<p>So there are some profs at my university that don't do research. They're not "lecturers" or "instructors," they're actually profs.
There's 2 I can think of on the top of my head and they're tenured associate professors.
Don't all profs have to do research?</p>
<p>They do to get tenure and they need to continue doing it to be promoted to Full Professor. I think you have identified why they are still Associate Professors…</p>
<p>Not all professors are vying for tenure at the same “speed”. Some professors make so much money doing work for private sector companies (that is where those sabbaticals come into play) that they do research as a slower pace. Yes, it may slow their “promotions” but if they are making good “side money”, they will take that average review from the chairperson.</p>
<p>Once a professor gets tenure (unless I’m mistaken, “Associate” generally implies tenure), s/he can do basically as much or as little research as s/he wants. Some people want to become professors to teach, not to do research (per se).</p>