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Policy

This section contains guidelines for determining levels of graduate faculty standing, including interpretations of the criteria.

Level A Graduate Standing

Level A faculty must:

1. Hold a full-time, tenure-eligible or tenured position at ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈÊÓƵ, and
2. Remain active scholars who regularly contribute to the advancement of knowledge in their disciplines.

Charged with interpreting those standards for the University, the Graduate School expects faculty with Level A standing to provide evidence of disciplinary contributions that represent meaningful achievements in scholarship at our University. The appointment and reappointment to Level A standing is described below.

Initial Level A Appointment

At the time of hiring, all probationary, tenure-track faculty members with terminal degrees will be appointed to Level A standing, Probationary, tenure-track faculty members without terminal degrees may request to be appointed Level A standing at the recommendation of the Chair/Program Director and Divisional Dean. Chairs and Deans will review each such  request according to the criteria listed above, with final review and approval by the Dean of the Graduate School.

Level A Standing at Time of Promotion and Tenure 

Upon granting of promotion and tenure, a candidate whose research/scholarship criterion is one of the first two criteria in order of importance will retain Level A standing for a period of six (6) years, pending final approval by the Dean of the Graduate School.

Upon granting of promotion and tenure, a candidate whose research/scholarship criterion is NOT one of the first two criteria in order of importance may submit a Level A application to the department for consideration by the Chair/Program Director and a committee of the department’s/program’s choosing; it is anticipated that many departments/programs will use the Promotion and Tenure Committee or a similar body for the adjudication. The committee’s and Chair’s/Program Director’s recommendations will be forwarded to the Divisional Dean and finally to the Dean of the Graduate School for review and approval. If Level A standing is granted by the Dean of the Graduate School, the faculty member will retain that standing for a period of six (6) years.

Level A Standing for Associate Professors After Six Years 

If the candidate does not request promotion to the rank of Professor within six (6) years of his/her initial promotion, he/she must apply for continuing Level A standing to retain that status. The candidate should submit a Level A application to the department/program for consideration by the Chair/Program Director and a committee of the department’s choosing. The committee’s and Chair’s/Program Director’s recommendations will be forwarded to the Divisional Dean and finally to the Dean of the Graduate School for review and approval. If Level A standing is granted by that body, the faculty member will retain that standing for a period of six (6) years.

Level A Standing at Time of Promotion to Professor 

For candidates for promotion to the rank of Professor for whom research/scholarship is one of the first two criteria in order of importance, successful promotion will renew Level A standing for a period of six (6) years, pending final approval by the Dean of the Graduate School.

Upon granting of promotion to the rank of Professor, a candidate whose research/scholarship criterion is NOT one of the first two criteria in order of importance may submit a Level A application to the department for consideration by the Chair/Program Director and a committee of the department’s/program’s choosing; it is anticipated that many departments/programs will use the Graduate Studies Committee, the Promotion and Tenure Committee, or a similar body for the adjudication. The committee’s and Chair’s/Program Director’s recommendations will be forwarded to the Divisional Dean and finally to the Dean of the Graduate School for review and approval. If Level A standing is granted by the Dean of the Graduate School, the faculty member will retain that standing for a period of six (6) years.

Level A Standing for Professors After Six Years 

Upon earning the rank of Professor, the candidate will serve for the subsequent six (6) years as a Level A faculty member. To retain that standing after six (6) years, the candidate should submit a Level A application to the department for consideration by the Chair/Program Director and a committee of the department’s/program’s choosing. The committee’s and Chair’s/Program Director’s recommendations will be forwarded to the Divisional Dean and finally to the Dean of the Graduate School for review and approval. If Level A standing is granted by the Dean of the Graduate School, the Professor will retain the standing during the remainder of his/her full-time teaching and research career at ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈÊÓƵ.

Level B and Level C Graduate Faculty Standing

Except as noted in the policy “Limitations for Graduate Faculty Standing”, faculty or staff must hold a full-time or adjunct appointment at ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈÊÓƵ to be appointed to Level B. Faculty or staff must at least have a part-time instructional appointment at ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈÊÓƵ to be appointed to Level C. For either Level B or Level C appointments, the nominee must have qualifications that meet at least one (1) of the following criteria:

1. Criterion I:An approved terminal degree in the discipline.
2. Criterion II:A master’s degree plus five (5) years of significant and relevant professional experience that meets the applicant’s departmental guidelines for tested experience. A department wishing to grant graduate faculty standing under Criterion II must submit and have approved by Graduate Council, criteria for evaluating “significant and relevant professional experience” that is equivalent to the terminal degree for the graduate programs offered by the department. The definition of tested experience must be approved prior to nominating an instructor for graduate faculty standing under criterion II.

Related Form(s)

Not Applicable.

Additional Resources and Procedures

Not Applicable.

FAQ

Not Applicable.

Policy Administration

Next Review Date

7/1/2023

• Responsible Officer
• Dean of the Graduate School
• Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

Legal Authority

Not Applicable.

Compliance Policy

No

Revision History

 Amended July 2022

Reference ID

Graduate Handbook 5.2

Governance Authority

• Gradaute Council
• University Senate
• Dean of the Graduate School