TARLETON STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF GRADUATE STUDIES GRADUATE COUNCIL

Transcription

1 TARLETON STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF GRADUATE STUDIES GRADUATE COUNCIL Purpose: To consider all matters relating to graduate programs at Tarleton State University and to recommend practices and procedures that enhance the quality of Tarleton State University s graduate programs. Function: The Graduate Council serves as the advisory body to the Graduate Dean. The Graduate Council reviews and evaluates the admissions policies and processes, curriculum and program requirements, academic standards, grading policies and practices, academic advising, orientation, faculty qualifications and productivity, library and learning resources, computer and laboratory facilities and other issues relating specifically to graduate education at the University. The Council assists the Graduate Dean in reviewing the content of the Graduate College sections of the University Catalog. This Council also reviews new graduate curriculum submitted by the colleges destined to be considered by the University. The academic department initiates a proposal, the departmental and college committees review submissions and forward approved items to the University Curriculum Committee. Once submitted, the University Curriculum Committee edits, assigns numbers and forwards to the next level approval which includes the Graduate Council. The Council, by vote, directs the Dean on the next steps. Once approved, a proposal will continue through further processes as required by the TAMU System and the state. The Graduate Council also considers strategic directions that the university should pursue regarding graduate education and assists in the formulation of marketing, scholarship, recruiting, and program development objectives needed to achieve the institution's graduate education goals. Council decisions support the mission and goals of the Graduate College and the University. By April 1 of each year, the Graduate Council will submit its formal recommendations regarding graduate education to the College Deans' Council and the Provost s Council for consideration. Chair: Graduate Dean Membership: Graduate faculty members from each Department offering graduate degrees, elected or appointed by the graduate faculty or Department Head, and a graduate student selected by the Graduate Dean from nominations from each college. The Graduate Dean chairs the Council and prepares the agenda. The agenda is open for items submitted from the membership of the Council. One graduate faculty representative from Faculty Senate may serve as non-voting member of the Council. Membership List: Updated annually and available online Procedure for Approval of Graduate Curriculum

2 GRADUATE FACULTY Since the academic reputation of any graduate program rests upon the quality of its faculty, great care is given to the awarding of graduate faculty status (based upon SACS standard 3.7.1; 2010 ed.) The approval of graduate faculty rests with the Graduate Council (based on SACS standard 3.7.2). Graduate Faculty membership is limited to full-time faculty who have the terminal degree or its equivalent. The Graduate Faculty comprises the core teachers and scholars of the Tarleton State University graduate programs. Graduate Faculty with Terminal Degrees: Graduate Faculty members can teach graduate classes, direct master s theses, serve on doctoral committees, and direct doctoral dissertations. Graduate Faculty may serve as their department s representative on the University Graduate Council. (Graduate Faculty encompasses the former full and associate responsibility faculty.) Affiliate Graduate Faculty: Affiliate members hold the terminal degree in their discipline and may be full-time or adjunct faculty. Affiliates teach graduate classes and serve on graduate committees but not as the chair. Tenured and Tenure-Track faculty in this membership level should demonstrate continued professional development as defined by their Tarleton academic program. *Pending: (Temporary assignment) Faculty who, until any further action by their department head or dean, are hired to teach graduate classes, serve or chair

3 committees, advise graduate students or perform duties needed by the hiring department or college are Pending members. Pending assignment is initiated by the hiring department head and college dean through a memo to the Graduate Dean to the Graduate Council as information. (Pending could also be a continuing assignment for adjunct faculty.) *Pending membership requests can be granted by the Dean of Graduate Studies. Pending faculty are reviewed annually by the academic departments for appropriate recommendations or needed actions. Visiting Graduate Faculty: Members are eligible to teach graduate courses, direct master s theses, and serve on doctoral committees. The University will recognize the graduate faculty status held by the visiting member at his/her home institution. This includes TAMU System Graduate Faculty. Anyone not affiliated with an institution of higher education will be evaluated on an individual basis. Only tenured or tenure-track faculty members* with the appropriate terminal degree at the rank of Professor, Associate, or Assistant and who are members of the Texas A&M University System and/or employed at Tarleton State University are eligible to be Graduate Faculty. *Professional staff with the appropriate terminal degree and who are employed at Tarleton State University may serve as graduate advisors and on a thesis committee as a fourth committee member, if requested by a student and approved by the department head and committee chair. A Department, upon special circumstances or specific need, may be granted, by permission from the Graduate Dean, an exception to the tenured or tenure-track requirement for the assignment of faculty responsibilities. Such permission is not meant to be construed as a change in the University s expectations or practices. Minimum Qualifications for Graduate Faculty membership include: academic rank of assistant professor or above earned terminal degree in the teaching discipline or related field competence as a scholar, including research capability and/or creative activity as evidenced by publications, creative endeavors, supervision of theses or dissertations and proposed or awarded grants College/Departmental requirements for Graduate Faculty members may exceed the above requirements and are specified at the time of hire or during annual or post tenure review.

4 General Duties of Graduate Faculty All Graduate Faculty at each responsibility level are responsible to their respective department heads and are assigned duties by them. These duties may be in addition to those specifically addressed in the graduate area. The normal workload of those teaching only graduate-level courses is 9 hours in master s programs and 6 for doctoral programs. Graduate Faculty teaching a combination of undergraduate and graduate classes may bank graduate classes taught and receive release time in a later semester as decided upon by the faculty member in conjunction with the department head. The scheduling of release-time should be requested two semesters in advance of class scheduling deadlines for that semester. Graduate faculty teaching both graduate and undergraduate courses, in order to request a one-course reduction in teaching as a result of this responsibility, should document the graduate duties in writing to their department head. Upon having taught at least three (3) graduate courses, should in consultation with their department head and based upon departmental needs, request a one course reduction in a subsequent semester excluding summers. Release time carries the obligation for the faculty member to report to the graduate faculty of their department and/ or college, their scholarship/research/scholarly or creative activity during the first semester following released time. Graduate Council Responsibilities for Approval of Graduate Faculty Nomination Nomination forms include information about the faculty member s academic training, teaching record, experience in graduate education and scholarly activities for the previous 5 years: ( for forms). The college dean will review applications using the criteria for graduate faculty membership and submit their faculty for consideration to the Graduate Council. For all newly hired faculty who will teach graduate courses and current faculty requesting changes in membership responsibilities, the procedure is as follows: their department head will electronically send a revised member nomination form with their written recommendations for membership or changes to the dean of their college. The college dean will affirm this request if appropriate. All documents are then sent to the graduate dean.

5 Graduate Faculty Review Each member of the Graduate, including Visiting members, will be reviewed by the Graduate Council every five years from their appointment date. The purpose of this review is to determine if the Graduate Faculty status is appropriate and warranted. The review process is the same as the initial selection process. To hold and maintain Graduate Faculty membership, a faculty member must show evidence of on-going professional activity during the last 5 years at Tarleton. Faculty who have remained as Pending Graduate Faculty for the academic year are to be reviewed by their department head before August 1. Faculty who meet criteria for other levels of responsibility should submit their nomination forms with all appropriate documentation from department head and dean. Options open to the Council are numerous. Recommendation should align with one of the following: 1. approve continued membership in the current status for 5 years, 2. refuse to approve Graduate Faculty status, or 3. provide a three-year provisional term as graduate faculty. If this option is chosen, the faculty members must be reviewed again after three years and either approved for a regular five year membership or dropped from Graduate Faculty membership. Graduate Faculty whose status is terminated may, after one calendar year, reapply for graduate faculty status. Retired or relocated Graduate Faculty who are in good standing, upon recommendation of the graduate faculty in their program and their department head, are allowed to continue as chair or member of dissertation or theses committees. Council Standing Committees 1. Graduate Faculty Review Carries the responsibility for initial recommendations for approval or action of nominations and manages the periodic 5-year review of graduate faculty members. 2. Graduate Curriculum Committee Review all items intended for graduate instruction prior to placing on the Council Agenda. Membership on standing committees will be by appointment by the Graduate Dean in conjunction with the Council. Membership service is two-years.