Professional Appointments
The State University of New York Policies of the Board of Trustees (pdf) governs all Faculty, Professional and Management Confidential (M/C) appointments.
Term
A term appointment is for a specified period of not more than three years, which shall automatically expire at the end of that period unless terminated earlier because of resignation, retirement, or termination.
Professional titles listed in Appendix A and Athletic titles listed in Appendix B have additional exceptions to term length and permanent appointment restrictions. For additional detail, please reference the SUNY Policies of the Board of Trustees under Article XI: Appointment of Employees, Title D, Section 6 for complete information.
Temporary
A temporary appointment is an appointment that may be terminated at any time. Temporary appointments ordinarily are given only when service is to be part time, voluntary, or anticipated to be for a period of one year or less, or when an employee's initial appointment at the college is made to a position vacated by a professional employee who is serving a probationary appointment. A temporary appointment is also appropriate whenever an employee on an approved leave has vacated a position.
Probationary
A probationary appointment shall be an appointment for a period of one year which must be granted to a professional employee holding a professional title in which permanent appointment may be granted at the college when the employee is appointed to a different professional title in which permanent appointment may be granted at the same college, or when the employee is appointed to a professional title listed in Appendix A of this Article at the same college.
A probationary appointment may be terminated at any time.
Management Confidential (M/C)
Employees classified as Management Confidential (M/C) are appointed with no term, can be terminated at will, and reappointment/continuing appointment do not apply.
Renewal Continuing or Permanent Appointments
Permanent appointment shall be an appointment of a professional employee in a professional title, except those titles listed in Appendix A or B of Article XI, Policies of the Board of Trustees, SUNY, which shall continue until a change in such title, resignation, retirement, or termination.
A professional employee who serves in a professional title listed in the above-mentioned Appendix A or B of Article XI shall not be eligible for permanent appointment and shall not be covered by this title during their service in such professional title.
Continuing appointment shall be an appointment to a position of academic rank, which shall not be affected by changes in such rank and shall continue until resignation, retirement, or termination.
Special Conditions of Appointment
In cases where special stipulations have been established as a condition of Continuing or Permanent Appointment (e.g., attainment of a degree), those stipulations will be outlined in the initial offer letter, signed by the College President.
Term of Obligation - Appointment Year
The term of professional obligation, except in the case of part-time or temporary employment where the obligation may be less, shall be one of the following as determined by the chief administrative officer or his/her designee.
Calendar Year
An annual obligation of service for the full year - 12 months.
Academic Year
An annual obligation of service for the academic year, not to exceed 10 months.
The campus president defines the length of the academic obligation. Normally, the starting date for the academic year obligation is a date in the late summer or early fall when persons having academic year appointments would be expected to be available for service; the ending date in the spring is that date after which academic year staff are free to leave the campus and take up other obligations or duties. Academic employees will receive annual notice of the dates of the Academic Year Obligation. Within that period, persons having academic obligations will be expected to be available for service, consistent with their departmental assignments, program responsibilities, and the college calendar.
College Year
An annual obligation of service for any period less than the full year - 9, 10, or 11 months.