Designation B

Designation B is an appointment type outlined in the collective bargaining agreement between MSU and the Union of Non-Tenure Faculty (UNTF). Awarding of Designation B is predicated on exemplary instruction and a clear record of sustained outstanding achievements in teaching.

Fixed-term faculty and fixed-term academic specialists are eligible to apply during the first month of the eighth or subsequent semester of teaching employment in an employing unit (source). Eligibility can be confirmed by completing this form.

Designation B provides a 5-year appointment for the UNTF portion of a position following each annual review that demonstrates continued excellence in teaching (source). Below you will find information and helpful resources to guide fixed-term faculty and academic specialists and their supervisors through the review process.

• Due date
  Designation B dossiers are due to NatSci.RPT@msu.edu by October 12 in fall semester or February 20 in spring semester.
  • NatSci chairs/directors are required to share their review letters with the applicant upon submission of the packets to the dean’s office.
  • Applicants have 5 business days after October 12 or February 20 to send to NatSci.RPT@msu.edu a confidential response to the chair's letter with clarifications, corrections and/or updates, if they wish to do so.
• Criteria and standards
  The College applies institutional criteria and standards for the review and recommendation.
  • UNTF Contract
  • Recommendation for Designation B Appointment in the UNTF
• Guidelines & policies
  • NatSci Guidelines for Designation B– Resource to understand the review process.
  • NatSci Teaching Evaluation Guidelines
• Timeline
  • NatSci Timeline (COMING SOON)
  • HR Timeline
• Forms, templates & checklists
  Below are forms and other resources to guide faculty candidates and their supervisors through the RPT process in the College.
  • Nat Sci dossier assembly checklist (COMING SOON) – How to assemble the Designation B dossier (sections filled out by the chair/director or faculty are color-coded and include summaries and links to relevant information and policies)
  • Form B: Recommendation for Designation—From and other resources from HR
  • NatSci-specific forms:
    • Student evaluation summaries – SIRS and SPLS tables (See information about SPLS questions)
    • RPT Teaching Portfolio Assessment Tool
  • Templates for Chair’s letter (COMING SOON)