Summary of updates in the July 1, 2025 Faculty Handbook
Section II. Academic Freedom and Faculty Standards of Conduct
- B. Faculty Standards of Conduct, final paragraph: the word “formal” was removed from “a member of the University community may ask the Provost to submit a formal complaint for faculty review…” in recognition that the procedures provide for deans to use formal and informal processes to address complaints.
Section III. Faculty Ranks, Appointments, and Policies: University-Wide
- A. Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action: this subsection was renamed and the policy revised to reflect the January 2025 revocation of the federal executive order on affirmative action.
- C. Recruitment and Approval Process for Faculty Appointments:
- wording was revised to reflect the January 2025 revocation of the federal executive order on affirmative action.
- The rank of professor in the practice was added to the list of ranks requiring documentation of the search process.
- The description of the process for approving search documentation was revised to replace the Office of Institutional Equity and Accessibility with the Dean’s designee. This simplifies the approval process.
- D. Authority to Appoint was revised:
- to reflect the policy in the University By-Laws regarding authority to make faculty appointments, and
- to reflect the addition of a conduct review to the faculty hiring process.
- F. Maximum Time in Non-Tenure Ladder Ranks: the final paragraph was revised to clarify the School of Medicine’s policy on how years served elsewhere in ladder ranks count toward the ten-year maximum in the non-tenure ladder ranks.
- G. Notice of Termination and Non-Reappointment: the policy on timing of notice of termination for the non-ladder instructional ranks was revised to replace the listing of individual non-ladder instructional ranks with the overall phrase “non-ladder instructional ranks.”
- H. Fully Joint and Secondary Faculty Appointments: a sentence was added at the end of the final paragraph to clarify that secondary appointments shall normally be made at the same or a lesser rank than that of the primary appointment.
- K. Faculty Appointment Procedures:
- 1. General, final paragraph: to avoid redundancy and maintain consistency with Section III.D. Authority to Appoint, the following sentence was removed from the end of the paragraph: “No appointments are final until voted by the Corporation on the recommendation of the President or Provost.”
- 2. Voting on Appointments and Promotions, first paragraph: to improve clarity, the words “faculty with secondary appointments in a department or school may not vote on promotions or appointments to tenure” were revised as “faculty may not vote on promotions or appointments to tenure in an academic unit in which they hold only a secondary appointment.”
- L. Decisions Not to Reappoint or Promote and Their Review, final paragraph: wording was removed which described the submission of reports on non-reappointment and non-promotion to the Provost or the Dean of the School of Medicine.
- N. Review Procedures for Complaints about Violations of the Faculty Standards of Conduct:
- Introduction, second paragraph: the word “formal” was removed from “the Provost will return the matter to the dean, who may impose a lesser sanction or interim remedy or request that the matter be referred for formal faculty review…” in recognition that the procedures provide for deans to use formal and informal processes to address complaints.
- 8. Annual Report: this paragraph was removed to address confidentiality concerns.
Section IV. Faculty of Arts and Sciences
- C. Academic Departments and Programs: the name of the African American Studies Department was changed to the Black Studies Department.
- D. Assignment to the Graduate School Faculty: this section was rewritten to clarify the policies regarding which ranks and appointment types are eligible for assignment to GSAS. The clarifications address faculty on the Clinician-Scientist Track in the School of Medicine and faculty holding secondary appointments.
- L. Leaves: a policy on flexibility in taking a Triennial Leave of Absence was added, reflecting current practice (sometimes known as “the slide rule”).
Section V. School of Engineering and Applied Science
- C. Assignment to the Graduate School Faculty: this section was rewritten to clarify the policies regarding which ranks and appointment types are eligible for assignment to GSAS. The clarifications address faculty on the Clinician-Scientist Track in the School of Medicine and faculty holding secondary appointments.
- K. Leaves: a policy on flexibility in taking a Triennial Leave of Absence was added, reflecting current practice (sometimes known as “the slide rule”).
Section VI. School of Architecture
- C. Composition and Ranks of Faculty: for non-ladder instructional faculty, the length of appointments was revised.
Section VII. School of Art
- B. The Governing Board and the Appointments Committee: the membership and voting procedures were clarified.
Section XIII. School of Management
- B. Governance: the location of the phrase “at the rank of full professor” was moved within the sentence where it appears.
- C. Ladder Faculty: “assistant professorship” was changed to “assistant professor.”
- E. Other Appointments, 5. Visiting Appointments: the description of Executive Fellow appointments was revised to remove wording indicating opportunities for compensation (reflecting that these are unpaid appointments and not eligible for compensation).
- F. Procedures for Appointment, 1. Professor (Tenured): the description of the steps for transmitting appointments approved by the BPO to the Provost was streamlined.
Section XIV. School of Medicine
- E. Appointments and Promotions Procedures: the description of the Term Appointments and Promotions (TAP) committees was simplified.
- F. Composition of the Faculty:
- 1. Ladder Faculty Tracks
- Transfer of Track, second bullet: criteria for transfer to the Academic Clinician Track was updated to include a person’s role as an educator.
- a. Traditional Track, Appointments on Term, Associate Professor: a description of notice for non-reappointment and non-promotion was added for consistency.
- b. Investigator Track: the description of this track was revised to indicate that eligibility includes those who are “essential contributors” to a research team or core facility (instead of one who is a “key participant”).
- e. Academic Clinician Track:
- Introduction: the policy on reappointment was revised to expand the description of what reappointment is contingent upon (including financial support for the position, clinical/educational excellence and productivity, sustained professionalism, programmatic needs of the department and School).
- Ranks: standards for appointments and/or promotions to each rank are updated.
- 2. Non-Ladder Ranks
- An introduction was added to consolidate in one place the terms of appointments and reappointments for all such ranks (in place of individual statements repeated across descriptions of individual ranks).
- a. Professor Adjunct, Associate Professor Adjunct, and Assistant Professor Adjunct: the description of these ranks was revised to reflect that these titles are typically given to visiting faculty, or to those departing Yale who have temporary need of a continued affiliation.
- 4. Training Ranks, b. Clinical Fellow: this section was updated to include the rank of clinical associate.
Section XVI. School of Nursing
- I. Leave Policy: this was updated to reflect the School’s adoption of Paid Parental Leave in lieu of Teaching Relief for Child Rearing.
Section XVIII. Research Appointments: University-Wide
- B. Description of Research Faculty Ranks:
- 1. Associate Research Scientist/Scholar: the process for approving appointments was revised to include the School of Engineering and Applied Science as a distinct academic unit.
- 3. Senior Research Scientist/Scholar: the process for approving appointments was revised to reflect the name of the SEAS review body, which had been SEAS Steering but is now the SEAS Appointments Committee.
- 4. Research Professor: the process for approving appointments was revised to include, for appointments in the School of Engineering and Applied Science, the SEAS Dean.
Section XX. Leaves of Absence and Teaching Relief: University-Wide
- Language was revised to reflect the School of Engineering and Applied Science as a distinct academic unit.
- A. General Conditions Governing All Leaves:
- The nomenclature for junior faculty leaves was revised:
- Morse Fellowships and Junior Faculty Fellowships were renamed “Assistant Professor Leaves.”
- Footnotes were added to indicate that Assistant Professor Leaves are granted to faculty under FASTAP 2007 and FASTAP 2016, and that Associate Professor Leaves are granted under FASTAP 2007.
- B. Leaves with Salary from University Funds:
- 1. General, a. Eligibility: The description was revised to reflect the School of Engineering and Applied Science as a distinct academic unit.
- 2. Triennial Leaves of Absence, a. Eligibility: language was added to clarify that—for faculty promoted from assistant professor directly to associate professor with tenure—the counting of eligibility for a TLA includes semesters of teaching at the rank of assistant professor.
- C. Leaves Without Salary from University Funds: The description was revised to reflect the School of Engineering and Applied Science as a distinct academic unit.
- D. Child-Rearing Leaves, Caregivers Leaves, and Parental Leave Policies:
- The first paragraph was updated to reflect the School of Nursing’s adoption of Paid Parental Leave in lieu of Teaching Relief for Child Rearing.
- 4. Teaching Relief for Child Rearing for Ladder and Non-Ladder Instructional Faculty: the second paragraph, regarding when both parents are full-time members of the faculty, was revised to be consistent with the first paragraph, by omitting the requirement that both parents hold multi-year appointments.
- 6. Timing and Arrangements: the description was revised to reflect the School of Engineering and Applied Science as a distinct academic unit.
Section XXIII. University Policies Concerning Teaching and Research
- A. Instructional and Institutional Responsibilities: a statement was added to affirm that instruction at Yale is conducted in person, on campus, except for approved online degree programs.
- C. Research and Scholarship, 1(a): the description was revised to reflect the School of Engineering and Applied Science as a distinct academic unit.
Summary of Updates in the July 1, 2024 Faculty Handbook
Section I. University Organization
- The history of Yale’s schools and faculties was revised to reflect the School of Public Health becoming a distinct School, independent of the School of Medicine.
Section III. Faculty Ranks, Appointments, and Policies: University-Wide
- The School of Public Health’s policies were added. The School of Medicine’s policies were clarified.
Section IV. Faculty of Arts and Sciences
- The name of the Theater and Performance Studies Program was revised to the Theater, Dance, and Performance Studies Program.
- Policies on assignment to the Graduate School faculty were revised to clarify eligibility for automatic assignment and to reflect policies of the School of Public Health.
- The governance and voting policies for the Italian Studies Department were revised.
Section V. School of Engineering and Applied Science
- Applied and Computational Mathematics was added as a new department.
- The name of the Electrical Engineering Department was revised to Electrical and Computer Engineering.
- The Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science Department was reorganized as two separate departments: the Materials Science Department and the Mechanical Engineering Department.
- The Engineering Appointments Committee was established to oversee certain instructional and research appointments, and to include as a subcommittee the Teaching Resource Advisory Committee.
- Policies on assignment to the Graduate School faculty were revised to clarify eligibility for automatic assignment and to reflect policies of the School of Public Health.
- The title of Senior Fellow, which can be given to certain lecturers, was added.
Section VII. School of Art
- The description of the Governing Board was revised.
- The rank of assistant professor adjunct was added.
- The appointment criteria and role of adjunct faculty were revised.
- The policies on term appointments were clarified.
- The policies on termination of term-limited faculty were revised.
- The leave policy was revised to reflect the addition of the assistant professor adjunct rank.
Section XI. Yale Jackson School of Global Affairs
- The rank of professor in the practice was added.
Section XIII. School of Management
- The order in which faculty ranks are listed was revised.
Section XIV. School of Medicine
- Biomedical Informatics and Data Science was established as a department, after previously being a section.
- The listing of degrees awarded and other policies were revised to reflect the School of Public Health becoming independent of the School of Medicine.
- The committees responsible for reviewing appointments, promotion, and tenure were revised.
- The policy on transfer of track was revised to require application one year rather than two years prior to the end of an associate professor on term appointment.
- Limits on term appointments were clarified.
- The standard for appointment or promotion to the rank of professor in the clinician-scientist track was revised.
- The standard for appointment or promotion to the rank of associate professor in the academic clinician track was revised.
- The rank of instructor was revised to reflect that trainees in research fellowships are eligible for this appointment.
Section XVI. School of Nursing
- The policy on transfer of track within the ladder tracks was eliminated.
Section XVII. School of Public Health
- This section was added to establish the policies of the School of Public Health as one of Yale’s Schools, independent of the School of Medicine.
Section XVIII. Research Appointments: University-Wide
- The School of Public Health’s policies were added.
Section XX. Leaves of Absence and Teaching Relief: University-Wide
- The School of Public Health’s policies were added.
- The Senior Faculty Fellowship policy was revised to show that faculty who take this leave now receive full salary during the leave, and to define the schools in which it is not available.
Section XXI. Faculty Compensation, Benefits, and Services
- The School of Public Health’s policies were added.
- The policy was clarified regarding the maximum number of months in which summer salary may be earned for faculty on nine-month appointments.
Section XXII. Retirement and Emeritus/Emeriti Titles
- The School of Public Health’s ladder tracks were added.
Section XXIV. Other University Policies Affecting Faculty
- A reference to the university-wide Recording Policy was added, to prohibit surreptitious recording and to create standards regarding the recording of participants in activities on campus.
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Summary of updates in the July 1, 2023 Faculty Handbook
Section I. University Organization
- The history of Yale’s schools and faculties was revised to reflect the School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS) becoming a distinct faculty and the addition of the Yale Jackson School of Global Affairs.
- The description of the Corporation (Yale’s Board of Trustees) and listing of the Officers of the University were revised.
Section II. Academic Freedom and Faculty Standards of Conduct
- Language was added regarding academic freedom in response to the recommendations of the Gift Policy Review Committee, chaired by Julia Adams, Margaret H. Marshall Professor of Sociology.
- The process for addressing complaints was clarified.
Section III. Faculty Ranks, Appointments, and Policies: University-Wide
- The policy was clarified regarding voting by full professors in the School of Medicine’s academic clinician track and the School of Nursing’s clinical track, to indicate that they may vote on reappointment of faculty in their same track and rank.
- The policy on faculty participation in faculty voting via audio-visual technology was revised to remove the stipulation that such is allowed only “in exigent circumstances.”
- The procedure for complaints about issues other than reappointment or promotion was clarified.
- The process was clarified for submitting a complaint in response to an action taken following a review regarding violations of the Faculty Standards of Conduct.
Section IV. Faculty of Arts and Sciences
- Revisions throughout the section reflect SEAS as a distinct faculty.
- The Judaic Studies Program’s name was revised to the Jewish Studies Program.
- The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS) process for approving assignment to the GSAS faculty was revised and the School of Medicine’s Biomedical Informatics and Data Science section was added to the list of units for which assignment to the GSAS faculty is automatic.
- The process for conducting meetings of the Joint Boards of Permanent Officers was revised to reflect the distinct roles of the Deans of the FAS and SEAS.
- Voting policies were revised for interdisciplinary and certain other designated departments and programs.
Section V. School of Engineering and Applied Science
- This new section was added to reflect SEAS as a distinct faculty.
Section VIII. Divinity School and Institute of Sacred Music
- Eligibility to attend governance meetings was clarified.
- Policies on ladder appointments, promotion, and leaves were clarified.
Section XI. Yale Jackson School of Global Affairs
- This new section was added to reflect the inauguration of the School.
Section XIV. School of Medicine
- Changes to the name of two ladder faculty tracks in School of Medicine are noted: the “Clinical Track” was renamed as the “Academic Clinician Track” and the “Clinician Educator Track” was renamed as the “Clinician Educator-Scholar Track.”
- The new Biomedical Informatics and Data Science section was added.
- The voting policy for full professors in the Academic Clinician Track was clarified to indicate that they may vote on reappointment of faculty in their same track and rank.
- The names of the appointments committees were revised.
- The policy on clinical practice privileges as they relate to appointments was clarified.
- The policies on appointments in the Academic Clinician Track were revised.
Section XVI. School of Nursing
- Eligibility to attend governance meetings was clarified.
- The criteria were clarified for appointments to the rank of assistant professor in the Clinical Track.
- The rank of senior lecturer was added.
Section XIX. Leaves of Absence and Teaching Relief: University-Wide
- Policies on child-rearing leaves, caregivers’ leaves, and parental leaves were revised to reflect the new Connecticut Paid Family and Medical Leave Act.
Section XX. Faculty Compensation, Benefits, and Services
- Benefits eligibility was clarified. The policy on the cessation of University contributions to retirement was eliminated.
Section XXI. Retirement and Emeritus/Emeriti Titles
- The section on Emeritus/Emeriti Titles was moved into this section (from Other University Policies Affecting Faculty).
- Policies on emeritus/emeriti titles were revised to reflect expansion of eligibility and clarification of the approval process.
- Language was clarified regarding privileges available to emeriti and retired faculty.
- Although the policies did not change, language was removed regarding residential college fellowships (for that information, see the Council of the Heads of College website and parking (for that information, see the parking policy).
Section XXII. University Policies Concerning Teaching and Research
- The name of the Office of Cooperative Research was updated to Yale Ventures.
- The policy on outside interests and employment was clarified.
- The policy on outside research activities was clarified.
Section XXIII. Other University Policies Affecting Faculty
- The policy “Institutional Standards of Conduct” replaced the former policy called “Standards of Business Conduct.” This policy’s location was moved to the beginning of this section.
- The policy on short-term medical disability was revised to reflect the expansion of the benefit to all benefits-eligible faculty and to reflect the new Connecticut Paid Family and Medical Leave Act.
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Summary of Updates in the October 1, 2021 Faculty Handbook
* Throughout Handbook: updated Office for Equal Opportunity Programs to Office of Institutional Equity and Accessibility; updated School of Drama to David Geffen School of Drama; Updated School of Forestry & Environmental Studies to School of the Environment.
* Section III (Faculty Ranks, Appointments, and Policies: University-wide): clarified criteria for less than full-time appointments; clarified policies related to extension of time in rank; clarified procedures for review of complaints about violations of Faculty Standards of Conduct.
* Section IV (Faculty of Arts and Sciences): updated department and program listing; clarified voting policies; updated composition of Yale College faculty meetings; clarified FASTAP 2007 and 2016 policies for appointments on term and Associate Professor with Tenure.
* Section IX (School of the Environment): added Senior Lecturer II rank.
* Section XI (School of Management): clarified procedures for term appointments.
* Section XII (School of Medicine): clarified voting right and policies; clarified appointment and promotion procedures; updated notice requirements for non-reappointment to certain ranks; added Visiting Research Scientist rank; Added Clinician-Scientist track to replace Clinician-Scholar track.
* Section XIV (School of Nursing): clarified process for requesting transfer of track; added Assistant Professor to Clinical and Traditional tracks.
* Section XVII (Leaves of Absence and Teaching Relief: University-wide): clarified policies on teaching relief for non-ladder instructional faculty.
* Section XVIII (Faculty Compensation, Benefits, and Services): updated descriptions of benefits available to faculty to make consistent with descriptions in other University communications.
* Section XIX (Retirement): clarified policies related to the Phased Retirement Plan.
* Section XXI (Other University Policies Affecting Faculty): updated Resource Office on Disabilities to Student Accessibility Services.
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Summary of Updates in the August 22, 2019 Faculty Handbook
* Section III (Faculty Ranks, Appointments, and Policies: University-wide): clarified the procedures for the appointment of fully joint and secondary appointments.
* Section IV (Faculty of Arts and Sciences): added provisions regarding secondary appointments consistent with the procedures in Section III.
* Section V (School of Architecture): clarified the procedures for faculty appointment and promotions to make consistent with FASTAP 2007.
* Section VI (School of Art): added description for the ranks of Senior Critic, Critic, and Lecturer; and clarified the School’s leave policy.
* Section VII (Divinity School and Institute of Sacred Music): revised School-specific policies for faculty ranks and leaves.
* Section IX (School of Forestry and Environmental Studies): clarified the School’s leave policy.
* Section X (School of Law): clarified description for the ranks of Clinical Associate Professor of Law and Tutor in Legal Studies.
* Section XI (School of Management): updated description for Appointments, Curriculum, and Strategy Committee; and clarified procedures for term appointments.
* Section XII (School of Medicine): clarified the procedures for appointments and promotions for School of Public Health faculty and clarified the descriptions of the adjunct faculty ranks.
* Section XIV (School of Nursing): clarified the procedures for appointments and promotion.
* Section XV (Research Appointments: University-wide): clarified procedures for the appointment of postdoctoral appointees.
* Section XVII (Leaves of Absence & Teaching Relief: University-wide): clarified the policies regarding teaching relief for child rearing.
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