What is an assistant or associate professor?

Assistant and Associate Professors are academic faculty members at colleges or universities. An Assistant Professor is typically an entry-level, tenure-track position, responsible for teaching, conducting research, and engaging in service to the institution. An Associate Professor is a mid-level, often tenured position that reflects a higher level of experience and accomplishment in teaching, research, and service. Both roles involve mentoring students, publishing scholarly work, and contributing to the academic community.