1. Purpose

1.1 The University seeks to formally recognise, through the award of full academic titles, significant and sustained contribution to the teaching, research and/or service activities of the University from health and medical professionals who are not normally paid by the University.

1.2 Health and medical professionals awarded academic titles become members of the relevant School, or other appropriate work unit within the University. Within the work unit, Academic Titleholders are responsible to their respective supervisor for the academic activities undertaken within their position which can include teaching, collaborative research, postgraduate supervision, and staff and student consultations.

1.3 In determining the staffing base for health-related teaching and research initiatives, it is important to consider, in addition to staff appointed to the University, the award of academic titles to appropriately qualified externally-funded health and medical professionals who are seeking to establish an active teaching and/or research role within the University. The award of such titles and associated benefits to health and medical professionals:

(a) expands the University’s academic and clinical teaching and research base;

(b) indicates a clear commitment to health and medical professionals who demonstrate a reciprocal desire to commit to the work of the University; and

(c) strengthens the relationships between the University and the local health sector.

2. Scope and application

2.1 These guidelines do not replace existing University provisions relating to the appointment of Adjunct Appointees and Visiting Fellows.

3. Definitions

Please refer to the University’s Glossary of Terms for policies and procedures.

4. Guidelines

4.1 Academic Titles Available for Award to Externally Funded Health and Medical Professionals

Academic titles available to award to appropriately-qualified externally-funded health and medical professionals include:

• Professor (Level E)
• Associate Professor (Level D) or Principal Research Fellow
• Senior Lecturer (Level C) or Senior Research Fellow
• Lecturer (Level B) or Research Fellow
• Associate Lecturer (Level A)
• Clinical Educator (Ungraded)

Guidelines for the award of the various levels of academic title are appended (Appendix A).

4.2 Academic Title Appointments Available for Award to Externally Funded Medical Interns, House Officers/Registrars, General Practitioners and Medical Specialists (without consideration of track record)

The University recognises the key role that Medical Interns, House Officers/Registrars, General Practitioners and Medical Specialists based in hospitals and general practices play in delivering teaching to the University’s students and in undertaking collaborative research with University staff. The University will develop arrangements with hospitals and general practices whereby the following appointment levels will be offered to medical officers without the need for applications to be individually reviewed or approved by the delegated officer: 

• Medical Interns undertaking their post-graduate year 1 (PGY1) will be offered the title of Associate Lecturer as a part of their Medical Internship appointment; and
• House Officers/Registrars or equivalent who have completed PGY1 will be offered the title of Lecturer as a part of their House Officer/Registrar appointment; and
• General Practitioners who are either a member of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners or have significant professional experience in general practice will be offered the title of Senior Lecturer; and
• Medical Specialists or equivalent will be offered the title of Senior Lecturer as a part of their Specialist appointment.

4.3 Academic Title Appointments Available for Award to Externally Funded Nurses, Midwives and Allied Health Professionals (without consideration of track record)

The University also recognises the key role that Nurses, Midwives and Allied Health Professionals, based in hospitals, community settings and general practices, play in delivering teaching to the University’s students and in undertaking collaborative research with University staff. The University will develop arrangements with hospitals, community facilities and general practices whereby the following appointment levels will be offered to health practitioners without the need for applications to be individually reviewed or approved by the delegated officer:

• Registered Nurses, Registered Midwives and Accredited/Registered Allied Health Professionals (for example a Dietician, Physiotherapist or Occupational Therapist) will be offered the title of Lecturer; and
• Registered Nurses, Midwives and Allied Health Professionals who hold a postgraduate clinical qualification (for example a Master’s level specialist clinical degree) will be offered the title of Senior Lecturer.

4.4 Appointment of Externally Funded Academic Titles at the levels of Associate Professor and Professor

The University also recognises the key role that senior Medical Officers, Nurses, Midwives and Allied Health Professionals, based in hospitals, community settings and general practices, play in undertaking collaborative research with University staff. The University will seek out health practitioners with doctoral level qualifications and international research reputations and offer them the opportunity to be appointed to the academic title of Associate Professor or Professor. To be awarded the Academic Title of Associate Professor or Professor the applicant will have to provide sufficient evidence that they meet the requisite standard as set out in the Academic Position Classification - Guidelines.

4.5 Duration of Academic Title Appointments (excluding Medical Intern Appointments)

Academic titles are awarded for a period not exceeding three years, conditional upon the Academic Titleholder maintaining:

• employment with the employer they had at the time the Academic Title was awarded; and
• acceptable standards of performance as determined.

4.6 Duration of Academic Title Appointments to Medical Interns

Academic title appointments at the level of Associate Lecturer are normally awarded to Medical Interns for the duration of the Medical Intern appointment (i.e., for the duration of their PGY1 training). Appointments lapse:

(a) on completion of Medical Internship training;

(b) if the Medical Intern is not reappointed;

(c) on resignation or termination;

(d) if the Medical Intern is no longer involved in medical student education for the University; or

(e) if the University through its performance management process determines that the Academic Title should be revoked.

At the end of their Medical Internship, Academic Titleholders who are progressing on to House Officer/Registrar positions within the health sector will be eligible to upgrade their academic title to the level of Lecturer by submission of written request to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) through the Cost Centre Manager and the provision of suitable evidence of completion of internship.

5. Intellectual property

Academic Titleholders will be required to abide by the University’s Intellectual Property - Governing Policy, unless alternate intellectual property arrangements have been approved in writing by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic). Academic Titleholders will only be able to assert conditions outside of the University’s Intellectual Property - Governing Policy on intellectual property produced if the conditions were negotiated and agreed to in writing prior to the Academic Titleholder undertaking a commitment to produce the intellectual property in question.

6. Applications for Award of Academic Title

Applications for award of academic title are to be made to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) using the Academic Title Application Form. Applicants will be required to submit a completed application form and provide a current curriculum vitae (CV).

Applications must be accompanied by a written statement of support from the relevant Cost Centre Manager for consideration by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic).

7. Benefits available to Academic Titleholders

Upon award of an Academic Title, title holders will be issued with a letter from the University. This will also specify the name of the supervisor. Academic Titleholders are required to make contact with the work unit that they have become a member of, in order to access the following University benefits.

Externally funded Academic Titleholders are entitled to receive a wide range of benefits from the University including:

(a) use of the academic title and status as a member of the University in forums and correspondence in accordance with the University of the Sunshine Coast Staff Code of Conduct – Governing Policy;

(b) access to the University's library resources including library borrowing rights commensurate with access provided to University-paid academic staff;

(c) access to information technology services commensurate with access provided to University-paid academic staff including:

• UniSC internet and staff web portal accounts;
• UniSC email account;
• file storage space on central servers;
• external dial-up access to the University network;

(d) access to ITS support staff to assist with their use of University IT accounts and equipment;

(e) access to continuing professional development opportunities;

(f) business cards and UniSC photo identification card;

(g) inclusion on the work unit’s staff webpage;

(h) eligibility to apply for and be awarded University awards (e.g., teaching awards), scholarships and research grants;

(i) assistance from the Office of Research with accessing on-line grant databases, research grant administration, grant writing, feedback on grant applications, and achieving ethics approval for research administered through the University;

(j) ability to display information about research projects on the host work unit's website;

(k) opportunity to promote professional achievements to the University community through input where appropriate into newsletters and on-line media;

(l) entitlement to participate in their work unit's meetings and seminars;

(m) such other privileges and benefits that are made available to academic staff of the University from time to time that the University deems should also be made available to Academic Titleholders.

8. Responsibilities of Externally Funded Academic Titleholders

Externally funded Academic Titleholders are members of the University. It is expected that these staff will research and/or teach as appropriate, as members of the University.

Responsibilities include:

(a) participation in student teaching including:

• supervision of students undertaking clinical placements; and/or
• facilitating student group learning (including Problem Based Learning); and/or
• conducting lectures and tutorials; and/or
• participating in student assessment and other academic activities of their School; and/or

(b) participation in research including where appropriate contributing to collaborative research projects with other colleagues from the University; and/or

(c) administration of research grants through the University where deemed appropriate by the University; and/or

(d) recognition of the University in the bylines of publications where appropriate; and/or

(e) participation in relevant committee meetings; and

(f) compliance with legislation and any other provisions that affect the University, and with the University Acts, policy documents, Orders and the Staff Code of Conduct – Governing Policy.

9. Payment of Externally Funded Academic Titleholders

Academic Titleholders are not normally paid by the University. However, in exceptional circumstances payment may be provided by the relevant School/work unit, including:

(a) where an Academic Titleholder must close their private practice to participate in University activities resulting in a tangible loss of income (payment made in this instance would be at the discretion of the School/work unit); or

(b) where an Academic Titleholder is engaged through an agreement or memorandum of understanding (other than a joint appointment) whereby the Academic Titleholder is released from their principal employer in order to carry out activities on behalf of the University (payment made in this instance would be in accordance with the relevant agreement or memorandum of understanding).

Such payments require the approval of the Cost Centre Manager.

10. Performance Review

Academic Titleholders are expected to carry out the performance of their duties and responsibilities in accordance with the University’s Academic Position Classification Standards and as determined by the relevant supervisor.

The relevant supervisor will review the performance of Academic Titleholders in accordance with an annual performance review process. Supervisors are required to collect information from Academic Titleholders on an annual basis listing each Academic Titleholder’s achievements for the year in the areas of:

(a) publications;

(b) research grants; and

(c) awards received.

The University reserves the right to review its award of an academic title to an Academic Titleholder at any time and may alter the category or revoke the title where it is in the best interest of the University to do so. Decisions to alter or withdraw academic titles are made at the discretion of the University officer delegated to confer the title.

11. Renewal of Externally Funded Academic Titles

Cost Centre Manager’s may recommend renewal of an academic title at a Titleholder’s current level in accordance with these Guidelines by completing an Academic Title Application Form. Applications for renewal should be forwarded to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) for consideration. An updated CV should accompany the application.

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Appendix A: Criteria

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