Lecturer Conversion

Introduction

A full-time employee holding the job title of lecturer, which as per SUNY specification is a qualified academic rank but ineligible for continuing appointment, may request to have the title converted to that of an instructor, which is an academic rank and eligible for continuing appointment.

To be eligible for job title conversion, the incumbent full-time lecturer must have been working at SUNY Brockport for at least six continuous years and must have the qualifications to be appointed as an instructor. The incumbent may seek job title change as early as in their sixth year of service, provided that SUNY Brockport reviewed and successfully completed two formal evaluations.

A person holding the job title of lecturer and meets the above conditions should convey to the department chair, in writing by March 15, their desire to have the lecturer job title changed to an instructor title. The Chair shall forward the request to the Dean along with their recommendation, whereupon the Dean will send a letter indicating their recommendation to the Provost by May 1st. If the Provost agrees to convert the lecturer job title to instructor, the Provost will inform the candidate, chair, and Dean of the decision by June 1st of each year. The candidate must be evaluated through the APT process described below, according to the Academic Affairs Personnel & Academic Calendar for the following academic year.

If SUNY Brockport decides not to covert a lecturer line to instructor line, the incumbent lecturer may remain in the position, contingent on conditions of appointment, review, and reappointment.

The academic rank title of instructor carries with it a teaching load of 4/4 and the potential for the holder to gain continuing appointment after seven years of service in an academic rank title. SUNY policy states: “An Assistant Professor, Instructor, Senior Assistant Librarian or Assistant Librarian shall not be eligible for continuing appointment at any of these ranks prior to the completion of a total of seven years in a position or positions of academic rank.” Per SUNY policy, years spent as a lecturer or in any qualified academic rank job title do not count towards the seven years needed for continuing appointment.

To fill an assistant professor position―also an academic rank―resulting from the conversion of a full-time lecturer line, the department must conduct a national search. Candidates interested in pursuing this option should begin by having a conversation with their chair.

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Process for the department and faculty considerations

To initiate the job title change, the candidate must submit an application by the deadline set by the Provost’s Office and go through the appointment process.

1. Departments must revise their Appointment, Promotion, and Tenure (APT) guidelines and specify the qualifications for appointment to the academic rank title and criteria for subsequent reappointments.
2. The department will review the application for job title change using the criteria specified in the APT document. The departmental recommendation will be forwarded to the chair, then to the Dean, and subsequently to the Provost for final determination; each administrative review shall also include a recommendation and rationale supporting that recommendation.
3. If the incumbent is successful in the appointment process, they assume the academic rank job title of instructor at the beginning of the following academic year.
4. If the incumbent is not successful in the appointment process, they will finish their current contract.
5. As an instructor, the incumbent will be required to abide by specifications in the APT document of the department.
6. As an instructor, the incumbent will have the opportunity to secure continuing appointment after successful periodic reviews and the required years of service.

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Components of Review File (subject to change by direction of the Provost)

1. A letter from the candidate to the APT Committee seeking appointment to the academic rank title of Instructor
2. Current vita.
3. Copies of the most recent six annual reports with chair’s comments.
4. Copies of personal statements (teaching, scholarship/creative activity & service), consisting of reflective and objective descriptions/assessment of accomplishments in each area under review (teaching, and service to the College and the profession).
5. IAS summary table for the most recent five years
6. After the candidate’s file is reviewed by the APT committee, the following will be added: Copies of the current APT review letter (after notification), the Department vote – numerical tally, Chair review letter (after notification), Dean’s review letter (after notification) and any response statements from the candidate
7. A change of appointment personnel form will be completed
8. This information will be forwarded to the Provost for a final decision
9. The Provost will confer with the President and then notify the applicant regarding the decision and copy the Chair and Dean
10. Human resources will be notified of the final decision and will process and send the applicant a formal letter from the President.

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The following chart lists basic requirements for each option. Departments need to develop departmental APT documents following these general guidelines, no later than the end of the Spring 2023 semester.

Lecturer Renewal	Teaching-70%	Scholarship	Service-30%
An appointee to the rank of Lecturer will have at least a master’s degree in the appropriate discipline. Where appropriate, professional experience may also be required.	Teach 4/4 course load Have positive evidence of student learning outcomes. Student instructional assessment surveys (IAS). Faculty may include student comments such as those on IAS score sheets and formal letters of support from students. Effective course materials as provided in Teaching Portfolio and demonstrated successful learning outcomes. Peer reviews, informal and formal, may be included from within the department or College. NOTE: Faculty are encouraged to include a peer review of their teaching practices in the classroom/studio in each renewal/ promotion cycle.	Have evidence of continued professional development supporting the assertion that the candidate is remaining current in his or her instructional field(s).	Actively participate in department level meetings and be on at least one additional department committee per academic year.   Faculty at this level are also expected to participate in the college service such as Information Sessions, advisement, and registration.   Faculty at this level are encouraged to serve on one college level committee at any time during the three-year renewable period.

Lecturer to Instructor	Teaching- 70%	Scholarship- 5%-10%	Service- 20%-25%
Please review Academic Rank link for duties   An appointee to the rank of Instructor will have a master’s degree in (department specific) Where appropriate professional experience is required.   Lecturers must successfully undergo a second and fifth year review prior to their application for promotion to Lecturer to Instructor with continuing appointment (which is at year 6).	Teach 4/4 course load Have positive evidence of student learning outcomes. Student instructional assessment surveys (IAS). Effective course materials as provided in Teaching Portfolio and demonstrated successful learning outcomes.	Have evidence of pursuing scholarship/creative activities and/or continued professional development supporting the assertion that the candidate is remaining current in his or her instructional field(s).	Actively participate in department level meetings and be on at least one additional department committee per academic year.   Faculty at this level are also expected to participate in the college service such as Information Sessions, advisement, and registration.   Faculty at this level are expected to serve on college level committees.