Information on Adjunct Faculty

University Rules
4.3 Adjunct
4.3.1 Adjunct appointments are unpaid part-time (<0.75 FTE) appointments generally held by:
(a) a NC State University employee whose primary appointment is as EPA or SPA non-faculty who has the qualifications for rank as set forth below in Section 5.1, 5.2 or 5.3. The appointment process must follow the procedures set forth in Section 8 below.
(b) a person employed primarily outside the university who provides academic service to the university (such as teaching, service on doctoral committees, or an advisory role). Faculty from other universities will generally be givenadjunct titles at the same rank they hold at their home institutions; adjunct appointments may be made to others whose degrees or professional credentials qualify them for appointment at an appropriate non-tenure track professorial rank (see Section 5.1).
4.3.2 Appointments of adjunct faculty members from outside the university who do not teach NC State courses but serve in a limited capacity such as sitting on doctoral committees or acting in an advisory capacity can be made based on approval of the DVF, Department Head and (optionally) by the Dean.  These appointments should be made using a template letter provided by Human Resources; the appointment is not contingent on posting the position, background checks, transcripts, or other hiring requirements unless required for the department or program (e. g. Graduate School qualifications and requirements for members of doctoral committees). 

It appears by university policy adjunct faculty appointments may not exceed 3 years: http://policies.ncsu.edu/regulation/reg-05-20-34#SIX
TERMS FOR INITIAL AND SUBSEQUENT CONTRACTS
6.1 Except for Visiting appointments, paid non-tenure track faculty receive fixed term contracts that may not exceed five (5) years. Subsequent contracts, with terms of service not to exceed five (5) years, may be awarded.
6.2 Unpaid non-tenure track faculty may be appointed at will or, subject to approved by the dean, may be awarded contracts for a fixed term of service that may not exceed three (3) years. Subsequent contracts, with terms of service not to exceed three (3) years, may be awarded.
6.3 A Visiting appointment, paid or unpaid, may not exceed two (2) consecutive years. Subsequent visiting appointments may be made three (3) years after the end date of the most recent visiting appointment.
6.4 The specified term of the contract constitutes full and timely notice of the expiration date as specified under the terms of Sections 604C, 610, and 611 of The Code. However, as a courtesy, departments may provide notice to faculty on multiple-year contracts similar to that provided to EPA Professionals, e.g., 1) during the first year of service, not less than 30 days notice prior to discontinuation of employment; 2) during the second and third years of service, not less than 60 days notice prior to discontinuation of employment; and 3) during the fourth and all subsequent years of service, not less than 90 days notice prior to discontinuation of employment.
6.5 Appointment or contract letters for non-tenure track faculty members will address:
(a) the type of appointment
(b) beginning/end dates (if applicable)
(c) rank
(d) FTE
(e) annual salary (if applicable)
(f) assigned duties
(g) provisions for annual performance review
In addition, any sick leave and annual leave entitlement and any contingency due to source of funds will be included in the contract.

A departmental policy: http://www.meas.ncsu.edu/Admin/adjunct%20policy.pdf
Adjunct appointments end at the beginning of the fourth academic year following an initial or re-appointment. Appointments may be renewed at the request of a faculty sponsor, without a vote of the DVF.
Human Resources: http://www.ncsu.edu/human_resources/EPA/faculty.php
University policies: http://policies.ncsu.edu/regulation/reg-05-20-34
4. NON-TENURE TRACK RANK AND TITLES
4.1 Non-Tenure Track Faculty with Professorial Rank
4.1.1 Full-time non-tenure track faculty with professorial rank are appointed with the expectation that they may be promoted to higher faculty ranks. Although these faculty are assigned primarily to one of the areas of faculty responsibility described below, they may also have assignments in one or more additional areas of responsibility (see NCSU POL05.20.01 – Appointment, Reappointment, Promotion and Permanent Tenure, Section 5, Academic Tenure In Relation To Ranks).
4.1.2 Part-time non-tenure track faculty who have the qualifications for rank described in Section 5 may be appointed with the appropriate professorial rank. Part-time faculty with professorial rank are not eligible for promotion.
Non-tenure track professorial rank of Assistant Professor, Associate Professor or Professor must have one of the following modifiers, which may only be used to modify the professorial ranks. These titles can also be modified by “adjunct” (see Section 4.3).
4.1.3 Clinical: A full-time (>.75 FTE) or part-time (<.75 FTE) contract with a principal responsibility in clinical practice or clinical research.
4.1.4 Extension: A full-time (>.75 FTE) or part-time (<.75 FTE) contract with a principal responsibility in extension and engagement.
4.1.5 Research: A full-time (>.75 FTE) or part-time (<.75 FTE) contract with a principal responsibility in research.
4.1.6 Teaching: A full-time (>.75 FTE) or part-time (<.75 FTE) contract with a principal responsibility in teaching.
4.1.7 Of the Practice: A full-time (> .75 FTE) or part-time (<.75 FTE) contract with a practitioner with significant experience in his or her field.
4.2 Lecturer and Senior Lecturer
Lecturers and senior lecturers are appointed with primarily instructional responsibilities.
4.2.1 Lecturer: A full-time (>0.75 FTE) or part-time (<.75 FTE) contract held by a person employed by NC State meeting the qualifications for Lecturers in Section 5.2.
4.2.2 Senior Lecturer: a full-time (>0.75 FTE) or part-time (<.75 FTE) contract held by a person employed by NC State who meets the qualifications for Senior Lecturers in Section 5.3.