associate professor
Definition
Noun: A faculty member at a university or college who holds a middle-ranking academic position, typically above an assistant professor and below a full professor. An associate professor has usually demonstrated significant achievement in teaching and scholarship, often having attained tenure.
Usage
The term "associate professor" is used as a formal title and to denote a specific rank within the academic career structure. * She was promoted to associate professor after an extensive review of her research publications. * Associate Professor Jones will be teaching the advanced seminar this semester. * The committee is chaired by an associate professor from the history department.
Advanced Usage
- The title is often abbreviated in formal contexts, such as in email signatures or course catalogs, as "Assoc. Prof."
- In some university systems, promotion to associate professor is concurrent with the granting of tenure, a permanent appointment.
Variants and Related Words
- Professor: The general term for a university teacher. "Associate professor" is a specific subtype.
- Assistant Professor: A lower rank, typically a pre-tenure position.
- Full Professor: The higher rank above associate professor.
- Tenure: A status often associated with the rank of associate professor, providing strong job security.
Synonyms
- Academic (general term)
- Faculty member (general term)
- Scholar (emphasizes research role)
Related Phrases
- To be promoted to associate professor: To advance to this rank from a lower one.
- After six years, she was promoted to associate professor.
- Associate professor of [Subject]: Specifying the academic field.
- He is an associate professor of economics.
Noun
-
a teacher lower in rank than a full professor but higher than an assistant professor
