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Table of Contents

• Statement of Policy
• Reason for Policy
• Who Should Know This Policy
• Related Documents
• Contacts
• Definitions
• Procedures
• Special Situations
• Responsibilities
• History
• Forms

Statement of Policy

Purdue University has established the Lecturer classification as a unique employment category to assist in meeting the academic mission of the University. Lecturers are professional instructional staff that supplement and support faculty expertise and capabilities in the instruction of students. Lecturers may be classified either as Continuing Lecturer or as Limited-term Lecturer. The number of Continuing Lecturers may not exceed 10 percent of the tenure/tenure-track faculty on each campus. Limited-term Lecturers do not have a University maximum and each campus can manage the number of Limited-term Lecturers it employs.

Reason for Policy

The employment of Lecturers must be carefully monitored and managed to ensure that their employment:

• Enhances the education of students;
• Provides sound and fair employment opportunities for individuals; and
• Complies with the limits established by University policy.

This policy articulates the terms of employment for Lecturers at Purdue University and the methods implemented to monitor and manage this staff classification.

Who Should Know This Policy

• President
• Provost
• Vice Provosts/Vice Presidents
• Chancellors
• Vice Chancellors
• Deans
• Department Heads/Chairs/Directors
• Business Services Staff

Related Documents

Procedures for Appointing and Paying Limited-term Lecturers with Concurrent Appointments
Disclosure Statement for Nonexempt Limited-term Lecturers
University Policy on Lecturers Implementing Guidelines issued August 2003
Purdue University Faculty and Staff Handbook regarding Administrative and Supervisory Staff and Professional Assistants

Contacts

Definitions

Procedures

Limitations

Continuing Lecturer
The number of Continuing Lecturers may not exceed 10 percent of the tenure/tenure-track faculty on each campus. The provost at the West Lafayette campus and the chancellors at each of the regional campuses will be responsible for managing this limit for the respective campus.

Limited-term Lecturers
Limited-term Lecturers do not have a University maximum; each campus can manage the number of Limited-term Lecturers it employs.

Characteristics

Continuing Lecturer
Continuing Lecturers are regular staff and must have a total FTE of .50 or greater through any combination of exempt benefit-eligible classifications. Continuing Lecturers accrue the same benefits as administrative/professional staff and are subject to the Purdue policies, benefits, and procedures for the administrative/professional staff classification. Continuing Lecturers are not considered faculty and do not have faculty voting privileges, nor are they eligible for tenure or sabbatical leave.

A Continuing Lecturer is responsible for teaching a minimum number of weekly teacher contact hours (WTCH) or weekly student contact hours (WSCH) each semester. The number of contact hours is proportional to the FTE appointment. A Continuing Lecturer with a .50 FTE appointment shall be responsible for teaching 200 WSCH a semester averaged over the academic year or six WTCH a semester. A Continuing Lecturer is expected to contribute to the infrastructure of his or her college’s/school’s instructional programs by performing the appropriate and necessary duties related to the academic programs of the college/school.

Limited-term Lecturers
Limited-term Lecturers are not regular employees of the University. The term of appointment may not exceed one semester. There is no limitation on the number of semesters that an individual may be employed as a Limited-term Lecturer if the individual’s FTE for all Limited-term Lecturer positions is less than .50 FTE per semester. An individual who holds a Limited-term Lecturer position(s) with an FTE of .50 or greater may not be employed as a Limited-term Lecturer for more than six continuous academic-year semesters without the approval of the president or his/her designee.

New Appointments

Continuing Lecturer
All appointments to the Continuing Lecturer staff must be made using Form 19L, which requires approval by the president or his/her designee. All Continuing Lecturer appointments will normally be on an academic-year basis.

Limited-term Lecturers
If the Limited-term Lecturer appointment is the employee’s only appointment,a Form 19L is used, which requires approval by the president or his/her designee. The begin date and the end date of the appointment must be set forth on the Form 19L. If the Limited-term Lecturer already holds a concurrent appointment or will be adding an appointment, please refer to the “Procedures for Appointing and Paying Limited-term Lecturers with Concurrent Appointments” to determine how the appointment should be processed.

Renewal of Appointment

Continuing Lecturer
Continuing Lecturer appointments must be renewed each academic year by action of the board of trustees’ approval of the annual operating budget for Purdue University or by approval of a Payroll Change Form 10 by the president or his/her designee. Contract (Form 19L) extensions are not normally required unless the current contract included an end date.

Limited-term Lecturer
If the Limited-term Lecturer appointment is the employee’s only appointment, a new Form 19L is required for each semester the University employs the Limited-term Lecturer. If the Limited-term Lecturer holds an additional appointment, please refer to the “Procedures for Appointing and Paying Limited Term Lecturers with Concurrent Appointments” to determine how to renew the appointment.
 
Non-Renewal of Appointment

Continuing Lecturer
If the University does not intend to continue the appointment of a Continuing Lecturer, written notice of this intention will be given on University Form 19E (Notice of Expiration). The University will give the written notice to the Continuing Lecturer at least one academic semester before the end of the current appointment. For purposes of this notice, summer session is not considered an academic semester.

Limited-term Lecturer
Limited-term Lecturer contracts are made for one semester at a time. No further notice is required. 

Resignation

Continuing Lecturer
A Continuing Lecturer will give the University written notice of his/her intent to resign at least one academic semester before the end of the current appointment. For purposes of this notice, summer session is not considered an academic semester.

Limited-term Lecturer
It is expected that a Limited-term Lecturer will complete the semester assignments contracted on the Form 19L.

Termination

Continuing Lecturer
The University may terminate the employment of any Continuing Lecturer before the end of his/her term of appointment for misconduct, poor performance, or inefficiency upon written notice to the Continuing Lecturer. Continuing Lecturers are not entitled to the procedures for cases of termination for cause that are available to faculty classifications. However, substantive grievances in cases of termination for cause before the end of the term of appointment may be grieved pursuant to the Grievance Procedures for Academic Personnel. If a Continuing Lecturer’s employment is terminated prior to the expiration of his/her appointment, the University will pay his/her salary through the last day of employment. The University will not pay the Continuing Lecturer’s salary for the remainder of his/her term of appointment. The final salary payment will be paid in the individual’s final paycheck according to the University’s normal payroll practices.

Limited-term Lecturer
The employment of a Limited-term Lecturer may be terminated prior to the expiration of the contract when the University elects to cancel the course due to not meeting the minimum enrollment requirements for the course. The University will notify the Limited-term Lecturer via telephone, e-mail, or written communication if this occurs. If the notification is via telephone, the University will confirm the cancellation by sending a written or e-mailed notice.

The University may terminate the employment of any Limited-term Lecturer before the end of his/her term of appointment for misconduct, poor performance, or inefficiency upon written notice to the Limited-term Lecturer. Limited-term Lecturers are not entitled to the procedures for cases of termination for cause that are available to faculty classifications. If a Limited-term Lecturer’s employment is terminated prior to the expiration of his/her appointment, the University will pay the individual his/her salary based on the number of teacher contact hours taught. The University will not pay the individual’s salary for the remainder of his/her term of appointment. The final salary payment will be paid in the individual’s final paycheck according to the University’s normal payroll practices.

University Benefits and Leaves of Absence

Continuing Lecturers
Continuing Lecturers are eligible for the same University benefits and leaves of absence as are provided to Administrative and Supervisory (0030A10) or Professional Assistant (0060A10) staff as outlined in the Purdue University Faculty and Staff handbook. In the case where a person is in a non-benefits eligible position and transfers to a Continuing Lecturer position, only service after being classified as a Continuing Lecturer will be considered when determining eligibility for University benefits including, but not limited to, calculating the waiting period of any benefit program. Where a staff member transfers to a Continuing Lecturer position from another benefit-eligible classification, the service period will include time in the prior position.

Limited-term Lecturers
Limited-term Lecturers are not eligible for University benefits nor are they eligible for University leaves of absence, except as may be required by law.

Salary Payments

The University will pay employees with one Lecturer appointment according to the monthly payment schedule set forth in the University payroll calendar. The respective unit will set the rate of compensation for its Lecturer staff. The rate of pay for Lecturers is subject to modification if there is any legislative reduction in the state or federal appropriations from which the compensation is paid. Salaries derived from other sources will be paid to the extent funds are available.

For information on salary payments for Limited-term Lecturers with concurrent appointments, see “Procedures for Appointing and Paying Limited Term Lecturers with Concurrent Appointments.”

University Policies, Procedures, Guidelines, and Regulations

Lecturers are bound by and obligated to familiarize themselves with the University’s written policies, procedures, guidelines, and regulations including, but not limited to, Executive Memorandum No. B-4 (Political Activities), Executive Memorandum No. B-10 (Ownership of Patents, Copyrights, and Other Rights in Inventions and in Written and Recorded Materials), Executive Memorandum No. C-39 (University Policy on Conflicts of Interest and Commitment), and President’s Office Form 32A (Application for Permission to Engage in Outside Activity and/or Disclosure of Potential Conflict of Interest).

Special Situations

Any deviation from this policy requires approval by the president or his/her designee.

Responsibilities

Academic department heads and deans are responsible for administering all procedures detailed in this policy and any subsequent implementing guidelines. It is their responsibility to ensure that high academic standards are applied to the employment and review of Lecturers.

The deans/vice presidents of each academic unit at West Lafayette and the chancellors of each Purdue University campus are responsible for providing an annual report to the provost detailing the number of Continuing Lecturers employed in their unit of responsibility.

The provost, as the president’s designee, will monitor the distribution of Continuing Lecturers at Purdue University. Continuing Lecturers should not exceed 10 percent of the total FTE of University tenured and tenure-track faculty at each campus. The distribution of Continuing Lecturers will be managed by the provost for the West Lafayette campus, and the chancellors for their respective regional campus.

History

This policy supersedes University Policy IV.14.4, issued January 1, 1999, and revised August 1, 2003. This policy defined the employment classification of Lecturer and described the terms and conditions of their employment.

Forms

In support of this policy, the following forms are noted:

Name	Number
Lecturer Appointment Form	Form 19L
Payroll Change Form	Form 10
Notice of Non-Renewal of Contract Form	Form 19E