Skip to Content
Close Search

Establishment of “Affiliated Scientist” Subgroup within Status-Only Category (PDAD&C #13)

From: Heather Boon, Vice-Provost, Faculty & Academic Life
Date: October 31, 2024
Re: Establishment of “Affiliated Scientist” Subgroup within Status-Only Category (PDAD&C #13)

I am writing further to PDAD&C #8, 2010-11 “Provostial Guidelines for the Appointment of Status-Only, Adjunct , and Visiting Professors (revised)“ to announce that we are establishing a subgroup, “Affiliated Scientist,” within the larger category of Status-Only faculty.

This is being done to better recognize the academic contribution of colleagues who are Scientists and Senior Scientists in both our fully and associate affiliated Toronto Academic Health Science Network (TAHSN) partner institutions. These faculty members constitute a distinct subset of status-only faculty who have a unique connection with the University through their research and their contributions to the education of our students as part of our Affiliation Agreements with their institutions.

Faculty members who meet the eligibility criteria will formally remain within the Status-Only category (and be promoted through the ranks following normal processes) but will be referred to as “Affiliated Scientists”; for example, “Associate Professor, Affiliated Scientist” in place of “Associate Professor, Status-Only.”

1. Eligibility

Individuals currently appointed to Status-Only roles in any Faculty who meet the criteria below are eligible for inclusion in this new subgroup. As a transitional matter, the Office of the Vice-Provost, Faculty & Academic Life (VPFAL) is working with Faculties to identify eligible faculty members and transition them to the new subgroup.

On a go-forward basis, whether or not a person is eligible for this subgroup is a decision made by the University when that person is given a first academic appointment. The decision, once made, applies to all subsequent appointments including those in any other unit, unless there is a change in their eligibility after their initial appointment that qualifies them for this subgroup, as defined by the criteria below

2. As Part of Eligibility

As part of the creation of this new subgroup, effective July 1, 2025 all faculty members appointed as “Affiliated Scientists” (regardless of the Faculty in which they hold their appointments) will be eligible for the following perquisites, which are:

  • Tuition Waiver;
  • Dependants Scholarship Program; and
  • University of Toronto Joint Membership Plan.

Each Affiliated Scientist will be informed of their eligibility for these perquisites in their letter of appointment (see section 4).

3. Approval Process

In line with the established practice for Status-Only appointments, the Dean of the Faculty (division), following consultation with an appointments committee, can offer an appointment to this new subgroup as an “Affiliated Scientist”. On a transitional basis, initial appointments to this new subgroup require Provostial approval.

4. Appointment and Renewal

Those individuals who meet the criteria for inclusion in this new subgroup, will be given distinct letters of appointment, which will be available in the AAPM.

Initial appointments may be from one to three years with renewal appointments of up to five years in length, at the discretion of the unit.

Renewals to this new subgroup for individuals whose eligibility based on the criteria has not changed may be made upon the recommendation of the Dean of the Faculty (division), following consultation with an appointments committee, and do not require Provostial approval.

5. Eligibility Criteria

Eligible individuals must meet all the following criteria:

  1. They meet the eligibility criteria for a Status-Only appointment at the University of Toronto.
  2. Job/Role:
    • They are employed as a “Scientist” or “Senior Scientist” or equivalent “Investigator” or “Senior Investigator”[1] in a Toronto Academic Health Science Network (TAHSN) partner institution research institute (both full and associate affiliated Health Care institutions).
    • They are required as part of their employment in a TAHSN institution to:
      • hold a faculty appointment at the University with the minimum rank of Assistant Professor.
      • engage in independent academic scholarly activity[2], whether research or Creative Professional Activity (CPA) and meet the criteria for Principal Investigator eligibility within their Research Institute with a proven track record of independent funding/publications/ ethics-approved studies.[3]
  3. Degree:
    • They hold a PhD or equivalent.
    • They may have an MD but are not eligible to hold a Clinical Faculty position.
  4. They are eligible to apply for Tri-Council research grant funding as a principal applicant and to direct that research if funded.
  5. They are eligible for promotion under the University’s Policy and Procedures Governing Promotion.

6. Exceptions

On an exceptional basis, a Dean may request (at the instigation of the academic unit head) approval from the Vice-Provost, Faculty & Academic Life for the inclusion in this subgroup of a person who does not meet all the above criteria. Specifically, this applies to someone who is:

  1. Role: In a differently titled but comparable role and employed in a TAHSN institution, but not necessarily in a research institute. This could include employees who are in clinical roles with a research focus, but who are not physicians, (for example, clinical biochemists, medical physicists, pharmacists, nurses, psychologists etc.) and who also qualify for Principal Investigator status; [4] or
  2. Employer: Similarly situated in a comparable role but not in a TAHSN institution, while satisfying all other eligibility criteria. In very rare instances the person may be in a different role and employed outside of TAHSN.

Please contact the VPFAL Office (academic.hr@utoronto.ca) concerning any exception.

Once exceptional approval is granted, all subsequent appointment renewals do not require Provostial approval.

7. Eligibility for Emeritus Status

Faculty at the rank of “Professor, Affiliated Scientist” who hold an appointment in any Faculty will be eligible for Emeritus status as follows:

Upon recommendation of the Dean and with the approval of the Vice President & Provost, non-clinical Status-Only faculty members who hold a primary appointment at one of the fully affiliated or associate affiliated Toronto Academic Health Science Network (TAHSN) partner institutions University teaching hospitals, and who hold  a Status-Only appointment as an “Affiliated Scientist” at the time of their retirement and have held the rank of Professor, Affiliated Scientist OR Professor (Status-Only)[5] for at least 10 years, may be eligible for the title Professor Emeritus/Emerita, Affiliated Scientist. The title Professor Emeritus/Emerita, Affiliated Scientist at the University of Toronto may not be held concurrently with emeritus rank or title from any other institution. This is an honorary title only and does not confer the rights accorded to other Emeritus/Emerita Professors at the University of Toronto.

[1] Mount Sinai Hospital uses the titles “Investigator” and “Senior Investigator” for the Scientists appointed to their Research Institutes.

[2] In defining independence, our perspective is informed by  “CIHR’s Independent Researcher Definition”.

[3] This would not include individuals in roles such as ‘Staff Scientist,’ ‘Assistant Scientist,’ or ‘Project Scientist’ who report to another Scientist. They do not meet the criteria of independence.

[4] Note that for someone in a different role, more detail may be required relative to the person’s record to make it clear that they engage in independent academic scholarly activity.

[5] After ten years of the newly established subgroup, eligible faculty members holding a Status-only Appointment as Affiliated Scientist at the rank of “Professor, Affiliated Scientist” may be eligible for the title of “Professor Emeritus/Emerita, Affiliated Scientist.