Process for Requesting Graduate Faculty Status
Graduate Faculty Status may be held in one of three levels; temporary, associate, and full. The general criteria used to assess individuals for graduate faculty status are:
Educational Background -- Level of and type of degree(s) held
Research and Scholarship
Teaching Experience
Previous University Experience
Temporary status is granted for a time period as stated on the agreement form. Those with temporary status may teach graduate level courses, provided they have the appropriate type and level of degree(s). Adjuncts may also serve on Masters level student graduate committees, if approved by the COA Graduate Committee and College Dean. Temporary graduate faculty may not serve on the COA Graduate Committee.
Associate membership to the graduate faculty requested through the COA is reserved for full-time faculty in the college. Associate graduate faculty members should have a demonstrated potential for research and scholarly activities as judged by the criteria stated above. Associate members may advise graduate students.
Full membership to the graduate faculty, requested through the COA, is reserved for full-time faculty in the college. Full graduate faculty members should have a record that demonstrates continuous, advanced levels of research and scholarly activities as judged by the criteria stated above. In the case of new hires with experience, an applicant does not need to have been an Associate member prior to requesting Full membership, if the applicant has a record that demonstrates advanced levels of research and scholarly activities.
Becoming
a graduate faculty member: The
process for achieving graduate faculty status begins with a letter from the
individual requesting either temporary, associate, or
full graduate faculty member status. The
letter must request one of these levels and contain an explanation of why the
individual is seeking admission at that level.
The letter should be signed by the individual and forwarded with
supporting documentation (vita or resume) to the chair of the College Graduate
Committee. The letter and documentation
will then be reviewed by the college’s graduate committee and if approved,
signed by the chair and then forwarded to the Dean of the
Criteria for Graduate Faculty Status in the College
Minimum Criteria for Temporary Status (for Adjunct or Instructor level positions)
Possess the appropriate degree type and level.
Possess the appropriate related work experience.
Possess a record of scholarship.
Minimum criteria fort Associate Graduate Faculty Status
Possess the appropriate terminal degree(s).
Possess the appropriate teaching and related work experience.
Possess a limited, but promising, record, of scholarly activities within the last five years.
Hold a full-time position in the college.
Minimum criteria for Full Graduate Faculty Status
Possess the appropriate terminal degree(s).
Possess the appropriate teaching and related work experience.
Demonstrated continued record of scholarly activities during the last five years.
Hold a full-time position in the college.
Termination and Removal of Graduate Faculty Status
Temporary graduate faculty status is for a set term as identified on the adjunct graduate faculty agreement form. Lowering or removal of graduate faculty status may be enacted if the graduate faculty member fails to meet the requirements or criteria. Removal or lowering would require 2/3 majority of the graduate committee and may be taken at any time. All Associate or Full Graduate Faculty will be reviewed by the University Graduate Committee on a five year rotation. The review may result in graduate faculty status being lost or lowered if deemed by the review committee.
Duties and Responsibilities for Faculty Requesting
Graduate Assistants:
It is the responsibility of faculty members to provide Graduate Assistants with a description of the expected duties and activities prior to the assignment of Graduate Assistants. The duties assigned to Graduate Assistants should be directly related to, and in support of the academic goals in their chosen field of study. The activities should include research, teaching, and services designed to give the GA an opportunity to gain practical and advanced knowledge and research skills in their field of study. Typical examples would be one or more of the following:
1. Proctoring, and grading examinations in undergraduate labs and classrooms.
2. Instructing, setting-up, and supervising undergraduate level laboratories or tutorial sections.
3. Supervising or teaching classes in the absence of faculty supervisor or other classes with the permission of the faculty supervisor.
4. Preparing materials for laboratories or classroom presentations.
5. Assisting in field days or in programs that serve constituent groups of the university.
6. If Graduate Assistants are working on research projects with a faculty member, then the faculty member may request the Graduate Assistants to assist in library, field or laboratory research, and data analysis. Any publication or presentation resulting from the research projects should include the Graduate Assistants as co-authors if they played a significant role in the projects.
7. In general, other duties which involve a direct knowledge and application of knowledge related to the Graduate Assistant’s field of study would be acceptable. Graduate Assistants should not be utilized solely for clerical duties.
Faculty members requesting Graduate Assistants must communicate their expectations clearly to the assigned Graduate Assistants. It shall be the responsibility of the Graduate Committee, in consultation with the cognizant faculty member, to draw up an agreement with each Graduate Assistant at the time of the appointment which shall specify the assistant’s duties and the general conditions of employment. The agreement shall be reviewed by the Graduate Assistant before it is signed by him/her and the faculty member making the request, then approved by the Graduate Committee and the Dean’s Office. Great care must be taken to ensure that schedules of Graduate Assistants’ workload or activities do not interfere or conflict with their internships, research projects or other academic responsibilities. The Graduate Committee upon the recommendation of the Graduate Assistant's supervisor, shall have the responsibility to review the assistant's performance and to terminate the appointment for failure to discharge satisfactorily the duties specified in the agreement.