Adjunct Appointments

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Policy Number:
UW-5002
Old Policy Number:
1.03
Responsible Office:
Office of Human Resources

University Policy

Rationale/​Purpose:

This policy establishes standards for adjunct appointments.

Definitions:
Adjunct Appointment
An employment agreement between an individual primarily involved in instructional activities and a department, school, college, or other unit of the university, where the individual’s primary employment is outside of the university.
Scope:

Hiring units and adjunct professors in both paid and zero-dollar appointments.

Policy:
  1. Adjunct Titles - An adjunct appointment will have one of the following four titles:
    1. Adjunct Professor (IC001)
    2. Associate Adjunct Professor (IC002)
    3. Assistant Adjunct Professor (IC003)
    4. Adjunct Instructor (IC004)
  2. Adjunct Appointments
    1. An individual hired with an adjunct title must primarily be involved in instructional activities.
    2. A new appointment to an adjunct title must have the prior approval of the department executive committee and the dean/director of the school/college/division or their designee.
    3. The request for such approval must indicate why an adjunct title rather than a non-adjunct instructional title is appropriate.
    4. A recruitment is not required to appoint an individual into an adjunct appointment.
    5. Adjunct appointments are terminal appointments and can be approved for a maximum of three years, with the possibility of renewal.   
    6. Adjunct appointments are not subject to UW-702 Academic Staff Policies and Procedures: Chapter 2 – Academic Staff Appointments, 2.01, A., 3., b. limiting instructional appointments to three years, due to the unique nature of the relationship of the adjunct employee to the university. 
    7. If an adjunct appointment is to be renewed by a department executive committee, dean/director’s approval is required.
  3. Consequences for Non-Compliance

    A school, college, or division that fails to comply with the Adjunct Appointments policy may, at the discretion of the Office of Human Resources (OHR), have their authority to approve adjunct appointments removed.

Related UW-Madison Policies:
Related UW–Madison Documents, Web Pages, or Other Resources:

Policy Administration

Approval Authority:
Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration
Policy Manager:
Associate Vice Chancellor/Chief Human Resources Officer
Contact:
HR Director & Program Officer -- Alisha Arnold, alisha.arnold@wisc.edu, (608) 265-1451
Effective Date:
07-03-2015
Revised Dates:

04-05-2019, 09-05-2023, 04-29-2025

Reviewed Dates:

04-29-2025

Retrieved:
05-05-2025 23:16:55