Faculty vs. Staff: What's the Difference?

What Does Faculty Mean?

Faculty generally refers to employees whose primary responsibilities involve teaching, research or academic scholarship.

At a primary or secondary school, teachers may collectively be described as the faculty. At a college or university, faculty commonly includes:

• Professors
• Associate professors
• Assistant professors
• Instructors
• Lecturers
• Researchers
• Clinical educators
• Visiting professors
• Adjunct instructors

Faculty members usually specialize in a particular academic field, such as economics, engineering, literature, medicine or history.

Common Faculty Responsibilities

Depending on the position, faculty duties may include:

• Designing courses
• Preparing lessons
• Teaching classes
• Evaluating student work
• Holding office hours
• Advising students
• Conducting research
• Publishing academic work
• Applying for research funding
• Supervising graduate students
• Serving on academic committees
• Participating in professional conferences
• Supporting curriculum development
• Completing institutional service

The balance among teaching, research and service depends on the institution and appointment.

What Does Staff Mean?

Staff generally refers to employees who perform administrative, operational, technical or support functions. Their work helps the institution serve students, maintain facilities and manage resources.

Academic staff positions may include:

• Admissions officer
• Academic adviser
• Registrar
• Financial aid specialist
• Librarian
• IT support specialist
• Laboratory technician
• Administrative assistant
• Human resources specialist
• Communications manager
• Campus security officer
• Facilities employee
• Student services coordinator
• Career counselor

Some institutions use “staff” broadly, while others divide employees into professional staff, administrative staff, classified staff and technical staff.

Common Staff Responsibilities

Staff duties vary widely and may include:

• Processing student applications
• Maintaining academic records
• Managing budgets
• Supporting technology
• Coordinating campus events
• Advising students
• Maintaining facilities
• Recruiting employees
• Managing benefits
• Supporting libraries
• Providing security
• Preparing communications
• Coordinating research administration
• Managing compliance requirements

Staff members may work directly with students, even when teaching is not their primary responsibility.

Faculty vs. Staff: Quick Comparison

Category	Faculty	Staff
Primary function	Teaching, research and academic service	Administrative, technical and operational support
Common workplaces	Classrooms, laboratories, offices and research sites	Offices, libraries, laboratories, facilities and student service centers
Student interaction	Commonly teaches or supervises students	May advise or support students without teaching
Education	Often requires advanced academic credentials	Requirements depend on the occupation
Schedule	May follow class, research and office-hour schedules	Often follows established working hours
Evaluation	May consider teaching, research and service	Usually considers job duties, goals and performance
Employment structure	May be tenured, tenure-track, visiting or contingent	May be salaried, hourly, union, contract or at-will
Career advancement	Academic rank and leadership positions	Professional levels, management or specialized roles
Governance	May participate through faculty committees or senates	May participate through staff councils or committees

Key Differences Between Faculty and Staff

Primary responsibilities

Faculty members generally focus on academic work. They teach courses, conduct research, evaluate students and contribute to their academic discipline.

Staff members support institutional operations. Their responsibilities may involve admissions, finance, technology, human resources, communications or facilities.

Education requirements

Faculty positions frequently require advanced education. Many university professor roles require a doctorate or another terminal degree, although requirements differ by field and appointment.

Staff requirements depend on the occupation. An administrative assistant position may require a high school diploma or associate degree, while an institutional researcher or licensed counselor may need a graduate degree.

Student interaction

Faculty members commonly interact with students in classrooms, laboratories, office hours and academic advising sessions.

Some staff members also work closely with students. Admissions officers, academic advisers, career counselors and financial aid specialists may communicate with students every day.

The main difference is the purpose of the interaction: faculty usually provides academic instruction, while staff generally provides services or operational support.

Working schedules

Faculty schedules may change according to teaching assignments, research projects and academic calendars. Preparation, grading and research can occur outside scheduled class hours.

Many staff employees have defined daily schedules. However, staff working in security, facilities, housing, libraries or events may work nights and weekends.

Contracts and job security

Faculty appointments can include:

• Tenured positions
• Tenure-track positions
• Fixed-term contracts
• Visiting appointments
• Adjunct appointments
• Part-time teaching contracts

Staff employment may be full-time, part-time, hourly, salaried, unionized or contract-based.

Neither category automatically provides greater security. Employment conditions depend on the institution and appointment.

Performance evaluation

Faculty evaluations may consider:

• Teaching effectiveness
• Student advising
• Research and publications
• Grant activity
• Professional reputation
• Institutional service
• Community contributions

Staff evaluations commonly consider:

• Job responsibilities
• Service quality
• Project completion
• Accuracy
• Communication
• Productivity
• Professional development
• Departmental goals

Career advancement

Faculty members may progress through academic ranks, such as assistant professor, associate professor and full professor. They may also enter leadership positions such as department chair or dean.

Staff members may advance into senior specialist, manager, director or executive roles. They may also move among departments without following a single academic hierarchy.

Institutional governance

Faculty members may participate in curriculum decisions, academic standards and faculty governance through committees or senates.

Staff members may serve on institutional committees, staff councils and working groups. Their formal voting authority varies by institution.

Compensation

Faculty compensation may depend on academic rank, discipline, contract type, teaching load and research responsibilities.

Staff compensation generally depends on occupational category, experience, education and position level.

It is not accurate to assume that all faculty members earn more than staff members. Senior administrators and specialized technical employees may earn more than some teaching faculty, while full professors may earn more than many staff positions.

Where Faculty and Staff Roles Overlap

The distinction is not always simple.

Academic administrators

Department chairs, deans and other academic leaders may hold faculty appointments while performing administrative duties.

Librarians

Some institutions classify librarians as faculty, while others classify them as professional staff.

Researchers

A researcher may be faculty, staff or part of a separate research classification depending on appointment and responsibilities.

Clinical professionals

Medical schools and teaching hospitals may employ clinicians who teach, conduct research and provide professional services.

Graduate employees

Graduate teaching assistants and research assistants may be students, employees or both.

Because classifications vary, use the institution’s official employment documents when evaluating a role.

Faculty Position Examples

Common faculty titles include:

• Adjunct professor
• Lecturer
• Instructor
• Visiting professor
• Assistant professor
• Associate professor
• Professor
• Research professor
• Clinical professor
• Professor emeritus

These titles do not have identical meanings at every institution.

Staff Position Examples

Academic staff positions may include:

• Admissions counselor
• Registrar
• Academic adviser
• Financial aid coordinator
• Department administrator
• Human resources manager
• IT systems administrator
• Communications specialist
• Career services director
• Facilities manager
• Laboratory coordinator
• Campus security officer

Skills Faculty and Staff Share

Both groups may need:

• Communication
• Organization
• Collaboration
• Problem-solving
• Cultural awareness
• Digital literacy
• Time management
• Confidentiality
• Adaptability
• Professional judgment

Faculty and staff often collaborate on student support, research, events and institutional planning.

How To Choose Between a Faculty and Staff Career

A faculty career may suit you if you:

• Enjoy teaching or research
• Want to specialize deeply in an academic subject
• Are willing to complete advanced education
• Enjoy working with students
• Want to publish or present scholarly work
• Are comfortable balancing several academic responsibilities

A staff career may suit you if you:

• Want to work in education without primarily teaching
• Prefer administrative, technical or operational work
• Want a broader range of educational entry requirements
• Enjoy supporting students or institutional services
• Prefer a more defined daily schedule
• Want to develop a specialized professional career

How To Apply for Academic Employment

Review the classification

Confirm whether the position is faculty, staff or another employment category.

Study the required materials

Faculty applications may request:

• Curriculum vitae
• Cover letter
• Teaching statement
• Research statement
• Publication samples
• Reference letters
• Teaching evaluations

Staff applications may request:

• Resume
• Cover letter
• Professional references
• Work samples
• Certifications

Research the institution

Learn about its programs, students, mission, research and organizational structure.

Customize the application

Connect your qualifications to the responsibilities and priorities described in the job posting.

Compare Academic Career Paths With Dokie

Dokie can help you compare faculty and staff careers, organize institutional research and turn complex academic information into a clear presentation. It can also help structure teaching portfolios, project summaries and interview preparation materials.

Use Dokie as a planning tool, then confirm employment classifications, qualifications and contract terms directly with the academic institution.

Conclusion

Faculty members generally focus on teaching, research and academic service, while staff members provide administrative, technical and operational support. Because some roles overlap, the institution’s official classification and job description offer the most reliable guidance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are teachers considered faculty or staff?

Teachers are commonly classified as faculty because their primary responsibility is instruction. Institutional terminology may vary.

Is a professor a staff member?

A professor is an employee of the institution, but universities usually classify professors as faculty rather than administrative or professional staff.

Are faculty positions always tenured?

No. Faculty positions may be tenured, tenure-track, visiting, adjunct, temporary or part-time.

Can a staff member become faculty?

Yes, but the employee must meet the faculty position’s education, experience and scholarly requirements.

Is a dean faculty or staff?

A dean is an academic administrator and may also hold a faculty appointment. The exact classification depends on the institution.