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A Visiting Professional is reserved for individuals who have been successful in their fields but do not necessarily have a Ph.D or tenure rank. The title "Visiting Professional" is used strictly in the College of Communication to give the visitor access to The University. They do not receive a stipend in their appointment, nor does their appointment imply tenure or continuation in The University. The appointment is ordinarily made for one year or less.
None of the benefits for a Visiting Professional are guaranteed. To acquire any/and/or all of the benefits for a Visiting Professional are the responsibilities of the nominating department.
Office space – if it is available - is provided to Visiting Professionals by the departments with which they are associated
Parking permit – since this is not an official University title, it will be up to the nominating department’s administration to attain parking for their visitor. It will be the visitor’s responsibility to pay the parking permit fee.
Recreational facilities – since this is not an official University title, the only way to acquire access to the recreational facilities if for the visitor to pay for a temporary membership.
Faculty discounts – Visiting Professionals would not be entitled to the same discounts on campus events as other members of the UT faculty.
Identification card – a Visiting Professional would not be able to obtain an ID card, which would prevent them from being allowed to use the libraries. It is the nominating department’s responsibility to make arrangements to give the visitor access to the libraries.
Computer access – it is the responsibility of the department the visitor is affiliated with to acquire the computer access for the visitor. The visitor would be responsible for paying any charges accrued on that computer account.
A recommendation for the appointment of a Visiting Professional originates in a department of The University. A standard application form should be used to nominate a professional. It should be accompanied by a resume, a brief note describing the circumstance of your guest’s visit, and an Intellectual Property Agreement form. The nominating faculty member is responsible for obtaining the signature of the Visiting Professional on the Intellectual Property Agreement as well as the signatures of the department chair before sending it on to the Dean’s Office in the College of Communication’s Dean’s Office.
If the visiting professional is from outside the U.S. then their host department must request visa documents from the International Office for the visitor’s visa application and entry to the U.S.
Visiting Professionals normally are expected to give a public presentation at some point during their visit. This presentation provides an opportunity for the Visiting Professional to share his/her work with faculty and students in the College as well as across the University.
The faculty member nominating the Visiting Professional will either serve as or designate a mentor for the Visiting Professional during the length of the Visiting Professional’s stay. The faculty mentor serves as an academic liaison for the Visiting Professional.
The department hosting the Visiting Professional will designate a staff contact in the department to facilitate normal activities with the Visiting Professional and faculty mentor.