7/11/24
All faculty at the University of Washington, regardless of primary department, can apply to be adjunct faculty in another department. As stated by the UW:
These [adjunct] appointments are made only to faculty members already holding a primary appointment in another UW academic unit. It recognizes the contributions of the faculty member to a secondary academic unit (UW Faculty Code Section 24-34 B.9). The title/rank must be consistent with title/rank in the primary academic unit and does not confer the privilege of participation in governance and voting privileges, or tenure in the secondary unit. Should the primary appointment end, the adjunct ends simultaneously.
As stated by the School of Medicine, “This is an annual appointment that recognizes the contributions of a member of the faculty to the secondary unit.” Adjunct appointments can facilitate collaboration, provide formal teaching and mentoring opportunities, and enhance access to graduate students and post-doctoral fellows. The department of the primary appointment determines criteria for promotion.
The process for obtaining an adjunct appointment is as follows:
- The faculty member should discuss the idea of an adjunct appointment with their division head and, if supportive, with the Pediatrics department head.
- If both the division and department heads are supportive, the faculty member should approach the chair of the second department and discuss an adjunct appointment.
- The faculty member writes a letter to the second department chair, requesting an adjunct appointment, and submits this with their CV, any other documents required by that department, and letters of recommendation (3 preferred, 1 mandatory). The letter should be copied to the Department of Pediatrics chair. The second department may have customary requests for adjunct appointments, such as presenting a seminar.
- The second (adjunct) department chair will then solicit input from departmental members through formal voting. If the vote is favorable, this chair will then submit a letter to their dean recommending an adjunct appointment and indicating faculty vote totals, including:
- Eligible voters
- Favorable votes
- Unfavorable votes
- Abstentions
- Absent voters
- The chair of the faculty member’s primary unit will also write and submit a letter to the dean approving the adjunct appointment
Note: There is another type of secondary appointment in another department, entitled Joint appointment. Joint appointments are quite different from adjunct appointments. Joint appointments require that individuals meet the appointment and promotion criteria of both departments, which may differ dramatically, for example in teaching requirements. In general, we do not encourage joint appointments.