Appointment and Qualifications of Graduate Faculty
An instructor of any course for which students receive graduate credit must be a member of the Graduate Faculty.
There are four types of membership as defined below.
Status | Minimum Eligibility Criteria | Responsibilities | Term * |
FULL | Full-time faculty member, emeritus, or academic administrator holding faculty rank of assistant professor or higher, who holds an earned doctorate or equivalent terminal degree in an appropriate discipline from an appropriately accredited institution and who also has achieved and maintained an appropriate level of scholarship or creative activity and erudition characterized by peer reviewed publications, recitals, exhibitions, and/or externally funded research grants. Individuals with Joint Faculty Appointments (non-employee contractors) may be full members of the Graduate Faculty while on their appointment, if they meet the above requirements. | May serve as a graduate student’s academic advisor and chair of the advisory committee for master’s, specialist, or doctoral degrees. | 6 Years |
ASSOCIATE | Full-time faculty member not eligible for full membership who holds an earned doctorate or equivalent terminal degree in an appropriate discipline from an appropriately accredited institution. An Associate Member may have (and not limited to) the title of Instructor, Lecturer, or Post-doc. | May serve as a graduate student’s academic advisor and chair of the advisory committee for master’s or specialist degrees. | 3 Years |
AFFILIATE | Part-time faculty member or non-university professional responsible for graduate teaching, advisement, committee service, or research who holds an earned doctorate of equivalent terminal degree in an appropriate discipline from an appropriately accredited institution. No more than one non-university professional may serve as a voting member on a student’s committee. | May serve on the graduate student’s committee | 3 Years |
CLINICAL | Full or part-time faculty member who participates in directing educational experiences in a clinical/professional setting where the faculty member practices, who holds at least a master’s degree and professional certification in an appropriate discipline from an appropriately accredited institution/agency/association and relevant experience in the field of study. | May only teach clinical or practicum designated courses. | 3 Years |
Requirements and Responsibilities of the Graduate Faculty
Each member is responsible for ensuring that students in graduate classes have sufficient background prerequisites required for the course.
An approved member of the Graduate Faculty may be asked to serve as an instructor of a graduate course, as an instructor of a readings or special problems course, as a director of some phase of development of the research facilities of Tennessee Tech, as a member of the Graduate Studies Executive Committee, and/or as a member of a graduate student’s advisory committee, including serving as the student’s academic and/or Research Advisor.
The Graduate Faculty member who serves as the student’s advisor will typically chair or co-chair the advisory committee and shall hold faculty rank in the department in which the student is majoring or in an appropriate discipline. For a doctoral student, the advisor will be an experienced faculty member and a Full Member of the Graduate Faculty.
A faculty member may not direct independent study/research courses taken by a student who is a relative of the faculty member and may not be a member of a relative’s graduate advisory committee. For the purposes of this policy, “relative” means a parent, foster parent, parent-in-law, child, spouse, brother, foster brother, sister, foster sister, grandparent, grandchild, son-in-law, brother-in-law, daughter-in-law, sister-in-law, or other family member, as defined in TTU Policy 685, who resides in the same household.
Responsibilities of Department Chairperson
The chairperson of any department offering a graduate degree may act in any capacity open to a Graduate Faculty member and has certain administrative responsibilities pertaining to the graduate program.
The department chairperson provides direction and coordination in supporting departmental faculty members in the development of research projects and in the appropriate utilization of facilities.
The department chairperson nominates the faculty member by completing the Graduate Faculty membership application form. Once complete, the application is approved and signed by the college dean and Dean of the College of Graduate Studies. The Dean of the College of Graduate Studies forwards the signed application to the Provost for final review and approval.
Special Considerations of Membership
Faculty members who leave the university may continue to serve in their prior role as chair, co-chair, advisor, or member of the student’s committee for one year beyond their departure at the discretion of the department without Graduate Studies exception. Service beyond one year must be approved by the degree-granting college and the College of Graduate Studies.
It is also possible for a member of the Graduate Faulty to have his/her graduate faculty status revoked by the dean of their college or school, or, the Dean of the College of Graduate Studies, outside the periodic review process. Revocation may occur for egregious acts or when a Graduate Faculty member fails to fulfill the responsibilities of a member of the Graduate Faculty to teach graduate student(s) effectively, in a civil, professionally appropriate manner;
to do scholarly research and creative work of high quality or remain active in the practice of the profession; to adhere to university policies related to graduate programs; and to direct the research/professional development of graduate student(s) such that they progress toward graduation in a timely manner appropriate to the field.
If Graduate Faculty status is revoked, the faculty member has the right to make an appeal against the decision to the GSEC. This appeal must be made in writing within 14 days of the revocation.
Graduate Student Advisory Committee Responsibilities
Graduate student advisory committee responsibilities are defined in TTU Policy 271 and include, but are not limited to, the following.
The chairperson of an advisory committee assists the student in the selection of a program of study and in the selection of a suitable thesis or dissertation topic. The chairperson is expected to support and advocate for the student throughout the program.
All advisory committee members shall consider the graduate student’s application for admission to candidacy, including a review of both the proposed program of study and the research proposal, and, with other members of the advisory committee, will approve, make recommendations to improve, or disapprove.
All advisory committee members shall participate in the administration of the comprehensive exam to ensure that the student has satisfactory knowledge of the subject matter covered in the program of study.