Staff is the term used for all people employed by an organization. Faculty, on the other hand, refers to the teachers or educators in an educational institution. The biggest staff vs. faculty difference lies in the scope of these terms. Staff is a broader term encompassing faculty within itself.
Let’s take a closer look at Faculty vs. Staff:
| Scope | Staff is a broader term than faculty |
| Educational institution | Staff can be of a non-educational institution unlike faculty |
| Working hours | The staff has regular working hours while faculty might not have |
| Duties | Faculty only imparts education while staff can be assigned with any duty |
Table of Contents
What is Staff?
Staff is the term used for all people employed by an organization whether educational or not. It is a general term used for all employees of any firm, company, school, college, or other organization. Staff is a broader term and includes faculty within itself.
What is Faculty?
Faculty is a term used for teachers and educators of a school, college, or any other educational institution. It is a specific term used only for the people imparting education in an educational organization. Faculty is a narrow term included within the broader term staff since it is used to mention the academic staff.
Faculty vs. Staff Pros and Cons
Staff Pros and Cons
Pros of Staff
- Staff members have regular working hours that leave them time for a personal life.
- Staff members are generally hired for longer periods and thus, have a sense of job security.
Cons of Staff
- They carry the burden of smooth administrative functioning of the organization.
- Fixed working hours might lead to boredom in some jobs.
Faculty Pros and Cons
Pros of Faculty
- They earn the respect and adulation for shaping the bright future of the pupils.
- They do not bear any burden of administrative duties of an institution.
Cons of Faculty
- The irregular working hours of the faculty leave them with very little time for personal life.
- Many times, faculty members are hired on an ad-hoc basis or pay-per-lecture. Hence, there is a sense of job insecurity.
Staff vs. Faculty Examples
Staff Examples
- Dean
- Secretary
- Accountant
- Security officer
- Servant
- Watchman
Faculty Examples
- Teachers
- Professors
- Researchers
- Trainers
- Lecturers
- Scholars
Staff vs. Faculty Similarities Explained
- Both staff and faculty are employees of an organization.
- Both faculty and staff contribute to the efficient functioning of the organization.
- Educators can be referred to as both staff or faculty since the staff is a broader term.
7 Key Points of Difference Between Faculty and Staff That You Need To Know
The faculty vs. staff difference can be seen from these key difference points:
| Basis | Staff | Faculty |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Staff refers to people employed by any organization. | Faculty refers to the teaching members of an educational institution. |
| Working hours | The staff has regular working hours. | Faculty has irregular working hours that are adjusted as per the morning and evening scheduled classes. |
| Teaching | Staff includes both teaching and non-teaching members in an educational institution. | Faculty only include teaching members in an educational institution. |
| Duties | Staff is generally assigned with the administration duties. | The faculty has the sole duty of imparting knowledge to the pupils. |
| Salary | The salary of the staff depends on the level of administration the person is employed in. | The salary of the faculty depends on experience and educational rank. |
| Educational requirements | The educational requirements depend on the demands of the designation for which hiring is to be made. | The educational requirements depend on the criteria set by the institution. |
| Tenure | Staff members are generally hired for longer periods and are rarely on an ad-hoc basis. Thus, they are on permanent payroll. | Faculty members are, many times, hired on an ad-hoc basis and are thus, on temporary or project-based payroll. |
Comparison Chart
Staff vs. Faculty FAQ
Are Faculty and Staff the Same Things?
No. Faculty refers to those members of an educational organization who impart knowledge. On the contrary, staff refers to the employees of any organization. Therefore, it includes both teaching (faculty) and non-teaching (employees) members in an educational institution.
Is a Coach Faculty or Staff?
A coach is a member that assists the teachers in improving the effectiveness of their imparted knowledge. They are teachers enrolled on special assignments and hence, a faculty. (Ref. 1)
Are Deans Faculty or Staff?
Deans are staff members. Staff includes both teaching and non-teaching members of an educational institution. Deans are not only responsible for their teaching duties but also for the administrative responsibilities of the concerned department. (Ref. 2)
Are Librarians Faculty or Staff?
Traditionally, librarians have always been considered as staff as they are responsible for the administrative activities of running a library. This is because their job duties do not involve any teaching or academic research. That said, some countries and universities have started considering them as faculty.
Are Teachers Certified or Classified Staff?
Teachers are certified staff as no teacher can be hired without having received proper certification for the role/job concerned.
What is a Faculty Position?
Faculty position is holding a designation among the teaching community of an educational institution.
What is the Role of a Faculty Member?
A faculty member has the primary role of educating and training the pupils for their greater good. Some more duties apart from basic teaching include assessment and advising the pupils for improvement, curriculum development, and scholarly research. (Ref. 3)
The Final Words
Staff implies the people employed by any organization whereas faculty refers to the teachers, trainers, educators, or other academic people employed by an educational institution. The difference between staff and faculty can be seen in the scope of these two terms. Staff is a broader term while faculty is a narrow one used to mention the academic staff. Staff is generally hired for longer periods and have fixed working hours. On the other hand, faculty can be hired on an ad-hoc basis and might have irregular working hours.
