What does “faculty” mean?

The term “faculty” is used to refer to the academic staff at an institution of education.

In primary and secondary schools, the faculty are teachers, whereas in postsecondary institutions, professors comprise the faculty.

In North American usage, “faculty” refers to the people who teach and research, and is distinguished from “staff”, who are hired in administrative, operations, and support roles.

The term “faculty” encompasses various academic ranks, including assistant professor, associate professor, and full professor. These job titles are determined by tenure and an evaluation process.

In contrast, in British and Australian/New Zealand English, “faculty” usually refers to a sub-division of a university (usually a group of departments). Professors are called faculty members because they are part of the academic staff that carries out teaching and research duties in an educational institution. The use of the term “faculty” can vary based on the region and the specific institution.