Introduction

The President or the President's designee, using the procedures established by the campus and the Unit 3 collective bargaining agreement (CBA), makes all faculty appointments. 

The official notification of appointment must include the beginning and ending dates of the appointment, classification, timebase, salary, rank, employee status, assigned department or equivalent unit, prior year service credit, if any, and other conditions of employment.

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Faculty Position Classifications and Assignments

• Assignments

Faculty in all classifications are assigned to perform the required duties of their position. Historically, the annual full-time assignment for faculty is 15 weighted teaching units per term; normally, 12 are direct instructional units, and 3 weighted units are for instruction-related responsibilities. Each part-time faculty works a proportionate amount of time in accordance with the type of assignment/appointment.
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• Tenured Faculty

Tenure establishes the right to continued permanent employment except when such employment is voluntarily terminated or is terminated by the University pursuant to the CBA or law. Tenure is granted by the President upon completion of a satisfactory period of probationary service and under the provisions of the Unit 3 CBA and UPS 210.000. The President may award tenure to any individual, including one whose appointment and assignment is in an administrative position, at the time of appointment.
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• Probationary Faculty

Probationary appointments (referred to as tenure-track positions) are those in which the individual must serve a period of probation before becoming eligible for tenure. The normal period of probation is six years of full-time probationary service, including any service credit. At the time of initial appointment to probationary status, the President, upon recommendation by the appropriate department and administrator, may grant up to two years of service credit toward the probationary period. This credit is based on previous service at an institution of postsecondary education including previous full-time CSU employment. As part of the appointment process, and as a condition of employment, faculty must provide official certification of the terminal degree. An official transcript is required no later than 60 days from the appointment date.
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• Temporary Faculty

Temporary Faculty are hired in the lecturer classification. Temporary appointments may be full- or part-time and are made on a semester-by-semester or academic-year basis. Temporary appointments do not confer probationary status or tenure.
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• Adjunct Faculty

Adjunct faculty status may be awarded to individuals whose special qualifications make them valuable additions to a department without their becoming bona fide members of the regular faculty. Appointments may be made with the recommendation of the appropriate faculty personnel and college dean, and approval by the Vice President for Academic Affairs. Faculty in adjunct status may be entitled to certain perquisites such as library privileges and the opportunity to purchase parking, recreation, and other passes at faculty/staff rates.
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• Substitute Faculty

Substitute faculty are hired for temporary, short-term assignments. Contact the office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs for appropriate forms and procedures. Decisions concerning the hiring of substitute faculty are made after consultation between the chair, dean and Vice President for Academic Affairs.
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• Faculty Early Retirement Program (FERP)

Eligible tenured faculty who have reached the age of fifty-five may elect to participate in a Faculty Early Retirement Program .  This program allows participants to be granted a service retirement and continue to be employed full time for one semester in the academic year or to be employed half time both semesters in the academic year.  Under the current policy, participants are entitled to the yearly period of employment for no more than five consecutive academic or fiscal years.  Refer to the Collective Bargaining Agreement for additional information.
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• Retirees

Post-retirement employment of Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) annuitants (including faculty who have taken complete retirement) without reinstatement or loss of retirement benefits is permitted under certain conditions. Retired annuitants may be employed in any fiscal year on a temporary basis not to exceed 90 working days or 50% of the timebase the person was employed during the last fiscal year of service prior to retirement. Participants in the 1992 Early Retirement Incentive Program for faculty may not return to work for the CSU in any paid capacity without forfeiting the additional four years of service credit. Consult the office of Faculty Affairs and Records for additional information.
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• Administrative Personnel Appointment Procedures

Procedures for appointing administrative and academic-administrative employees for the position of Associate Dean/Director or higher are outlined in relevant UPS documents. As a rule, an ad hoc committee is selected to conduct the search for administrative appointments.
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Other Non-Faculty Classifications

• Teaching Associates

Currently enrolled graduate students who are given full responsibilities for assigned classes may be appointed as Teaching Associates. Because this position was established specifically for graduate students, they can no longer be appointed as part-time faculty. Assignments in this classification provide graduate students with part-time employment offering practical teaching experience in fields related to their advanced study. This classification is not represented by collective bargaining. Start and end dates for assignments are the same as for part-time faculty.As the standard practice for our campus, graduate students will generally not be allowed to exceed 20 hours of work per week, even if appointed to multiple positions. Although it is possible to appoint a graduate student concurrently to Teaching Associate and Graduate Assistant or Teaching Associate and Student Assistant positions, it is not recommended because of the potential conflict in work schedules and the graduate student's coursework obligations.
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• Graduate Assistants

Assignments in this classification (1) provide currently enrolled graduate students with part-time employment, not to exceed 20 hours per week, offering practical experience in fields related to their advanced study, and (2) provide professional non-teaching assistance to faculty members. Because Graduate Assistants cannot be given responsibility for classes, they do not generate FTES nor are they given weighted teaching unit credit. It is possible, but not recommended because of potential conflict in work schedules and coursework obligations, to appoint a Graduate Assistant concurrently to both a Teaching Associate and Graduate Assistant position, as long as the total employment per week does not exceed 20 hours. It is also possible to appoint a graduate student concurrently to both a Graduate Assistant and a Student Assistant position under the same conditions mentioned above.

Graduate Assistants may be hired to work 5, 10, 15, or 20 hours per week. Graduate Assistants receive 5 equal monthly payments for each semester and are appointed from September through January for fall semester and from February through June for the spring semester. Graduate Assistants should be advised that their full stipend is earned upon completion of the work required and the faculty member's certification of such completion. The Graduate Assistant position is exempt; thus, individuals appointed to this position are not required to "make up" hours for those days when the campus is closed due to a holiday. However, because Graduate Assistants do not accrue leave credits, it is accepted practice to expect that absences during assigned work hours should be made up.
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New and Returning Faculty Appointment Procedures

• New Faculty Sign-In Procedures

Faculty not previously employed by California State University, Fullerton must visit Human Resources, College Park, Suite 700, in person, before the start of classes to complete the employment sign-in process. This involves completion of various payroll forms, including an income tax withholding declaration, a loyalty oath (required by the California Constitution of all American citizens), and an employment eligibility form (I-9).  Faculty receive a temporary I.D., which can be used to access University services, e.g., the Library.  Holders of temporary I.D. cards must visit the TitanCard Center to obtain their permanent I.D. Forms are provided to apply for a campus parking permit. (Parking permits are purchased at the Cashier's Office in University Hall or through a payroll deduction; for more information, refer to the section on "Parking.") Employees may obtain a summary of CSU benefits and may enroll in benefits, e.g., health, dental, and vision, in Human Resources.  Department Chairs will provide information to new faculty about office space, equipment and keys.
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• Returning Faculty Sign-In Procedures

Returning faculty (reappointed with no break in employment) need to visit Human Resources only to obtain a benefits packet or to sign-up for benefits. There are other circumstances that may necessitate a visit to Human Resources. The employing department/dean's office will notify the employee under these circumstances.
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• Benefits Information for New and Returning Faculty

Pay Schedule and Paycheck Information

Faculty are paid once a month, normally at the end of the month, in six equal installments for a semester-only appointment and in twelve equal installments for an academic-year appointment. If all required documentation for new and returning appointments is complete and submitted in time to be fully processed prior to the State Controller's monthly cut-off date for September/February, you will receive your first paycheck at the end of September for the fall semester or at the end of February for the spring semester. Otherwise, you will receive your first paycheck in approximately four weeks after all required documentation is received in Payroll.  Paychecks are distributed to faculty by department personnel.

Faculty salary is payable in six equal monthly installments for each full semester employed. If you have a fall only contract, you will receive your sixth and final paycheck at the end of February. If you have a spring only contract, or if you have a probationary appointment commencing during the spring semester, you will receive your sixth and final paycheck at the end of July.

Please Note: Probationary faculty who commence their employment with the university during the spring semester and temporary faculty who have a spring only appointment with a subsequent fall appointment will have an interruption in their pay since the sixth and final paycheck for the spring semester is issued in July. There will be no paycheck forthcoming for the month of August since the August paycheck represents the sixth and final paycheck for the preceding fall semester. THIS HAS IMPLICATIONS FOR BENEFITS COVERAGE FOR SEPTEMBER. Check with Human Resources regarding continuation of benefits for September. If you have an academic year appointment or a fall appointment renewed for spring without a separation, your check for the February pay period represents your first installment for the spring semester. You will receive your sixth and final paycheck for the spring semester at the end of July, and for the fall semester at the end of August.Your final paycheck(s) after separation will be released only after Payroll Services receives your completed Property Clearance Form. If you have any questions regarding an individual payroll check, inquire first at your department. If your department is unable to answer your questions, please call Payroll Services at extension 2521.