Faculty Tracks and Ranks
Office for Faculty Afffairs
Scroll or click the buttons below to explore all faculty tracks and their ranks at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.
Tenured and Tenure-Eligible Track
The Tenured and Tenure-Eligible track is a commonly used promotion pathway for School of Medicine faculty members, including basic scientists, clinician-scientists and clinician-educators, among others. It includes those employed by either the University of Colorado or affiliate institutions, although only the former are eligible for tenure. All faculty seeking promotion to the ranks of Associate Professor or Professor in this track must engage in scholarship. “Scholarship” is broadly defined and includes not only research (the scholarship of discovery), but also the scholarship of teaching, application, and integration. All faculty at all ranks are expected to contribute to the service mission of the University.
Available Ranks in the TTE Track
Clinical Practice Track
The Clinical Practice track is an academic pathway designed for faculty members who focus their time on direct patient care and clinical program leadership; promotion within this track requires demonstration of excellence in clinical activity. There is no requirement for scholarship, although it is encouraged. Teaching (at least at the meritorious level) is required. Because scholarship is not required, faculty in the Clinical Practice track are not eligible for tenure.
Available Ranks in the Clinical Practice Track
Research Professor Track
Faculty members who devote almost all their time to grant-funded research, with limited teaching responsibilities, may be appointed and promoted in the Research Professor track. These faculty members will usually be supported by funds from external grants and contracts. They may be independently-funded or collaborative investigators. Faculty in this track are expected to demonstrate evidence of excellence in the domain of research or other scholarly activity, and more specifically, the scholarship of discovery. As the promotions process is meant to describe and reward continued professional growth and achievement, Research Professors will have met more of the criteria for excellence listed in the Promotion Criteria than Associate Research Professors or have met them in more depth. Faculty appointed or promoted to the rank of Research Professor must demonstrate skill as an investigator, originality and creativity, outstanding contributions to the research programs of their department and the SOM, and a national reputation. Faculty in the Research Professor track are not eligible for tenure. Appointment to the rank of Research Scientist, Senior Research Scientist, or Assistant Research Professor, or advancement among these ranks is made at the discretion of the department.
Adjoint Faculty
Faculty members who perform volunteer teaching, research, administrative, advocacy or clinical services, and those whose appointments are less than half time (< 0.5 FTE), shall be appointed as adjoint faculty. Faculty holding adjoint titles may be granted the ranks of Adjoint Instructor, Adjoint Senior Instructor, Adjoint Assistant Professor, Adjoint Associate Professor, Adjoint Professor, or Adjoint Professor with Distinction. Unless they demonstrate significant accomplishments in teaching or mentoring, research, healthcare program leadership or community service at the time their association with the SOM begins, members of the adjoint faculty will usually begin at the rank of Adjoint Senior Instructor or Adjoint Assistant Professor. All adjoint faculty members shall be appointed to at-will positions. The performance of adjoint faculty members who have teaching responsibilities will be reviewed at least every three years. Criteria for appointment and promotion of adjoint faculty members may vary across departments. Appointments at the level of Adjoint Associate Professor, Adjoint Professor, and Adjoint Professor with Distinction are reviewed and approved by the Committee on Adjoint Appointments and Promotions.
Quick References
Appendix 2 of the Rules of the School of Medicine summarizes the available faculty tracks and ranks.