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7.4.1 Essential Components for All Letters of Offer

I.  Essential Components for all Letters of Offer

A. Terms:  Base Salary, Academic Rank/Title, Appointment Period.  You will be appointed at the rank of assistant professor (instructor) with a base salary of $25,320 for the nine month academic year; you will be paid on the last working day of each month. This appointment is subject to the approval of the Office of the Provost; it is subject to all rules, regulations, and policies of the University.

A starting date must be established in the letter of offer for acceptance by the candidate. When a faculty appointment is on an annual basis, the following statement must appear in the letter of offer:  "The University's basic tenure system appointment commitment is to an academic year (9 month) appointment. 

Your appointment on an annual (12-month) basis is justified by the mission of the unit and your specific assigned duties and responsibilities.  Although changes in your appointment status are not foreseen, in the event that either the unit's mission changes and/or your specific duties and responsibilities are modified so that an annual appointment is not appropriate, your appointment status will revert to an academic year basis."

OR

Example for Associate Professor:  This is a regular tenure system position.  University rules provide that an associate professor who has not served previously at Michigan State University is appointed in the tenure system for a probationary period of four years.  If an associate professor is reappointed, tenure is granted.  Additionally, individuals appointed at the rank of associate professor without tenure have the option of requesting reappointment at any point prior to the conclusion of the stipulated probationary appointment period.  A negative decision on such a request does not preclude consideration for reappointment at the time specified upon appointment.  (In some cases, the probationary period may vary from two to five years; in unusual cases, a faculty member initially appointed to the rank of associate professor may be granted tenure from the date of appointment.)  The Faculty Handbook is available on the web at  www.hr.msu.edu/HRsite/Documents/Faculty/Handbooks/Faculty/.   A  copy of the administrative unit (department/ school/college) criteria for promotion and tenure are enclosed for your information.

OR

Example for Professor:  Your appointment as professor will carry tenure beginning with the date of appointment.

Example: Enclosed with this letter is a Summary of  Benefits.  University-provided benefit programs include life insurance, health care, and dental care.  There is also a sabbatical leave program for tenured faculty and a course fee courtesy program for one's spouse and dependent children.  In addition, the academic unit may pay up to $10,000 toward moving expenses.

In some instances it may be desirable to be more specific with respect to the area(s) in which research is to be conducted. Also, in some instances, it may be desirable to provide additional information on teaching responsibilities.  A copy of the MSU Code of Teaching Responsibility should be included.  If information is provided on number of courses to be taught, language such as the following should be used.  "The normal teaching responsibility is two courses per semester; however, the number of courses taught may vary from year to year depending upon the needs of the unit.
 

E.  Attachment A:  Statement Regarding Degree Verification and Relevant Background Information

Final approval for your appointment rests solely with the [President/Provost/Board of Trustees].  As part of the final approval process of your appointment, the University may verify the receipt of your academic degrees and other academic credentials.  Any falsifications related to your degree or academic credentials may constitute grounds to revoke your offer of appointment.

Additionally, I must inform you that the decision to recommend an academic appointment takes into account all available information regarding an applicant’s professional and personal conduct.  Your appointment is contingent on the University having your cooperation in learning information needed to assess your candidacy.  For this reason, the University requires you to disclose all relevant facts needed to give the University a full and fair understanding of any past conduct that could adversely affect your ability to fulfill successfully your responsibilities as a [faculty or academic staff] member, including:

1) professional misconduct or sanctions (e.g., debarment by a federal agency; any form of professional discipline or license restriction or surrender; and admission or determination that you have committed research misconduct);

2) any formal employment disciplinary action;

3) any civil rights violation that you admitted or were determined by a court or other adjudicative process to have committed (e.g., sexual or racial harassment or discrimination); or

4) any serious crime for which you were convicted or pled “no contest” (e.g., any felony; any crime that requires you to register as a sexual offender; any crime of violence; any fraud, theft, or other crime involving money).

Engagement in any such conduct will not, in and of itself, disqualify you for an appointment at the University.  But, your failure to disclose such information, or any misrepresentation you make in connection with the disclosure, would be grounds to revoke your offer of appointment. 

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Next:  7.4.2  Essential components for Special Situations

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