An Administrative Faculty Appointment exists when all the following criteria exist:

• a leadership position requires the credentials of a faculty member,
• an administrative stipend or another form of additional support proportionate to the level of the leadership role is being paid in addition to the faculty member’s base salary, and
• there is a plan for the faculty member to return to their original faculty position or to another faculty position after the conclusion of the administrative assignment, which is clearly outlined in the appointment letter.

Appointments to administrative positions are subject to the approval of the unit head, dean (or appropriate next-level supervisor), and Vice Provost for Faculty, except for research faculty appointments within the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI). Administrative appointments of research faculty in GTRI are subject to the approval of the unit/lab head, directorate, GTRI-HR, and Executive Vice President for Research (EVPR). Administrative positions should be filled via competitive searches, including an open call or announcement of the available position, a description of the position, key responsibilities, qualifications, and an application process. Please refer to the Guidelines for Faculty Administrative Appointments. 

Appointment Contract and Terms

The type of contract, length of term, and amount of supplemental pay will depend on the type of administrative appointment. An administrative appointment may be terminated at the pleasure of the appointment supervisor. Administrative stipends compensate faculty for additional administrative responsibilities; they are not an appropriate method of addressing salary inequity. Support must follow the Guidelines for Faculty Administrative Appointments.

The calculation of annual merit or another salary adjustment, excluding any equity adjustments, that may occur while serving in the administrative role will be based on the combined administrative stipend and base salary. The total increase will be applied to the base salary following applicable USG policies. Administrative supplements are paid via supplemental pay for the duration of the appointment and should be extended only if and when the administrative appointment is extended.

In rare circumstances, a faculty member may hold more than one administrative leadership position and receive more than one stipend; however, the supervisor(s) must ensure that the total salary and expected workload are reasonable for the roles.

Tenured faculty will retain tenure, and the tenured faculty member’s status in their tenure home (or home academic unit) will be unchanged. The home college will retain the individual's faculty salary and faculty line.

Faculty serving in these roles are subject to the contract renewal schedule for their assigned career tracks.

Faculty members may be asked to step into administrative roles for an interim period, typically not exceeding one year. Interim appointments do not require competitive searches.

Reappointment to Administrative Positions

Generally, reappointment to an administrative leadership position is possible following a successful administrative review of the faculty member and their area(s) of oversight. Except for interim appointments, administrative appointments are typically for three to five years. Before the end of the appointment term, the unit head must comprehensively review the administrator’s performance per 3.3.10 in the Faculty Handbook, if the faculty member holds a majority (50% and above) administrative workload. The terms, stipend, and length of any reappointment may differ from the initial appointment and should meet the requirements noted in Guidelines for Faculty Administrative Appointments.

As stated in the Faculty Handbook (3.3.10), Faculty serving in administrative positions
serve at the pleasure of their immediate supervisors and higher administrators. As such, higher administrators may change leadership positions when deemed necessary or desirable. The supervisor may change the terms of the individual’s administrative appointment at any time, with the approval of the unit head, next-level supervisor, and Vice Provost for Faculty.

Letter of Appointment Requirements
When appointed to an administrative role on either a permanent or interim basis, the letter of offer/appointment should follow the template found here.

Exceptions
Alternate arrangements may be negotiated based on market or exceptional needs, or circumstances with approval from the Office of Faculty Affairs and the Office of the Provost.