#47 - Graduate Faculty, Associate Graduate Faculty, and Adjunct Graduate Faculty
Approved: March 14, 2019
Nomenclature changes: October 7, 2024
Monitor: Vice President for Academic Affairs
GRADUATE FACULTY MEMBERSHIP
Membership in the Graduate Faculty (Regular, Associate, or Adjunct) is separate and distinct from faculty appointments per se. Faculty appointments are governed by the EIU-UPI agreement and this policy does not supersede the agreement's definitions of the faculty or faculty appointments.
For the purposes of this policy, a terminal degree shall be defined as the following:
- College of Liberal Arts and Sciences: Doctorate in the appropriate discipline, with specific exceptions for Studio Art (M.F.A. or Master's + 30 graduate hours), Fashion Merchandising and Design (M.F.A.), Music Performance (M.M. + 30 graduate hours), Theatre Arts Performance (M.F.A. or Master's + 30 graduate hours), Creative Writing (M.F.A. or Ph.D.), Journalism (Master's + 30 graduate hours), Media Broadcasting (Master's + 30 graduate hours or M.F.A.), and Dance (M.F.A. or Master's + 30 graduate hours).
- College of Education: Doctorate in the appropriate discipline.
- College of Health and Human Services: Doctorate in the appropriate discipline, with an exception for Communication Disorders and Sciences (Master's + 30 graduate hours, teaching no more than one course per semester).
- Lumpkin College of Business and Technology: Doctorate in the appropriate discipline, with an exception for School of Business (Ph.D., D.B.A., or J.D. for business law).
The highest appropriate degree as specified above must be earned from a regionally accredited institution in an academic area appropriate to the department or unit. Appropriate equivalent degrees may be considered for approval through a petition to the Council on Graduate Studies.
REGULAR GRADUATE FACULTY MEMBERSHIP
Regular Graduate Faculty members are expected to offer all of the courses and experiences required to ensure the quality of each graduate program. Regular Graduate Faculty members should demonstrate a high degree of specialization and competence in their field as evidenced by formal academic preparation, in conjunction with demonstrated commitment to scholarship, research, and professional practice.
Eligibility Criteria
- Rank:
- Rank of Assistant Professor or above in a tenure/tenure track appointment; or,
- Employment in selected university administrative appointments (see Administrative Appointments).
- Teaching and/or Research/Creative Activity: Demonstrate continued excellence in teaching, ongoing research/creative activity in their specialization (as evidenced by a current vita), and adherence to institutional research policies.
- Degree: Hold a terminal degree as defined in this policy in the field of assignment.
Administrative Appointments
- The Graduate Faculty shall include the President, Vice President for Academic Affairs, Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs, Vice President for Enrollment Management, Dean of the Graduate School, Deans of the Colleges, and department Chairpersons and Graduate Coordinators, contingent upon holding the appropriate terminal degree.
- Staff without faculty rank are not eligible for Regular Graduate Faculty appointment.
Nomination and Membership
- Nominations are made by the Department Graduate Committee or Coordinator.
- The nomination must receive approval from both the program's Department Chair and the academic College Dean.
- The Dean of the Graduate School makes the final decision regarding graduate faculty membership status.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Develop, execute, and review graduate programs.
- Recommend, through representatives on the Council of Graduate Studies, policy on all graduate matters to the university administration.
- Teach graduate level courses ensuring comprehensive delivery of all aspects of the graduate curriculum.
- Serve on and chair graduate candidates' committees.
- Advise graduate candidates.
- Serve on the Council on Graduate Studies and university-wide graduate committees.
- Vote, where appropriate, in deliberations of the Graduate Faculty and for elections of members to the Council of Graduate Studies.
Term Length
- Members serve five-year terms and are eligible for renewal.
Denial of Membership
- Membership will be denied if teaching/research/creative activity criteria are not met, including inability to provide evidence of teaching excellence, research/creative activity, or compliance with institutional research policies.
ASSOCIATE GRADUATE FACULTY MEMBERSHIP
Associate Graduate Faculty membership is assigned to individuals temporarily involved in graduate education, to ensure curent graduate candidates can meet degree program requirements when designated Graduate Faculty members are unavailable.
Eligibility Criteria
- Rank:
- Tenure-track faculty; or,
- Annually Contracted Faculty.
- Teaching and/or Research/Creative Activity: Demonstrate continued professional research or creative activity in their specialization (as evidenced by a current vita) and compliance with institutional research policies.
- Degree: Hold a graduate degree appropriate to the field of specialization. Nominees without a graduate degree appropriate to the field of specialization must meet the tested experience exception. The tested experience exception will consist of advanced experience in the profession, specialized licensure, clinical training, and/or considerable post-graduate work beyond the master's degree. Any exceptions to the tested experience exception must have the approval of the Vice President for Academic Affairs.
Administrative and Staff Appointments
- Administrators and staff without faculty rank may be nominated if they demonstrate ongoing research/creative activity in their specialization and meet the degree requirements defined, or in place of degree requirement, meet the tested experience exception.
Nomination and Membership
- Nominations are made by the Department Graduate Committee or Coordinator.
- The nomination must receive approval from both the program's Department Chair and the academic College Dean.
- The Dean of the Graduate School makes the final decision regarding graduate faculty membership status.
Duties and Limitations
- Teach, on a temporary basis, a specific graduate-level course or courses when a designated member of the Regular Graduate Faculty is not available due to sabbatical or other reasons.
- May not serve on committees, as a primary advisor, committee chair, or on the Council of Graduate Studies.
- May request a waiver for additional duties (such as thesis committee participation) through the Dean of the Graduate School and Council of Graduate Studies.
Term Length
- Members serve terms of one to three years and are eligible for renewal.
Denial of Membership
- Membership will be denied if teaching/research/creative activity criteria are not met, including inability to provide evidence of teaching excellence, research/creative activity, or compliance with institutional research policies.
ADJUNCT GRADUATE FACULTY MEMBERSHIP
Adjunct Graduate Faculty membership is assigned to non-EIU employees when specific expertise required for graduate study is not currently available from among the existing Graduate Faculty.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Rank: May not hold current employment as faculty at Eastern Illinois University.
- Teaching and/or Research/Creative Activity: Hold recognized expertise and/or research/creative activity (as evidenced by a current vita) relevant to the assignment.
- Terminal Degree: Hold a terminal degree in the relevant field. Tested experience exceptions may apply.
Administrative and Staff Appointments
- Not applicable to Adjunct Membership. Employees of EIU are not eligible to serve as Adjunct Graduate Faculty Members.
Nomination and Membership
- Nominations are made by the Department Graduate Committee or Coordinator.
- The nomination must receive approval from both the program's Department Chair and the academic College Dean.
- The Dean of the Graduate School makes the final decision regarding graduate faculty membership status.
Duties and Limitations
- Teach specific graduate-level courses or serve on graduate candidates' committees.
- May not serve as the primary advisor, committee chair, or member of the Council of Graduate Studies.
Term Length
- Members serve terms of one to three years and are eligible for renewal.
Denial of Membership
- Membership will be denied if expertise criteria are not met, including inability to provide the level of expertise required to assure program or committee quality.
