Conditions of Term Faculty

Hours and FTE

Term Faculty cannot be hired with a Full Time Equivalency (FTE) less than .75 (30 hours per week) and no more than 1.0 FTE (40 hours per week).

Employment Period

Per ARP 6.03 – Employment Categories, Term Faculty appointments cannot be established for less than 6 months and not to exceed a total of two (2) consecutive years. However, an extension of 1 year may be requested so that the total appointment time is a maximum 2 years. After the appointment period, the employee will be required to have a 26 week break in NMSU non-regular employment, which includes all employee types (temporary staff/faculty, student and GA).

 Multiple Jobs

Term Faculty may hold more than one position. However, all jobs must be compensated in the same exemption status and cannot exceed a 1.0 FTE.

Example: Term Faculty + Temp Faculty are hired as salary and can be hired simultaneously. The total combined FTE cannot exceed 1.0.

Initiate the Hiring Process

Hiring System

• Posting Details – this is a template, which when completed, creates the job description/posting announcement applicants will see on the NMSU website.
• Applicant Documents – these are the documents that the applicant will provide as part of their application process. These documents may be required or optional. These will generally include, but are not limited to: Cover Letter/Letter of Interest, CV/Resume, Reference Contact List, Transcripts, etc.
• Supplemental Questions – this feature allows the Search Committee to ask specific questions of the applicant, which may be required or optional and can attach point values to answers or disqualify candidates, removing them from the qualified pool.
• Ranking Criteria – this feature allows the Search Committee to establish applicant evaluation questions, which are then utilized by each Search Committee member in evaluating applications, interview answers, etc.
• Search Committee – this feature identifies and connects Search Committee members to the electronic process. The user designation allows search committee members access to the applicants and the recruitment process for review and ranking.
• Letters of Reference – this feature establishes the number of references required and has an electronic reference letter collection process feature.
• Underutilization (Affirmative Action Plan Compliance) – this feature establishes the underutilization status of the position.

Preparing for Posting and External Advertising

Term Faculty are posted and hired through PeopleAdmin. Advertising is optional for non-regular term positions. If externally advertising, applications must be collected electronically through PeopleAdmin.

Making the Offer

Once the selected candidate has been identified, the hiring department must submit the PeopleAdmin Hiring Proposal. Once all approvals are received, Dean/CC President (Approving Authority) will approve the Hiring Proposal and an automated notification is sent to the Hiring Manager. At this time the Hiring Manager may make a verbal offer to the candidate. Once the candidate has accepted the verbal offer, the Hiring Manager should follow up with a written offer letter to the selected candidate. All offers of employment are contingent on a successful background check.

Once the candidate has accepted the offer, the Hiring Department will complete the Hiring Confirmation and submit to HRS. The candidate will receive an electronic notification initiated by central HRS to complete the Background Check Release (Background Check Process Flow). The Hiring Department will be notified when background check results are received.

Onboarding New Hire

To assist you with successfully onboarding your new employee, NMSU utilizes an electronic onboarding process via NMSU’s hiring system, PeopleAdmin. To learn more about this process, visit http://hr.nmsu.edu/onboarding-guide/.

More forms and documents to assist you in this process can be found on the New Employee webpage.

 Term Faculty Benefits and Employment Rights

Benefits

Term Faculty are eligible for standard benefits offered to regular employees. Term Faculty hired at less than an annual basis (full 12 month appointment) do not accrue annual or sick leave. Term Faculty hired on an annual basis (full 12 month appointment) only accrue annual leave which must be used by June 30 each year and is not eligible for payout at the time of termination of employment.Please note that benefit enrollments must be done within the first 31 days of employment. Some benefit programs offer late enrollment, but restrictions may apply. If at any time you convert from a Term position to a Regular position with no break in service, you will not have another opportunity to sign up for benefits until an open enrollment opportunity is extended to all employees.

Employment Rights

1. No grievance rights. This does not apply for complaints involving any type of unlawful discrimination, which shall be filed with the NMSU Office of Institutional Equity and shall follow NMSU Policy. See ARP 3.25 – Discrimination, Harassment and Sexual Misconduct on Campus, ARP 10.50 – Faculty Alleged Misconduct Investigation, Discipline, and Appeals Processes, and ARP 10.60 – Faculty Grievance Review and Resolution.
2. Not eligible for annual salary increase, promotion, transfer, retention, counter offers, etc.
3. Employees in non-regular positions may not be hired into a regular employment position without a competitive recruitment process. Exceptions to the recruitment process require written approval by the Provost via the Alternative Appointment for Faculty form.