Joint and Adjunct Appointments for Faculty at Indiana University
Joint and adjunct appointments allow faculty members to hold positions in multiple academic units simultaneously. These arrangements recognize interdisciplinary expertise and facilitate collaboration across departments, schools, or campuses within Indiana University.
Definition and Types of Joint Appointments
A joint appointment occurs when a faculty member has formal affiliations and full rights with more than one academic unit.
An adjunct appointment occurs when a faculty member has formal affiliations but limited rights with an academic unit in addition to their primary academic unit.
According to the "Classification of Academic Appointments" policy (BOT-06), faculty with interdisciplinary expertise may be appointed to more than one unit:
"Faculty who have full rights in more than one unit should have joint appointments. Discipline will be required to avoid appointment as adjuncts those who should be appointed as part-time lecturers."
Promotion and Tenure Considerations
For faculty with joint appointments who are being considered for promotion and tenure, input from all relevant units is required:
“If the candidate holds a joint or adjunct appointment in another school/unit and that joint appointment represents a significant investment of the faculty member or librarian's intellectual activities, include at least a letter of recommendation from the appropriate chair, director, or dean of that school/unit.” (Guidelines for Preparing and Reviewing Promotion and Tenure Dossiers 2024-2025, pg. 57)
Promotion and Tenure Approvals
If the candidate holds a joint appointment in two schools/units in which tenure is being sought or has been awarded:
- One unit/school will be designated as the primary unit in the letter of appointment (if the appointment letter does not designate a primary unit, the decision about which school/unit will be considered the primary unit for the promotion and/or tenure process must be made prior to the dossier being assembled.).
- The dean of the secondary unit/school must provide a letter for the dossier with his or her recommendation on the candidate, perhaps in consultation with the promotion and/or tenure committee of the secondary primary school/unit. This evaluation should be dated, signed, and printed on letterhead.
If the candidate holds an adjunct appointment in another school/unit, the dean of the secondary unit/school or an appropriate representative should be given the opportunity to provide a letter for the dossier with his or her recommendation on the candidate; however, it is not required. This evaluation should be dated, signed, and printed on letterhead (Guidelines for Preparing and Reviewing Promotion and Tenure Dossiers 2024-2025, pg. 64-65).
Responsibilities and Workload
Joint appointments require clear delineation of responsibilities across units. These responsibilities as well as assigned full-time effort (FTE) should be clearly designated in the appointment letter. Any significant changes must be agreed upon by all parties.
Annual, Merit, and Productivity Reviews
Faculty with joint appointments are typically evaluated by all units in which they hold appointments. The "Faculty and Librarian Annual Reviews" policy (BOT-13) applies to all academic appointees, including those with joint appointments, ensuring they receive appropriate annual merit and salary reviews.
The faculty member’s chair or supervisor in the primary unit is responsible for contacting the secondary unit(s) for input on annual, merit, and productivity reviews.
6/2025