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[farm_boy]

I've just landed a gig as Lecturer.  The terms in the offer are spelled out (salary, benefits, general job duties), and it's a one-year contract.

What's the difference between Lecturer and Instructor?  (One lectures and the other instructs??)  Or does it vary from institution to institution?  What are the odds of having the position renewed after year one?

Thanks

[womanofproperty]

The nature of the position varies by institution.  Lecturer is often used for a non-tt position that is either term-limited or renewed on an annual basis.

Some positions are definitely term-limited.  For example, say a full-time tenure-track person leaves unexpectedly in the spring.  A fill-in non-tt person will be hired for the coming fall, and during that academic year a replacement tenure-track position will be approved, advertised and filled.  (Often the one-year position is billed as a "visiting" position, but not always - it depends on the institution.)

It's also possible for the term lecturer to be used for someone on a teaching track.  Compared to the tenure track, they teach more courses (e.g. 4/4 rather than 3/3), the salary range is lower, and there are no research expectations.  Here obviously tenure is not an option, but the contract can be renewed indefinitely. 

I'm a little surprised you didn't ask about the possibility of renewal when you interviewed, but you can certainly inquire now - just talk to your chair. 

[mozman]

Where I am we have VERY few teaching-oriented faculty (none in my dept), but there are a couple - all non-tt.  If the have a doctorate, they are "Lecturer".  If they do not, they are 'Instructor".

mm

[kedves]

There is a thread about these nomenclature differences somewhere, but the gist of it is that it varies by university. 

At mine, instructors are full-time non-TT who do most of the teaching in many departments.  Instructors have a 4/4 schedule and no service or research expectations or rewards (or opportunities, in the case of service), are mostly Ph.D.s, and are on multi-year contracts (2-5 years).  Lecturers do the same job, get about the same pay, and are at the same social status as instructors in terms of the non-TT vs. TT-and-T split, but the position is much more secure--as secure as it gets. 

The odds of renewal will depend on the way the particular university and department treat that position, the funding outlook, teaching needs, and whether they are satisfied with the person in the job.   That would be my guess.  Definitely ask.

[svenc]

The nomenclature varies widely enough that only the folks at your new institution can really answer that for you.

[educator1]

At my U a lecturer has a Phd., is professionally qualified (experience in the field), and teaches either a 3/3 or 4/4 load. We have one-year contracts that are renewable on an unlimited basis. We have four in my department, including myself, that have been here twenty or more years. It's is as secure as you can get without actually having tenure (not just a TT line). We only have teaching responsibilities and are respected for our specialization. I have written the syllabi for most of our undergraduate courses. In some cases we can negotiate for a two day a week schedule, leaving plenty of time for consulting or other activities.

[daniel_von_flanagan]

Where I am we have VERY few teaching-oriented faculty (none in my dept), but there are a couple - all non-tt.  If the have a doctorate, they are "Lecturer".  If they do not, they are 'Instructor".

This is essentially the distinction where I am as well: if you are teaching courses and not tt, you fall into one of 3 categories:
Visiting Professor (either VAP or really visiting from somewhere)
Lecturer (has PhD)
Instructor (no PhD)

I don't think "teaching-oriented faculty" is a useful qualifier; some of our lecturers are largely indistinguishable in professional orientation from our tt professors, except they didn't land a job as such. - DvF

[womanofproperty]

Educator1, I thought you were an adjunct. 

Perhaps I'm confusing you with someone else on the fora - if so, I apologize.

[helpful]

At my uni, lecturer is non-Phd. We have no instructor category; if you have a Phd you are considered non-tenure track professor.

[mozman]

I don't think "teaching-oriented faculty" is a useful qualifier; some of our lecturers are largely indistinguishable in professional orientation from our tt professors, except they didn't land a job as such. - DvF

It is useful where I am - this place is research-intensive.

Non TT researchers are either post-docs (if they are paid off of someone else's grant) or Research Associates (RAs)- the equivalent of non-TT research faculty - if they have their own funding.

If they don't have a PhD they are technicians etc... essentially non-persons in an administrative sense (I know how that sounds, and I don't mean that they are not valued, but with few exceptions the lack of a PhD is a very limiting factor meaning they have no independent power) except for a couple who have only masters degrees but some VERY specialized and highly sought-after skills, who have RA status.

mm

[watermarkup]

Congratulations on the new job!

My impression is that 'lecturer' is slightly higher up the food chain than 'instructor' at most places, but not at mine. I assumed that the lecturers here were being paid more than me as an instructor, but when I checked the budget I discovered that my pittance is much higher than the peanuts they're working for (and we're all teaching the same number of courses, and at the same level). On the other hand, the lecturers could simply renew their contracts for next year, while I had to interview for the instructor position all over again.

So, yes, every institution is different.

[farm_boy]

Thanks to everyone for posting.  It does appear to vary.

[daniel_von_flanagan]

I don't think "teaching-oriented faculty" is a useful qualifier; some of our lecturers are largely indistinguishable in professional orientation from our tt professors, except they didn't land a job as such. - DvF

It is useful where I am - this place is research-intensive.

So is mine, though it is not solely a research lab or a specialized unit (like a med school) in a bigger university.  Our lecturers come from essentially the same seed stock as our tt faculty (eg, one of our current lecturers has his PhD from a top-5 department).  They do teach more for less money and with less job security, but that is not necessarily a decision based on "orientation" as much as it is on circumstances.

In some of our departments, "lecturer" is essentially a synonym for "soft money researcher who is currently unfunded". - DvF

[mozman]

In some of our departments, "lecturer" is essentially a synonym for "soft money researcher who is currently unfunded". - DvF

I see - this is a difference between our institutions.  With very few exceptions, we don't have non-tt teaching faculty (I only know of one, who was a student in a different department, who finished their PhD and is being paid to teach 2 classes).

Here, the only pseudonym for soft money researcher who is currently unfunded is "Unemployed".

mm

[aandsdean]

Congratulations on the new job!

My impression is that 'lecturer' is slightly higher up the food chain than 'instructor' at most places, but not at mine. I assumed that the lecturers here were being paid more than me as an instructor, but when I checked the budget I discovered that my pittance is much higher than the peanuts they're working for (and we're all teaching the same number of courses, and at the same level). On the other hand, the lecturers could simply renew their contracts for next year, while I had to interview for the instructor position all over again.

So, yes, every institution is different.

Absolutely.  At the ones of mine that have had lecturers, they were ongoing/renewable non-TT faculty.  "Instructors" have been TT faculty in doctoral fields who don't yet have a doctorate.  When I had my first visiting gig, I was "Visiting Instructor of English."  When I got the TT job the next year, I was "Instructor of English."  When I finished, I was "Assistant Professor of English."