ACADEMIC RANK IS INCREASING IN FREQUENCY IN AMERICAN JUNIOR COLLEGES. THE PRIMARY REASON FOR ADOPTION OF RANK IS A DESIRE TO IDENTIFY WITH SENIOR INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION, FOLLOWED BY HOPES OF INCREASING STATUS AND MORALE, OF RELATING SALARY TO TEACHING PROFICIENCY, OF ATTRACTING BETTER FACULTY AND OF FACILITATING ACCEPTANCE OF PUBLICATIONS. INITIAL PLACEMENT OF FACULTY IN THE RANK SYSTEM HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS ONE OF THE MOST COMMON SOURCES OF ADMINISTRATIVE ERRORS. IT SHOULD BE BASED ON EVALUATION OF TRANSCRIPTS, LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION, AND PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE. PROMOTION, WHICH SHOULD BE A REWARD FOR SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE, IS TOO FREQUENTLY A REWARD FOR LONGEVITY. PROMOTION SHOULD BE BASED ON PERFORMANCE, EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENTS, PROFESSIONAL STUDY AND GROWTH, AND COMMUNITY SERVICE. A BIBLIOGRAPHY IS INCLUDED. (WO)