Academic-Promotion-Track Positions (Professorial Faculty Positions)
Academic-promotion-track faculty positions constitute the main professorial academic career path at Bilkent University. These faculty members are expected to conduct independent academic research (or produce artistic output, where applicable) in addition to teaching at the undergraduate and graduate (if applicable) levels. Academic-promotion-track faculty are eligible for applying to take sabbatical leaves.
A. Assistant Professor: Entry level academic-promotion-track faculty position. Appointed by the Rector upon the recommendation of the Provost. Assistant Professors are expected to get promoted to Associate Professor within a given time frame; those who do not get promoted may be asked to leave the university or considered for a non-professorial position.
B. Associate Professor: Middle level academic-promotion-track faculty position. Appointed after completing a three-step process, the first step being a requirement of the Council of Higher Education and conducted by the affiliated Inter-University Board, the second step being Bilkent University’s own promotion and appointment process which relies upon reports by external reviewers in addition to internal assessments. The last step is again a requirement of the Council of Higher Education that calls for a University Executive Board decision based upon reports by national reviewers, followed by a final appointment by the President of the Board of Trustees.
C. Professor: Top level academic-promotion-track faculty position. Appointed after completing a two-step process, the first step being Bilkent University’s own promotion and appointment process which relies upon reports by external reviewers in addition to internal assessments; the second step is a requirement of the Council of Higher Education that calls for a University Executive Board decision based upon reports by national reviewers, followed by a final appointment by the President of the Board of Trustees.
D. Emeritus Professor: An honorary title that may be granted on an annual basis by the University Executive Board to a retired professor who wishes to remain academically active without receiving any compensation or benefits.
E. Interim Associate Professor / Interim Professor: Interim faculty positions are for faculty members who have successfully completed Bilkent University’s Promotions and Appointments Process but have not fulfilled Council of Higher Education requirements for official appointment. Applicants are nominated to the Provost by the Dean. Bilkent University Promotions and Appointments Process is started only if the Provost approves the nomination. Successful candidates are appointed by the Rector for a two year term that is renewable by the Rector upon the Provost’s recommendation. Interim faculty positions are only at the associate professor and professor level.
Teaching-Track Faculty Positions
Teaching-track faculty positions are held by faculty whose main responsibility is teaching courses at the undergraduate and graduate (if applicable) levels. Even though research is not their main focus, the university encourages academic research and/or artistic output (where applicable) conducted by teaching-track faculty. At all levels, teaching-track faculty are appointed by the Rector upon the recommendation of the Provost.
F. Instructor: Main level of teaching-track faculty. When necessary, this position may be further qualified, such as Laboratory Instructor.
G. Lecturer: An upper level of teaching-track faculty.
H. Senior Lecturer: Top level of teaching-track faculty.
I. Assistant Professor of Teaching: A teaching-track faculty position that may be granted to assistant professors who were not promoted to Associate Professor within the given time frame but have shown extraordinary teaching performance. New junior faculty applicants who show strong teaching potential without a similar level of potential for independent research may also be appointed as Assistant Professor of Teaching. Assistant Professors of Teaching are eligible to apply for promotion to Associate Professor position on the same terms as academic-promotion-track assistant professors, but only upon the approval of the Provost. “Of-Teaching” appointments are at the Assistant Professor level only.
Extension Faculty Positions
Extension faculty positions are for faculty members who are outside the academic-promotion track, either because they were appointed as professors at another institution but have chosen not to pursue full professorship at Bilkent University or because they are professionals who come from non-academic career backgrounds. Appointment is possible with the approval of the Rector upon a favorable recommendation by the Provost. For Professor and Associate Professor level appointments, Council of Higher Education procedures that call for a University Executive Board decision based upon reports by national reviewers also have to be completed, followed by a final appointment by the President of the Board of Trustees. Even though extension faculty positions are not considered to be a path to professorial faculty appointments, extension faculty may apply to be considered for academic-promotion-track faculty positions.
J. Professor in Residence: A faculty position for academics who were previously appointed as Professor at another institution but have elected not to apply for appointment to an academic-promotion-track Professor position at Bilkent University. In-Residence appointments are at the Professor level only.
K. Professor / Associate Professor / Assistant Professor of Practice: Positions for faculty with professional expertise and career experience but without the academic record necessary for academic-promotion-track faculty positions at Bilkent University. It is not possible to get promoted from one “of-Practice” position to another such position.
L. Professional in Residence: Teaching-track positions for faculty who have demonstrated widely accepted expertise in their respective professions and can convey said expertise in their teaching. In the title, “Professional” may be replaced by the specific profession of the individual.
Research Faculty Positions
Research faculty positions are for faculty members who pay their own salaries and support their own research activities from externally-awarded research funds. Their primary responsibility is to conduct independent research and advise graduate students; in addition, they are expected to teach at a lower teaching load. Appointment requires approval of the Rector upon a favorable recommendation by the Provost and is limited to the fixed term of the support funding. For Professor and Associate Professor level appointments, going through Bilkent University’s own promotion and appointment process which relies upon reports by external reviewers in addition to internal assessments is necessary. In addition, Council of Higher Education procedures that call for a University Executive Board decision based upon reports by national reviewers also have to be completed, followed by a final appointment by the President of the Board of Trustees. Upon the approval of the Provost, faculty at Research Assistant Professor or Research Associate Professor levels may apply for promotion to higher Research faculty positions, going through the same multi-step processes as academic-promotion-track Assistant and Associate Professors. Even though Research faculty positions are not considered to be a path to professorial faculty appointments, Research faculty may apply to be considered for academic-promotion-track faculty positions.
M. Research Professor / Associate Professor / Assistant Professor
Visiting Faculty Positions
Visiting faculty members are academicians who come to Bilkent University to spend a predetermined period of time, not exceeding two years. Visiting faculty positions may be awarded to those individuals who wish to spend sabbatical leaves, conduct collaborative research, or teach at Bilkent University. Appointment requires approval of the Rector upon a favorable recommendation by the Provost. An exception to the two-year limit can be made by the Provost in cases when the faculty member applies for appointment to a permanent position and the process takes longer than two years. It is not possible to get promoted from one visiting position to another visiting position.
N. Visiting Professor / Associate Professor / Assistant Professor
Adjunct Faculty Positions
Adjunct faculty positions are for academicians who have a regular academic appointment at another institution but are associated with Bilkent University in teaching, research, or collaboration. Adjunct appointments are normally part-time fixed-term positions and may or may not be salaried appointments.
O. Adjunct Professor / Associate Professor / Assistant Professor
Temporary Research Positions
Appointment requires approval of the Rector upon a favorable recommendation by the Provost.
P. Research Assistant: Students enrolled in a graduate level program may be appointed as Research Assistants for a fixed term. Research Assistants are not eligible to benefit from any Bilkent University stipend scholarships during their term of employment.
Q. Post-Doctoral Researcher / Research Scientist / Researcher: Researchers holding a PhD degree and residing at Bilkent University to collaborate with a faculty member solely for academic research may be employed on a fixed-term basis if funded by the faculty member.