Graduate Faculty

Full-time and part-time faculty who teach graduate courses must be approved for Graduate Faculty or Adjunct Graduate Faculty status.  This action is initiated by the Dean and subsequent approval is required of the Provost.

The minimum qualifications for appointment to teach graduate courses are a terminal degree in the discipline or its equivalent and evidence of appropriate scholarly engagement.  As part of their professional development, all graduate faculty are expected to maintain currency in their teaching field and to regularly engage with peers to exchange knowledge and information in the discipline. 

It is the responsibility of each graduate faculty member and each department to ensure that its graduate faculty maintains eligibility for appointment to graduate faculty status.

Full-time graduate faculty provide instruction at the graduate level, assist students with graduate-level research and projects, and approve all changes to the graduate curriculum at the department level. All graduate curriculum and curriculum changes must be approved by the College, the Graduate Council, and the faculty. Adjunct graduate faculty provide graduate-level instruction and may, upon approval of the Dean, assist students with research and projects.

The maximum number of graduate courses a faculty member may teach in a semester is two.

Graduate faculty contracts will specify between 21 - 27 hour teaching loads for the annual appointment period with a maximum of 30 credit hours for a calendar year (July – June). Courses may be taught year-round at the discretion of the Dean.

Graduate faculty will be evaluated based on the following scale:

• Teaching Effectiveness: 70%
• Service: 15%
• Professional Activities: 15%

*See Evaluation of Faculty for descriptions of the Criteria.

All graduate faculty are expected to engage in professional activities.  Professional activities increase the body of knowledge in the faculty member’s discipline. While professional activities are expected from each faculty member, faculty rank and assignment will be considered when evaluating professional activities. The following are examples (non-exhaustive) of professional activities.

• Publications (books, chapters in books, peer-reviewed journals and publications)
• Curricula design
• Papers presented at meetings of professional societies
• Professional Consulting/Business Proposals
• Critical reviews of published works
• Patents
• Grant proposals/awards
• Activities and offices held with professional organizations
• Participation in accreditation reviews
• Participation on editorial boards/committees
• Additional certifications
• Continuing education certification and licensing