Academic Status

1.	Preamble 1.1 Academic status is the award of an appropriate title by the University to recognise an ongoing contribution of a suitably qualified person to an academic programme of the University. 1.2 There are two categories of academic status: "Full Academic Status" and "Adjunct Academic Status". Full academic status is normally awarded to an academically qualified employee of another organisation or professional where there is a high level of ongoing collaboration in the development, preparation and presentation of a course or in the conduct of a research programme. Examples are the collaborative arrangement which exists with the Flinders Medical Centre in the development and provision of teaching and research programmes in Medicine, or collaborative research programmes with organisations such as the CSIRO. Adjunct academic status is normally awarded in recognition of an ongoing but less extensive contribution to a teaching or research programme. Examples include academic supervision of a group of students in a clinical placement programme, co-supervision of a postgraduate student, or ongoing teaching within a particular topic or part of a course by a professional with specialist expertise in a particular field. 1.3 Academic status titles may not be awarded to short term visiting academics, those who have only a casual or short-term association with the University or those who do not have relevant academic qualifications and appropriate skills and experience. Academic status titles may not be awarded to full-time General Staff members. Other titles may be awarded by the University in such cases (eg Honorary Fellow or Professorial Fellow).
2.	Definition Academic status is the award of an academic status title in recognition of an ongoing academic contribution of an individual to an academic programme of the University.
3.	Conditions 3.1 The award of academic status does not create or imply an employment relationship with the University. However a person who is awarded academic status must comply with legislation and provisions which affect the University, and with University Statutes, By-Laws, policies, rules, and guidelines. 3.2 The award of academic status carries with it entitlements and responsibilities as detailed in this policy, and as determined by the Head of Faculty. The Head of the Faculty through the Head of the School or Department will have superintendence over the activities of a person who holds academic status. Where a matter extends beyond a faculty, an awardee will be entitled to hold office or represent the University as authorised by the Vice-Chancellor. 3.3 Academic status will be awarded for an initial specified term up to a maximum of three years initially and may be renewed after review by the Faculty. It may be reviewed at any time and rescinded if the circumstances under which it was awarded no longer apply.
4.	Academic Status Titles The following academic status titles may be awarded in accordance with the criteria outlined in point 6 below. 4.1 Full Academic Status: an academic title, as listed in Attachment A, will be awarded. 4.2 Adjunct Academic Status: an academic title, as listed in Attachment A, to be preceded by the word "Adjunct" will be awarded.
5.	Eligible Groups Academic status may be awarded to a person from one of the following groups: 5.1 an employee of an affiliated institution or external organisation with which the University is associated; or 5.2 an appropriately qualified professional who is involved with an academic teaching and/or research programme of the University; or 5.3 a member of the academic staff (as classified by Council) who with the approval of the Faculty is involved in teaching and/or research activities which are outside the normal duties of his or her position (eg a teaching and research title may be awarded to a staff member who holds a research only position if he or she contributes to a teaching programme). 5.4 retiring professorial staff (Level D Plus and Level E) of the University who wish to maintain an active and significant contribution to the University.
6.	Criteria for Awarding Academic Status 6.1 Award of Full Academic Status Full academic status is normally awarded to an academically qualified employee of another organisation or a qualified professional in circumstances where a high level of ongoing collaboration exists between the two organisations in the development, preparation and presentation of a course or in the conduct of a research programme. Examples are the collaborative arrangement which exists with the Flinders Medical Centre in the development and provision of teaching and research programmes in Medicine, or major collaborative research programmes with organisations such as the CSIRO. Full academic status will normally be awarded within the context of an agreement or arrangement which enables a significant and ongoing level of interaction in an academic programme. The following criteria will apply: 6.1.1 the awardee must hold appropriate academic qualifications and demonstrate appropriate skills and experience, to be assessed with reference to relevant Academic Profiles which apply for an equivalent level academic staff position; and 6.1.2 the awardee must have a regular, significant academic involvement in a teaching and/or research programme of the University or an involvement which entails significant academic leadership. 6.2 Award of Adjunct Academic Status Adjunct Academic Status will normally be awarded to a person who has an ongoing but relatively limited involvement in an academic programme of the University. Examples include academic supervision of a group of students in a clinical placement programme, co-supervision of a postgraduate student, or ongoing teaching within a particular topic or part of a course by a professional with specialist expertise in a particular field. The award of adjunct academic status may be the subject of an agreement between the University and another organisation. The following criteria will apply: 6.2.1 the awardee must hold appropriate academic qualifications and demonstrate a suitable level of knowledge or skills in a relevant field, to be assessed with reference to relevant Academic Profiles which apply for an equivalent level academic staff position; and 6.2.2 the awardee must have an ongoing academic involvement in a teaching and/or research programme of the University.
7.	Benefits and Entitlements 7.1 All holders of academic status will be entitled to: 7.1.1 use the academic status title awarded by the University; 7.1.2 membership of the faculty; 7.1.3 participate in academic activities of the faculty; 7.1.4 have access to University Library materials under conditions to be agreed between the Library and the faculty; 7.1.5 have access to facilities, resources, equipment and premises at the discretion of the Head of the Faculty concerned. 7.2 In addition, holders of full academic status will be entitled to: 7.2.1 apply to the Promotions Committee for promotion in accordance with the University's policies on promotion; 7.2.2 be appointed as a faculty representative on committees and participate in elections for certain committee positions at the discretion of the Head of the Faculty concerned; and 7.2.3 apply for University funded research grants, scholarships and other research funds, as determined by the relevant research authority; 7.2.4 be awarded an equivalent academic position by the University if they are promoted by specific University approved research funding organisations/schemes (specified in Attachment B) on the basis of meritorious research.
8	Approval of Academic Status 8.1 The award of academic status at levels other than Professor will be approved by a Faculty Academic Status Committee, or in the case of adjunct academic status, may be approved by the Head of Faculty. The composition and operation of a Faculty Academic Status Committee will be based on an academic staff appointment committee. 8.2 The award of academic status at the level of Professor will be determined by the Professorial (non-employee) Appointment Committee. (Attachment C) 8.3 The award of academic status at the level of Professor will be conferred automatically on any nominee who meets the eligibility criteria and who holds an appointment as a full Professor elsewhere, or who has retired from such an appointment at another University.
9.	Arrangements or Agreements with other Organisations A reciprocal arrangement or an agreement may be entered into to enable academic status to be awarded to suitably qualified staff of another organisation. In such cases the award of academic status to individuals will be made in accordance with this policy. Such agreements will be subject to endorsement by the Head of Faculty and approval by the Vice-Chancellor (or nominee).
Attachment A
1.	Academic Titles 1.1 Teaching and Research Classifications Professor (Level E) Associate Professor/Reader (Level D) Senior Lecturer (Level C) Lecturer (Level B) Associate Lecturer (Level A) 1.2. Research Classifications Research Associate - Level A Research Associate - Level B Senior Research Associate Research Fellow - Level A Research Fellow - Level B Senior Research Fellow Principal Research Fellow Senior Principal Research Fellow
Attachment B
1.	University Approved Research Fellowship Schemes Research Fellowship Schemes offered by the following research organisations have been approved by the University: Australian Research Council National Health and Medical Research Council Australian Kidney Foundation National Heart Foundation Wellcome Trust Senior Research Fellowship in Medical Science.

Attachment C

1.

Professorial (non-employee) Appointment Committee The committee will comprise the Vice-Chancellor (Chairperson) or delegate, a Pro-Vice-Chancellor, and two Faculty Heads (including the Faculty Head providing the nomination). The Vice-Chancellor may co-opt additional members. The Committee will be convened as necessary. The Committee will determine nominations for the award of academic status at Professorial level and the award of the title of Professorial Fellow. The Committee may determine that an alternative title be awarded, if, in their view, the nomination meets the criteria for the award of the alternative title. The Committee will determine the term of the award and any applicable conditions. Nominations received which meet the requirements of Clause 8.3 of the Academic Status policy may be approved by the Chairperson of the Committee. Such approvals will be reported to the next meeting of the Committee. The letter of award of the title Professorial Fellow or academic status at the level of Professor will be sent to the nominee by the Director of Administration.