Updated process for requesting instructional faculty resources

To: FAS Department and Program Chairs; MacMillan Center Director; FAS Chair’s Assistants, Operations Managers, Lead Administrators 
Cc: FAS Steering; FAS Dean’s Office

Dear colleagues,

We are writing to share an updated process for requesting instructional faculty appointments from the Teaching Resource Advisory Committee (TRAC). Given budgetary constraints, TRAC will no longer consider routine requests on a rolling basis.

The deadline for submitting requests for instructional faculty appointments for the 2026–27 academic year via online intake form is December 12, 2025. Units should use the form for new instructional appointment requests, for reappointment requests for single semester or single year instructional faculty, and for requests to increase the FTE or appointment duration of current instructional faculty. This form should not be used for routine multiyear instructional faculty reappointment or promotion review requests, which will follow the process outlined on the FAS website.  

This updated process will allow TRAC to consider together all requests for instructional resource allocations. The new form collects information regarding course enrollments, curricular need, and other related items. A list of the requested information is below and is also available in greater detail on the FAS website. We ask that you submit a separate form for each request and recommend gathering all information before beginning the form.

We understand that there may be emergent instructional needs that come up after the December 12 deadline. Off-cycle requests will be considered for unanticipated instructional needs due to illness, unexpected departure, or other similar issues. These requests should be made using the same online intake form, and units should include the reason for the emergent instructional need when asked.

Dependent on budgetary availability, it is possible that we will solicit additional requests for the next academic year in the spring. However, this is not guaranteed, and we advise that academic units submit all requests, to the best of their ability, by the December 12 deadline.

Timeline

By December 12: Academic unit chairs or staff submit requests via the intake form. You will receive email confirmation of form submission that will include your responses. We expect to be able to respond to all requests before the end of January.

Requested information

When completing the intake form, units must answer the following questions:

• Email address
• Academic unit
• Area of instructional need
• (optional; must be completed for off-cycle requests) If this is an emergent, off-cycle request, please explain the reason for the unanticipated instructional need (e.g., illness, unexpected departure, etc.).
• Is this a request to fill a vacated position?
  • If yes, please provide the name of the person who last filled the position.
• What is the anticipated start date of the requested appointment?
• Will the requested appointment be for a single semester, single year, or multiyear?
• What type of appointment are you requesting?
  • Instructional faculty member, emeritus faculty member, visiting faculty member, postdoc with teaching appointment
• How many faculty in the area of instructional need are you requesting to appoint?
  • This will by default list “1”. If multiple appointments are needed for the area of instructional need, update the answer to the appropriate number.
• Will the requested appointment be full-time or part-time
  • What are the expected academic responsibilities (select all that apply)?
• Do you already have a candidate you would like to hire?
  • If yes, provide the candidate’s name and current academic affiliation.
    • (optional) If available for the selected candidate, provide as a single PDF: candidate CV, cover letter, 2 letters of reference, and any other relevant documents.
  • If no, would you like to conduct a full search with posted advertisement and a search committee?
• Would the candidate teach any course that is either new to the curriculum or was last offered more than 5 years ago?
• For each term course that would be taught by the candidate, please provide 1) course number, 2) title, 3) format (seminar, lecture, or lab), and 4) most recent enrollment.
• For each term course that would be taught by the candidate, please describe how it fits within the curriculum (e.g., fulfilling degree program requirements, supporting certificates or specializations within a major, meeting distribution requirements, providing elective options, etc.) and what the impact would be of not offering the course next year.
• For each term course that would be taught by the candidate, please explain why it cannot be taught by an existing instructor (ladder faculty, instructional faculty, postdoctoral appointees, graduate students).
• (optional) Please share any other relevant information in support of this request (~300 word maximum).

Thank you for your attention to this updated process. The relevant process pages on the FAS website have been updated, and you may refer to them for additional information (Instructional Faculty Single Semester/Year Appointment and Reappointment Processes; Instructional (Multiyear) Faculty Searches). 

Please contact John Mangan, Senior Associate Dean and Dean of Faculty Affairs, with questions on the updated process or issues with submitting the intake form.

Sincerely,

Steven and John

Steven Wilkinson 
Dean 
Faculty of Arts and Sciences 
Yale University

John Mangan 
Chair, Teaching Resource Advisory Committee 
Senior Associate Dean and Dean of Faculty Affairs 
Faculty of Arts and Sciences 
Yale University