Full Name
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RESEARCH FACULTY LETTER OF OFFER TEMPLATE rev 08/2017
Notes:
All faculty members who carry research titles will be supported by non-general funds. Faculty appointments to the Research Professor series must be sponsored by an academic primary unit or by research institutes that have been authorized by the Chancellor to make such appointments. Appointments sponsored by research institutes must be co-sponsored by an academic primary unit that will be a beneficiary of the instructional contributions of the research faculty member.
MONTHLY FACULTY POSITIONS EARN VACATION AND SICK LEAVE BENEFITS
This table is provided as a reference for you; please delete from final letter.
1301 / Professor-Research / This title is used for individuals who hold the terminal degree and who have made outstanding contributions in research; parallel to the regular faculty rank of Professor ; primary duties are to conduct research but they are involved in instructional programs. They are eligible to serve as the Principal Investigator. Can be appointed to 9-month contract or monthly position.1302 / Assoc Professor-Research / This title is used for individuals who hold the terminal degree and who have made outstanding contributions in research; parallel to the regular faculty rank of Assoc Professor, primary duties are to conduct research but they are involved in instructional programs. They are eligible to serve as the Principal Investigator. Can be appointed to 9-month contract or monthly position.
1303 / Asst Professor-Research / This title is used for individuals who hold the terminal degree and who show demonstrated promise of research contributions and who are qualified to participate in instructional activities at both the undergraduate and graduate levels; parallel to the regular faculty rank of Asst Professor, primary duties are to conduct research but they are involved in instructional programs. They are eligible to serve as the Principal Investigator. Can be appointed to 9-month contract or monthly position.
1311 / Sr Research Instructor / This title permits higher recognition and salary than that of Research Instructor and is used for individuals who hold a master’s degree or its equivalent; primary duties are to conduct research but they are well qualified to teach and are involved in instructional programs . Can be appointed to 9-month contract or monthly position.
1304 / Research Instructor / This title is used for individuals who hold a master’s degree or its equivalent; primary duties are to conduct research but they are well qualified to teach and are involved in instructional programs. Can be appointed to 9-month contract or monthly position.
1305 / Sr. Research Associate / This title is granted to individuals who hold the doctor’s degree or its equivalent and who, because of demonstrated superior service and performance, are recognized by the University as outstanding researchers in their field. Appointment to this position is to be regarded as a promotion above the existing rank of RA and may be comparable to the regular rank of Professor; they are not involved in instruction. They are eligible to serve as the Principal Investigator.
1306 / Research Associate / This title is granted to individuals who hold the doctor’s degree or its equivalent and whose academic qualifications may be comparable to the regular faculty ranks of Assoc Professor or Asst Professor; they are not involved in instruction. They are eligible to serve as the Principal Investigator.
1307 / Faculty Research Associate / Faculty members in the University who are temporarily assigned as “Research Associates” are given this title
1308 / Visiting Research Associate / Temporary appointment for a defined period such as an academic year, semester, or summer term. The visiting title should indicate the faculty member’s rank at his/her home institution.
1309 / Sr Professional Research Assistant / This title is used for individuals who hold a master’s degree or its equivalent who are competent to carry out research or scholarly work of a quality comparable to that produced by an advanced Graduate Research Assistant. Appointment to this title is regarded as a promotion above the rank of PRA; they are not involved in instruction
1310 / Professional Research Assistant (PRA) / This title is used for individuals who hold a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent who are competent to carry out research or scholarly work of a quality comparable to that produced by a Graduate Research Assistant. Other individuals eligible to be considered for appointment to the PRA title would be individuals, such as Graduate Teaching Assts, who possess professional skills and competencies that can be applied to assist the professor directly in the support of the research program. A PRA works in a collaborative role with the PI and contributes substantively to the investigation and analysis of the project. As a collaborator on the project, the PRA may receive full credit as co-author of publications and technical reports and shares responsibilities in the research setting; they are not involved in instruction
Date
Complete and/or make choices in each highlighted section filling in the blanks as appropriate. Delete highlighted instructions, brackets, and references. Please check final formatting and page breaks.
Name
Address
City/State/ZIP
Dear Dr./Mr./Ms./Miss/Mrs. Surname only:
I am pleased to offer you a [ ] % appointment as a non-tenure track faculty member at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs as Title, position #Number. This offer is made upon the recommendation of the Department of Name of Department with the concurrence of the Dean of Name of College and the Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. This offer has received final approval by the Chancellor of the University of Colorado Colorado Springs.
This offer is contingent upon you successfully passing a background check to include educational verification, prior employment verification, sex offender registry check, and criminal history. Positions entrusted with master keys and/or financial system access must also pass a credit history check. A successful background check must be received by the University prior to the commencement of your employment. The University retains the right to conduct background checks on any employee. Should the University conduct a background check on you while you are employed, you will be notified.
OPTIONAL paragraph if candidate is a foreign national (delete paragraph if candidate does not require work authorization)
This offer is contingent upon your having an appropriate visa status that allows you to begin work for the University as of the start date for this position. If you do not have a visa status that will allow you to start working for the University starting on the first day of your employment as specified in this letter of offer, the University may, at its sole discretion, consider petitioning the US Citizenship and Immigration Service to obtain an appropriate visa status that will permit you to work for the University. If the University should decide to submit such a petition, and such petition is granted, then your position will begin on the day on which your visa status permits your employment by the University or on a date so indicated by the University. We rely on you to share information about your visa status and work eligibility with us in a timely manner. Any petition will be prepared by, or the preparation of the petition will be overseen by, theOffice of International Education, International Student and Scholar Services (www.colorado.edu/oie/isss) and any required filing fees will be paid by the Name of Hiring Department. This offer is contingent on you having appropriate visa status or on you being able to obtain the appropriate visa status based on USCIS approval of the University’s petition.
Your service will begin on Month/Day/Year and is indeterminate. The initial annual salary for this position is $Amount. You will be paid monthly on the last working day of the month (exception – all compensation for the month of June will be deposited on the first working day of July). This is a non-tenure track appointment and is not eligible for, and cannot lead to, the award of tenure.
For PERA retirees only (delete paragraph if candidate is not a PERA retiree):
As a Colorado Public Employees’ Retirement Association (PERA) retiree, you are eligible to work as permitted by Colorado law, but your employment at UCCS may have an effect upon your PERA retirement benefits. You are responsible for accurately reporting the days/hours that you work at UCCS to PERA, as well as for monitoring your employment to ensure that you are in compliance with all PERA requirements. Effective January 1, 2011, all PERA retirees working after retirement must pay the working retiree contribution. The working retiree contribution does not accrue any additional benefit and retirees are not eligible for a refund of these contributions. PERA retirees are not eligible to participate in other retirement programs offered at UCCS and they do not accrue vacation, sick, or holiday leave.
For purposes of annual merit evaluation, your efforts and accomplishments will be assessed according to a workload formula of: [ ] % research and [ ] % service or teaching to the department, University and profession. [Be specific about job expectations, i.e. You will assist the unit/Professor X in elements of research design, analysis, and presentation of…. By accepting this position, you agree to perform duties and responsibilities which are in the area of your expertise, or are otherwise appropriate, and which are assigned to you consistent with your rights and responsibilities as a faculty member, and the policies and procedures of the University and of your academic unit.
For 50% to 100% appointment (delete paragraph if not applicable):
You are eligible for benefits as a faculty member. The deadline to elect benefit plans or waive coverage is 31 days from the start of your appointment. Please view the University of Colorado Employee Benefits page at http://www.cu.edu/employee-services/benefits-university-colorado. Use this website to learn about enrollment deadlines, benefit plans, eligibility, and educational resources. This site contains all of the necessary forms you will need in completing your enrollment paperwork. If you do not submit your Benefits Enrollment/Change Form within the 31 day deadline, you will be enrolled in the default medical and dental plans. If your appointment begins on the first of the month, medical and dental coverage begin on that date. If your appointment begins on any other date, coverage begins the first day of the following month. Your specific start date and benefits eligibility are determined by University policy. If you have questions after viewing the online Employee Benefits page, you can speak with a benefit counselor at (855) 216-7740 #3 (toll free).If you are an active member of the Colorado Public Employees’ Retirement Association (PERA), you must notify Employee Services within the first 30 days of your appointment.
For less than 50% appointment (delete paragraph if not applicable):
Because this appointment is less than 50%, you will not be eligible to receive all of the benefits normally provided to faculty members under the standard University of Colorado benefits programs. Please check with the benefits office as soon as possible at (855) 216-7740 #3 (toll free) to clarify your benefits eligibility. If you are an active member of the Colorado Public Employees’ Retirement Association (PERA), you must notify Employee Services within the first 30 days of your appointment.
For monthly faculty appointments (all appointees in the Research Associate job codes 1305, 1306, 1307, 1309, and 1310 or appointees in the Research Professor series that have been hired on monthly appointments). Delete this paragraph ONLY if you are hiring someone in the Research Professor series on a 9-month contract.
Revise the following figures based on percentage of appointment if less than 100%:
Based on a 100% appointment, you will accrue 14.67 hours of vacation per month (22 days per year) and 10 hours of sick leave per month (15 days per year). You must report all vacation and sick leave taken to your supervisor on a monthly basis in the MyLeave system. All days, with the exception of University holidays, must be worked or claimed as vacation or sick leave; this includes periods when the regular faculty and students are not in session, such as during academic breaks. Salary and leave accruals are prorated for any partial months worked. Leave time (vacation and sick) accrued during the month cannot be used until the following month.
Delete paragraph if not applicable:
In order to assist you with your relocation, the University will reimburse the actual moving and transportation costs for you to relocate, up to a maximum of $Amount and subject to University policy. Information is available at the following websites:
· Employee Services Procedures Guide – Moving (Relocation):
http://live-cu.gotpantheon.com/employee-services/moving-relocation
· Procurement Service Center Guide – How to Buy Moving Services: https://www.cu.edu/psc/procurement/commodities/how-buy-moving-services
· IRS Publication 521 – Moving Expenses: http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p521.pdf
State law specifically requires that you be an employee-at-will in your position as a non-tenure track Research Faculty Title and that the following paragraph be included in this letter of offer:
Your employment contract is subject to termination by either party to such contract at any time during its term and you shall be deemed to be an employee-at-will. No compensation, whether as a buy-out of the remaining term of contract, as liquidated damages, or as any other form of remuneration, shall be owed or paid to you upon or after termination of such contract except for compensation that was earned prior to the date of termination.
By accepting this appointment, you agree to uphold ethical standards appropriate to your position as a faculty member of the University, including, but not limited to, standards applicable to conflicts of interest and conflicts of commitment as defined by University policies. You agree to comply with all resolutions, rules and regulations adopted by the Board of Regents and with policies and procedures adopted by the campus or other unit in which your appointment is made, now in effect or as amended. You also agree to report suspected or known noncompliance of any law or University policy. Further, you agree to meet obligations imposed by federal and state law including the obligation to report. For additional information, please see the following links:
· https://www.cu.edu/regents/LawsPolicies/