All faculty, regardless of track, are expected to contribute to the educational, research, service and clinical missions of the college. Appointment to the tenure or non-tenure tracks requires completion of an appropriate doctoral degree (e.g., MD, PhD or DO). Determination of faculty track and rank are based on the dominant element(s) of faculty contributions to the college.
Traditional Faculty Track
Tenure (PDF) – Only full-time employees of the University (i.e., >.50 FTE) are eligible for this track. Requirement for scholarship (e.g., discovery, clinical or educational). Faculty members are expected to contribute to the educational, scholarship and service missions of their department. This is the only track for which tenure is an option.
Non-Tenure Faculty Tracks
Clinical Series (PDF) – This track is for physicians and clinical educators who contribute to the training of University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix medical students, residents or fellows. Teaching is the primary responsibility but some scholarly activity or service (program development, committee service, clinical research, development of educational tools) are expected for promotion within this track.
Clinical Scholar (PDF) – Faculty members whose primary contribution is to the clinical mission of the college. Must have demonstrated potential or achieved excellence in clinical teaching, provide significant service and participation in scholarly activities. The definition of scholarly activity is broader for this track than for the tenure track, including, for example, publication of case reports.
Research (PDF) – This track is for faculty members whose primary contribution is to the research mission of the college through independent or collaborative research. They may be employed by independent research institutes, other scientific institutions or the college. It requires a contribution to the college mission in one or more of the following: scholarly activity, education or service.
Educator Scholar (PDF) – Faculty members whose primary contribution is to the educational missions of the college. While promotion in this track requires scholarship, definitions of that scholarship are broad, including such activities as program development, participation in national organizations, educational research and development of educational tools.
Professor of Practice (PDF) – Professor of Practice titles may be used for educators who are practitioners and who may not meet the requirements for other faculty members in the U of A College of Medicine – Phoenix (e.g., tenured/tenure-eligible, clinical scholar, educator scholar) or those who hold modified faculty titles (e.g., clinical track; research track), all of whom require a MD, PhD or DO degree. The Professor of Practice title series recognizes a non-tenure eligible faculty member who has established himself or herself by expertise, achievements and reputation over a sustained period of time to be a distinguished professional in an area of practice or discipline. This non-tenure eligible faculty track has been developed to recognize the many practitioners and clinical educators employed outside of the U of A College of Medicine – Phoenix who contribute to the training of College of Medicine – Phoenix medical students residents or fellows.
Other Faculty Title
Specialty Instructor (PDF) – The specialty instructor title has been developed to recognize non-physician health care providers who contribute to the training of University of Arizona medical students, residents or fellows. Individuals on this track add value to the tripartite mission of the University of Arizona Colleges of Medicine by enhancing the academic learning environment and adding to the U of A College of Medicine – Phoenix's educational programs through their specific specialty. Individuals of this title are expected provide outstanding instruction and have regular and direct contact with College of Medicine – Phoenix medical students, residents or fellows. Examples of regular and direct contact include ward or clinic precepting, preceptorship in other clinical venues or didactic teaching.
Granting of Tenure
Tenure may only be held at the rank of associate or full professor. Therefore, tenure-eligible assistant professor faculty, who are being considered for the award of tenure, are concomitantly reviewed for promotion to the rank of associate professor. Prior to the end of the sixth year in rank for tenure-eligible assistant professors or associate professors, and third year of appointment for full professors, or a subsequent year if a time clock delay has been granted, faculty will be reviewed for promotion and tenure according to the process in UHAP 3.3.02.
Changes to the Tenure Clock – The University provides faculty opportunities to request delays to the tenure clock for birth/adoption, personal reasons, administrative responsibilities or adverse professional circumstances (Section IV. Appendix 3. UHAP, 3.3.01). In addition, tenure-eligible associate professors who may have prior university service as a tenure-eligible associate professor, may request that credit for prior service be applied to shorten the tenure clock at the time of initial appointment.
The U of A College of Medicine – Phoenix does not typically appoint faculty with tenure unless they hold the position of Department Chair, Director or higher. Recommendations for the granting of tenure at the College of Medicine – Phoenix are evaluated by sequential reviews and recommendations by the Department AP&T Committee, Department Chair, College AP&T Committee, Dean, the University Standing Advisory Committee on Faculty Status, Senior Vice President for Health Sciences and the Provost.