The Faculty Handbook provides general information on faculty appointments. Below, you will find instructions for gathering and submitting the proper materials for faculty appointments and reappointments specific to the faculty member’s rank:
Initial Appointments & Secondary Appointments
For every faculty appointment, a written document specifying the initial title, status with respect to Tenure, initial term with dates, starting salary, and other appropriate conditions shall be provided to the faculty member with a copy supplied to his/her department. Appointments (with and without tenure) of Associate and Full Professors are not effective until and unless recommended by the Provost and approved by the President. Any subsequent extensions or modifications of an appointment shall be stated in writing to the faculty member with a copy to his/her department.
Learn more about appointments.
Reappointments & Secondary Reappointments
All faculty appointments except those with Tenure are subject to University decisions concerning reappointment. Decisions to renew full-time faculty appointments are made by the University Provost on the recommendation of the dean. Subject to institutional needs and goals, recommendations for reappointment shall be based on merit as determined through the evaluation of faculty performance (see “Evaluation of Faculty Performance”). Faculty members holding term or probationary appointments should be aware that, while they are eligible for reappointment (unless otherwise specified in writing at the time of appointment), reappointment is neither inevitable nor routine.
Learn more about reappointments.
Emeritus Appointments & Extensions of Service
Emeritus is a status of honor and esteem at Boston University intended to recognize professors for lifetime contributions to the university, to their field, or to both, upon their retirement. Professorial faculty, with or without tenure or modified titles, are eligible for this consideration. The granting of Emeritus status is first voted upon by the faculty of the department, or by the appropriate unit for faculty appointments and promotions in schools or colleges without departments.
Learn more about Emeritus appointments.
Please email PDFs of paperwork to apfac@bu.edu. You may contact the Faculty Affairs team with any questions or to check the status of paperwork.
Once paperwork has received final approval from the Provost, the Provost Office will send a scan of the initial appointment form to the school/college. Individual deans should send letters of notification to faculty.