爱华网VOA关于Assistant professors和 Associateprofessor的区别
A listener at Hefei University of Technology in Anhui Province,China, has a question for our Foreign Student Series. The questioninvolves the system of job names in American higher education.Zhang Xiang wants to know the difference between positions likeprofessor, associate professor and lecturer.
In the United States, a person who wants to do research and teachat a college or university usually has a doctorate, the highestdegree. But sometimes a school may offer positions to people whohave not yet finished their doctorate.
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Such a person would be called an instructor until the degree hasbeen completed. After that, the instructor could become anassistant professor. Assistant professors do not havetenure.6 U7 I- n' H3 j/T* }J
A person with tenure cannot be easily dismissed. Such appointmentsare permanent. University teachers and researchers who are hiredwith the understanding that they will seek tenure are said to be o na tenure track. Assistant professor is the first job on thispath.
Assistant professors generally have five to seven years to gaintenure. During this time, other faculty members study the person'swork. If tenure is denied, then the assistant professor usually hasa year to find another job. ( S7Er" o&P& @, z, v
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An assistant professor who receives tenure becomes an associateprofessor. An associate professor may later be appointed a fullprofessor.
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Assistant, associate and full professors at American universitiesperform many duties. They teach classes. They advise students. Andthey carry out research that is published. They also serve onuniversity committees and take part in other activities.
Other faculty members at American universities are not expected todo all those jobs. They are not on a tenure track. Instead, theymight be in adjunct or visiting positions. A visiting professor hasa job at one school but works at another for a period of time. Anadjunct professor is also a limited or part-time position, to doresearch or teach classes. Adjunct professors have a doctorate.2 k$ I! _$ O# [- R7 P: ](C.
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Another position is that of lecturer. Lecturers teach classes, butthey may or may not have a doctorate.
