Chapter 9C
Dependent Lecturers
(1) Appointment to Dependent Lecturer
a. Description
A dependent lectureship is a position that is held in conjunction with an administrative, research, or curatorial post within the University. The position upon which the lectureship is dependent must be at least half time. Like non-dependent lectureships, dependent lectureships are non-tenure-track positions that are held by individuals who serve as course heads for courses that would otherwise be taught by tenure-track or tenured faculty. Dependent lecturers (with the exception, as appropriate, of appointments in the arts) must hold a doctorate. The appointment is annual. The title is held only for the term in which the dependent lecturer is teaching. All lecturer appointments must be based in a department or undergraduate degree committee.
b. Steps: Appointment to Dependent Lecturer with a Full-Time Administrative, Research, or Curatorial Position
The department chair ensures that conditions are met to hire a dependent lecturer to teach and discusses the curricular need for the appointment with the associate dean for the division/SEAS. Note: No search is required for dependent lectureships.
The conditions include the following:
- The course must be part of the department or degree committee’s curricular plan.
- The department must approve the appointment through standard departmental procedures.
- The individual must be eligible to hold the title lecturer within the FAS (including holding a doctorate, with the exception, as appropriate, of appointments in the arts).
The associate dean for the division/SEAS must provide authorization for the appointment.
The administrative unit, in consultation with the appropriate human resources office for administrative positions, determines whether it can accommodate the department's desire for the candidate to teach. For research positions, the administrative unit should consult with either the FAS Office for Research Administration (for candidates on grant funds) or the appropriate divisional/SEAS Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs.
Note: In the case of research appointments, the department should secure the approval of the PI and, if appropriate, the funding agency.
The department or degree program sends a draft offer letter, the candidate’s curriculum vitae, and course information to the associate dean for the division/SEAS.
Note: For new dependent lecturers who are not 0 FTE and who would be paid for teaching, the department should secure from the candidate before the hire a draft course title, course description, and syllabus for the course(s) that the candidate intends to teach during their upcoming appointment period, for approval. (Obtaining this information is not necessary for candidates who would be teaching established courses such as certain language or mathematics courses, etc.)
The letter outlines the agreement reached between the department and the administrative unit regarding the responsibilities of the position.
Please securely send one electronic copy of the draft offer letter, the candidate’s CV, and course information to the associate dean for review and approval. Please follow HUIT’s recommended practices for secure document transfer, which can vary by user platform.
If approval is granted, the department issues the offer letter to candidate.
Once approval for the appointment has been granted, the department should ask the individual during the hiring process to confirm the department’s understanding of what the course title, description, and syllabus are.
If the offer is accepted, the appointment is processed in the Aurora system by the department.
- The department sends to the Appointments Office in the Office for Faculty Affairs via Aurora:
- 1 electronic PDF copy of the signed offer letter.
- 1 electronic PDF copy of a letter describing what the candidate will teach; the letter indicates that this position will be dependent on an administrative, research, or curatorial position.
- 1 electronic PDF copy of the candidate’s curriculum vitae.
- The department securely sends to the divisional associate dean 1 electronic PDF copy of the candidate’s acceptance letter. Please follow HUIT’s recommended practices for secure document transfer, which can vary by user platform.
- The department administrator will remind the faculty member to sign electronically the Harvard University Participation Agreement by the start of their appointment.
c. Steps: Appointment to Dependent Lecturer with a Part-Time Administrative, Research, or Curatorial Position
The department chair ensures that conditions are met to hire a dependent lecturer to teach and discusses the curricular need for the appointment with the associate dean for the division/SEAS. Note: No search is required for dependent lectureships.
The conditions include:
- The course must be part of the department or degree committee’s curricular plan.
- The department must approve the appointment through standard departmental procedures.
- The individual must be eligible to hold the title lecturer within the FAS (including holding a doctorate, with the exception, as appropriate, of appointments in the arts).
The associate dean for the division/SEAS must provide written authorization for the appointment.
The department sends a draft offer letter, the candidate’s curriculum vitae, and course information to the associate dean for the division/SEAS.
Note: For new dependent lecturers who are not 0 FTE and who would be paid for teaching, the department should secure from the candidate before the hire a draft course title, course description, and syllabus for the course(s) that the candidate intends to teach during their upcoming appointment period, for approval. (Obtaining this information is not necessary for candidates who would be teaching established courses such as certain language or mathematics courses, etc.)
Please securely send one electronic copy of the draft offer letter, the candidate’s CV, and course information to the associate dean for review and approval. Please follow HUIT’s recommended practices for secure document transfer, which can vary by user platform.
If approval is granted, the department issues the offer letter to the candidate.
Once approval for the appointment has been granted, the department should ask the individual during the hiring process to confirm the department’s understanding of what the course title, description, and syllabus are.
- The department sends to the Appointments Office in the Office for Faculty Affairs via Aurora:
- 1 electronic PDF copy of the signed offer letter.
- 1 electronic PDF copy of a letter describing what the candidate will teach; the letter indicates that this position will be dependent on an administrative, research, or curatorial position.
- 1 electronic PDF copy of the candidate’s curriculum vitae.
- The department securely sends to the divisional associate dean 1 electronic PDF copy of the candidate’s acceptance letter. Please follow HUIT’s recommended practices for secure document transfer, which can vary by user platform.
- The department administrator will remind the faculty member to sign electronically the Harvard University Participation Agreement by the start of their appointment.
(2) Reappointments of Dependent Lecturers
Dependent lecturers are reviewed and reappointed in one of two ways:
- In conjunction with the administrative, staff, curatorial, or research position into which they were hired (if this position has specific review procedures that include the individual’s teaching responsibilities).
- Following the review and reappointment schedule for lecturers hired with annual appointments.
The department submits to the associate dean for the division/SEAS 1 electronic copy of the dependent lecturer’s teaching evaluations and 1 electronic copy of a draft letter of reappointment that includes dates of reappointment and teaching duties. Please follow HUIT’s recommended practices for secure document transfer, which can vary by user platform.
The department sends to the Appointments Office in the Office for Faculty Affairs via Aurora 1 electronic PDF copy of the reappointment letter.