CONTRACT FACULTY OFFER LETTER, FY16 START
DATE
NAME
TITLE
ADDRESS
CITY/STATE/ZIP
Dear NAME:
On behalf of the Department of XXX in the College of Liberal Arts, I am very pleased to offer you a
contract faculty appointment at the rank of assistant professor at the University of Minnesota beginning
fall 2015.
Appointment. This is a 100%-time contract faculty appointment at the rank of assistant professor for
the 2015/16 academic year, beginning 31 August 2015 and concluding 29 May 2016. The base salary
for this position for 2015/16 will be $XX,XXX. For administrative purposes, this is a term faculty
appointment (date-specific, annually renewable) at the rank of assistant professor, over the nine-month
academic year (late-August to late-May).
This contract faculty appointment may be renewable for an additional term, subject to satisfactory
performance, curricular and programmatic need, and continued availability of funding for the position.
Should this appointment be renewed, you will be eligible for a merit increase to your base salary, as
provided by University’s annual compensation plan and within college guidelines.
Consistent with University policy, this is a term (contract) faculty appointment which terminates at the
end of the specified appointment period, unless a new and explicit written offer is made for continued
employment. This appointment is subject to the terms and conditions of the Board of Regents Policy on
Faculty Tenure, the Administrative Policy on Academic Appointments with Teaching Functions, and
other applicable University policies.
Responsibilities. Contract faculty in the College of Liberal Arts are expected to maintain an active
program of scholarly research or creative activity that includes publication, exhibition, or performance;
teach undergraduate and graduate courses; advise students regarding coursework and broader academic
goals; provide service appropriate for the rank of the appointment to the department, college,
University, and profession; and contribute to outreach activities that support the department’s mission.
The standard teaching load for 100%-time contract faculty in the College of Liberal Arts is five
semester courses of three credits each per academic year. During each academic year of this contract
faculty appointment you will be expected to teach introductory courses and a mix of undergraduate and
graduate courses in your area(s) of expertise. During 2015/16 you will be assigned to teach the
following semester courses:
 Course Number/Name, Schedule
 Course Number/Name, Schedule
 Course Number/Name, Schedule
 Course Number/Name, Schedule
 Course Number/Name, Schedule
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Specific course assignments are set in consultation with the chair of the department and are subject to
change based on satisfactory enrollments and curricular and programmatic needs. Fall semester 2015
classes begin on 8 September 2015; final examinations conclude XX December 2015. Spring semester
2016 classes begin XX January 2016; final examinations conclude XX May 2016.
In addition to the teaching responsibilities and other duties described above, the department anticipates
that you will provide service to the department by serving on department committees, including XXX,
YYY, ZZZ.
Should your appointment as a contract assistant professor be renewed for an additional term, the specific
teaching, service and outreach components of the position may change, and shall be set in consultation
with the chair of the department.
Departmental Affiliation. The Department of XXX will serve as your home department and will
provide you with shared office space and other standard administrative and human resources support
services typically provided to contract and visiting faculty in the College of Liberal Arts.
!!OPTIONAL SECTION BELOW!!
Scholarly, Artistic, and Professional Support. The Department of XXX will provide you with funds
totaling $X,XXXto support your scholarly research and/or artistic/creative work and your professional
development during this appointment. These funds may be used to pay for appropriate professionalrelated travel expenses, to purchase scholarly and/or artistic materials related to your work, and the like,
in accordance with applicable University of Minnesota financial policies and procedures. Unspent funds
shall revert to the department at the conclusion of your appointment.
Benefits. As a contract faculty member on a 100%-time appointment, you will be eligible to receive
University of Minnesota-sponsored fringe benefits. A benefits summary, including information about
the University’s “UPlan” Health Benefits Options (medical, dental, life insurance, short-term disability),
the Faculty Retirement and Benefit Plan, and additional benefits opportunities, is available on the
Employee Benefits website. Your University of Minnesota-sponsored benefits will be associated with
your regular faculty appointment. Under current University guidelines, coverage will begin on 1
September 2015 (the first day of the month following the first day of your B-term appointment).
Coverage must be applied for during the first 30 days of employment. Please contact Employee Benefits
with questions about specific benefits and eligibility.
http://www1.umn.edu/ohr/benefits/index.html
Conditions
 If you hold an academic, research, or administrative position at another university or institution,
your appointment at the University of Minnesota is subject to receipt by the University of your
resignation letter to your home institution. The effective date of your resignation from your
home university or institution must be prior to the first date of employment at the University of
Minnesota. The receipt of this resignation letter is a precondition of appointment at the
University of Minnesota.
 This offer is contingent upon your being able to demonstrate authorization to work in the United
States at the University of Minnesota by the start of the date of appointment.
 This offer is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. You will
receive an email from the University’s background check vendor, General Information Services,
Inc. (GIS) that will include the link to enter your personal information and authorization for the
check. Please enter your information as soon as possible upon receipt of the eLink from GIS.
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
You must continue to comply with any and all licensing, certification, work eligibility, and
other requirements of the position, as described in the position description.
Personnel File. All employees have the right to review their personnel file once every six months while
employed with the University of Minnesota. To exercise this right, you must submit a written request to
review your file to your unit Human Resources contact. If, after reviewing the file, you dispute specific
information, you should inform your unit Human Resources contact. The University may agree to
remove or revise the disputed information. After you have had an opportunity to review your file, you
may make a written request for a copy of the record at no cost.
If you have any questions about the terms of this offer, please do not hesitate to contact me. If these
considerations are agreeable to you, please sign below to endorse your acceptance and return this letter
to me by Friday, DATE, keeping a copy for your records.
NAME, on behalf of faculty colleagues in the Department of XXX and the College of Liberal Arts, let
me say how delighted we are at the prospects of your joining us. We look forward to welcoming you
and to your participation in the intellectual, creative, and artistic life of the department and college.
Sincerely,
XXX, Chair
C:
Ana Paula Ferreira, Associate Dean for Faculty, College of Liberal Arts
Nanette Hanks, Assistant Dean for Curriculum, College of Liberal Arts
Brent Gustafson, Chief Financial Officer, College of Liberal Arts
I accept the terms of this offer as described above:
_____________________________________
Name
_________________
Date
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