Purpose: To provide processes, policies, and guidelines for professional-track faculty contract lengths. 

Approved: May 2025; Amended July 2026.

Effective: Academic Year 2025-26; Amendments effective Academic Year 2026-27.

The mission of The University of Texas at Austin is to achieve excellence in the interrelated areas of undergraduate education, graduate education, research and public service. The primary responsibility of professional-track faculty (PTF) in the College of Liberal Arts (College) is to enhance instruction. Their teaching is essential to the success of the University’s educational mission, providing continuity and stability in required curriculum, and offering expertise to our students that complements the strength of tenured and tenure-track faculty. Primary duties for all faculty are specified in Regents’ Rule 31004. 

The goal of this policy, and of the College, is to promote stability, retention, and the professionalization of non-tenure-track instructional faculty. Consistent with this goal, short-term contracts (one year or less) are the default for new and entry-level professional-track faculty, while two- or three-year fixed terms are the default for mid- and highest-rank faculty. Three-year rolling contracts are reserved for exceptional cases where long-term continuity is critical and clearly supported by performance, programmatic need, and financial capacity.

In implementing this framework, departments are encouraged to reduce reliance on one-year contracts for mid- and highest-rank faculty wherever possible. One-year contracts may still be appropriate in limited circumstances, including initial hires, strategic academic priorities, or short-term instructional needs.

UT Austin uses the following contract terms for professional-track faculty.

• Generally, 1 year or less. Also used for an assignment beginning in the summer and ending not later than 8/15 of the following summer. 

• 2-year – 2 years or less, but more than 1 year 

• 3-year – 3 years or less, but more than 2 years

• 2-year – a 2-year contract term extended one year each year rather than the assignment of a new contract term after the previous term has ended. 

• 3-year – a 3-year contract term extended one year each year rather than the assignment of a new contract term after the previous term has ended. 

1. In keeping with the Provost’s Office expectations, departments should align standard contract type with faculty rank.

   1. At minimum, departments are expected to follow the guidance in Table 1 below for minimum contract type when promoting a professional-track faculty member to the mid-level or highest-level rank.

   2. Multi-year contracts were designed to recognize extended and exemplary service to the instructional mission at UT Austin. Pursuant to the Provost’s Office guidelines, absent exceptional circumstances, multi-year contracts may be extended after six semesters or more in rank at UT Austin, and multiple-year contracts need to be 50% time or greater for the full fixed period. (See Section 1 – Position Information, PAR https://provost.utexas.edu/the-office/faculty-affairs/prior-approval-request-par-process/).

   3. Any other deviation from the guidance provided in this policy should be consistent with the unit’s approved criteria (See Section II below), or, if ad hoc, be approved by the Associate Dean for Academic & Faculty Affairs (ADAF).

2. Contract type determinations shall be made:

   1. Consistently within departments or units across faculty within each rank.

   2. In alignment with College and University policies.

1. Departments/Hiring Units must specify criteria for contract types and a process for approving and modifying the criteria. These will either be incorporated into department governance documents or developed separately. These will be reviewed at the time of governance renewal and modifications may be requested as needed.

2. Departments may consider the following criteria for offering longer-term contracts within rank:   

• a consistent record of satisfactory, or stronger, annual faculty reviews;

• sustained effectiveness in teaching and other assigned professional responsibilities;

• reliable fulfillment of assigned duties and responsibilities;

• ongoing instructional or programmatic need for the position during the proposed contract period;

• documented contributions to the academic program, as relevant to the appointment, including curricular continuity, mentoring, coordination, service, or other support for program operations;

• continued funding availability; and

• mutual commitment between the faculty member and department.

1. Annual reviews are encouraged to comment on eligibility for 2-or 3-year fixed or rolling term contracts, as defined in department/hiring unit criteria. 

2. Requests to offer a multi-year contract are subject to approval. Requests for approval from the Associate Dean for Academic and Faculty Affairs of a multi-year contract must include: 

   1. An articulation of how the faculty member meets criteria; and

   2. A discussion of budgetary implications and alignment with instructional need.

3. Departments and hiring units should follow applicable Human Resources policies and practices for renewal and re-appointment.

1. The various contract term types have different requirements regarding the frequency with which a signed appointment letter is required. Appointment letters should be written more frequently when necessary (e.g., appointment details change, or a fixed contract is renewed during the period of the initial fixed contract period). Appointments remain subject to continued satisfactory performance, ongoing instructional or programmatic need, funding availability, and mutual commitment between the faculty member and the department.

The College recommends departments/hiring units refer to the Provost’s Office Guidelines for Managing the Employment of Professional-Track Faculty for additional guidance and practices. 

Professional-Track Faculty Contract Request Form

For questions, contact Jennifer Nailos at la-academic@austin.utexas.edu