nonacademic

Nonacademic is an adjective used to describe activities, programs, or staff that are not directly part of formal academic teaching or scholarly research. The term is commonly used within educational institutions, particularly universities and colleges, to distinguish the instructional and research mission from other functions.

In higher education, nonacademic roles include administration, facilities management, information technology, libraries, financial aid, student services, and human resources. Nonacademic programs can include continuing education, extension schools, professional development courses, certificate programs, outreach, and community engagement initiatives. Nonacademic research or activity may refer to applied or translational projects conducted outside traditional degree programs, though such work can still be connected to the institution's mission.

Across other contexts, nonacademic describes work and programs outside the classroom, such as museum education, public programming, or youth outreach run by cultural or research organizations. The term can carry a connotation of hierarchy, since teaching and research are often prioritized in discussions, leading some to prefer terms like "support staff," "administrative staff," or "public programs" to describe these roles. The usage varies by region and institution, and hyphenation is also common (non-academic).