Appointment to the Graduate Faculty, according to the following levels and criteria, may be by nomination/recommendation of the department chair or renewal by eligible faculty.
Graduate Faculty
Members are faculty who are eligible to teach courses restricted to graduate student enrollment, serve on departmental graduate committees, to chair or serve on thesis or dessertation committees, and may be appointed to the University's Graduate Studies Committee. Graduate Faculty members may hold the rank of assistant, associate, or professor and a full-time academic appointment. Memberships are for a term of five years. All faculty must demonstrate an active scholarship agenda in their field (see note below on scholarly and professional activity).
Associate Graduate Faculty
Members are faculty who are eligible to teach courses, restricted to graduate student enrollment, serve on departmental graduate committees, and participate in master's theses committees. In certain circumstance, associate graduate faculty also may serve on dessertation committees with the approval of Dean of the Graduate Studies. Associate members are lecturers, adjunct faculty, research professors, or administrative staff with an earned doctorate or appropriate terminal degree on regular academic appointment, or faculty who hold at least a master's degree plus five years of qualifying professional experience (see note below on scholarly and professional activity) and who are approved by the faculty of the appropriate department or discipline. The term of appointment for associate membership may be for one to three years, decided by the Dean of Graduate Studies based upon the recommendation presented by the appropriate department.
Reappointment
To be reappointed for another 5 years as graduate faculty or for another 3 years as associate graduate faculty, all faculty must demonstrate a program of personal research, artistry, expertise, the product(s) of which have received positive review from experts in the field at appropriate local or national levels of presentation.
Procedures for Appointment
Department Nomination
The academic department nominates a faculty member for membership in one of the two Graduate Faculty categories to the dean of its college. Upon endorsement by the college dean, the recommendation is forwarded to the dean of Graduate Studies who compares the nominee's vitae to the approved departmental guidelines, and makes recommendations to a subcommittee of the Graduate Studies Committee for formal approval. If a denial of graduate faculty membership occurs, the nominee may reapply with additional supporting documentation or may appeal the decision to the entire Graduate Studies Committee.
Renewal
Membership renewal for Graduate and associate members will be reviewed by the department. Failure to meet the criteria may result in removal from list of Graduate Faculty. An appeal process is available in such cases.
Duties of Graduate Faculty
All Graduate Faculty are vested with the responsibility for advancing the university's mission at the graduate level; will provide support for graduate education through teaching, supervising, and advising of graduate students. Graduate Faculty should demonstrate their concern with the improvement of instruction and programs and in their own development as productive individuals.
Privileges of Graduate Faculty
Graduate Faculty status provides eligibility to apply to the University System of Maryland Inter-Institutional Graduate Faculty.
Approved by the University Senate, September 28, 1999
Note on Scholarly and Professional Activity
Examples of “evidence of scholarly activity” include but are not limited to the following: publications, conference/workshop poster and/or panel presentations, grant submissions/awards, descriptions/abstracts of current disciplinary and/or teaching research projects. (Refer to the guidelines provided in the Faculty Handbook)
Examples of “evidence of professional activity” include but are not limited to the following: development, implementation and/or evaluation of community agency workshops, conference and/or conventions; dissemination of clinical/professional expertise via consultation; participation in continuing education that sustain certification/licensure.
Note to Chairs/Program Directors: For those faculty applicants whose long-standing expertise in teaching and/or the discipline is of particular relevance to the courses in which these faculty teach, please provide a detailed summary of the faculty member’s contributions and the ways in which this expertise is of particular value to the students’ learning experience. Faculty and professionals who are external to the campus must apply and be approved for Graduate Faculty status to serve on a thesis or dissertation committee.
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