Criteria for Appointment and Promotion

1

Assistants

Research Assistant in (Department)

This title is conferred on degree candidates in the Graduate School of Medical Sciences (GSMS) rendering research services, which are not directly thesis related.

Teaching Assistant in (Department)

This title is conferred on degree candidates in the GSMS rendering services in instruction.

Graduate Research Assistant in (Department)

This title is reserved for degree candidates in the GSMS who are receiving support during the course of their thesis research or other degree-related work and also rendering a service to the particular project.

Visiting Graduate Assistant in (Department)2

This title is reserved for post-baccalaureate degree candidates at universities other than the GSMS rendering services in research.

Fellows

Fellow in (Department)

This title is used for individuals who have completed or interrupted their residency training or have an earned doctorate, and who are obtaining additional training through specialized study or research. Fellows do not hold permanent positions. Some Fellows may be considered postdoctoral trainees as defined in the Introduction,3 and therefore, these Fellows would be subject to the postdoctoral trainee policies and procedures described under Terms of Appointment.

Visiting Fellow in (Department)

This title is used for individuals joining the academic staff for a limited period in order to obtain further training in their field but retaining their positions at another institution. Normally such individuals will have an earned doctorate. Their support may be obtained from the Medical College and/or another source. In addition, distinguished physicians and scientists in residence at the Medical College or an affiliate and who receive no compensation or other support and who have no formal duties, may be appointed Visiting Fellow in (Department) at the Medical College.4 Some Visiting Fellows may be considered postdoctoral trainees as defined in the Introduction,3 and therefore, these Visiting Fellows would be subject to the postdoctoral trainee policies and procedures described under Terms of Appointment.

Associates

Clinical Associate in (Department)

This title is used for members of the house staff of affiliated hospitals in their second and subsequent years of postgraduate training in recognition of their primary involvement in clinical training and service.

Postdoctoral Associate in (Department)

This title is used for individuals performing postgraduate work in research as a result of which they increase their knowledge and experience. Although they hold a doctoral degree, such individuals work primarily under the direction of a faculty member and are not considered independent researchers. Postdoctoral Associates often participate in the research training of graduate students and sometimes teach informally. They do not hold permanent positions. All Postdoctoral Associates are considered postdoctoral trainees as defined in the Introduction,3 and therefore, these trainees would be subject to the postdoctoral trainee policies and procedures described under Terms of Appointment.

Candidates for degrees administered by Cornell University may not be appointed as Postdoctoral Associates until all the requirements of the degree have been completed. In some cases, Cornell doctoral candidates who have passed their thesis examination and whose submission of the thesis to the Graduate School is imminent, may be appointed as Postdoctoral Associates. However, such appointments are limited to a thirty-day period. After the thesis is accepted by the Graduate School, a regular appointment can be made.5

Research Associate in (Department)

This title is used for individuals with an earned doctorate or professional degree or the equivalent combination of skills, education and experience who participate in the planning, design and operation of research programs; participate in the collection and analysis of data; supervise preparation of materials and maintenance of equipment and facilities; and plan, assign and supervise work of technicians and assistants. Candidates for degrees administered by Cornell University may not be appointed as Research Associates until all the requirements of the degree have been completed.

Staff Associate in (Department)

This title is used for individuals with an earned doctorate or professional degree or the equivalent skills, education and experience whose contributions are primarily of a technical or service nature and who perform as associates of members of the faculty.

Teaching Associate in (Department)

This title is used for individuals who are not degree candidates at Cornell University and who are not qualified for appointment to the faculty, but who assist in the teaching programs of the Medical College. A baccalaureate degree or equivalent skills, education and experience are required.

Senior Associates

Senior Clinical Associate in (Department)

This title is used for chief residents at affiliated hospitals or for individuals who are residents in the advanced stages of their training programs in areas which require many years of postgraduate training, and thus merit advancement above the position of Clinical Associate.

Senior Research Associate in (Department)

This title is used for individuals with an earned doctorate or professional degree, or the equivalent skills, education and experience, extensive research experience and record of publication who are responsible for the planning, conducting and reporting on original research in their field of expertise and/or participating in the general research effort of a department or division and thus merit advancement above the position of Research Associate.

Senior Staff Associate in (Department)

This title is used for individuals who have at least five (5) years of experience as a Staff Associate and who have displayed accomplishment in contributing to the technical or service activities of a department or division, and thus merit advancement above the position of Staff Associate.

Senior Teaching Associate

This title is used for individuals with at least five (5) years of service as a Teaching Associate or the equivalent, and who have displayed significant accomplishment in contributing to the teaching programs of the Medical College, and thus merit advancement above the position of Teaching Associate.

Affiliate Physicians6

Affiliate Physician in (Department)

This title is used for individuals primarily engaged in clinical care who are in good standing on the medical staffs of affiliated hospitals or who meet the qualifications for membership on the hospital's medical staff and whom the hospital's medical staff wishes to appoint as a member.

Senior Affiliate Physician in (Department)

This title is used for individuals in good standing on the medical staffs of affiliated hospitals who perform extraordinary service in clinical care and who contribute to teaching and/or administration at the affiliated hospital and thus merit appointment or advancement above the position of Affiliate Physician.

• 1. Original descriptions of criteria for appointment and promotion, except for Visiting Fellows in (Department), Affiliate Physicians and Visiting Graduate Assistants in (Department) approved by the Executive Faculty Council on February 15, 1977
• 2. Approved by the Executive Faculty Council March 2, 1995 (minutes, page 8596), and the General Faculty Council March 13, 1995.
• 3. a. b. c. See Appointment and Promotion of Non-Faculty, Academic Staff, Introduction
• 4. See also the By-Laws of Cornell University, Article XVII, 1.
• 5. Cornell University Academic Administrative Manual (1980), p. 3.37.
• 6. These titles are not available where agreements among Weill Cornell Medical College, The New York-Presbyterian Hospital and/or others preclude their use. For example, the By-Laws of the New York-Presbyterian Hospital require that all physicians on the Medical Staff of the New York Weill Cornell Medical Center of NYPH have an appointment to the instructional staff of the Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University.