Visiting Professor

The University envisions the possibility of persons with faculty appointments at other institutions coming to RFUMS for a finite period of time to work in research or education in collaboration with University faculty, such as a sabbatical leave. For such sabbatical, the visiting faculty member may be given the title of Visiting Professor (or Visiting Assistant Professor or Visiting Associate Professor, as appropriate). The Visiting Professorial title will apply only during the sabbatical visit and will automatically terminate at the end of residence at RFUMS. The visiting faculty member will work under the direct supervision of the RFUMS investigator on protocols approved by the RFUMS IRB, IACUC and other regulatory committees for that RFUMS investigator. The visiting faculty member is subject to all RFUMS regulations for research and may be required to attend relevant training at RFUMS; such as handling of animals, radioactive materials, laboratory safety, and others as relevant to the work being performed. The visiting faculty member must also agree to abide by the RFUMS policies on Code of Conduct, Conflict of Interest and Intellectual Property. The visiting faculty member will be compensated from their home institution, either directly or through existing grant support. RFUMS will not provide salary or benefits to the visiting faculty member, nor will the visitor be covered under the RFUMS workers compensation policy. The visiting faculty member will be covered by RFUMS liability and other insurance coverage consistent with coverage offered to any visitor to the University. NB: In the rare case that the Visiting Faculty member will need access to the Universitys Gamma Irradiator, the federal government requires a background check for security purposes. Please contact the Department of Human Resources immediately if this circumstance might apply. Appointment Process for Visiting Professors The process of invitation and approval will involve an exchange of letters as follows: 1. The chair of the RFUMS department which will host the visitor will invite the prospective visitor with a Letter of Invitation. This will include a general invitation including a brief description of the work to be done here and expected time-frames. The letter will make clear that RFUMS is providing no pay or benefits. This letter is intended to allow the visitor to obtain release time from their home institution. (A template of the Invitation Letter is available on the RFUMS Faculty Affairs web page.) 2. The departmental chair (or appropriate supervisor) at the home institution of the visiting faculty member will send a Letter of Release to the respective RFUMS department chair releasing the visitor from their home institution and accepting the invitation for their professor to visit RFUMS. (A template of the Release Letter is available on the RFUMS Faculty Affairs web page.) This letter will be accompanied by the current Curriculum Vita of the visitor.

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3. RFUMS department chair forwards copies of the Letters of Invitation and Release, with the visitors curriculum vita and a request for approval of an appropriate title in the Visiting Professor track to the corresponding dean. With the deans approval, the packet will be forwarded to the Vice President for Faculty Affairs for final approval. Once approved the visitor will be notified of their Visiting Professorship title by the Vice President for Faculty Affairs in a Letter of Confirmation, with copies to Human Resources, corresponding dean, department chair and RFUMS faculty host. The Letter of Confirmation will include: Name of the visiting person Professorial title in Visiting Faculty track Expected beginning and end dates of the visit University policies on Code of Conduct, Conflict of Interest, and Intellectual Property and their respective acknowledgement/signature pages Description of RFUMS regulations on laboratory safety and other regulations and potentially-required training or any required background checks or appropriate releases Packet of forms including: The visiting faculty will sign the signature pages, signifying acceptance of the forms and policies, and return the signature page to the RFUMS chair. Upon arrival at RFUMS the visiting professor may participate in the orientation by Human Resources for new faculty and staff. The host department will collaborate with the Department of Human Resources to complete a packet of forms including: Emergency Contact e-mail information Drug-Free Workplace ID Card form Non-disclosure/indemnification Visiting Faculty Release. Copies of the letter of confirmation will be sent to HR, the respective dean, the host department, and the host faculty member.

OFA 6/11/09