Recruitment and Hiring of Contingent (Temporary) Faculty in CMDI
Lecturer
The College of Communication, Media, Design and Information (CMDI) appoints contingent faculty on an as-needed basis.
Contingent faculty may be hired as either a Lecturer or as an Instructional Associate, depending on the total percentage of their total appointment(s) at the University of Colorado Boulder.
Contingent faculty with less than 50%, or less than 6 credit hour appointments, will be appointed as lecturers and are not eligible for benefits.
Contingent faculty with 50% or greater, or 6 credit hour appointments or more, will be appointed as instructional associates and are eligible for some benefits as long as they continue in a 50% time or greater position. Appointment to the instructional associate title is time-limited to three continuous calendar years once the title is first applied.
For details about the use of lecturer and instructional associate titles for contingent faculty at the University of Colorado Boulder, please visit the CU Boulder Office of Faculty Affairs resources below.
With the exception of the Department of Environmental Design, contingent faculty of the CMDI for calendar year 2026 are compensated at a rate of $5,966.84 per 3 credit hour course, prorated by the hour at a rate of $1,988.95 for appointments of more or less than 3 credit hours.
Contingent faculty in the Department of Environmental Design are compensated at a rate of $8,606.29 per 3-credit hour course, prorated by the hour at a rate of $2,868.76 for appointments of more or less than 3-credit hours. Please contact the CMDI Office of Faculty Affairs at cmdifacultyaffairs@colorado.edu with inquiries.