Comparing Professor and Associate Professor Roles and Responsibilities

The roles for positions of associate professor and professor are not the same when it comes to jobs in education sector, despite having similar job titles. In a postsecondary school, both sorts of professors may collaborate, but their responsibilities differ in a number of ways. If you're thinking about a career in higher education, it's crucial to comprehend these distinctions. In this post, we'll go through the distinctions among an associate professor and a professor, including their roles, responsibilities, backgrounds, credentials, and skill sets.

Who is an associate professor?

The associate professor has a tenure-track job that lies halfway between an assistant professorship and a full professorship. When an assistant professor earns tenure, which typically takes five to seven years of employment and proof of superior teaching or research abilities, they are promoted to associate professor status. They create curricula, instruct students, and carry out research.

Who is a professor?

A senior-level university instructor who has earned the maximum promotion possible on the tenure track, excluding specific qualifications, is called a professor. After five to seven years as an associate professor, the institution conducts another examination to determine their eligibility to become a professor. By doing and releasing research or earning good marks from pupils, they can demonstrate their importance. Professors with tenure enjoy more work stability. They can also request personal time off to work on research initiatives.

Professor versus associate professor

Between an associate professor and a tenured professor, there may be differences in the job responsibilities, atmosphere, and abilities required. The position attributes are contrasted below-

• Job obligations

An associate professor's and a tenured professor's job responsibilities differ and are influenced by their teaching location as well as other considerations. 

The tasks an associate professor may perform include-

1. raising money for research
2. carrying out research
3. developing curriculums and lesson plans
4. teaching classes and giving advice to students in their area of expertise

These are possible responsibilities for a professor-

1. presenting prospective research or presenting outcomes from prior research
2. educating students and creating curricula
3. monitoring graduate students working on their theses or doctorate plans
4. Publishing research findings in books or articles
5. assisting with recruiting decisions and attending faculty meetings

However, several of these duties could overlap depending on the college. For instance, some tenured academics may spend longer teaching in the classroom while other associate professors may concentrate largely on research.

• Environment at work

An associate professor holds a mid-level post, therefore the university might anticipate them to have greater freedom with their schedule. The times and subjects of their classes can be less in their hands. Depending on the demands of the university, they could also work a part-time schedule.

A college professor typically has a stable and adaptable job with the university, meaning they probably have greater control over their working hours and the classes they teach. Additionally, they might be able to recommend new seminar themes, guest speakers, or changes to the present course syllabus for ongoing classes.

• The requirements

Both associate professors and college professors must have the same degree. Most colleges demand a minimum of a Ph.D. to be qualified to teach in a university. Additionally, candidates for professor positions with experience teaching—particularly in the subject area they wish to teach—are preferred by the majority of universities.

Before being given the rank of tenure path to associate professor, assistant professors often need to accumulate between five and seven years of experience. In addition to time, this experience includes a chance to show off your teaching and research abilities. The associate professor will start additional five to seven years of research and instruction after receiving this initial tenured title before being given the opportunity to become a tenured professor.

• Education

Although it's an associate or tenure-track position, becoming a professor also has identical educational requirements. The following actions are necessary to become a professor-

1. Complete your undergraduate degree - since it will better equip you to enroll in graduate school.
2. Pick a specialty area - This is typically the subject that the student might teach or conduct research on at the university level.
3. Go to graduate school - In order to begin working as a college professor, you must finish graduate school.
4. Attend internships - Most graduate programs need an internship to be completed. Students who wish to become professors might select an internship that gives them the opportunity to work in a classroom.
5. Attend a doctoral program- Most universities demand that lecturers hold a doctoral degree. A doctoral degree means that the graduate is qualified for employment and possesses the requisite level of expertise.
6. Gaining teaching experience - It is a common goal for college students, who frequently collaborate closely with their professors. They might help instructors grade papers, guest teach or assist in the classroom.

• The abilities

Many of the same abilities as a full professor may be possessed by an associate professor. They may need to put in more effort to build these talents because they are often more recent in their careers.

Most tenured college professors have a background in both teaching and research. They could also be in charge of teaching. Some university teachers are also adept at securing money for forthcoming research projects. Professors in colleges may be more skilled, particularly in mentoring, teaching, and conducting research.