Review required documentation.
For research scientists (assistant, associate, and full) send a draft offer letter and CV to ude[dot]ui[at]rhdaca.
No approval is needed for postdoc academic appointees.
Visiting Faculty
Faculty may be hired as visiting assistant, associate, full professors, visiting clinical assistant, associate, full professor, visiting lecturers, senior lecturers, or teaching professors, visiting research associates, or visiting research scientists.
These are individuals hired for only teaching on a less than full-time basis, usually one semester at a time. They are strictly limited in FTE: if in a 10-month position, to 67%, or if in a 12-month position, to 47%. There is no formal search requirement, and the approval for these appointments is entirely within the school or department. However, it is strongly suggested that the following template is used when formalizing an appointment for associate faculty.
New academic specialist positions are not being authorized at IU Indianapolis.
Professor of Practice
This classification is appropriate for individuals who have achieved excellence in a field of practice, and who have attained a position of regional, national, and even international prominence. Professors of Practice may be assigned instructional responsibilities, along with activities in support of student development and placement. Professor of Practice appointments must be confirmed by the vote of the faculty in the home department or school.
Schools frequently receive funding to endow faculty, giving the faculty member a title reflective of the endowment (i.e., the John Adams Professorship in American History). In order to award an endowed title to a faculty member, schools should follow their internal procedure, then the dean should send an email to the executive vice chancellor/chief academic officer with endorsement. The nomination is reported to the Board of Trustees and the university president. (School of Medicine endowed/titled professors are reviewed by IUSM processes).
Community and International Volunteers
Frequently individuals in the local or international community provide important service to our faculty and students and to the campus mission, in a manner that justifies recognition by assigning an honorary title. At IU Indianapolis, these titles include:
Title: International Scholar. The international scholar title is similar to the community scholar and should be viewed as its equivalent. On occasion, the title may be modified by the use of one of the terms: teaching, research, or service.
Classification: Honorary with or without remuneration.
Description: International engagement at IU Indianapolis takes many different forms and draws upon both institutional and external resources to meet educational objectives across teaching, research, and service. An international scholar represents a formal, flexible, and term appointment with academic status at IU Indianapolis. The appointment reflects a colleague’s significant and meaningful contributions to meeting IU Indianapolis’s mission through internationally-based learning activities, research, or professional service. An international scholar is expected to engage in these activities through such instructional roles as supervising students in study abroad programs including service learning, internships, and clinical rotations, serving as a mentor to graduate students or faculty in sustained academic work in a nation or region outside the United States, or participating in an instructional program through distance education on more than an occasional basis; through collaborating in research that continues beyond a year; or through providing direct services at a high level of responsibility in cooperation with an academic unit of the campus.
The international scholar is differentiated from an adjunct appointment by not having direct, sole responsibility and authority for teaching (i.e., awarding credit), research (i.e., receiving grants or contracts), or implementation of service (i.e., obligating the institution). The international scholar will have another nation as the principal site for work and living and will not hold any permanent visa status with the United States.
Qualifications: International scholars are expected to have expertise through experience or training that prepares them to contribute to the academic mission of IU Indianapolis. Recommendation for appointment should be based on a documented record of prior significant contribution for a sustained period (e.g., certification as a contributor to distance learning, collaboration on externally funded research) or an expectation that the candidate will be in residence at IU Indianapolis for at least a semester. The candidate’s expertise and training must be broadly consistent with clearly understood learning objectives, research objectives, or professional service. Ordinarily, an International Scholar will hold a terminal degree appropriate for a professorial appointment.
Appointing unit: An international scholar may hold appointment in a department, school, center, or academic service unit subject to the approval of the senior academic administrative officer of the unit and the chief academic officer.
Term: Appointments are for up to five years. Appointments may be renewed. This appointment may not be held concurrently with any other academic appointment at IU Indianapolis, whether full or part-time.
Appointment Procedures: The initiative for applying to become an international scholar may come from either the candidate or an IU Indianapolis faculty member or academic administrator. In either case, a complete application for initial appointment will include (1) a completed appointment recommendation cover sheet; (2) a letter from the responsible academic administrator stating how the nominee is prepared to contribute to the educational goals of students, courses, programs, initiatives, centers, or other activities at IU Indianapolis based on previous experience; (3) a resume of the candidate’s professional background and documentation of substantial prior involvement with the academic mission of the campus; and (4) a draft letter of appointment.
Any appointment involving residence at IU Indianapolis that requires a visa will need to be cleared in advance with the Office of International Affairs. Initial appointments require the approval of the dean of the academic unit (or equivalent) and the chief academic officer. Renewed appointments need only approval of the dean or appropriate academic administrator. Recommendations for appointment should be made through the usual academic appointment process and be completed with the entry of an electronic appointment form.
Rights and Privileges: International scholars are not employees of Indiana University and are not subject to IU Indianapolis or Indiana University regulations except that they will voluntarily commit to observing IU Indianapolis policies regarding Academic Ethics, Research Integrity, Sexual Harassment, and Non-Discrimination; and they will consent to a criminal background check under some circumstances when warranted. When applicable, international scholars may be asked to observe other specific policies (e.g., Human Subjects) contingent on the nature and scope of their affiliation; when funded collaborative research is involved, international scholars will have to be approved through the established IU Indianapolis procedures for research integrity. International scholars may have the privileges of academic appointment with regard to computer access with a personal account, library resources, identification card, business cards, use of facilities, and other privileges as may be stated in the letter of appointment approved by the chief academic officer.
Except for occasional short visits to IU Indianapolis, international scholars are located in other nations, making remote access to resources important. International scholars are not eligible for salary, fringe benefits, leaves, tenure, participation in faculty governance, or other privileges reserved for employees. International scholars may be terminated for cause at any time. Extensions or renewals of appointment are to be based on a review of mutual benefit.
Title: International Associate
Classification: Honorary without remuneration
Description: International engagement at IU Indianapolis takes many different forms and draws upon both institutional and external resources to meet educational objectives across teaching, research, and service. An international associate designation represents a formal yet flexible appointment with academic status at IU Indianapolis. The appointment reflects a colleague’s significant and meaningful alignment with and support of the international dimensions of the mission of IU Indianapolis in cooperation with full time faculty or academic administrators. International associates, however, do not have direct responsibility for supervising IU Indianapolis students or staff.
Qualifications: International associates are expected to have specific knowledge and expertise deriving from their roles in their home nations or international organizations that allow them to support the mission of IU Indianapolis. Ordinarily, an international associate will hold a terminal degree appropriate for appointment at the lecturer or higher rank.
Appointing unit: An international associate may hold appointment in a department, school, center, or other academic service unit subject to the approval of the senior academic administrative officer of the unit and the chief academic officer.
Term: Appointments are for up to two years. Appointments may be renewed. This appointment may not be held concurrently with any other academic appointment at IU Indianapolis, whether full or part-time.
Appointment Procedures: The initiative for applying to become an international associate may come from either the candidate or an IU Indianapolis faculty or staff person. In either case, a complete application for the initial appointment will include (1) a completed appointment recommendation cover sheet; (2) a letter from a center director, chair or dean stating how the nominee is prepared to contribute to the mission of the appointing unit; (3) a resume of the candidate’s professional background; and (4) a draft letter of appointment. Any appointment involving residence at IU Indianapolis that requires a visa will need to be cleared in advance with the Office of International Affairs. Initial appointments require the approval of both the dean of the academic unit and the chief academic officer. Renewed appointments need only approval of the dean or appropriate academic administrator. Recommendations for appointment should be made through the usual academic appointment process and be completed with the entry of an electronic appointment form.
Rights and Privileges: International associates are not employees of Indiana University and are not subject to IU Indianapolis or Indiana University regulations except that they will voluntarily consent to observing IU Indianapolis policies regarding Academic Ethics, Research Integrity, Non- Discrimination, and Sexual Harassment. Contingent on the scope and nature of their affiliation, international associates may be asked to observe other specific policies upon initial appointment or renewal of appointment. International associates may be accorded certain academic privileges as specified in the letter of appointment, including but not limited to computing access or library privileges. Ordinarily, international associates are located in other nations and conduct their work through remote means. International associates do not have any rights or privileges implied by an employment relationship and may be terminated at any time at the discretion of the appointing unit. Renewal or extensions of appointments are to be based on a review of mutual benefit.
Title: International Affiliate
Classification: Honorary without remuneration
Description: International engagement at IU Indianapolis takes many different forms and draws upon both institutional and external resources to meet educational objectives across teaching, research, and service. An international affiliate represents a formal yet flexible appointment with academic status at IU Indianapolis for a short term of six months or less. The appointment reflects a colleague’s significant and meaningful alignment with and support of the international dimensions of the mission of IU Indianapolis in cooperation with full-time faculty or academic administrators, typically in conjunction with a project, course, or activity during a semester or summer session. International affiliates, however, do not have direct responsibility for supervising IU Indianapolis students or staff. The affiliate status may appropriately be used for members of program review or accreditation teams, for government officials with specific limited needs and roles, members of a task force or commission, persons teaching in a distance education course for a year or less, a collaborator on a research project for a year or less, and the like.
Qualifications: International affiliates are expected to have specific knowledge and expertise deriving from their roles in the community that allow them to support the mission of IU Indianapolis. Ordinarily, an advanced degree is expected but exceptions can be made.
Appointing unit: An international affiliate may hold time-limited appointment in a department, school, center, or other academic service unit of up to six months subject to the approval of the senior academic administrative officer of the unit.
Term: Appointments are for up to six months. Appointments may be renewed but persons with involvement beyond a short time should be appointed as an international associate or international scholar. This appointment may not be held concurrently with any other academic appointment at IU Indianapolis, whether full or part-time.
Appointment Procedures: The initiative for applying to become an international affiliate may come from either the candidate or an IU Indianapolis faculty or staff person. In either case, a letter from a center director, chair or dean stating how the nominee will contribute to the mission of the appointing unit and stating the privileges should be sent to the appointee with a copy to the chief academic officer. Any appointment involving residence at IU Indianapolis that requires a visa will need to be cleared in advance with the Office of International Affairs. All international affiliates must be approved by the dean of the appointing school or by the chief academic officer in academic service units. Recommendations for appointment should be completed with the entry of an electronic appointment form.
Rights and Privileges: International affiliates are not employees of Indiana University and are not subject to IU Indianapolis or Indiana University regulations except that they will voluntarily consent to observing IU Indianapolis policies regarding Academic Ethics, Non-Discrimination, and Sexual Harassment. Contingent on the scope and nature of their affiliation, international affiliates may be asked to observe other specific policies upon initial appointment or renewal of appointment. International affiliates may be accorded certain academic privileges as specified in the letter of appointment, including computing access or library privileges. International affiliates do not have any rights or privileges implied by an employment relationship and may be terminated at any time at the discretion of the appointing unit.
Title: Community Scholar. Optional: The scholar title may be modified by the use of one of the terms: teaching, research, or service. Alternative titles: Field Experience Supervisor; Clinical Supervisor.
Classification: Honorary without remuneration.
Description: Civic engagement at IU Indianapolis takes many different forms and draws upon both institutional and external resources to meet educational objectives across teaching, research, and service. A community scholar represents a formal, flexible, and term appointment with academic status at IU Indianapolis. The appointment reflects a colleague’s significant and meaningful contributions to meeting educational objectives for IU Indianapolis students through community-based learning activities, research, or professional service. A community scholar is expected to engage in these activities through such roles as supervising community-based internships, clinical placements, field experiences, or service learning; teaching in an approved curriculum of the online environment or other formally recognized school-based continuing education program; serving as a co-teacher from another state or nation via distance education; participating in organized research conducted under the auspices of an academic or academic service unit; or providing direct services at a high level of responsibility in cooperation with an academic unit of the campus. The community scholar is differentiated from an adjunct appointment by not having direct responsibility and authority for teaching (i.e., awarding credit), research (i.e., receiving grants or contracts), or implementation of service (i.e., obligating the institution).
Qualifications: Community scholars are expected to have expertise through experience or training that prepares them to contribute to the educational achievement of students in community-based learning. A record of sustained participation with academic units of IU Indianapolis is expected, ordinarily of at least a year’s duration. Recommendation for appointment should be based on a documented record of significant contribution (e.g., certification as a qualified internship or field experience supervisor). The candidate’s expertise and training must be broadly consistent with clearly understood learning objectives, research objectives, or professional service. Ordinarily, a community scholar will hold a baccalaureate or advanced degree.
Appointing unit: A community scholar may hold appointment in a department, school, center, or academic service unit subject to the approval of the senior academic administrative officer of the unit and the chief academic officer.
Term: Appointments are for up to five years. Appointments may be renewed. This appointment may not be held concurrently with any other academic appointment whether full or part-time.
Appointment Procedures: The initiative for applying to become a community scholar may come from either the candidate or an IU Indianapolis faculty member or academic administrator. In either case, a complete application for initial appointment will include (1) a completed cover sheet; (2) a letter from the responsible academic administrator stating how the nominee is prepared to contribute to the educational goals of students, courses, programs, initiatives, centers, or other activities at IU Indianapolis based on previous experience; (3) a resume of the candidate’s professional background and documentation of at least one year’s prior involvement with the academic mission of the campus; and (4) a draft letter of appointment. Renewed appointments need only approval of the dean or appropriate academic administrator. Recommendations for appointment should be made through the usual academic appointment process and be completed with the entry of an electronic appointment form.
Rights and Privileges: Community scholars are not employees of Indiana University and are not subject to IU Indianapolis or Indiana University regulations except that they will voluntarily commit to observing IU Indianapolis policies regarding Academic Ethics, Sexual Harassment, and Non-Discrimination; and they will consent to a criminal background check. When applicable, community scholars may be asked to observe other specific policies (e.g., Human Subjects) contingent on the nature and scope of their affiliation. Community scholars may have the privileges of academic appointment with regard to computer access with a personal account, library resources, parking, identification card, business cards, use of facilities, and other privileges as may be stated in the letter of appointment approved by the chief academic officer. In some instances, community scholars may be located in other cities or nations, making remote access to resources important. Community scholars are not eligible for salary, fringe benefits, leaves, tenure, participation in faculty governance, or other privileges reserved for employees. Community scholars may be terminated for cause at any time. Extensions or renewals of appointment are to be based on a review of mutual benefit.
Title: Community Associate
Classification: Honorary without remuneration
Description: Civic engagement at IU Indianapolis takes many different forms and draws upon both institutional and external resources to meet educational objectives across teaching, research, and service. A community associate represents a formal yet flexible appointment with academic status at IU Indianapolis. The appointment reflects a colleague’s significant and meaningful alignment with and support of the mission of IU Indianapolis in cooperation with full time faculty or academic administrators. Community associates, however, do not have direct responsibility for supervising IU Indianapolis students or staff.
Qualifications: Community associates are expected to have specific knowledge and expertise deriving from their roles in the community that allow them to support the mission of IU Indianapolis.
Appointing unit: A community associate may hold appointment in a department, school, center, or other academic service unit subject to the approval of the senior academic administrative officer of the unit and the chief academic officer.
Term: Appointments are for up to two years. Appointments may be renewed. This appointment may not be held concurrently with any other academic appointment whether full or part-time.
Appointment Procedures: The initiative for applying to become a community associate may come from either the candidate or an IU Indianapolis faculty or staff person. In either case, a complete application for the initial appointment will include (1) a completed appointment recommendation cover sheet; (2) a letter from a center director, chair or dean stating how the nominee is prepared to contribute to the mission of the appointing unit; (3) a resume of the candidate’s professional background; and (4) a draft letter of appointment. Renewed appointments need only approval of the dean or appropriate academic administrator. Recommendations for appointment should be made through the usual academic appointment process and be completed with the entry of an electronic appointment form.
Rights and Privileges: Community associates are not employees of Indiana University and are not subject to IU Indianapolis or Indiana University regulations except that they will voluntarily consent to observing IU Indianapolis policies regarding Academic Ethics, Non- Discrimination, and Sexual Harassment. Contingent on the scope and nature of their affiliation, Community associates may be asked to observe other specific policies upon initial appointment or renewal of appointment. Community associates may be accorded certain academic privileges as specified in the letter of appointment. Community associates do not have any rights or privileges implied by an employment relationship and may be terminated at any time at the discretion of the appointing unit. Renewal or extensions of appointments are to be based on a review of mutual benefit.
Title: Visiting Community Associate
Classification: Honorary without remuneration
Description: Civic engagement at IU Indianapolis takes many different forms and draws upon both institutional and external resources to meet educational objectives across teaching, research, and service. A visiting community associate represents a formal yet flexible appointment with academic status at IU Indianapolis. The appointment reflects a colleague’s significant and meaningful alignment with and support of the mission of IU Indianapolis in cooperation with full time faculty or academic administrators. Visiting community associates, however, do not have direct responsibility for supervising IU Indianapolis students or staff. The visiting status is designed to accommodate a person with a short-term involvement with IU Indianapolis of six months or less. It may appropriately be used for members of program review or accreditation teams, for government officials with specific limited needs and roles, members of a task force or commission, and the like.
Qualifications: Visiting community associates are expected to have specific knowledge and expertise deriving from their roles in the community that allow them to support the mission of IU Indianapolis.
Appointing unit: A visiting community associate may hold time-limited appointment in a department, school, center, or other academic service unit of up to six months subject to the approval of the senior academic administrative officer of the unit.
Term: Appointments are for up to six months. Appointments may be renewed but persons with involvement beyond a short time should be appointed as a community associate or community scholar. This appointment may not be held concurrently with any other academic appointment whether full or part-time.
Appointment Procedures: The initiative for applying to become a visiting community associate may come from either the candidate or an IU Indianapolis faculty or staff person. In either case, a letter from a center director, chair or dean stating how the nominee will contribute to the mission of the appointing unit and stating the privileges should be sent to the appointee with a copy to the chief academic officer. Recommendations for appointment should be completed with the entry of an electronic appointment form.
Rights and Privileges: Visiting community associates are not employees of Indiana University and are not subject to IU Indianapolis or Indiana University regulations except that they will voluntarily consent to observing IU Indianapolis policies regarding Academic Ethics, Non-Discrimination, and Sexual Harassment. Contingent on the scope and nature of their affiliation, visiting community associates may be asked to observe other specific policies upon initial appointment or renewal of appointment. visiting community associates may be accorded certain academic privileges as specified in the letter of appointment, including temporary parking permits, computing access, or library privileges. Visiting community associates do not have any rights or privileges implied by an employment relationship and may be terminated at any time at the discretion of the appointing unit.
For international volunteers, a Personal Profile Form and a copy of the individual's passport is required.
Reviewed and revised 2/2024. Questions: ude[dot]ui[at]rhdaca. This is a critical stable page that is linked to the Guidebook.
