Faculty Guidelines and Policies - Office of the Vice Provost for Academic Leadership
Faculty Guidelines and Policies
Our mission is to provide a range of services and support to faculty, administrators and leadership on the implementation of NPS policies and procedures for academic employees. On this page you can access instructions, forms and policies you need to get started with the Faculty recruitment and hiring process. Contact us for more information.
Faculty Hiring & Pay
For complete information regarding Faculty Hiring & Pay, including AD Position Descriptions, Faculty Salary Tables, Faculty Reassignments/Realignments and Guidance for Hiring Non U.S. Citizens. Please visit the HRO website.
Faculty Activity and Information Reporting System (FAIRS)
Please note - the user interface is scheduled to be updated by Watermark November 2, 2026. Functionality will remain the same, the look and feel will change.
The new user interface can be used now. From your FAIRS page, toggle to "Explore the new view!"
For information about the new interface, see the link (FAIRS is known as Faculty Success by the vendor Watermark):
See an on-demand webinar from Watermark for a demonstration of the new interface:
FAIRS is a tool hosted by Watermark for collection and storage of information about your scholarly and service activities for a number of uses, such as:
- Faculty Activity Reports
- Faculty CVs
- Promotion & Tenure documentation
- Accreditation reports
Log in to FAIRS
Faculty Performance Plan Suggestions
The following documents are example Mission Goals and Performance Elements and Standards statements to consider in developing performance plans for assigned faculty. The example statements are consistent with approved NPS position descriptions for each official faculty title. Faculty position descriptions are available at the following link: https://nps.edu/web/hro/ad-position-descriptions
Example Mission Goals and Performance Elements and Standards statements by title:
Promotion & Tenure
The promotion and tenure period begins in the summer quarter with the identification by faculty and Academic Units of the faculty candidates to be considered in this year's cycle and the appointment by Academic Units of the Department Evaluation Committees (DECs). The candidates prepare their documentation packages following the prescribed format and submit them to the respective Chair and DECs, allowing the DECs to begin their deliberations. The Chair solicits letters of reference in September and October for all tenure-track faculty candidates, and any other faculty candidates for whom it is considered appropriate. The Department Faculty Promotion Council and the Faculty.
Promotion Council meet during the winter quarter, making recommendations to the Provost who
reviews those recommendations and, in turn, makes recommendations to the President, who has the final determination authority. Letters announcing the P&T results are distributed by the Provost in April. Promotions are effective the following July, and tenure is awarded effective on the dates noted on letters sent to the candidates.
Related Policies & Documents
Tenure Consideration
Faculty Handbook: Section V, 5.1 (Pages 19-23)
| Sample Dates for Standard Tenure Clock Form |
Start Date Before July 1 | Start Date After July 1 |
|
Date of hire: Date clock starts: Consideration Date: Date to be notified: |
4/1/2020 7/1/2020 Spring 2026 or 3/1/2026 NLT 7/1/2026 |
7/2/2020 7/1/2021 Spring 2027 or 3/1/2027 NLT 7/1/2027 |
Non-Tenure Track
Review our policies related to Non-Tenure Track appointments at NPS.
Related Policies & Documents
- Decision Memorandum for Non-Tenure Track Appointments and Extensions
Sabbaticals
The purpose of the sabbatical leave program is to free faculty members from their normal University duties, enabling them to pursue their scholarly interests full-time and maintain their professional standing so that they may return to their posts with renewed vigor, perspective, and insight.
Related Policies & Documents
J-1 Visa Exchange Visitor Program
NPS has been designated as a sponsor of the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act, administered by the US Department of State. The purpose of the Program is to provide foreign nationals with opportunities to participate in educational and cultural programs in the United States and return home to share their experiences, and to encourage Americans to participate in educational and cultural programs in other countries. Exchange visitors enter the United States on a J visa based on a Form DS-2019 issued by the sponsor.
- NPS Departments requesting a J-1 Visa Foreign Visitor must first contact the Security Manager
- Faculty Administration should also be notified as soon as possible. We are the designated officers who can issue the Form DS 2019 which is needed for an exchange visitor to obtain a J-1 visa before coming to the United States. This process can take as long as a month, sometimes longer.
- For questions about who is eligible to participate as an Exchange Visitor, see CFR 62.4
- Exchange Visitor Program Welcome Brochure
- J1 Visa Exchange Visitor Departure Survey
Emeritus/Emerita Faculty
The Emeritus and Emerita title is an honor and mark of distinction that may be granted to Regular and Ex Officio Members of the faculty who have retired or left NPS. This honor is for those who have given sustained, outstanding service to NPS and its students.
Please be aware that Emeriti must be an NPS Volunteer to retain their NPS email account. See "Volunteer Faculty/Recruitment" for forms and information.
A new Emeritus/Emerita Request form is available, link below. Note - when you type in a faculty name, the form will populate the other faculty name fields.
Please send Emeritus requests to facultyadministration@nps.edu.
Related Policies & Documents
Volunteer Program
Volunteer appointments are for up to 3 years and can be renewed. The Volunteer Request form must be submitted to Faculty Administration for the appointment to continue. ITACS will cut off email accounts if an approved Volunteer Request form is not on file.
Please be aware that non-U.S. citizens, fulltime Federal government employees, and active duty military, cannot participate in the NPS Volunteer Program.
Please submit the following two documents for the initial Volunteer appointment and renewal appointments to Faculty Administration (appointments are for up to 3 years):
All NPS Volunteer candidates must be screened and approved by the NPS Security Office. Fingerprints and T1 background check necessary for all Volunteers new to federal service. All Volunteers must have at least a T1 adjudication completed in the past 5 years. For Volunteers new to federal service, a T1 adjudication takes at least 90 days. The adjudication must be favorable to continue through the Volunteer approval process. Please allow at least 90 days for Security approvals for Volunteer requests.
Several departments must approve a Volunteer Request. When the Volunteer Request and DD-2793 forms are signed off by the Volunteer Services Coordinator and returned to the requestor from Faculty Administration, then the person is considered to be an NPS Volunteer.
Be sure to track the number of years/months/weeks/days the Volunteer works. The amount of "Volunteer Time Donated" must be recorded in Section IV of the DD2793 at the end of the Volunteer's appointment or renewed appointment.
The Volunteer Services Coordinator signs the DD-2793, not the department Chair or Director. The Chair DOES sign the Request form.
Volunteers do not receive a CAC - they must follow the usual Gate Access procedures to enter campus. NPS retirees are eligible for a DBIDS card to access campus.
Please alert Faculty Administration if a Volunteer ends their appointment before the scheduled end date.
Last updated: 4/25
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