The Hierarchical Ladder: Understanding Faculty Ranks at the Imperial Academy (Patreon)

By Professor Elara Mordrane

Teaching at the Imperial Academy is not merely a profession; it is a calling, a test of one’s own intellect, perseverance, and ability to command respect in a place brimming with ambition and power. The Academy’s faculty hierarchy — Instructor, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, and Full Professor — is more than a simple ladder of titles. It is a carefully designed framework that reflects the depth of expertise, the breadth of influence, and the trust placed in each rank. 

As someone who has climbed this ladder rung by painstaking rung, I feel compelled to illuminate the differences between these ranks. These distinctions, while subtle to the untrained eye, define the very fabric of our work and responsibilities.

Instructor

At the base of the hierarchy, the rank of Instructor serves as the entry point for academics who have shown promise but have yet to establish themselves fully within their chosen discipline. These individuals are marked by their white insignia: the scroll, sword, or star that represents their college — Rule, War, or Magic — upon an unadorned white background. This was the hardest rung I had to overcome, in large part because this rank is designed, at least in part, to weed out the riffraff. There are no shortcuts to overcoming this rank, as I gradually found out over my ten years in this position.

Instructors are often assigned the more routine, foundational courses for non-nobles on the secondary campuses surrounding the inner Imperial Academy: introductory history, basic combat drill, or fundamental magic. These classes are essential but lack the prestige of advanced seminars or personalized mentorship, let alone the fact that Instructors are unable to work with any scion. Instructors are expected to guide their students through the core principles of their classes, ensuring that they acquire the building blocks necessary for future success and, more importantly, service to the Empire.

Beyond teaching, Instructors assist in some administrative tasks, such as grading, organizing lesson plans, and sometimes assisting higher-ranking faculty with their research. That being said, while Instructors are vital to the functioning of the greater Academy, they possess limited authority. They are rarely invited to participate in faculty councils, have little say in curriculum development, and are generally excluded from the more confidential aspects of the Academy’s governance. This lack of influence can be frustrating for those eager to make their mark, but it is an intentional safeguard, ensuring that only the most seasoned voices guide the Academy’s direction. Those who excel — through innovative teaching, early research contributions, or exceptional service — may eventually be considered for promotion to Assistant Professor. 

Assistant Professor

The rank of Assistant Professor, marked by a copper insignia of their respective college, represents the second step in the academic journey. This is the point where a scholar begins to establish themselves as a voice worth listening to, a thinker capable of original contributions to their field. My interests led me to examine the lost history of the Veil of Fury period, and when my research slowed, an in-depth research project breaking down the factions of the various Goblinoid Hosts that border the western and northern portions of this sector of the Empire. I’m told that my work indirectly led to a string of victories throwing these warmongering clans back following the Rhalgyr Incursion. If you are curious to learn further, I encourage you to read my early work on the topic.

Assistant Professors take on a more diverse array of responsibilities. They teach both foundational and intermediate courses, often focusing on their specific areas of expertise. Their role expands to include mentorship of commoner students who show promise, guiding them through research projects or advanced training. Research becomes a key expectation at this level. Promising individuals might be selected by Associate or even Full Professors to assist with classes being taught to scions. An Assistant Professor is not merely a teacher but also a scholar. Whether uncovering new historical truths, devising innovative combat strategies, or advancing the understanding of magical phenomena, their work begins to influence the broader academic community.

The position of Assistant Professor is often described as the most grueling. Expectations are high, but the recognition and authority they receive remain limited. Faculty councils may now welcome them, but only as junior members with restricted voting rights. They are expected to balance heavy teaching loads with rigorous research, all while navigating the unspoken politics of the Academy. This is also the stage where competition becomes most intense. Not every Assistant Professor will ascend to the next rank; the jump to Associate Professor requires tangible proof of one’s contributions to both the Academy and their field.

Associate Professor

The Associate Professor rank, represented by an iron insignia of the college the faculty member is a part of, signifies a scholar who has proven their worth and has become trusted to teach scions in the classes they are required to take prior to graduation. This rank is both an acknowledgment of past achievements and a challenge to continue contributing at the highest levels. I, myself, struggled to ascend past this stage in my career, in large part because… well, let’s just say not all Viscounts enjoy learning their offspring are lecherous, incapable hacks. But I digress.

As I was saying, Associate Professors are entrusted with greater responsibilities. They teach advanced courses, often tailored to their own research interests, and may lead specialized seminars for the Academy’s brightest scions. They are also expected to act as mentors, guiding Assistant Professors and even Instructors in their professional development. Given these opportunities, very few persons of this rank will deign to teach non-scion courses after gaining the rank. Tied into this is that, while research remains central, the focus shifts. An Associate Professor’s work is no longer just about personal achievement; it is about advancing the reputation and prestige of the Imperial Academy itself. Their findings are published widely, and their names become known beyond the Academy’s walls.

In terms of the particulars of the position’s function within the administration of the Academy itself, the rank comes with a significant increase in influence. Associate Professors hold full voting rights in faculty councils, participate in curriculum design, and may even advise the Deans on matters of strategy and policy. They are seen as the backbone of the Academy, balancing the roles of teacher, scholar, and leader. While many academics are content to remain at this level, most strive for the final promotion. Achieving the rank of Full Professor requires not only excellence but also a demonstrated legacy—contributions to the Empire that will outlast the individual.

Full Professor

At the top of the ladder stands the Full Professor, their insignia a shining silver scroll, sword, or star, again based upon the college they are a member of. To attain this rank is to join the elite, the few whose names are spoken with reverence throughout the learned circles of the Empire. Having attained this rank through much blood, sweat, tears, and politicking, I can tell you without a shadow of a doubt that it is worth everything I sacrificed to attain this rank. And it is that suffering that makes most of us… prickly about our titles and the respect we owed. Insult us at your peril.

Beyond the rotating responsibility of teaching the first-year scion classes, Full Professors teach the most advanced courses, often on subjects so specialized that only a handful of students can follow them. Like those I share this rank with, my lectures are events, drawing students eager to learn about the cutting edge of my field. Many halfwits within the Empire, even among the nobility, believe that history is that which is found in the dusty pages of old books or amongst the forgotten artifacts of barren worlds. But those who truly understand my field know that mastery of its knowledge can be more potent than a thousand elite warriors in the conquest of new lands and peoples for the Empire. As such, research at this level is transformative and fully integrated into the advanced courses I teach. Indeed, Full Professors are expected to push the boundaries of their fields, uncovering truths or devising innovations that reshape the Empire itself. Their work influences not only the Academy but also the broader Multiverse.

With this great prestige comes great responsibility, however. Full Professors often serve as advisors to the Deans or Provosts, shaping the Academy’s policies and priorities. They may also take on administrative roles, ensuring that their expertise guides the institution’s future. It is rare that a Full Professor does not have at least a handful of disciples who are scions in their third or fourth years. This is in part due to how the rank of Full Professor is not merely a title; it is a legacy. These individuals are the Academy’s most trusted voices, its most brilliant minds, and its most enduring symbols of excellence. To stand among them is to have reached the pinnacle of academic life, and to work alongside them is to propel your path, your class, and your personal power to the greatest of heights.

Final Thoughts

The hierarchy of faculty ranks at the Imperial Academy is a testament to the institution’s commitment to excellence. Each rank serves a purpose, ensuring that the Academy remains a place of rigorous scholarship, transformative teaching, and unyielding discipline. As someone who has navigated this ladder myself, I can attest to the challenges and rewards of each stage. From the wide-eyed optimism of an Instructor to the hard-earned authority of a Full Professor, every step is a journey—a test of one’s resolve, intellect, and passion for knowledge. In this system, titles are not mere ornaments. They are reflections of the sacrifices made, the wisdom earned, and the trust bestowed. 

If you are reading this, perhaps you, too, are considering making the jump from student to teacher. For my part, I find it a most honorable form of service to the Empire, one in which I can continue pushing the bounds of knowledge, my class, and attain personal power and influence without having to march forth into battle against the enemies of our people. But all that pales in comparison with the knowledge that you might become a part of something greater than yourself—a legacy of learning that shapes the Empire’s future. If any of this interests you, please don’t hesitate to drop by my office. I always have free time to help the educators of tomorrow find their way onto the first step of their path.