University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh

PURPOSE

This policy delineates procedures guiding faculty recruitment, including the initiation of proposals for positions and the announcement of approved positions. It further articulates the university’s values regarding tenure-track faculty lines, specifying that the university strives to promote tenure density rather than reflexively relying on flexible instructional labor in the form of instructional academic staff (IAS) appointments.

RESPONSIBLE OFFICER

Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs

SCOPE

This policy applies to all ranked faculty recruiting in all Schools.

BACKGROUND

Pursuant to the ranked faculty’s primary responsibility for the academic curriculum, this policy incorporates the faculty’s philosophy regarding the need for trained scholars as well as flexibility to accommodate changing student needs.

DEFINITIONS

There are no specific definitions for this policy.

POLICY STATEMENT

FAC 2.0 Incorporation of College Personnel Materials

Please note that substantive requirements relating to faculty appointment, renewal, tenure, promotion, and merit may be found in materials developed at the School level.

FAC 2.1 Announcements

As the smallest academic unit, Schools will initiate position proposals for approval by the appropriate higher-level administration and personnel-related offices. Schools should establish their own policies and procedures by which their faculty will submit requests for positions. These policies should ensure that, where applicable, Disciplines work with School committees, and in consultation with the School Director, to initiate proposals and oversee their submission to the appropriate subsequent offices.
Identification of open faculty positions shall be made in accordance with published University policies. When it is determined that a faculty position is open, a position description will be prepared by the originating School (on forms supplied by the Provost and Vice Chancellor’s Office) and forwarded via all levels to the Vice Chancellor for approval. The Provost and Vice Chancellor’s Office will then obtain all necessary clearances and assist in advertising.
1. To help ensure that the position description will reach appropriate organizations and groups, each School is expected to advertise independently of the services provided through the Provost and Vice Chancellor’s Office. School advertising must be consistent with university policy.
2. Each School recruiting for a position will have the responsibility of identifying and interviewing candidates. Appropriate appointment forms shall be completed by the originating academic unit and forwarded through each supervisor to the Provost and Vice Chancellor’s Office for processing. The originating academic unit, in consultation with the dean or equivalent, will be responsible for recommending to the Provost and Vice Chancellor the terms of the contract, including type of appointment, salary, rank, and prior years of experience to be credited. This information should be consistent with the position as advertised. Final approval of the contract and terms rests with the Provost and Vice Chancellor.

FAC 2.2 Faculty Staffing Flexibility

Whenever possible, instruction at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh will be provided by tenured faculty or tenure-track faculty. While reaffirming our commitment to the policy of awarding tenure without quotas, we also recognize the need to preserve staffing flexibility. This policy expressly recognizes the need for some IAS appointments and the vital role IAS play at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. Schools should have guidelines and/or policies that address the appropriate balance between IAS (including lecturers and teaching assistant professors) and tenure-track positions. Continued IAS appointments should be justified according to these guidelines and/or policies.

Academic units, in consultation with the academic deans and Provost and Vice Chancellor, are responsible for recruiting instructional tenure-track faculty and IAS.
In recognition of the need to provide staffing flexibility, the Dean and Provost and Vice Chancellor should — if provided with a compelling rationale by an academic unit — permit vacancies to be filled by IAS.
All personnel processes relating to the performance assessment, evaluation, merit review, or contract renewal for instructional academic staff will take into account that there are different expectations regarding faculty and IAS performance and duties.

OVERSIGHT, ROLES, AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Faculty Senate is responsible for the content and revision of this policy, consistent with Article II of the Faculty Constitution.

The Personnel Policies Committee of the Faculty Senate shall conduct a review of this policy at least once every five years. It may do so more frequently if governing policies change, at the request of the Faculty Senate Executive Committee, or at the request of 25% of sitting Senators. If the Personnel Policies Committee deems any changes to be necessary, it shall recommend those changes to the Faculty Senate, or it shall advise the Faculty Senate that it does not recommend changes based on the requested or scheduled review.

The Faculty Senate approves recommended changes (or acknowledges the recommendation for no changes) to this policy by majority vote. Following any Faculty Senate vote that ratifies revisions, any changes to this policy are finalized upon approval by the Chancellor and the Universities of Wisconsin Board of Regents. The five-year review clock resets upon the Faculty Senate’s action. The five-year review clock resets upon the Faculty Senate’s action.

POLICY HISTORY

March 18, 2025: Original approval by Faculty Senate
April 5, 2025: Revision
July 10, 2025: Approval by Board of Regents
December 22, 2025: Technical revisions to align with WCAG 2.1 AA digital accessibility standards

SCHEDULED REVIEW

Next Review Date: Spring 2030

Policy

Faculty Recruitment (FAC 2)