The ranks and appointments held by visiting faculty and academic professionals at Princeton reflect an array of interests and initiatives. Princeton welcomes visitors to our campus for both brief and longer-term engagements. The details that define one’s time here vary widely, from gaining access to scholarly resources with the unique capacity to advance one’s research to contributing to research projects and our reputation for excellence in the classroom. Here, you will find details on the appointment process for these ranks. Visiting Faculty Visiting Professor Includes Visiting Associate Professors & Assistant Professors Purpose: Tenured and tenure-track faculty invited to Princeton for the purpose of study, scholarship, and research Initial appointment: Typically up to one academic year Visiting Lecturers Includes those with the rank of Visiting Lecturer and Visiting Lecturer w/rank of Professor. Purpose: Teaching faculty that do not hold professorial titles elsewhere but have primary appointments to which they will return Initial appointment: Typically up to one academic year Visiting Academic Professionals Visiting Fellow Purpose: Scholars who wish to spend a limited time at Princeton for the purpose of study, scholarship, and research Initial appointment: Normally one semester or one academic year Reappointment: Up to two years total, on a case-by-case basis Visiting Research Scholars (VRS) Purpose: Scholars who hold faculty or professional research positions at other institutions and who will be associated with a research project at the University, normally with salary, for a limited period Initial appointment: Up to one year Reappointment: Not to exceed three years Visiting Research Collaborator (VRC) Purpose: Scholars whose activity on a specific research enterprise requires frequent short-term visits to the campus Initial appointment: Up to one year Reappointment: As needed Visiting Professional Specialist Purpose: Visitors who hold positions at other institutions, in industry, or in independent fields who visit the University to work for limited periods Initial appointment: Up to one year Reappointment: Not to exceed three years Visiting Postdoctoral Research Associate (VPDRA) Purpose: Scholars who hold positions equivalent to the rank of Postdoctoral Research Associate at other institutions and who will be associated (typically because they are involved in joint Princeton University – home institution research projects) with a research project at the University. Initial appointment: Up to one year Reappointment: Not to exceed three years Visiting Librarian Purpose: Librarians from other institutions who visit the University to work for limited periods Initial appointment: For specific periods Additional Guidance Rules and Procedures Understand the frameworks that guide life at Princeton for faculty and academic professionals.