305     ACADEMIC SERIES

I. DEFINITIONS
II. COOPERATIVE EXTENSION ADVISOR SERIES
III. COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SPECIALIST SERIES
IV. ACADEMIC COORDINATOR/ACADEMIC ADMINISTRATOR SERIES
V. CRITERIA
VI. TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT
VII. RESPONSIBILITY
VIII. WORKING TITLES

I. DEFINITIONS

1. Cooperative Extension Advisor Series

The Cooperative Extension Advisor (CE Advisor) series is used for appointees who are normally county-based and who are responsible for program organization and delivery at the county level. (See APM-335 for the full definition.)

2. Cooperative Extension Specialist Series

The Cooperative Extension Specialist (CE Specialist) series is used for appointees who are normally campus-based or have statewide responsibilities for programmatic leadership and planning. (See APM-334 for the full definition.)

3. Academic Coordinator/Academic Administrator Series

The Academic Coordinator and Academic Administrator series are used for appointees who administer academic research or educational programs that are intended to serve the general public. (See APM-375 and APM-370 for the full definitions.)

4. Appointment

An appointment is the employment of an individual who was previously (1) not in the employ of the University or (2) in the employ of the University but not with a title in any of the above series.

5. Merit Increase

A merit increase is an advancement in salary step without any change in current rank.

6. Promotion

A promotion is an advancement to a higher rank in the series, usually to the next higher rank listed.

7. Acceleration

An acceleration is an advancement that occurs early--that is, before review for that advancement would normally have taken place.

8. Statewide Special Programs and Projects

Statewide Special Programs and Projects (SSPP) are activities under the jurisdiction of a programmatically related Program Leader.

9. Faculty Member

A faculty member is an academic appointee in a department, college, or school that offers a curriculum or curricula leading to an undergraduate, graduate, or professional degree, provided that the appointee has independent responsibility for the conduct of University courses.

Academic appointees in CE are not considered to be faculty members under this definition. They are considered to be academic non-Senate appointees.

10. Director of Affirmative Action and Staff Personnel Services

The Director of Affirmative Action and Staff Personnel Services (DAA) provides administrative support to Division affirmative action, outreach and diversity programs and compliance efforts in both employment and program delivery.

11. Academic Personnel Manual

The Academic Personnel Manual (APM) is the Universitywide academic personnel policy manual. In the event that any policy set forth in this Handbook conflicts with the APM, the APM shall prevail.

II. COOPERATIVE EXTENSION ADVISOR SERIES

1. Definition

The CE Advisor series is used for academic appointees in CE whose main role is to make available to the general public the latest knowledge and practices in agriculture, natural resources, environmental sciences, community and youth development, family and consumer sciences, and related sciences. The CE Advisor series is used for appointees who are county-based and who are responsible for programs at the county level; however, some CE Advisors may have areawide responsibilities.

2. Authority

1. Authority to approve appointments to this series has been delegated by the Vice President to the Regional Directors for county-based programs and to the appropriate Program Leader for SSPP as follows:

          Approval of appointments of candidates to the ranks of Assistant, Associate, and full Advisor through Step IV.

The Assistant Vice President-Programs approves appointments of candidates for County Director positions and steps above full Advisor, Step IV, except an appointment to a salary above the top step of this series, which must be recommended to the President.

2. A new appointee who is a citizen of the United States must have completed and subscribed to the State Oath of Allegiance before beginning the duties of employment. All new appointees must comply with the provisions of the Immigration Reform Act of 1988.

3. Authority to approve merit increases and promotions in this series rests with the Vice President, who has redelegated this authority to the Associate Vice President.

3. Reference

See APM-335 for additional information on this series.

III. COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SPECIALIST SERIES

1. Definition

The CE Specialist series is used for academic appointees in CE who are qualified by formal education and/or experience to conduct educational activities and mission-oriented research in their area of specialty, and who are responsible for the interpretation, adaption, and transmission of the results of research in their field. The CE Specialist series is used for appointees who are campus-based or in SSPP and who are responsible for programmatic leadership and planning statewide. Where possible, academic staff appointed to the CE Specialist series will be affiliated with a campus department.

2. Authority

1. Authority to approve appointments of campus-based Specialists to this series rests with the Chancellors. Authority to approve appointments to this series for SSPP rests with the Vice President and has been delegated to the appropriate Program Leader through full Specialist, Step IV.

2. A new appointee who is a citizen of the United States must have completed and subscribed to the State Oath of Allegiance before beginning the duties of employment. All new appointees must comply with the provisions of the Immigration Reform Act of 1988.

3. Authority to approve merit increases and promotions for campus-based Specialists in this series rests with the Chancellors. Authority to approve merit increases and promotions for SSPP Specialists in this series rests with the Vice President and has been redelegated to the Associate Vice President.

3. Reference

See APM-334 for additional information on this series.

IV. ACADEMIC COORDINATOR/ACADEMIC ADMINISTRATOR SERIES

1. Definition

The Academic Coordinator and Academic Administrator series are used for academic appointees whose main roles are to administer academically based public service programs. The primary duties of the positions in these series are in administration rather than in teaching or in research.

2. Authority

1. Authority to approve appointments to these series rests with the Vice President and has been delegated to the Regional Directors.

2. A new appointee who is a citizen of the United States must have completed and subscribed to the State Oath of Allegiance before beginning the duties of employment. All new appointees must comply with the provisions of the Immigration Reform Act of 1988.

3. Authority to approve merit increases and promotions in these series rests with the Vice President and has been redelegated to the Associate Vice President.

3. Reference

See APM-370 and APM-375 for additional information on these series.

V. CRITERIA

1. A candidate for appointment in the CE Advisor or the CE Specialist series shall be judged by the following criteria:

1. Performance in extending knowledge and information in disciplines related to the programs of CE.

2. Performance in applied research and creative activity.

3. Professional competence and activity.

4. University and public service.

2. A candidate for appointment in the Academic Coordinator and Academic Administrator series shall be judged by the following criteria:

1. Administrative performance.

2. Professional competence and activity.

3. University and public service.

3. Documented program and/or administrative accomplishments and commitment to outreach/diversity shall be taken into account in judging a candidate's performance in each of the criteria.
   
4. In evaluating a candidate's qualifications within the criteria, reasonable flexibility should be used to balance heavier commitments and responsibilities in one criterion against lighter commitments and responsibilities in another.

VI. TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT

1. Initial appointment to a title in these series is made for a limited period of time, as designated at the time of employment (see Section 310).  Renewed appointment must be justified by a high standard of achievement and performance, by an ongoing need for the position, and by the continuation of funding.
   
2. When an appointee to these series is considered for termination, the appropriate administrative authority (the campus Academic Personnel Office or the Division Academic Personnel Office) will be consulted before termination proceedings are initiated. This will be done to ensure that policies and procedures are complied with, and that appointee is given appropriate notice.
   
3. If an appointee to these series is terminated because of lack of work or lack of funds, the provisions of the Division policy on involuntary termination shall apply (Section 320-III).
   
4. The provisions of Section 350 concerning the Division's policy on appeals by non-Senate academic appointees shall be applicable to appointees to these series.

E.       Reference

See APM-334 and APM-335 for additional information on terms of employment.

VII. RESPONSIBILITY

Responsibility for recommending appointments, merit increases, accelerations, promotions and terminations rests with the appropriate County Director,  Regional Director, SSPP Director, Director-Research and Extension Center System, Department Chair, Associate Dean, or Dean. An academic appointee may nominate himself/herself for advancement through his/her immediate supervisor.

VIII. WORKING TITLES

Working titles used by academic personnel in the Division serve two primary purposes: as an identification to the general public and as an official signature on penalty mail.

Generally, for county-based academic personnel, the following working titles have been approved: County Director; Farm Advisor; Nutrition, Family, and Consumer Science Advisor; 4-H Youth Development Advisor; Community Resource Development Advisor; Public Service Advisor; Forest Advisor; and Marine Advisor. Approval for variations on these titles for county-based staff should be secured from the Regional Director.

Working titles for campus-based academic personnel should reflect areas of specialty. Approval for variations should be secured from the Dean, or from his or her designee.

Titles to be used for the penalty mailing privilege must be submitted to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Changes in title for penalty mail privileges should be sent to the Coordinator of Academic Personnel.

October 1999

Return to Series 300 Academic Personnel

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