B3.1: Clinician-Educator and Practitioner-Educator Faculty Titles (INTERIM)

Approved By: Academic Freedom and Tenure Committee, UNM Faculty, and Board of Regents
Effective Date: March 21, 2024
Responsible Faculty Committee: Academic Freedom and Tenure Committee
Office Responsible for Administration: Office of the Provost and Office of the Executive Vice President for Health Sciences

Applicability

This Policy applies to University of New Mexico (UNM) faculty that meet the eligibility criteria listed in this document including the Health Sciences Center and Branch Community Colleges. Agreements reached by collective bargaining will hold precedence over any element of this Policy for faculty members covered by the agreement. In areas where there are differences, the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) will hold precedence.

Policy Rationale

These appointments are non-tenure-track faculty titles. The continuing nature of these appointments and the required notice for termination are determined by the individual contract.

Policy Statement

1. Clinician-Educator Faculty
In the Health Sciences Center, faculty may be appointed to the position of clinician-educator. These appointments are for health professionals with a MD degree, a JD degree, a Ph.D. degree, or an equivalent doctoral degree (see definition below) who are primarily engaged in patient care and teaching and may have related scholarly responsibilities. While not eligible for tenure, clinician-educators may hold the rank of instructor, assistant professor, associate professor, or professor.

2. Practitioner-Educator Faculty Faculty may be appointed to the position of practitioner-educator. These appointments are for professionals who:

1. possess the graduate or equivalent degrees required for entry into practice, as designated by the appropriate credentialing bodies in their field;

2. do not possess an MD degree, a JD degree, a Ph.D. degree, or an equivalent doctoral degree;

and

3. who are primarily engaged in patient care or community/industry practice at UNM or at the behest of UNM and who are teaching and may have related scholarly responsibilities.

While not eligible for tenure, practitioner-educators may hold the rank of instructor, assistant professor, associate professor, or professor.

3. Continuing Non-Tenure-Track Appointments
Clinician-educator and practitioner-educator appointments are for a fixed term, subject to renewal at the discretion of the dean, following policies and procedures adopted by schools and colleges.

Procedures And Guidelines

Colleges and schools will develop written procedures approved by their voting faculty pertaining to reclassification in accordance with this Policy, Faculty Handbook policies, and UNM hiring policies.

Definitions

Equivalent doctoral degree is defined as any relevant doctoral degree which includes but is not limited to Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD), Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS), Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD), Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD), Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT), Doctor of Public Health (DrPH), Doctor of Social Work (DSW), and Doctor of Speech Language Pathology (SLPD); MD equivalent degrees include Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) and Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO).

Patient Care is defined by a need for a patient care license. The patient care and teaching must occur at the behest of UNM

Contacts

Direct any questions about this Policy to your chair or dean.

Who Should Read This Policy

• Board of Regents
• Administrators
• Faculty
• Academic Staff
• Academic deans and other executives, department chairs, directors, and managers

Related Documents

Faculty Handbook Section B
AF&T Interpretation Memo FHB Interim Policy B3.1

History

• July 1, 2025 - Policy format updated to align with FHB A53
• March 15, 2024 -- approved by the Board of Regents
• February 15, 2024 -- approved by the Voting Faculty