Proposed changes to B3.1
Comment period runs September 26, 2023 through October 30, 2023. Please send comments to for the Office of the University Secretary to collect and submit to the appropriate committees.
The proposed Policy B3.1 “Clinician-Educator and Practitioner-Educator Faculty Titles” has been developed and approved by the Academic Freedom and Tenure (AF&T) Committee to address a concern raised by the Health Sciences Center pertaining to accreditation, recruitment, and retention issues for faculty in healthcare professions such as physician assistants and dental hygenists who hold terminal degrees in their field of study. Currently at UNM these faculty carry the titles of lecturer, senior lecturer, or principal lecturer and are only eligible for lecturer ranks. At most colleges and universities these faculty, although not tenured, are eligible for the ranks of instructor, assistant professor, associate professor, and professor. To address this situation, AF&T is proposing the creation of the title of Practitioner-Educator which would not be tenured but would be eligible for the ranks of instructor, assistant professor, associate professor, or professor.
The Practitioner-Educator title is modeled after the Clinician-Educator title which is not tenured but is eligible for the ranks of instructor, assistant professor, associate professor, or professor. The major difference between these two titles relates to the types of degrees required.
- The Clinician-Educator title is used for health professionals with a MD degree, a Ph.D. degree, or an equivalent doctoral degree.
- The Practitioner-Educator title is used for health professionals who possess the terminal degree in their field of study but do not possess a MD degree, a Ph.D. degree, or the equivalent doctoral degree.
The first phase of implementation of the proposed Policy B3.1 is limited to language necessary to establish the new title. More detailed policies are being developed which will address policies and procedures pertaining to reviews, promotions, and academic leave for Practitioner-Educators, but these policies require detailed input and review by faculty and will take some time to develop. When these draft policies have been developed and approved by AF&T, they will be sent to faculty for review, comment, and approval.
The AF&T Committee appreciates your attention to this important matter and welcomes your comments.