Xxxxx Funded Faculty Members. Academic employees hired pursuant to Ed Code Section 87470 are not considered contract (tenure-track) faculty members. Such faculty members may be released at the expiration of the contract or specially-funded project; however, they shall be evaluated pursuant to these guidelines. In the event the faculty member hired under this section completes at least 75% of an academic year and is subsequently employed as a contract faculty member, then the year immediately preceding the contract employment year shall be considered the first year of contract status and shall count towards tenure status.