Our Members
WAU represents all faculty and academic staff members employed more than 50% time by Wayne State University.
Academic Staff
Academic staff members support the academic mission of Wayne State University. Academic staff are the academic advisors, academic service officers, archivists, athletic coaches and trainers (except Division I), extension program coordinators, financial aid officers, health physicists, librarians, university counselors, and university counselor assistants. Unless their position is grant-funded, all academic staff members may apply for employment security status (ESS), which offers a measure of job security.
Non-Tenure Track Faculty
Non-tenure track faculty include clinical, teaching, and research faculty classifications. Non-tenure track faculty are contingent, which means they are subject to contract renewals without the possibility of tenure.
Clinical Faculty
Clinical faculty (also called clinicians or clinical-educators) are primarily responsible for instruction and evaluation in a specialty area, such as clinical practice, observations, field experiences, and other similar courses. Most clinical faculty are part of the School of Medicine. Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Nursing, Education, Law, Social Work, and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences also employ clinical faculty members.
Research Faculty
Research faculty are primarily responsible for performing research and are generally not expected to teach as a condition of employment (though many choose to do so). Research faculty are typically paid from “soft money” sources, which means they are expected to fund their own salaries via internal and external grants.
Teaching Faculty
Teaching faculty (assistant professors, associate professors, and professors of teaching) are primarily responsible for teaching and service work. They design, develop, and deliver materials in multiple courses each semester, plus they are required to serve on committees at the department, college, university, or community levels.
Tenure-track and tenured faculty members (assistant professors, associate professors, and professors) typically teach, conduct research, and perform service to the university. Tenure carries with it job security and academic freedom that is not guaranteed to other bargaining members. Faculty members hired into tenure-track positions are initially appointed for a probationary period during which their research or creative work, teaching, and service are reviewed annually. After earning tenure and promotion to the rank of associate professor, the probationary period ends, and the associated annual review ends.
Tenured
& Tenure-Track Faculty
Part-time faculty less than 50% time and graduate teaching assistants are represented by UPTF and GEOC, respectively. Non-academic staff are represented by UAW locals for P&A and the Staff Association. WAU works with all unionized workers on campus through the Coalition of Unions.