Under UHAP 3.1.02a, multiple-year (MY) appointments of up to three (3) years may be offered to Career-track faculty in lecturer and career-track professorial titles prior to the beginning of a fiscal or academic year appointment. After final review and approval from the Dean or Senior Vice President (SVP), the MY appointment may be offered to the Career-track faculty member.
Process Overview
Multi-year (MY) appointments for Career-Track faculty are approved by the Dean or the Senior Vice President (SVP) as appropriate. Units should follow the process below to request and implement a two- or three-year appointment:
- Department Head/Director Memo
The Department Head (DH) or Director prepares a memo addressed to the Dean (or SVP, as applicable) requesting approval of a multi-year (MY) appointment.
Please ensure the memo contains:- The start and end dates of the appointment
- A clear statement indicating a two- or three-year appointment term
[Access the Multi-Year Appointment Request Memo Template.]
- Dean/SVP Approval
The Dean or SVP reviews the request. If approved, the Dean or SVP signs the memo.
- Human Resources
The approved and signed memo is sent to the faculty member and cced to the unit’s Human Resources Specialist, who uploads the memo into UAccess Employee (MSS) and processes the change to a multi-year (MY) appointment.
Provost Office approval is not needed for this process.
If you have any questions about multi-year appointments, please contact your college's or division's Faculty Affairs Associate Dean, or contact Faculty Affairs at facultyaffairs@arizona.edu.
Frequently Asked Questions
When can a multi-year appointment be processed and entered into UAccess Employee (MSS)?
Once the multi-year appointment has been approved by the Dean or SVP and the approval memo has been signed, the unit's designated Human Resources (HR) team member may process the appointment in UAccess Employee (MSS) at any time. The approved memo and notification to faculty is uploaded as supporting documentation by HR.
Does the multi-year appointment need to be processed at the end of the fiscal or academic year?
In order for multi-year appointments to start at the beginning of a new fiscal year, they should be established prior to the beginning of the new fiscal or academic year appointment period. Units should plan accordingly to allow sufficient time for the Department Head/Director's request, Dean/SVP approval, and HR processing.
Can a multi-year appointment be established during the middle of an appointment year?
Yes, multi-year appointments can be established mid-year; however, it is preferred that they coincide with the beginning of the fiscal year appointment. Units with questions about a specific situation should consult their college's Faculty Affairs Associate Dean or contact Faculty Affairs before proceeding.
Can the FTE of a faculty member on a multi-year appointment be reduced?
An FTE reduction is possible for faculty on a multi-year contract. A multi-year appointment details the terms of the faculty member's appointment for the period in question. Units considering a reduction in FTE during a multi-year appointment should consult with their college's or unit's Human Resources representatives and/or Faculty Affairs before making the change.
Does a multi-year appointment guarantee that the faculty member's appointment details will remain the same for the entire appointment period?
A multi-year appointment establishes the length of the appointment. Questions regarding changes to FTE, salary, workload, or other items can be sent to the college's Faculty Affairs Associate Dean or contact Faculty Affairs.
Can a multi-year appointment be renewed?
Yes. Eligible Career-Track faculty may be considered for a subsequent multi-year appointment. A multi-year appointment may be renewed at the end of the appointment period for another multi-year appointment, or for a single-year appointment. A new request and approval process should be completed for each multi-year appointment.
Is there a limit on the number of renewals?
No, per the Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR) policy, there is no limit on the number of renewals.
Does a multi-year appointment require approval from the Office of the Provost?
No. Multi-year appointments are approved by the Dean or Senior Vice President (SVP). After approval, the unit's Human Resources designee processes the change in UAccess Employee (MSS).
Who should be included in the multi-year appointment process?
The Department Head or Director initiates the request, the Dean or SVP provides approval, and the unit's Human Resources designee processes the appointment in UAccess Employee (MSS). The department's business personnel may also support the process, and units should include or consult their Faculty Affairs Associate Dean as appropriate.
How long can a multi-year appointment be?
Eligible Career-Track faculty may receive a multi-year appointment of up to three years. The appointment must clearly indicate whether it is for two or three years and include the appointment start and end dates.
Is there a limit on the number of multi-year appointments the university may offer?
Yes. ABOR Policy 6-201(E)(11) limits multi-year appointments to 30% of the university's tenure-track/tenure-eligible faculty members. The limit was increased from 15% to 30% in FY2022. Faculty Affairs tracks the number of multi-year appointments at the university level to ensure compliance with the ABOR limit. Colleges and departments do not need to independently calculate their percentage of multi-year appointments..