Early in the academic year, the department head will consult with the college’s faculty to help determine the faculty needs for the following academic year. The department’s recommendations for decreases or increases are forwarded to the dean along with justification in terms of work load, including teaching and research, for any requests for new faculty.

The academic dean will review the recommendations, add any pertinent information, give the dean’s priorities, and forward them to the Provost.

The Provost will review the recommendations and with the approval of the president, authorize recruitment for those positions that provide the best satisfaction of the needs of the University.

Prospective Faculty

The department head has direct responsibility for discovering prospective faculty members. Members of the faculty, administrators and students are encouraged to suggest possible prospects. The Provost must approve the invitation for a prospective faculty member to visit Drexel. Normally his/her approval will be obtained after s/he has reviewed the resume and other information about the visitor.

A prospective faculty member visiting Drexel will be asked to present a review of his/her research activity or of some specific part of it in a colloquium or seminar to be attended by faculty members and students, both graduate and undergraduate, of the department concerned, and other interested faculty members. In addition, s/he will be interviewed by the department head and members of the departmental faculty and appropriate students and administrators. S/he will be interviewed by the President if the rank being considered for him/her is that of Professor. During these preliminary interviews, the tenure policy is discussed but rank and salary are generally not discussed.

Contract Preparation

After the President’s approval, the Provost’s Office will prepare and send an original and one copy of the contract and forward these to the prospective faculty member. The contract letter must include the following.

Appointment of new faculty members usually are made for the academic year beginning September 1, covering the academic year to the completion of the following spring term. However, an appointment may begin at the beginning of any quarter, with adjusted salary and pay periods, if approved by the department head, dean and provost.

It must be stated clearly that summer employment is not guaranteed and is dependent on department teaching load.

The letter must state that tenure consideration will normally be made in the sixth year of eligibility, how much credit the faculty member brings toward the probationary period (if any), the year by which the tenure review will be made, and the granting of tenure will depend upon the existence of an available position (See Tenure Policy).

The Provost’s Office has a set cost for moving, any other cost should come from the department head and/or dean.

It is understood that in accepting a contract, the prospective faculty member will participate in the Annuity Program when required by the University policy. New faculty members must contact the Human Resources Office immediately after arriving on campus to set up an appointment for processing required papers.

All that is necessary to complete the contract is for the prospective faculty member to sign, date and return the copy of the contract. When it is received by the provost, copies are made and sent to the necessary offices at Drexel.