5. Appointment

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5.1 Communication Policy

It is the policy of Adventist University of Health Sciences to recruit and appoint faculty who are proficient in oral and written communication in the language in which they educate. This will be documented through the following process:

1. Review of university transcripts to ensure successful completion of English courses.
2. Formal interview with the appropriate University administrators.
3. Oral presentation to relevant communities on campus (e.g., faculty and students).

5.2 Minimum Employment Qualifications

It is the policy of Adventist University of Health Sciences to require the following qualifications for faculty teaching at the degree levels indicated:

• For faculty teaching general education (health and biomedical sciences) at the Associate degree level, the following are required:
  • A Master’s Degree and a minimum of 18 graduate-level semester hours of credit in the discipline(s) being taught.
  • Meet the standards set by the professional accrediting body.
  • A commitment to actively engage in the mission of the University.
• For faculty teaching allied health courses at the Associate or Baccalaureate degree-level, the following are required:
  • A degree at or above the degree level of the course being taught.
  • Professional certification and expertise in the discipline(s) being taught.
  • Meet the standards set by the appropriate professional accrediting body.
  • A commitment to actively engage in the mission of the University.
• For faculty teaching general education (health and biomedical sciences) and/or nursing courses at the Baccalaureate degree level, the following are required:
  • A Master’s degree and a minimum of 18 graduate-level semester hours of credit in the discipline being taught, or
  • A Master’s degree, including a major, in the discipline(s) being taught.
  • Meet the standards set by the appropriate professional accrediting body.
  • A commitment to actively engage in the mission of the University.
• For faculty teaching graduate and post-baccalaureate courses at the Master’s level, the following are required:
  • A Doctoral degree in the discipline(s) being taught or in a related discipline, or
  • A Master’s degree, including a major, in the discipline(s) being taught when that degree is usually considered the terminal degree in that discipline, or
  • Meet the standards set by the appropriate professional accrediting body.
  • A commitment to actively engage in the mission of the University.
• For faculty teaching at the doctoral level, the following are required:
  • A Doctoral degree in the discipline(s) being taught or in a related discipline.
  • Meet the standards set by the appropriate professional accrediting body.
  • A commitment to actively engage in the mission of the University.

5.3 Recruitment of Faculty

Prior clearance must be obtained from financial and academic administration before the hiring process begins. The process for filling a position involves announcing the position, gathering a pool of candidates, and interviewing selected candidates. Following are the general guidelines for this process:

1. Qualifications for the position include:
   1. Educational background
   2. Experience and competence
   3. Specialized knowledge, research, licenses, and/or credentials
2. The Department Chair/Program Director will determine an established timeline for recruiting that would include advertising appropriate to the job vacancy.
   1. The Office of Academic Administration will determine advertising needs based upon the following criteria:
      • Knowledge of qualified applicants within the ADU faculty
      • Department request
      • Length of time vacancy exists
      • External market conditions
      • Cost of specific advertisement
   2. The position may be publicized, utilizing any/all of the following:
      • Florida Hospital and ADU
      • Professional journals
      • Newspapers
      • Internet
      • Professional contacts
      • Direct mail
3. The following guidelines for the interview process should be followed:
   1. Faculty Candidate Packet (required for all faculty candidates and submitted to the Office of Academic Administration and distributed to the appropriate groups). The following materials must be included, but are not limited to:
      • The incoming faculty’s Curriculum Vitae or CV (See Appendix C ), a document that provides an overview of education, professional experience, teaching or educating experience, scholarship, and professional service.
      • Original transcripts of all post-secondary course work.
      • At least two letters of reference from previous supervisors or colleagues.
      • A 1-2 page summary of the faculty member’s educating philosophy, with particular attention to teaching/learning practices and what it means to teach in a Christian institution of higher learning (See Appendix F  - Educating Statement).
      • In addition, incoming faculty are requested to provide as applicable:
        • Teaching evaluations and/or professional evaluations, as available, from students, colleagues, administrators, and self.
        • Evidence of scholarly activity, e.g., published articles and posters accreditation documents, white papers, and presentations.
        • Documents verifying participation and, if available, effectiveness in recent professional service, e.g., professional societies, community-based professional service, and organizational service.
      • These documents need to be submitted in electronic format to the Office of Academic Administration.
      • Rehires: In addition to the materials listed above, faculty seeking to be rehired will consult with the Office of Academic Administration and the Chairperson of the Faculty Rank and Promotion committee to ensure that all relevant documents are included.
   2. Procedure for the interview process:
      • The Department Chair/Program Director, in consultation with the Provost, will arrange for the screening and interview of potential candidates.
      • After an initial interview by the Department Chair/Program Director and reference checks, the candidate(s) will be interviewed by selected members of the department.
      • When a candidate(s) is recommended by the department, an oral presentation will be made by the candidate to campus community (faculty, administration, and if appropriate, to students).
      • When the presentation is satisfactory, the Department Chair/Program Director may conduct a comprehensive interview and make a final recommendation to the Provost.
      • After interviewing the recommended candidate and in consultation with the Department Chair/Program Director, the Provost will submit the joint recommendation to the President for an interview and a final hiring decision. If the President does not accept the recommended candidate, the process will be repeated until a suitable candidate can be found.

4. The accepted candidate will be contacted by the Department Chair/Program Director to discuss details related to the offer of the position such as pay, benefits, and expected start date among others. The Department Chair/Program Director will then discuss these details with the Academic Administration for final approval.

5. The Provost or Vice President of Academic Administration will then send out the offer letter, inviting the candidate to join the ADU Faculty team.

6. If the applicant declines the position, and there is no second choice, the interview process will continue until the position is filled.
7. Employment offers are made without regard to age, race, sex, color, national origin, and ethnic background.

5.4 Exemption to Teaching Qualifications

Before a faculty member who does not meet the qualifications listed above can be assigned to teach a course as indicated above, the Exemption to Teaching Qualifications form (See Appendix A ) must be completed by the Department Chair and filed in the Office of the Provost.

5.5 Initial Appointment

The President appoints new faculty after conferring with the Provost, Department Chair/Supervisor, and the Faculty Rank and Promotion Committee.  New faculty candidates are appointed to a rank and level based in part on their education and experience (See 6.2 Ranks for a description of rank and competencies). Contracts are issued electronically by the President. A template of the contract is located in Appendix B .

5.6 Period of Appointment

Appointments for full-time and part-time faculty will be for the period specifically stated in their contract. The contract year is from August 16 through August 15. It is the goal of Administration to have contracts ready by the middle of June.

5.7 Academic Faculty

Academic faculty are those individuals hired on a full-time basis. These faculty receive full pay and benefits.

5.8 Professional Faculty

Professional faculty status is granted to those contract instructors who have taught at ADU over a period of time, have demonstrated a commitment to the institution, and have professional expertise. These faculty:

• Have earned a degree that meets or exceeds what is required for the course(s) taught
• Have demonstrated a commitment to ADU, its mission, and its values
• Have a proven track record as an instructor

Their responsibilities will entail:

• Being available to teach as needed
• Taking extracurricular responsibilities such as committee assignments
• Attending faculty meetings and University-sponsored professional development courses whenever possible
• Having office hours commensurate with the number of course(s) taught in a given trimester

The benefits of Professional faculty status include:

• A one-year contract committing faculty to teach each time their courses are offered
• Faculty privileges:
  • University faculty ID badge
  • Charging privileges at the University Bookstore
  • Florida Hospital Cafeteria and Gift Shop discounts
• Professional memberships. Up to two will be paid for those memberships related to the course(s) taught (See Elective Membership Dues Policy ).
• Tuition benefit for immediate family members during the current academic year while teaching.

5.9 Adjunct Faculty

Adjunct Instructional Faculty

The title of Adjunct Instructional Faculty is assigned to persons who are employed by the University to teach didactic courses which are offered on campus. These instructors are responsible for developing the course they teach, testing and grading, and recording student attendance. They will report to their department chair. They will be awarded an employment contract for each course taught, and will be remunerated based on their qualifications and according to the policies of the given department.

Adjunct Faculty for Professional Practice

The title of Adjunct Faculty for Professional Practice is assigned to persons who are appropriately qualified and maintain a relationship with the University for the purpose of supporting and teaching students in their professional practice at Adventist University of Health Sciences.  These individuals may or may not receive remuneration for their work.  They may hold faculty status within a department of the University, renewable on an annual basis. They may also attend faculty meetings, by invitation, in the academic department where they hold membership

Adjunct Faculty for Clinical Practice

The title of Adjunct Clinical Faculty is assigned to persons who are appropriately qualified to supervise and instruct students in the clinical area. These individuals may or may not receive remuneration for their specific clinical assignment. They may be responsible for the entire clinical course or may be required to perform specific duties within a clinical course. They may also be required to provide information through evaluations to the department chair, clinical coordinator, or the individual designated responsible for clinical supervision.

Adjunct Faculty for Research

The title of Adjunct Faculty for Research is assigned to persons who are appropriately qualified and maintain a relationship with Adventist University of Health Sciences for the purpose of supporting and advancing research activities.  These individuals may or may not receive remuneration for their work.  They may hold faculty status within a department of the University. They may also attend faculty meetings, by invitation, in the academic department where they hold membership.  Their appointment can be renewed on a yearly basis.

Adjunct Faculty for Mission

The title of Adjunct Faculty for Mission is assigned to persons who are appropriately qualified to engage in mission related activities in support of the mission of Adventist University of Health Sciences.  These individuals may or may not receive remuneration for their work.  They may hold faculty status within a department of the University. They may also attend faculty meetings, by invitation, in the academic department where they hold membership.  Their appointment can be renewed on a yearly basis.

Adjunct Faculty for Online Education

The title of Adjunct Faculty for Online Education is assigned to persons employed by the University to teach certain online courses (Internet, asynchronous, synchronous, and video-based). They will be awarded an employment contract for each course taught and will be remunerated wages as set forth in their contact agreement. These faculty are assigned lead or section adjunct instructor responsibilities as noted in the employment contract.  Responsibilities include, but are not limited to recording attendance, grading of academic work, and providing asynchronous, synchronous, and/or discussion forums as found in the respective course. They will report to their department chair. They may also attend faculty meetings, by invitation, in the academic department where they hold membership. 

5.10 Department Chair or Program Director

When a Department Chair or Program Director position becomes vacant, a Search Committee may be appointed by the President. The Search Committee will then search for, screen, and interview the most qualified candidates and make recommendations to the President. The President, taking into consideration the recommendations of the Search Committee as well as those of the Provost, makes the final decision.

5.11 All Vice Presidents

At the executive level, in consultation with the appropriate University officers, the President makes the final decisions on such appointments.

5.12 The President of the University

The President serves at the pleasure of the Board of Trustees and is appointed, reappointed, and/or dismissed at their discretion in a manner determined by them.