1.1 Conjoint appointees are individuals who generally hold a relevant non-academic position (either internal or external to UNSW) which has a clear academic element to it, and who are expected to contribute in an unpaid capacity to the research and/or teaching effort of UNSW, and/or to its community service function. In the case of the Faculty of Medicine Conjoint appointments will usually be, but are not restricted to, employees of hospitals and area health services, visiting medical officers, general practitioners and research staff in affiliated Institutes. Examples in other Faculties may include employees of Co-operative Research Centres (CRC’s) or Centres of Excellence (eg. NICTA).

1.2 Subject to the approval of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Professional and Technical staff employed by UNSW (Internal appointees) may also hold a conjoint appointment on the basis of their contribution to UNSW research and/or teaching. It is anticipated that conjoint appointments would be appropriate for senior management appointments and also for some staff in Divisional areas such as the Learning and Teaching Unit and the Graduate Research School.

1.3 In some circumstances UNSW staff employed and named on NHMRC and ARC grants and other appropriate Fellowships (as determined by the Faculty Conjoint Appointments Committee (FCAC, see 3.3), may also be eligible for a conjoint appointment within the same School as the paid appointment. This category will apply to those UNSW employees undertaking an independent research role within the School/Faculty/UNSW. Evidence for this independent research role might include writing research grants and papers, contributing to the teaching program, supervising postgraduate students, and other related academic duties in an honorary capacity. The conjoint appointment will be justified and the level determined on the same basis as applies to non-UNSW employees. The level of conjoint appointment will neither determine nor impact on the paid employee level of appointment. If an individual is not named on a grant, he/she may still be eligible for a conjoint appointment but strong evidence of independent contribution to a research role needs to be demonstrated.

2.1 The appropriate title, maximum period of appointment and approving authority for Conjoint appointments should be in accordance with the following table:

2.2 A request for a conjoint appointment will normally be submitted to the Faculty Dean by the relevant Head of School or divisional unit manager

- via a HR130 - Conjoint Appointment Proposal Form (RTF or PDF); or

- in the Faculty of Medicine, via a Faculty of Medicine ‘Application for Conjoint Status’ Form.

The Faculty Dean will either make a decision on the proposal (for level A – C appointments) or provide a recommendation (for level D – E) to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) for his/her determination.

2.3 Recommendations for level of appointment should be justified and determined on the basis of work history and achievements and the total combination of contributions made, and expected to be made, to the School/Faculty/UNSW. Appropriate referees should be nominated except where the proposed appointee holds or has recently held an academic appointment at a G08 or comparable overseas University.

2.4 The Dean may establish a Faculty Conjoint Appointments Committee (FCAC) to assist him/her in making a recommendation or determination on a Conjoint appointment proposal. The FCAC will comprise an appropriately representational group nominated by the Dean and will consider the conjoint appointment proposal and make a recommendation to the Dean.

2.5 For proposed appointments from non-Faculty areas, a recommendation from the Head of the Unit should be submitted to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) who will make a final determination.

2.6 Where an offer of a conjoint appointment is to be made in conjunction with an offer of employment to a continuing or fixed-term position in the University, the intended level of conjoint appointment to be offered requires the approval of the Dean and/or the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic) prior to finalisation of the recruitment process.

2.7 Retrospective proposals for conjoint appointments will not be approved by the University.

3.1 Conjoint appointments are unpaid.

3.2 Appointees are required to comply with relevant University policies, rules and guidelines, particularly the UNSW Code of Conduct, the UNSW Research Code of Conduct and the UNSW Policy on Intellectual Property

3.3 Appointees carry the status of their UNSW title (ie. Lecturer, Professor) and may participate in the normal academic and administrative activities of the University including, where relevant, postgraduate supervision.

3.4 Conjoint appointees are not recognised for the purpose of Academic Board and Council elections.

4.1 Conjoint Appointments can be renewed.

4.2 Recommendations for reappointment may include justification for a higher or lower level of appointment

4.3 Consideration of renewals of Conjoint appointments will normally occur at least three months before the expiry of the appointment, although it is expected that the process will commence earlier for more senior appointments (eg. usually 12 months in advance for Conjoint Associate Professors and Professors).

4.4 The process for offering a further conjoint appointment will be the same as set out in section 2.0 above. Any recommendation or decision to offer a further conjoint appointment must include justification based on the conjoint appointee’s contribution during the period of appointment, projected future contribution and any resource implications of the appointment to the host School and Faculty.

5.1 With the exception of appointees in the Faculty of Medicine or where the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) determines otherwise, requests for changes to the level of appointment will be restricted to the time of appointment or reappointment.

5.2 Conjoint appointees can be promoted to a higher level via the UNSW academic promotion track. In this situation, the timing of application for promotion will be determined by the UNSW timetable.

5.3 With appropriate approval (refer 2.1 above) the level of Conjoint appointment may also be altered to the relevant equivalent level in recognition of any promotion arising from rigorous processes undertaken by a relevant external body such as NH&MRC, in accordance with Faculty and/or UNSW policy.

6.1 The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) may in his/her sole discretion revoke a Conjoint appointment at any time by advising the Conjoint appointee of the revocation in writing. The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) may, but is not obligated to, give reasons for revoking an appointment.

6.2 Reasons for the termination of a conjoint appointment may include:

i) unsatisfactory performance
ii) no longer making a significant contribution to the School/Faculty/UNSW
iii) failure to abide by UNSW policy, including the UNSW Code of Conduct and the UNSW Research Code of Conduct

6.3 In instances where the appointee’s (external or internal) employment situation changes or ceases, the conjoint appointment will be reviewed by the Head of School or DVC(A) as appropriate to determine whether the Conjoint appointment should also be terminated. This will be undertaken with appropriate reference to the contribution of the appointee to UNSW and the appointee advised accordingly.

6.4 The conjoint appointment of all Professional and technical staff will automatically cease on termination of their employment with UNSW.

7.1 All Conjoint appointees will enjoy, for University purposes, the precedence and courtesy due to serving members of the University at the designated academic level.

7.2 Conjoint appointees will be expected to use one of the following formats for their Conjoint title:

- HR130 - Conjoint Appointment Proposal Form (RTF or PDF)
- Faculty of Medicine ‘Application for Conjoint Status’ Form
- Visiting Appointments
- HR20 - Visiting Academic Invitation Form (RTF or PDF)