The Department of Art History has a long tradition of intellectual exchange with museum professionals, conservators, gallerists, and other colleagues whose work shapes the collection, exhibition, and interpretation of art. Status-only and adjunct appointments give formal expression to these connections, recognizing affiliations that advance the Department’s academic mission. These appointments are not merely honorific but reflect a conviction that art history is enriched when scholarly inquiry and professional practice are in active dialogue.
Status-only and adjunct appointments are non-salaried and are granted for fixed terms by the Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Science on the recommendation of the Department, in accordance with University of Toronto policies.
A candidate for a status-only position (Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, or Professor, Status-Only) should normally hold a full-time appointment at another institution with responsibilities including a significant research or pedagogical dimension. An individual employed elsewhere in a non-academic position who has skills of value to the Department may be eligible for an adjunct appointment (Adjunct Lecturer or Adjunct Professor).
Privileges and Opportunities
A status-only or adjunct appointment at the University of Toronto may offer a range of professional benefits, including:
- an academic title that may be used on the appointee’s CV and professional materials
- a University of Toronto email address and UTORid
- access to the University of Toronto Libraries
- eligibility, where permitted, to participate in externally funded research through a University of Toronto affiliation
- opportunities to teach University of Toronto courses, subject to curricular needs
- eligibility to be recommended for graduate faculty membership, enabling service on doctoral thesis committees and co-supervision of graduate students
- participation in the life of the Department of Art History, including seminars, lectures, symposia, and events with visiting scholars
Expectations
The Department understands these appointments as active intellectual affiliations. In considering whether to recommend renewal, the Department looks for clear evidence that an appointee maintains a visible and continuing presence in our scholarly and pedagogical life through regular engagement with our students and faculty and through substantive contributions each year. Such contributions will take different forms depending on an appointee’s professional role and expertise:
- Teaching. The Department welcomes undergraduate or graduate course proposals that draw on appointees’ professional expertise and, where possible, on special access to collections and other external resources. Teaching appointments are granted subject to the Department’s curricular needs, and are compensated at a standard rate.
- PhD mentorship. Appointees may serve on doctoral thesis committees if granted graduate faculty membership by the School of Graduate Studies. Where a professional affiliate holds a status-only or adjunct appointment primarily in connection with doctoral committee service, the Department normally expects at least one additional form of engagement per year.
- Other forms of engagement. The Department also values contributions such as gallery and museum visits for students, talks or presentations in the Department, participation in symposia or panel discussions, career mentorship events, guest lectures in courses, and other activities that connect professional practice with our students’ education.
Appointees who do not teach a course in a given year are generally expected to contribute to the Department’s intellectual life through at least two other substantive forms of engagement over the course of that year.
Each spring, all status-only and adjunct faculty members submit a brief annual activity report to the Chair summarizing their engagement with the Department during the preceding year.
Appointment and Renewal
The Chair, advised by a departmental appointments committee, reviews proposed status-only and adjunct appointments and renewals and determines whether a strong case can be made to the Dean. If the appointment is to involve graduate teaching or PhD committee membership, the Graduate Chair, advised by a graduate appointments committee, makes the appropriate recommendation to the School of Graduate Studies.
Renewal is not automatic, and the Department recognizes that external professional responsibilities vary over time. Individuals whose professional commitments make active engagement difficult in a given period are welcome to step back from their appointment and may be considered for reappointment in the future when circumstances allow. This kind of rotation is a normal and expected part of the program and carries no negative implication. It also allows the Department to extend opportunities to new colleagues who are well positioned to contribute.