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The alternate rank for Assistant Professor is Instructor, which is also a tenure track title. In a case where a would-be Assistant Professor does not meet the contingency and must begin as an Instructor, their tenure clock still starts. (In the case of a tenure-track Spring hire, the clock does not begin until the following Fall.) Even if the faculty member completes their degree requirements shortly after the assignment start date, they will still remain in the Instructor title until the following Fall. A faculty member may remain in the Instructor title for a maximum of three years. Per Board of Regents' Rule 31001, the Instructor title denotes a probationary appointment.
Degree contingency vs. credentialing
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