6.43 – Graduate Faculty Appointments

PART 1: RESPONSIBILITY FOR GRADUATE PROGRAMS

The ultimate responsibility for the quality of the graduate program resides in the graduate faculty, individual departments offering graduate work, and the cognizant dean.

PART 2: ADMINISTRATION OF GRADUATE SCHOOL REGULATIONS

The dean of the Graduate School is responsible for the administration of the Graduate School’s regulations.

PART 3: APPOINTMENT TO GRADUATE FACULTY

Staff members qualified to perform the functions of the graduate faculty are nominated by the heads of their departments for approval by the cognizant dean and the dean of the Graduate School. Before an individual is appointed to the graduate faculty, evidence of creative activity, in addition to the doctoral dissertation, is required. In implementing this approach, the department heads, the deans and the dean of the Graduate School will review all members of the graduate faculty in their colleges and invoke the review clause on individuals not meeting the minimum requirements.

The Graduate Council shall maintain a standing committee on Graduate Faculty Appointments comprised of three senior graduate faculty currently serving on the Graduate Council. The standing committee on Graduate Faculty Appointments shall review and make recommendations to the dean of the Graduate School on appointment of faculty nominees to the graduate faculty. This standing committee on Graduate Faculty Appointments also shall review appointment criteria as needed. Approval will be granted in recognition of the staff member’s active interest in graduate work as demonstrated by continual study, creative activity, and successful teaching. Appointment to the graduate faculty will normally require that the individual have an earned doctoral degree.

PART 4: REVIEW AND RENEWAL OF GRADUATE FACULTY DESIGNATION

The qualifications of each new member of the graduate faculty will be given comprehensive review by the department head, cognizant dean, and the dean of the Graduate School at the end of 3 years. The qualifications of each graduate faculty member will be reviewed every 3-5 years by the department head, cognizant dean, the Graduate Council standing committee on Graduate Faculty Appointments, and the dean of the Graduate School.

PART 5: QUALIFICATIONS FOR GRADUATE COURSE TEACHING ASSIGNMENTS

Selection of instructors to teach courses at the 450-499 level is left to the department head and college dean; however, such persons must have at least a master’s degree. Any exceptions to this policy, rules or procedures must have prior written approval of the dean of the Graduate School. Graduate students may not assign grades to other graduate students in courses numbered above 450.

Selection of individuals to teach courses numbered 500 and above is left to the department head and the college dean. The individual must have an earned doctorate, or a master’s degree with extensive experience, and have evidence of creative activity. Any exceptions to this policy, rules or procedures must have the prior written approval of the dean of the Graduate School. (See next section for 600 level courses.)

PART 6: QUALIFICATIONS FOR GRADUATE COMMITTEE SERVICE

Members of the graduate faculty chair all graduate committees, direct master’s theses, direct doctoral dissertations, teach 600-level courses, serve as representatives of the dean of the Graduate School, serve on educational specialists’ exams, and serve on doctoral exams. Any exception to this policy, rules or procedures must be approved in writing by the dean of the Graduate School.