Contingency Contracts
Appointments to the faculty of the University of Delaware are made on
the expectation that the candidate has completed a terminal degree. In
the case of appointment at the rank of Assistant Professor, a contingent
contract may be written permitting initial appointment at the rank of
Lecturer if it states clearly that all requirements for the terminal
degree will be fulfilled prior to reappointment at the rank of Assistant
Professor. Contingent contracts are normally written for one year, but
in extraordinary cases may be written for two years at the discretion of
the department and dean.
The salary differential in a contingent contract should not be less than
$1,000.
In those cases where a contingent contract is justified, the letter of
appointment from the dean should include the following language:
This contract is written for appointment at the rank of assistant
professor contingent upon formal notification to the dean that all
requirements for the doctorate (N.B.: or appropriate terminal
degree), including the dissertation, have been completed by the
beginning of the contract period. If this expectation is not met by
the beginning of the contract period, the initial appointment will be
at the rank of Lecturer, at a salary of $______ (N.B.: an amount
reduced from the original amoutn by not less than $1000) for a term
of one year. Upon formal notification to the dean that all
requirements for the doctorate (N.B.: or appropriate terminal
degree), including the dissertation, have been completed, your rank
will be changed to assistant professor and your salary will be
increased to the original annual rate for the remainder of the year.
Should you not complete your doctorate (N.B.: or appropriate
terminal degree) by May 31, 199_ (N.B.: end of current academic
year), your contract will expire on August 31, 199_ (N.B., current
year) and no further notice of non-renewal of appointment is
required. Should the requirements be completed prior to May 31, 199_
(N.B.: current academic year) and should a renewal appointment be
proposed, the renewal appointment may be at the rank of assistant
professor and for a two-year period. Eligibility to be considered
for tenure does not begin until the first full academic year of
appointment as assistant professor.
Promotions and increments, if awarded in subsequent years, will be in
accordance with regular University policy. Only the initial contract
may be written as a contingent contract, and all contigencies lapse at
the end of the first year.
March 23, 1995