Dry Appointments Policy

Dry appointments at the university are governed by the guidelines for joint academic appointments. 

The appointments establish a formal academic affiliation with the college without effort or salary.  These appointments are intended to promote scholarly collaboration, enrich the academic environment, and advance the mission and visibility of the program. Absent compelling reasons, dry appointments should occur at the associate and full professor ranks. Board of Regents’ approval is required for all dry appointments at the associate and full professor ranks following the internal process. The appointments may be requested by University of Michigan faculty or college faculty/academic leaders. Appointments and renewals will generally be for a period of three years. 

Required Materials for Initiation

To request a dry appointment, the following materials must be submitted:

1. A current curriculum vitae of the candidate.
2. A proposal addressing the following questions:
   • How does the candidate’s expertise and teaching relate to the program’s academic focus? What are the anticipated mutual benefits of this appointment?
   • In what ways can the candidate contribute to the program’s activities, such as teaching, student advising, doctoral committee service, research collaborations, or participation in academic initiatives involving faculty and students?
   • Can the candidate contribute to increasing the visibility and reputation of the program? If so, how?
   • Attestation of support from the administrative home (i.e., email or letter from the program/department chair or dean)

Submission Process

All materials should be submitted electronically to both the respective program chair and Taubman HR at taubmancollegehr@umich.edu. 

Review and Presentation

Once the materials are received, the program chair will assess the proposal for its alignment with the program’s goals. If the chair supports the nomination, the candidate will be assessed by the program following its established workflow. Candidates may be invited to deliver a 30-minute lecture or some other form of further assessment, if necessary. If a presentation is desired, it should demonstrate the candidate’s expertise, explain how their work aligns with the program, and articulate the mutual value of the proposed appointment.

Faculty Review and Decision-Making

Following the presentation, the program faculty will consider the appointment through their established procedures. The program chair will then submit a memo to the Executive Committee that includes a summary of the candidate’s qualifications, the chair’s recommendation, and the result of the program faculty’s assessment.

URP Planning Nomination Process Workflow

Interest Expressed > Documentation Submitted to Chair > URP Faculty Consult > Additional Question Period > Public Presentation > URP Faculty Vote 

Architecture Nomination Process Workflow

Interest Expressed > Documentation Submitted to Chair > ARCH Faculty Consult > Additional Question Period > ARCH Faculty Vote

Final College Approval

The Executive Committee will make the final decision regarding approval of the dry appointment, based on the submitted materials, the program chair’s recommendation, and faculty feedback.

Research Funding 

Dry appointments are not eligible for Taubman College funding opportunities or our R+CP Funding & Research Incentive Programs. Research grants will be administered by the faculty member’s administrative home. 

Promotion of Dry Faculty

The college will participate fully in the promotion process and expects to have access to all relevant materials, including the candidate’s dossier, external reviewer letters, and the committee report. It is the responsibility of the faculty member holding the dry appointment to notify the college prior to the start of the promotion and tenure process. Upon receiving the materials, the college’s Executive Committee will review the documentation and conduct a vote on the proposed promotion. The outcome of this review and vote will then be communicated to the candidate’s department by the Dean’s Office. 

---

Renewal of Dry Appointments

To request renewal of a dry appointment, the following materials must be submitted by the faculty member to the respective program chair:

1. A current curriculum vitae of the candidate.
2. A statement addressing the ways the candidate is contributing to the program’s activities, such as teaching, student advising, doctoral committee service, research collaborations, or participation in academic initiatives involving faculty and students. 

Faculty Review and Decision-Making

Following the renewal materials submission, the program faculty will consider the appointment through their established procedures. If there is mutual interest in continuing the dry appointment, the program chair will then submit a memo to the Executive Committee that includes a summary of the candidate’s contributions, the chair’s recommendation, and the results of the program faculty’s assessment.

Final College Approval

The Executive Committee will make the final decision regarding renewal of the dry appointment, based on the submitted materials and faculty feedback.