Graduate Faculty Guidelines & Procedures

GUIDELINES AND PROCEDURES FOR GRADUATE FACULTY STATUS

Date: 5 October 2007

1. PREFACE

The integrity of graduate programs rests fundamentally on the capabilities of the faculty. The policy regarding graduate faculty status is intended to ensure that student research and coursework are being directed by faculty members who are actively engaged in original scholarship and are current with respect to important developments in their discipline.

There are six different categories of membership to the graduate faculty: full, associate, adjunct, adjunct research co-mentor, teaching adjunct, and affiliate. (See Summary of Roles and Criteria for Graduate Faculty Status). The general procedure to attain membership to the graduate faculty is outlined immediately below. Additional details are provided in the sections related to each level. A "file" consists of the application form and any required accompanying material.

2. GENERAL PROCEDURE FOR GRADUATE FACULTY MEMBERSHIP

Applicant completes an application file comprising an application form (available on-line) and supporting documents (see Section 3 for requirements at each level) and submits it to the appropriate graduate committee.
The committee forwards the application file and its vote to the department chair or equivalent. Comments may be attached.
The chair then signs and forwards the application to the College Council for Research and Graduate Studies. In the event the chair disagrees with the committee recommendation, a detailed explanation must be included.
Based on the College (or School) Council recommendation, the graduate director signs and forwards the application to the college/school dean.
The dean of the college or school makes his/her decision by December 20 of each year.
The file is then forwarded to the Graduate School for final approval.
Copies of the files will be maintained at the college/school level as well as in the Graduate School.
In the case of a negative decision by the Vice Provost for Graduate Studies or designee, the applicant may appeal to the University Council for Graduate Studies as outlined in the following Appeals Procedure:

The faculty member who wishes to appeal the decision must submit a request to the Vice Provost for Graduate Studies within 45 days of the date of the Vice Provost's decision.
The Vice Provost will forward the appeal to the University Council for Graduate Studies, which will review the case and make its recommendation to the Vice Provost. The action taken by the University Council at this point is final.

3. CRITERIA

3.1 GRADUATE FACULTY STATUS – FULL

Who Is Eligible:

Tenured and tenure-track faculty with significant scholarship beyond the dissertation and the ability to teach advanced graduate classes (7000-8000 level) and direct doctoral dissertations, even if the faculty member is in a department that does not offer such a program. Visiting professors may be granted full membership in the Graduate Faculty for the duration of their appointment.

Significant Scholarship Beyond the Dissertation:
At least 6 publications (in print or accepted for publication*) in nationally recognized refereed journals or equivalencies, as decided by the department and approved by the college/school, in a six-year period. The six years may be either the six years prior to the year of application or may include the year of application and the previous five years. Examples of equivalencies might be a book that contains original research and is published by a nationally or internationally recognized publisher, refereed or invited book chapters, refereed conference proceedings, films, and musical compositions. (*For publications cited as accepted, a copy of the letter of acceptance from the journal editor or publisher must be included.) Publications and equivalencies must maintain the standard and spirit of the requirement and be addressed in the faculty member’s narrative (see below) and by the departmental recommendations.

Requirements for Renewal:

A continued pattern of scholarly activity of the quality expected for full membership.

Roles:

May teach 7000-8000 courses
May chair masters and dissertation committees
May chair committeees in other programs at that program's discretion
May vote on graduate issues
May serve on the University Council for Graduate Studies (UCGS)

Procedure - Initial Admission and Renewal:

The faculty member submits a complete curriculum vitae (in the current U of M format) together with a supporting narrative to the appropriate departmental graduate committee. This narrative should emphasize the candidate’s qualifications for full membership, including a coherent scholarly agenda that demonstrates currency in the field of study as well as the ability to teach advanced graduate courses and direct doctoral dissertations. The application then follows the General Procedure for Application described in Section 2. The same procedure is followed to apply for renewal, except that only an abbreviated curriculum vitae detailing the applicant's last six years is required.

Term:

Full Graduate Faculty status will be granted to an individual for a period of six calendar years. In the case of visiting professors and faculty in the Post-Retirment Program it will be granted for the duration of their appointment.

Resignation or Retirement:

Upon retirement or resignation from the University, full membership in the Graduate Faculty automatically ceases, unless the faculty member is in the Post-Retirement Program. If the person wishes to retain membership in the Graduate Faculty, he or she should write a memo to the Graduate School, endorsed by the department chair and dean, requesting adjunct membership. If the faculty member chooses the Post-Retirement Program, he or she will retain current membership for the duration of the Post-Retirement program. Renewal of adjunct status will follow the usual procedure.

3.2 GRADUATE FACULTY STATUS – ASSOCIATE

Who Is Eligible:

Tenured and tenure-track faculty with the ability to teach advanced graduate classes (7000-8000 level) and to direct master’s theses, even if the faculty member is in a department that does not have a master’s thesis as a component of the program. Visiting professors may be granted associate membership in the Graduate Faculty for the duration of their appointment.

The Potential for Original Scholarship:

The applicant should demonstrate potential for original scholarship by having: (i) completed a terminal degree within the previous two calendar years; (ii) been hired in a tenure-track position within the previous two calendar years; or (iii) published and/or had accepted for publication at least three papers in refereed nationally recognized outlets within the previous six calendar years.

Procedure - Initial Admission and Renewal:

If the applicant meets all three requirements, completing the application form is sufficient; no narrative statement is required. Should a faculty member who is applying for associate membership not meet all of the above three standards, then the faculty member submits a complete CV (in the current U of M format) together with a supporting narrative to his/her deparatmental graduate committee. This narrative should emphasize the candidate's qualifications for associate membership, including a coherent scholarly agenda that demonstrates currency in the field of study as well as the ability to teach advanced graduate courses and direct master's theses. The application then follows the General Procedure for Application described in Section 2. The same procedure is followed to apply for renewal, except that only an abbreviated curriculum vitae detailing the applicant's last six years is required.

Roles:

May teach 7000/8000 courses
May chair masters committees
May chair masters committees in other programs at that program's discretion
May serve on dissertation committees
May NOT chair dissertation committees
May vote on graduate issues
May serve on UCGS

Term:

Associate Graduate Faculty status will be granted to an individual for a period of six calendar years. In the case of visiting professors and faculty in the Post-Retirment Program it will be granted for the duration of their appointment.

Resignation or Retirement:

Upon retirement or resignation from the University, associate membership in the Graduate Faculty automatically ceases, unless the faculty member is in the Post-Retirement Program. If the person wishes to retain membership in the Graduate Faculty, he or she should write a memo to the Graduate School, endorsed by the department chair and dean, requesting adjunct membership. If the faculty member chooses the Post-Retirement Program, he or she will retain current membership for the duration of the Post-Retirement program. Renewal of adjunct status will follow the usual procedure.

3.3 GRADUATE FACULTY STATUS – ADJUNCT

Who Is Eligible:

This status is designed for individuals who hold terminal degrees and are not employed by the University as full-time faculty members, but who have special expertise that is of benefit to a particular graduate program.

Procedure - Initial Admission and Renewal:

The General Procedure for Graduate Faculty Membership must be followed. The individual’s current CV together with an explanation from the department/unit regarding the qualifications of the individual and the anticipated role the individual will play in the graduate program must be included in the file that is forwarded to the College Council for Research and Graduate Studies.

Roles:

May teach 7000-8000 courses in area(s) of expertise
May serve on masters and dissertation committes
May NOT chair student committees
No more than one affiliate or adjunct graduate faculty member may serve as a voting member of a committee
May NOT serve on UCGS

Term:

Adjunct Graduate Faculty status will be granted to an individual for a period of three calendar years.

3.4 GRADUATE FACULTY STATUS – TEACHING ADJUNCT

Who Is Eligible:

This status is designed for individuals who are employed by the University and have special expertise to teach particular graduate-only courses. They must have a master's degree and be able to show evidence of relevant expertise.

Procedure - Initial Admission and Renewal:

The General Procedure for Graduate Faculty Membership must be followed with an explanation from the department/unit regarding the qualifications of the individual to teach the particular subject matter.

Roles:

May teach graduate courses as indicted in application
Carries no other responsibilities

Term:

Adjunct Teaching Gradute Faculty status will be granted to an individual for a period of three calendar years.

3.5 GRADUATE FACULTY STATUS - ADJUNCT RESEARCH CO-MENTOR

Who Is Eligible:

This status is designed to allow scholars who are not employed by the University of Memphis to co-chair a particular thesis or dissertation committee. Such scholars must be affiliated with U of M graduate faculty and students through a collaborative research project, including serving on the student's committee. The applicant must have research expertise that contributes to the graduate program, particularly through the enhancement of research opportunities for and mentoring of graduate students. This status is also available on a case-by-case basis to faculty who have left the University as well as to Adjunct and Affiliate members who meet the requirements of initial membership.

Minimum Requirements for Initial Membership:

Terminal degree plus publications/presentations/scholarly activity in nationally recognized outlets (or equivalent) in preceding 6 years.

Procedure - Initial Admission and Renewal:

Candidates for Research Co-Mentor are recommended by the department chair. The candidate submits a curriculum vitae/resume and the completed application for graduate faculty status to the department chair, who provides summary statement of the individual's qualifications/expertise to co-chair or serve on the thesis or dissertation committee of a specific student. The same procedure must be followed for each student committee the the Research Co-Mentor seeks to co-chair. Approval will be granted on a case-by-case basis.

Roles:

May co-chair a specific thesis or dissertation committee
May serve on thesis/dissertation committees
May NOT serve on UCGS

Term:
Adjunct Research Co-Mentor Graduate Faculty status will be granted to an individual for the term of a particular student's committee.

3.6 GRADUATE FACULTY STATUS – AFFILIATE

Who Is Eligible:

This status is designed for individuals who hold post-graduate or professional credentials in their discipline and who are practitioners in scholarly, service, and/or creative activities. It is also designed for U of M non-tenure track faculty, research and clinical appointees or employees, and individuals with a formal non-employment affiliation with a U of M academic department or program. Such individuals must have post-graduate or professional credentials.

Procedure - Initial Admission and Renewal:

Roles:

May supervise graduate students in clinical or similar situations
May teach select 7000-8000 courses with program and college approvals
May serve on masters and dissertation committees
No more than one affiliate or adjunct graduate faculty member may serve as a voting member of a committee
May participate (at the discretion of their department/unit) in matters affecting Graduate School policies at the department and college level
May NOT chair student committees
May NOT serve on UCGS

Term:

Affiliate Graduate Faculty status will be granted to an individual for a period of three calendar years.

Last revised on: 8 October 2007.