Initial Appointments

An appointment is considered an "initial appointment" if the candidate has never held a faculty appointment at Boston University, or if the person has not held a similar position at the University within the past three academic years. Faculty returning to the University within three years of a previously held appointment will be handled as reappointments and will require the submission of reappointment forms. Faculty returning after more than three years will be handled as initial appointments.

Please refer to the Calendar of Board of Trustees Meetings when submitting an initial appointment for Associate or Full Professors so that it may be approved in a timely fashion.

When recommending full- and part-time faculty appointments, several items are required in the appointment package.   Recommendations for appointments at the rank of Associate or Full Professor, with or without tenure, require a different set of supporting materials.  Please contact the Faculty Actions area of the Office of the Provost for more information on these appointments.

These items include:

• Memorandum from the Dean
• Memorandum from the Chair
• Recommendation for Academic Appointment Form
• Biographical Data Form
• Affirmative Action Report Form for Faculty
• Patent Policy Agreement signed by candidate (payroll for full-time faculty will not be approved without this - not required for part-time)
• Current vita
• Three letters of recommendation
• Writing samples (e.g. publications)
• Candidate's statement of research and/or teaching interests or letter of intent

Appointment packages must be complete and in order when they are received by the Provost's Office. Packages with missing or incomplete information will be delayed and may be returned to the School/College.

The following items are required in an initial appointment package:

1. Memorandum from the Dean
   This should provide a brief overview of the appointment. This information would include the proposed rank and appointment period, courses to be offered, any additional responsibilities, and the proposed salary and funding source. It is important that all special situations, funding requests, etc. are clearly stated in this memo; they must also be noted on the initial appointment form. All information on the Dean's memo should be consistent with the rest of the appointment package.
2. Memorandum from the Chair
   This should contain a descriptive, one paragraph abstract of the appointment including a sentence on the educational background of the candidate, a sentence on the individual's intellectual interest and contributions to the field, and another sentence or two on relevant experience. This abstract is critical as it is used to prepare the summary presented to the Board of Trustees. Where a Chair's statement is not applicable or complete, the Dean needs to address these issues.
3. Recommendation for Academic Appointment Form
   The most pertinent details about the appointment are listed here, such as appointment duration, work assignment, source of funding for the appointment, and a "comments" section. The comments section must include any special requests as outlined in the Dean's memo. Information included on this form is used to write a summary for the Board of Trustees. All sections of this form must be completed; areas that do not apply should be marked "N/A." When the appointment has been reviewed and approved, a copy of the form with the Provost's signature will be returned as official administrative approval.
4. Biographical Data Form (PDF)
   As the title suggests, this form reports biographical data about the candidate. Information about educational degrees and prior work experience provides another component of a Board of Trustees summary. Please do not indicate "refer to attached vita" as the c.v. may have gaps or abbreviations. Please add the location (city and state) of the educational and work experience and the date the degree was earned, especially if it is not included on the vita.
5. The Affirmative Action Report Form for Faculty
   This form must be submitted with the recommendation for all initial full-time appointments that extend beyond one semester. For part-time appointments, only page 1 needs to be completed.
   The form is designed to:
   
   • Monitor and document the faculty recruitment and appointment process substantiating Boston University's affirmative action policy of actively recruiting women and minorities;
   • Serve as the input document for the automated Applicant Flow system.
   • This form, with the required documentation attached, is to be submitted with the appointment papers. This form provides the record required for compliance with rules governing Federal contractors; it does not become part of the individual's personnel file.
6. Patent Policy Agreement Form
   All full-time faculty at Boston University are required to submit a signed copy of the Patent Policy Agreement. This form, which provides for specific acceptance of the policy, should be submitted to the Provost's Office along with the appointment paperwork supporting the Dean's recommendation of the candidate. Candidates should be assured that the policy will take effect only if their appointments are approved and they accept the position. The signed form can also be submitted to the Provost's Office along with the new-hire payroll form. Please note: the new-hire payroll form will not be approved for faculty who have not signed the form.
7. Current vita
   This must be up-to-date (no more than three months old), and include the candidate's present experience. This information is used to prepare the summary for the Board of Trustees' meeting. Please add the location (city and state) of each position to the Biographical Data form if not included on the vita.
8. Three external letters of recommendation
   These should not to be more than one year old. Please provide an English translation if any letters are in a foreign language.
9. Writing Samples, e.g. Publications
   These are required for appointments with tenure, tenure track appointments, and any appointments in writing programs. They are also requested for research appointments. Some other appointments may not require them. Please contact your Faculty Actions Analyst should you need clarification.
10. Letter of Application for teaching appointments
    A letter of application and/or statement of the candidate's research and/or teaching interests must be included for faculty teaching students, including faculty at the professorial rank, visiting or regular, part-time or full-time. (In addition to outlining the applicant's interest in the position and the University, these letters give a sense of the writing ability of potential faculty members who will teach students.)