Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

Provost and Vice President
for Academic Affairs
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo MI 49008-5204 USA
(269) 387-2380

Other Appointments

This page provides guidance for faculty appointment types that fall outside standard full-time and part-time appointments. It includes procedures, eligibility requirements, and required templates for adjunct, affiliate, visiting, emeriti, senior administrative officer, and other specialized appointments within Academic Affairs.

Each section below outlines the specific requirements and approval processes associated with that appointment type.

Faculty Adjunct

  1. Department Recommendation: The department completes the adjunct appointment form, signed by the chair or director, and submits the form and vita to the dean for review.
  2. Dean & Provost Review: Upon dean approval, the recommendation form and vita are forwarded to the provost for review and decision. The provost retains a copy of the recommendation form and the vita and returns the original form to the department.
  3. Approval or Denial: If the recommendation is denied, the department notifies the individual. If approved, the department issues the letter of offer and WIN/Adjunct Faculty request form to the prospective adjunct faculty member.
  4. Acceptance & Final Routing: Upon receipt of the signed letter of offer and completed WIN/Adjunct Faculty Request Form, the department forwards both documents to the dean and provost.
  5. Board of Trustees Approval & Notification: The provost submits the adjunct appointment recommendation to the Western Michigan University Board of Trustees and notifies the individual of the Board’s decision, with copies to the chair/director and dean.

Faculty: Affiliate

  1. Department Recommendation: The department completes the recommendation for affiliate appointment form., signed by the chair or director, and submits the form and vita to the dean for review.
  2. Dean & Provost Approval: Upon dean approval, the recommendation form and vita are forwarded to the provost for final review and decision. The provost retains the vita and a copy of the recommendation form and returns the original form to the department.
  3. Decision & Offer: If the recommendation is denied, the department notifies the individual. If approved, the department issues a letter of offer to the prospective affiliate faculty member.
  4. Acceptance & Recordkeeping: Upon receipt of the signed letter of offer, the department forwards a copy to the dean and provost for recordkeeping.
  1. Eligibility: Affiliate faculty must be current WMU administrative, professional, or technical employees appointed for one-year, renewable terms to perform specific instructional-related assignments.
  2. Appointment Conditions: Affiliate appointments are non-board-appointed, non-bargaining-unit, fixed-term, uncompensated, do not carry tenure, and are approved by the department, dean, and provost (and graduate dean, if applicable), with rank assigned based on qualifications.

Visiting Professors

  1. Department Recommendation: The department completes the Recommendation for appointment form signed by the chair or director, and submits the form and vita to the dean for review.
  2. Dean & Provost Review: Upon dean approval, the recommendation form and vita are forwarded to the provost for review and decision. The provost retains a copy of the recommendation form and the vita and returns the original form to the department.
  3. Approval or Denial: If the recommendation is denied, the department notifies the individual. If approved, the department issues the letter of offer and WIN/Adjunct Faculty request form to the prospective adjunct faculty member.
  4. Acceptance & Final Routing: Upon receipt of the signed letter of offer and completed WIN/Adjunct Faculty Request Form, the department forwards both documents to the dean and provost.
  5. Board of Trustees Approval & Notification: The provost submits the adjunct appointment recommendation to the Western Michigan University Board of Trustees and notifies the individual of the Board’s decision, with copies to the chair/director and dean.
  • Visiting professors are individuals on leave from another institution or organization who are appointed by the Board of Trustees for a specified term.

Faculty: Emeriti

Emeritus status may be recommended for faculty members who are retiring and have a minimum of ten years (or the equivalent) of full-time service in a board-appointed, ranked faculty position. 

  1. Department Recommendation: The chair submits a written recommendation for emeritus status to the dean, including the faculty member’s notice of retirement.
  2. Dean & Provost Review: Upon dean support, the recommendation is forwarded to the provost with the chair’s and faculty member’s letters and a brief biographical sketch outlining degrees earned and contributions to Western Michigan University.
  3. Provost & Board of Trustees Approval: The provost reviews the materials, communicates the decision to the faculty member, dean, and chair/director, and submits the recommendation for final approval by the Western Michigan University Board of Trustees.
  4. Final Notification: The provost communicates the Board of Trustees’ final decision.

The recommendation for emeritus status must be included in the faculty member’s retirement documentation.

Senior Administrative Officers

Senior administrative officers include vice presidents, the provost, deans, chairs, directors, and other officials of equivalent responsibility as designated by the president.

  1. Search Authorization: The provost, president, or dean authorizes the search and determines whether a search firm will be used. A position authorization form is requested from the Office of University Budgets.
  2. Position Development: The supervisor drafts the job description and posting, which are reviewed by appropriate senior administrators. Final posting language is authorized by the supervisor.
  3. Search Committee Formation: A search committee chair and members are appointed by the supervisor. Committee composition reflects the diversity of the University and, for faculty-rank positions, includes a majority of tenured, Board of Trustees–appointed faculty. The committee chair leads the search; designated staff support logistics.
  4. Approval & Posting: The signed position authorization form and job posting are submitted to the Office of University Budgets, Human Resources, and the Office of Institutional Equity for review and approval. The position is then advertised broadly to ensure a diverse applicant pool.
  5. Recruitment & Screening: Applications are received through a secure system. The search committee conducts outreach, reviews applications, and identifies candidates for first-round interviews. Reference checks are conducted in accordance with committee and search-firm practices.
  6. First-Round Interviews: Initial interviews are conducted confidentially (e.g., phone, virtual, or off-campus). Following these interviews, the committee recommends finalists to the supervisor for campus interviews.
  7. Campus Interviews & Public Disclosure: Finalist candidates participate in on-campus interviews. Candidate names, CVs, and public presentation schedules are posted following candidate authorization. Background checks are completed, and tenure/rank recommendations (if applicable) are secured.
  8. Selection & Offer: The search committee provides a non-ranked assessment of finalists, including strengths and weaknesses. The supervisor makes the final selection in consultation with senior leadership and extends and negotiates the offer.
  9. Hire & Notification: Upon acceptance, unsuccessful candidates are notified. Marketing and Strategic Communications coordinates the public announcement, and the search committee and senior leadership are informed.
  10. Records Retention: Search documentation is retained in accordance with University record-retention requirements (minimum of four years).
  1. Position Scope: Senior administrative officers include vice presidents, the provost, deans, chairs, directors, and other officials of equivalent responsibility as designated by the president.
  2. Appointment Authority: Senior administrative officers serve at the direction and discretion of the president and are employees at will. All appointments and separations are subject to approval by the Western Michigan University Board of Trustees.
  3. Employment Status: Senior administrative officers serve at the pleasure of the president and may be terminated without cause or prior notice. No property interest exists in the continuation of employment.
  4. Faculty Tenure Distinction: Any faculty tenure held concurrently by a senior administrative officer is separate from and independent of the administrative appointment. Faculty tenure is governed by the Agreement between Western Michigan University and the WMU Chapter of the American Association of University Professors and does not apply to administrative appointments.
  5. Policy Coverage: Administrative appointments approved by the Board of Trustees are governed by the Senior Administrative Officers Policy unless otherwise designated by the president.
  6. Offer Letter Acknowledgement: Letters of offer for senior administrative officer positions will identify the position as a senior administrative officer role and will include the applicable Senior Administrative Officers Policy.