Academic rank designates faculty status and is distinct from job title. For example, the Provost (job title) may have an academic rank of Professor, and the faculty member who is the Deforest Strunk Chair (job title) may have an academic rank of Visiting Professor. The following academic ranks are recognized at USD.
TENURED AND TENURE-TRACK RANKS
Includes clinical law faculty eligible for tenure.
- Professor
- Associate Professor
- Assistant Professor
- Instructor (lacking a terminal degree)
NONTENURABLE RANKS
Fixed-term Contracts
Usually one year, full time or part time.
- Adjunct [Professor, Associate Professor, Assistant Professor, Instructor]
Faculty teaching at USD for one or more years - Adjunct Clinical [Professor, Associate Professor, Assistant Professor, Instructor]
Faculty teaching at USD on a clinical track - Visiting [Professor, Associate Professor, Assistant Professor, Instructor]
Faculty teaching at USD while maintaining a professional affiliation elsewhere - Affiliate [Professor, Associate Professor, Assistant Professor, Instructor]
Faculty who are given a courtesy appointment - Professor of Legal Writing
Law faculty teaching Legal Writing and Research I and II - Emeritus [Professor, Associate Professor, Assistant Professor, Instructor]
Faculty retired from USD with honorary rank approved by Board of Trustees
Per-course Teaching Contracts
By semester, paid per course at per-unit rate.
- Lecturer I (lacking a terminal degree) or II (with a terminal degree)
Faculty teaching at USD on a per-course basis - Adjunct Law Professor
Law faculty teaching on a per-course basis
Student Supervisor Contracts
By semester, paid per course or per student.
- Group Supervisor
Supervises student teachers at offsite schools - Individual Fieldwork Supervisor
Supervises student counseling interns at offsite schools - Clinical Supervisor
Supervises nursing students at offsite locations
