Faculty Ranks

Faculty Ranks Image

The bio app in CHSSWeb2 can display the rank for faculty members. When ranks are displayed on a site, they appear just below the person's name. These are often confused for titles; they are not titles. Titles are assigned on a site-by-site basis may be anything, but faculty ranks follow specific rules laid out in the Faculty Handbook.

The official ranks specified in the Faculty Handbook are:

  • instructor
  • assistant professor
  • associate professor
  • professor
  • university professor
  • distinguished service professor
  • emeritus faculty

To these a modifier "Research" may be added for term faculty on research appointments.

Part-time instructional faculty are shown with the faculty rank of "Adjunct Faculty."

Showing Faculty Rank on Websites

Sites can be set to show faculty rank or not to show rank. The chair or director should request this by writing chssweb@gmu.edu.

Assigning a Rank to a Faculty Member

The rank is imported and updated from Banner. It is not uncommon for promotions to be processed at Mason but not to be entered into Banner until some time later. If you feel that a rank is incorrect for any reason, please write chssweb@gmu.edu. We will look into what Banner is sending us and advise you as to what needs to be done to correct the rank.

Display Rules for Faculty Rank

  • If faculty rank is turned on for a site, the rank will show for every faculty member (who has a rank) in the list page and the show page.
  • Faculty rank is the first thing after the faculty name; it is followed by any administrative titles that the person may have.
  • If there is a custom title added for the person, the rank will not appear. For example, Carol Mattusch has the custom title Mathy Professor of Art History; her rank (professor) does not appear.