Adjunct Status in Arts and Letters

1) Upon recommendation of the chair or director, the College of Arts and Letters may appoint qualified individuals to adjunct status in one of its units. This policy enables individuals not affiliated with the university to receive recognition for their contributions and receive certain benefits that accompany adjunct status (title, library card, parking sticker, etc.). Only in unusual circumstances where a "value-added" argument can be made would adjunct status be granted to someone who has a full-time appointment at MSU. Adjunct status implies affiliation at no pay.

 

2) Qualifications and Title: the individual recommended for adjunct status should have credentials that one would expect for regular faculty, instructors, researchers, or outreach specialists in the field. For example, an adjunct associate professor would have credentials approximating newly tenured faculty in the unit. Consult the list of university approved titles for requisite qualifications (bachelor's, master's or doctoral degree) at: ranks

 

3) Expectations: adjuncts must make a significant contribution to the unit for the period of appointment. Contributions may be in instruction, guest lectures, collaboration in a research project, collaboration in an outreach effort, etc. Expectations of the adjunct should be made explicit in a memo of understanding that would accompany the appointment papers.