Are non-open hire positions required to be for nine months or longer?
No, but if sufficient funding is available, offers of appointment should be for nine months or longer. If funding is uncertain or must be spread among a number of students greater than the number of 50% FTE appointments available, departments can offer less than a full academic year of support. When offers of less than a full academic year of support are made, however, the department must have a legitimate reason.
