Volunteer Clinical Professor (VCP) Principles and Guidelines

Principles and goals for SOM Volunteer Clinical Professor appointments

1. Volunteer Clinical Professors (VCP) are governed by APM 279.
2. VCP appointments are without-salary, non-Senate, and at-will.
3. The Dean (or designee) has broad discretion to end an appointment prior to the end date if:
   • Minimum service requirements (50 hours per year) are not met,
   • Failure to satisfy the requirements in the Medical Student Education Policy for Volunteer Clinical Professor Roles and Responsibilities,
   • There is no longer a need for the appointee’s services, or
   • Conduct or performance does not warrant continuation.
4. Departmental rationale for VCP appointments must include one or more of the reasons below:
   1. LCME requirement that physicians who teach and assess medical students have an SOM appointment
   2. Departmental need for teaching, beyond what faculty can provide
   3. Departmental desire to engage with clinicians who, in addition to teaching, provide other benefits to the department (e.g., patient referrals, connections to the community)
5. VCP appointments are at the Instructor rank, unless determined otherwise by the department.
6. VCP should use the recommended format to communicate the VCP title:
   • Clinical Instructor – Volunteer
   • Assistant Clinical Professor – Volunteer
   • Associate Clinical Professor – Volunteer
   • Clinical Professor – Volunteer
7. VCP will not have a UCSF Profiles page (exceptions are rare – see process below).

Recruitment and Appointment Steps

1. Volunteer Clinical Professors are recruited by the Department, including but not limited to directors of the relevant curricular element, course, or clerkship.
2. Approval for Volunteer Clinical Professor appointments is delegated to the Department aligned with the individual’s board certification.
3. Academic Personnel processes appointment packets.
4. Notification of appointment is sent to the new VCP via Advance.
5. Academic Personnel sends an email after notice of appointment (e.g., ID number).
6. Department sends a welcome email to the VCP. 

Expectations and Compliance

1. The Office of Medical Education requires new VCPs to attest to the Medical Student Policy for Volunteer Clinical Professor Roles and Responsibilities before they are appointed.
2. VCPs evaluating students must attest to understanding medical student policies on an annual basis.
3. The Office of Medical Education manages records of faculty attestation compliance related to medical education.

Social Media Activity and Other External Communications

VCPs must comply with the UCSF Social Media Policies and Best Practices, which include:

1. Never speak on behalf of UCSF unless you have been specifically authorized and requested to do so by the Office of Communications. Do not portray yourself as a spokesperson, or even an unofficial spokesperson, on issues relating to UCSF.
2. Do not use “UCSF” in your handle name or use the UCSF logo or branding in your profile. You may not use your University title in any way that would imply that you are speaking for the University.
3. All non-UCSF sponsored social media profiles must carry a variation of the following disclaimer if the owner plans to use their UCSF title or affiliation in their profile:
   1. “All comments here are made in my individual capacity and not on behalf of UCSF, and are not reviewed or approved by UCSF.” or
   2. “The participant is a volunteer clinical instructor (or volunteer clinical professor if appointed at that level) at UCSF. However, the views and opinions expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of The Regents of the University of California, UCSF, UCSF Health, or any entities or units thereof.”

UCSF Profiles page for VCP (exception only)

1. VCP will not have a UCSF Profiles page.
   1. Exceptions will only be granted by the Vice Dean for Faculty and Academic Affairs at the request of the Chair for a very compelling academic or business reason.
   2. For new requests, the Department should send the exception to [email protected], attaching the email confirming SOM Dean’s Office approval.
   3. Ongoing use of a UCSF Profiles page for a VCP is at the discretion of the Vice Dean for Faculty & Academic Affairs.
2. VCP must not portray themselves as faculty on the UCSF Profiles page.
3. UCSF Profiles leadership will provide the Vice Dean for Faculty & Academic Affairs with a list of all VCPs who have UCSF Profiles pages, by Department, every Spring (May 15^th or earlier).
4. The Vice Dean for Faculty & Academic Affairs will confirm with the Department whether they meet exceptional reasons for continuing to have a UCSF Profile Page.