Faculty vs Staff: Difference and Comparison

What is the difference between faculty and staff (faculty vs staff)?

Well, the English dictionary defines faculty as the scholarly staff at colleges or universities, while staff is defined as the employees of a business.

In an institution of higher learning, a faculty is a group of employees that comprises researchers, professors, teachers, lecturers, and scholars.

However, there are many individuals involved in working in educational institutions to ensure they function to successfully impart knowledge to students. Both academic and non-academic workforces are involved in this.

There is a difference between faculty and staff and knowing the status of each academic employee in an educational institution is very important.

Stay with us as we discuss the difference between faculty and staff.

Definition of Faculty

Faculty is the scholarly staff at any college or university. In primary schools and high/secondary schools, teachers are the faculty, while in postsecondary institutions, they are researchers, scholars, teachers, lecturers, and professors.

In a college or university, each faculty member has a specific subject that they specialize in. For example, a faculty member can specialize in subjects like Mathematics, English, Physics, History, Biology, or Literature.

Faculty members are qualified employees who specialize in various fields of study.

Also Read: Consumer Market vs Business Market: Difference and Comparison

Definition of Staff

Generally, the term “staff” defines employees of a business, organization, institution, etc. Each staff member employed by an organization or institution is hired for a specific purpose.

The word “staff” refers to any employee working in an organization or business. In an educational institution, staff comprises individuals with the required qualifications for the job position.

The staff at an educational institution is employed for a specific purpose. They serve an important role in keeping the institution safe for both students and visitors

The staff at an educational institution may be divided into two categories; academic staff and general staff. The primary responsibility of the academic staff is to impart education, whereas the general staff includes employees of different levels.

The high-level staff include individuals like the registrars, the dean or principal, clerks, and secretaries.

Next, we have the mid-level staff which includes employees who perform in-office jobs and support administrative functions such as cashiers, assistants, and counsellors.

Low-level staff are employees who perform maintenance or protective roles at educational institutions. We are talking about cleaners, kitchen workers, landscapers, and guards.

Also Read: Meter vs Yard: Difference and Comparison

Faculty vs Staff: Comparison Chart

Let’s look at some of the key differences between faculty and staff.

	Faculty	Staff
Definition	Faculty is the scholarly staff at any college or university. In primary schools and high/secondary schools, teachers are the faculty, while in postsecondary institutions, they are researchers, scholars, teachers, lecturers, and professors.	Generally, the term “staff” defines employees of a business, organization, institution, etc.
Working hours	Irregular	Regular
Job description	The primary responsibility of the academic staff is to impart education, whereas the general staff includes employees of different levels.	The primary responsibility of the academic staff is to impart education, whereas the general staff is include employees of different levels.
Includes	Researchers, professors, teachers, lecturers, and scholars.	Assistant dean, principal, registrar, secretaries, clerk, etc.
Basis of salary	Rank	Position/level

Faculty vs Staff: More Key Differences

Let’s explore some of the key differences between faculty and staff.

Roles

The primary duty of the faculty is to teach students in specialized areas. In a college or university, educators and professors lecture in classes in front of students. They create and use course curriculums to educate the students during each class.

Their role in an educational institution also includes conducting academic research. Learning something new in their field is part of their teaching duty. Faculty may attend conferences in their field to help expatiate their knowledge in education.

On the other hand, staff member’s role varies in general. The primary duty of the administrative staff is to ensure that the school or college functions effectively.

Their role includes managing budgets, hiring and managing employees, assisting students in managing course loads as well as evaluating the performance of faculty and other staff.

The maintenance staff are responsible for keeping the buildings and the entire campus clean and functional.

Also Read: TSP vs TBSP: Difference and Comparison

Education

Colleges and universities will require a specific standard of education from those who seek to become faculty members. In primary and secondary schools, the requirement is usually a state-specific teaching certification as well as an undergraduate degree from a recognized institution.

Colleges and universities will require candidates to present one or more postgraduate degrees. Postgraduate students are eligible to apply for junior faculty positions, while they complete their postgraduate degree at the same college or university.

For higher-level staff positions, the requirement may be advanced degrees. Those seeking mid-level staff positions may have to present an undergraduate degree.

Working Hours

Generally, faculty members usually have irregular working hours compared to staff members.

Teachers and professors may only work for certain hours or for an extended number of hours in a whole day, depending on class schedule, research, office hours, and other teaching duties.

Some of the faculty member’s duties may done at home, for instance, marking and grading assignments or preparing lessons for class. Professors may give out their contact information to students like an email address or a phone number.

This is for inquisitive students who may have certain questions to ask, even after lecture hours have passed.

For staff members, they have regular working hours. Many staff members’ roles usually provide regular working hours. This will allow the employee to have a little free time from the job each day.

Some staff member’s roles are on a flexible schedule. Although their working hours may start early, they may not work extended hours like the professors or teachers.

Personal information is also something some staff members may not give out to students.

Salary

The salary for faculty members and staff varies. Faculty members receive their salary based on their rank or years of being employed at the institution.

The highest earners are tenured professors. They make more money each year than assistant professors and graduate students.

Another factor that determines the difference in pay is the specialised field or the institution the faculty is working for. Faculty members tend to receive more benefits compared to staff members.

The pay for staff members often varies based on their job position and type of work. The salary of administrative staff such as deans or principals is higher compared to other staff members like campus food service and retail staff.

Faculty vs Staff: Different Types of Staff

There are different types of staff who work on a part-time basis or full-time basis.

Full-Time Employees

These are employees who work full-time for an average of forty hours a week. They are usually entitled to benefits like vacation days, dental, and health, and paid time off.

Also Read: Emasculate vs Demasculate: Difference and Comparison

Part-Time Employees

These employees work less than forty hours a week. They receive their pay based on each hour they have worked for.

Unlike full-time employees, part-time workers may not be entitled to any benefits.

Conclusion

In a college or university, every faculty member has a specific subject that they specialize in. Colleges and universities will require a specific standard of education from those who seek to become faculty members.

The word “staff” refers to any employee working in an organization or business. In an educational institution, staff comprises of individuals with the required qualifications for the job position.

Recommendations

References

Indeed: Faculty vs. Staff: What’s the Difference?
Difference101: Staff vs. Faculty: What is the Difference Between Staff and Faculty?
Keydifferences: Difference Between Faculty and Staff
Diffzy: Difference Between Faculty and Staff
Askanydifference: Faculty vs Staff: Difference and Comparison

Faculty vs Staff: Difference and Comparison

Definition of Faculty

Definition of Staff

Faculty vs Staff: Comparison Chart