Changes to academic titles in 2021/2022 - implementation

This webpage provides an overview of changes to academic titles, including when and how the changes will be implemented by the Human Resources Division and what actions will be required of institutions and staff. The changes relate to two academic career pathways:

1. Research and Teaching Academic Career Pathway

Subject to the approval of the Queen’s Privy Council, the academic titles of Reader, University Senior Lecturer and University Lecturer will change with effect from 1 October 2021. A summary is provided below and a full breakdown is provided in the ‘overview of title changes’ section, with explanatory notes on established basis and probation status. Further background details can be found in Reporter.

  • Reader → Professor (Grade 11)
  • University Senior Lecturer → University Associate Professor (Grade 10)
  • University Lecturer (post probation) → University Associate Professor (Grade 9)
  • University Lecturer (pre probation) → University Assistant Professor

The changes aim to:

  • support the University’s aim to be competitive globally;
  • be commensurate with the seniority of existing titles / offices;
  • support the University’s aim to increase diversity among senior officeholders; and
  • be sufficiently tiered to give appropriate public recognition at key career progression points.

      LATEST NEWS

      9 September 2021: Update on Academic Titles (Research and Teaching Career Pathway)

      The following is an update on the implementation of the new academic titles (Research and Teaching Career Pathway):

      • All research and teaching academics who have accepted the invitation to move to the new titles structure will move to their new title on 1 October 2021 and will receive a letter confirming this change in October. The CHRIS system has now been updated to show the changes to individual records, with effect from 1 October 2021.
      • Relevant academics on this pathway who joined the University after invitations were issued to staff will be contacted by the HR Division during October to ask whether they would like to move to the new titles structure. If so, their new title will also be effective from 1 October 2021. 
      • Under the new titles structure:
        • Assistant and Associate Professors will be referred to as Dr.
        • Professors (Grade 11) will be referred to as Professor and their full title will change from Reader in [field] to Professor of [field] (Grade 11).
      • The usual staff report sent out to burst report recipients at the beginning of October will provide information to institutions on staff titles with effect from 1 October 2021.
      • Departmental administrators (and equivalent) are reminded that they should update the CHRIS system when staff pass probation. This is particularly important for University Assistant Professors whose title will change to University Associate Professor (Grade 9) on passing probation.

      2. Teaching and Scholarship Academic Career Pathway

      Subject to Grace and Privy Council approval, a new category of academic staff will be created with effect from 25 March 2022 and will form a new teaching and scholarship academic career pathway. This change is intended to recognise the status of staff whose primary responsibilities are the delivery of teaching, whilst maintaining the distinction between those staff and the vast majority of academic staff whose responsibilities include both teaching and research. Following these changes, an associated promotions route will be implemented. Further background details can be found in Reporter.

      Further details about the implementation of these changes is provided below and questions can be directed to academictitles@admin.cam.ac.uk.

      Below is a link to a document that summarises the academic title changes by grade, established basis and probation status (where relevant):

      Overview of title changes - current vs new titles

      Under both arrangements, existing staff can choose either to move to the relevant new title or remain on their current title. The Human Resources Division will manage this process for non-clinical staff and the Clinical School HR Team will manage the process for clinical staff across all Schools. The relevant HR teams will contact individuals in scope directly and give them time to respond. The timeframe for contacting staff differs between the two career pathways due to the timing of Privy Council approval, meaning that the Teaching and Scholarship related changes will be slightly later than the Research and Teaching related title changes.

      Another slight difference is that under the Teaching and Scholarship workstream, institutions will be asked to confirm who in their areas is in scope of the changes, as central records may not show the complete picture.

      A summary of the actions that will be taken by the Human Resources Division and the actions that will be asked of institutions and staff, with indicative timeframes (subject to change, as necessary), is provided below:

      When and how the changes will be made - current staff
      1. Research and Teaching Academic Career Pathway

      Any academic staff in scope that join after the initial communication is sent to existing staff and before 1 October 2021 will be appointed under the current titles but will be contacted about the changes and given the same opportunity to change to the new title with effect from 1 October 2021. New staff joining roles on or after 1 October 2021 will be appointed using the new titles structure.

      2. Teaching and Scholarship Academic Career Pathway

      New staff joining roles on or after 25 March 2022 will be appointed using the new titles structure.

       

      The following related changes also came into effect from 1 October 2021:

      1. The new Probationary Policy and associated procedures for all staff categories were launched on 1 October 2021. The new arrangements were introduced to harmonise as far as possible, the University’s approach to probation across the different staff categories and to align with the new probationary requirements for academics under the new Academic Career Pathways schemes. From 1 October 2021, some academic titles will change at the point probation is confirmed (see details in the ‘overview of changes’ section). The new Probation Policy is, therefore, a key part of the Academic Career Pathways schemes. 
      2. The Academic Career Pathways scheme (Research and Teaching), which replaced the Senior Academic Promotions scheme, launched in September 2021. It enables promotion through the new titles structure (subject to the approval of the Queen’s Privy Council) to Associate Professor (grade 10) and Professor (grades 11 and 12) and offers a contribution reward scheme for Associate Professors (grade 10). 

      If you have any questions about the changes and planned activity, please contact the individuals below: