March 2013
DEANS, DEPARTMENT CHAIRS, and DIRECTORS
Re: Instructions for Transferring from the Professional Research to the Project (e.g., Scientist) Series
In reviewing the provisions of the Academic Personnel Manual and The CALL, I have determined that we will need to make some changes in The CALL descriptions for appointments and evaluations of personnel in the Professional Research Series and the use of the Project (e.g., Scientist) Series. One outcome of these changes is that we are going to have to use the Project (e.g., Scientist) title more often in the future and allow appointees in the Research Series to transfer to the Project (e.g., Scientist) Series.
All individuals presently in the Professional Research Series will have the option of either remaining in that series or transferring to the Project (e.g., Scientist) Series. The precise timing of the transfer will be the choice of the candidate and is described below. For individuals who choose to remain in the Professional Research Series, future advancement in that series will be evaluated based on the revised criteria (see page 2) in The CALL, grounded in Academic Personnel Manual Section 310. These criteria make a number of very important changes in evaluating advancement in the Professional Research Series. The new criteria will go into effect on July 1, 2013 for actions that take effect July 1, 2014.
In summary, the major changes are:
- Appointees in the Professional Research Series must engage in research equivalent to that required for the Professor Series. The Professional Research Series is not intended for those whose duties are limited to contributing high-level skills to a specific research or creative program (for example, Project (e.g., Scientist) Series) or to providing technical assistance to a research activity.
- Service is required for appointees at the Associate Researcher and Researcher ranks.
- There is an Eight-Year Limit for an appointee with the Assistant Researcher title, either in that title alone or when combined with a Visiting Assistant Researcher title, with or without salary.
- Beginning July 1, 2013, every appointee in the Professional Research Series shall be reviewed at least every five years (see Appendix 12).
Appointees at the Assistant Researcher Rank in the Professional Research Series (Steps I-IV)
When each appointee becomes eligible for the next step or rank advancement to Associate, that appointee will have the option of transferring to the Project (e.g., Scientist) Series. The primary reason to transfer is that the appointee is not engaging in research equivalent to that of the Professor Series, but is contributing high-level skills to a specific research or creative program or is providing technical assistance to a research activity more in line with the Project (e.g., Scientist) Series. As such, the appointee could not be advanced to the next step or rank in the Professional Research Series and would remain at the existing step until the Eight-Year Limit occurs or there is a mandatory Five-Year Review. In order not to penalize appointees, the University will make the transfer to the Project (e.g., Scientist) Series at the same salary as the appointee received in the Professional Research Series. Salaries for subsequent advancement in the Project (e.g., Scientist) Series for these individuals will be based on percentage increases in the Project (e.g., Scientist) Series (as determined by the existing salary scales for that series), but added to the initial salary from the Professional Research Series when the transfer into the Project (e.g., Scientist) Series occurred.
Appointees at the Associate Researcher (Steps I-III) and Researcher Rank (all Steps)
Appointees at these ranks also have the option of transferring to the Project (e.g., Scientist) Series when they are eligible for their next step or rank advancement. However, individuals at these ranks also will be allowed a five-year grace period starting from July 1, 2013 to make the decision to transfer. During that period their advancements will be evaluated according to the “old” criteria in The CALL utilized for the Professional Research Series. If appointees choose to transfer, their present and future salaries will be under the same regulations as those described above for the Assistant Researcher rank transfers. At the end of the grace period (June 30, 2018), if the appointees do not transfer, the advancement criteria will revert to the revised criteria described in The CALL.
New Appointees to the Project (e.g., Scientist) Series (all Ranks)
All new appointments to this series are subject to standard University regulations for appointment including appropriate searches. The searches will be determined at the level of the Department and/or School. If only extramural funding is used for support, external searches will not be required. For searches, job descriptions will need to be posted for a minimum of two weeks in publications in which Departments and Schools normally post such openings. For appointments, the following documentation is necessary: Chair’s letter, CV of the candidate, Job description and the Academic Selection and Compliance form. All appointees to this series will use the existing Salary Scales for the Project (e.g., Scientist) Series. Higher salaries than those posted for each rank and step in this series will require justification by the Departmental Chair or Dean.
New Appointees to the Professional Research Series (all Ranks)
New appointments and advancements in the Professional Research Series after July 1, 2013 will follow procedures based on the revised criteria in The CALL.
In addition, we will be holding several Town Hall sessions in March especially for Professional Researchers to discuss these major changes. Revisions to the Professional Research Series will be posted to the APO website shortly. Should you have any questions, please contact my Special Assistant, Michael S. Levine at mlevine@conet.ucla.edu.
Please feel free to circulate this information to your faculty and administrative officers. Thank you for your help during this transition period.
Sincerely,
Carole Goldberg
Vice Chancellor
Academic Personnel
Last Updated June 10, 2013
