Criteria for Granting Academic Status to Persons

A

Persons connected to but not employed by the University who are involved in its teaching and research on a long term basis may be accorded academic status under one of the headings outlined below (e.g. involvement in the University’s activities by staff at LARS and institutions associated with the University).

General Procedure: heads of departments to make recommendation to the Dean for approval. Standard letter to be produced by the Faculty Administrator for signature by the Deputy Registrar.

Research Staff:

for those with a substantial on-going commitment to the research of a particular department.

1. Research Fellow: for those who are of Lecturer Grade B status

2. Research Associate: for those who are of Lecturer Grade A status

N.B. Where a Head of Department wishes to promote a Research Fellow to Senior Research Fellow status, a recommendation must be submitted via the Dean for consideration by the Committee of Deans.

Teaching Staff:

3. Recognised Teacher: for those usually based in Bristol and associated with the undergraduate teaching of a particular department, or University wide language teaching, on a regular basis year on year.

4. Special Lecturer: for those not falling into the categories 1-3, but where the general principle of ‘A’ applies.

B

Persons visiting the University for a finite period of time who are involved in the University’s teaching and research may be accorded status as outlined below:

5. Visiting Fellow: for staff visiting for a finite period of time from other universities or Comparable organisations (or non-academic backgrounds such as Industry) contributing to the teaching and/or research of the University. This category applies to all categories of staff from Professor to Research Fellow. (This category subsumes the previous categories of: Visiting Research Fellow and Visiting Industrial Fellow).

General Procedure: Dealt with by heads of departments. Letter to Fellow to be worded as in Appendix A, with copy of letter and completed Staff Record Form to Faculty Office.

C

Persons with senior positions (perhaps from a non-academic background such as Industry) who are significantly involved with the University in an active way year to year on a long-term basis, contributing to the University’s teaching and research may be accorded status as:

6. Visiting Professor: This category may include Visiting Industrial Professors and the title of the appointment will be:

• 6a Visiting Professor or
• 6b Visiting Industrial Professor

General Procedure: Deans to provide nominations to the Vice-Chancellor for his subsequent recommendation to Senate and Council. Faculty to prepare letter for signature by Vice-Chancellor after relevant meeting of Council.

Clinical Medical Staff

General Procedure: Heads of Departments/Divisions to make recommendation to the Dean of Clinical Medicine and Dentistry for approval. Standard letter to be produced by the Faculty Administrator for signature by the Academic Registrar.

a)

• i) Clinical Reader: In recognition of an outstanding contribution to research, or research and teaching, but short of professorial status. To be granted by the Committee of Deans on the recommendation of the Dean of Clinical Medicine and Dentistry and at least two clinical Heads of Division, after consultation with external referees.
• (Note: Sympathetic consideration will, however, be given to the conferment of Clinical Reader status upon those with existing Senior Clinical Lecturer status, without the involvement of external referees).
• ii) Senior Clinical Lecturer: For consultant staff within the Avon Health Authority who are significantly involved in teaching undergraduate or postgraduate medical students.
• iii) Clinical Lecturer: For non-consultant staff (staff grade or specialist registrar) significantly involved in teaching undergraduate or postgraduate medical students.
• iv) Associate Clinical Teacher: For medically qualified NHS staff of a level of that of Associate Specialist who contribute to undergraduate teaching (including, for example, Clinical Medical Officers, or Clinical Assistants with a high level of responsibility).
• v) Tutor: Senior House Officers who contribute to undergraduate teaching.
• vi) Recognised Teacher: For non-medically qualified NHS (and possibly other) staff contributing to undergraduate teaching.
• vii) Lecturer: For medically and non-medically qualified NHS and other staff who have reached a senior position in their non-University posts and who have the attributes of a full-time University Lecturer, contributing significantly not only to undergraduate teaching but also to research.
• viii) Special Lecturer: For those persons who do not readily fall into the above categories to whom it is wished to give academic status.

It is expected that the number of people granted the status of Lecturer or Special Lecturer will be limited.

A curriculum vitae is required for each person to whom it is wished to grant the academic status of Clinical Reader, Senior Clinical Lecturer, Associate Clinical Teacher, Lecturer and Special Lecturer.

A specific written recommendation from the appropriate Head of Division is required for consideration by the Dean of Clinical Medicine and Dentistry for each of the categories in i) to viii). In addition, recommendations in Category a), Clinical Reader, should include the names of at least two external referees who may be approached.

b) Outside Avon Health Authority:

• i) Senior Clinical Lecturer: For individual NHS Consultants contributing substantially to the teaching and organisation of teaching undergraduates in this region. This title will tend to be of finite duration, marking the assumption of special organisational responsibilities with regard to teaching Bristol medical students.
• ii) Clinical Teacher: For other NHS Consultants involved in undergraduate teaching in the region.

A specific written recommendation to the Dean of Clinical Medicine and Dentistry is required from the appropriate Head of Department/Division (but no curriculum vitae) for each person in the above two categories.

No status will be granted to non-consultant staff in the region.

c) The title of Teacher in General Practice will continue to be used for General Medical Practitioners who take medical undergraduate students for their general practice attachments.

The title of Teacher in General Dental Practice will be conferred on General Dental Practitioners concerned with the teaching of dental undergraduate students (replacing the title of ‘Recognised Teacher’ which is now reserved for non-medically qualified and non-dentally qualified NHS and other staff involved in teaching).

d) The Medical Postgraduate Department uses the following titles for staff involved in postgraduate hospital and general practice organisation:

• i) Regional Adviser in General Practice (both Medical and Dental): For those responsible for the overall organisation of continuing education in General medical or General Dental Practice in the South West region. (All will be General Medical or General Dental Practitioners).
• ii) Associate Adviser in General Practice: For the assistants to the Regional Advisers in particular areas in the South West region. (All will be General Practitioners).
• iii) Clinical Tutor (both Medical and Dental): For the local organisers in Health Districts of arrangements for courses for hospital doctors and general practitioners, both medical and dental.
• iv) Recognised Teacher in General Practice: For those general medical practitioners responsible for organising courses for the trainees in general medical practice.

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Senate 28 November 1994
Committee of Deans 22 May 1995
Committee of Deans 11 November 1996
Committee of Deans 22 June 1998