The Faculty Senate will discuss part-time tenure track positions and adjunct instructor changes at its Tuesday meeting.

Faculty are looking to establish a policy that would create guidelines for how part-time faculty can gain tenure at Iowa State. Currently, there is no policy, and tenure is limited to only full-time faculty.

Jack Girton, Faculty Senate at-large senator for the College of Agriculture, said the policy does not exist because most faculty members like to work full-time. Girton said those faculty who choose to work part-time should be recognized as well, though.

There is argument, however, as to whether those who work part-time should be considered full faculty members.

Girton said there are those faculty who argue that a faculty position is by definition something that can only be done full-time. He said part-time faculty were once referred to on campus as adjunct faculty for this reason.

Today, however, some faculty say that such a title is too limiting, as some individuals choose to be part-time in order to have more time to spend with their families, Girton said.

There is also the problem of whether it’s feasible to create tenure guidelines for part-time faculty, many of whom may find it hard to accomplish the amount of work and deducate the amount of time for full-time faculty to gain tenure.

“I think yes, lecturers should be considered faculty”, said Sana Akili, part-time marketing lecturer.

Akili said she feels there should be long-term employment opportunities for part-time faculty.

The issue of adjunct instructors will also be discussed.

The Faculty Senate is looking at writing a general policy that will allow someone with extensive professional experience attending Iowa State to gaining a Ph.D to teach in their field of study as an adjunct instructor, said Faculty Senate President Sanjeev Agarwal. Currently, the College of Veterinary Medicine is the only college to make use of adjunct instructors. The proposed policy would allow the practice to be used campuswide to aid departments in providing faculty support for its students.

“It is unique to be able to attract such highly placed people to come and teach, and we ought to be able to change our system to make that happen,” Agarwal said.

The Faculty Senate will meet at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Sun Room of the Memorial Union.