Revised/approved - April 2004 (Exception for External at Full Level)

 

 

Graduate Faculty Membership Policy

 

Definition:

 

The Graduate Faculty consists of the faculty and academic staff (including adjunct, ad hoc, and clinical faculty) of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse who meet the criteria for full, associate, assistant, and affiliate membership.

 

The five membership categories are:

 

  1. Full members have the opportunity to engage in the following responsibilities: a) Teach graduate courses: b) direct or serve on graduate theses or graduate projects, seminar papers and/or graduate comprehensive examinations; c) supervise internships/preceptorships; d) serve on the Graduate Council and/or Graduate Curriculum Committee; e) supervise directed or independent studies; f) advise graduate students.  Membership shall be granted for a period of 5 years with a renewal date aligned with a retention or tenure decision, promotion, or post-tenure review date.

 

  1. Associate members have the opportunity to engage in the following responsibilities: a) teach graduate courses; b) supervise internships/preceptorships; c) serve on the Graduate Council and/or Graduate Curriculum Committee; d) serve on but not direct graduate theses or graduate projects, seminar papers and/or graduate comprehensive examinations; e) supervise directed or independent studies; f) advise graduate students.  Membership shall be granted for a period of 5 years with a renewal date aligned with a retention or tenure decision, promotion, or post-tenure review date.

 

  1. Assistant members have the opportunity to engage in the following responsibilities:  a) teach slash courses; b) serve on but not direct thesis/project/seminar paper committees; c) supervise directed or independent studies; d) serve on comprehensive examination committees; e) supervise internships/preceptorships.  Membership shall be granted for a period of 5 years with a renewal date aligned with a retention or tenure decision, promotion, or post-tenure review date.

 

  1. Affiliate members have the opportunity to engage in the following responsibilities:  a) specialized instruction (course or components of a course); b) serve as a member of thesis, graduate project, seminar paper or comprehensive examination committee;  c) supervise internships/preceptorships.  Affiliate membership is extended only to individuals external to UW-L.  Membership shall be granted for a period of 3 years, and may be renewable.

 

Exception. Individuals whose primary professional involvement (and employment) is external to the University, but whose involvement in, and contributions to, UW-L graduate programs are nearly the same as that of UW-L faculty, have the opportunity to apply for Full Graduate Faculty membership (these persons would need to meet all criteria for Full membership, including the doctorate or other appropriate terminal degree).  Examples of such individuals include adjunct faculty whose organization is a recognized formal partner in a UW-L graduate program, are involved in planning and delivering the curriculum, who advise graduate students, and who maintain an active program of peer-reviewed scholarship that includes research with UW-L students and faculty.  In addition to meeting all current criteria for Full Graduate Faculty membership, the applicant must have successfully mentored at least two UW-L graduate students through the entire graduate process as a co-major advisor or co-director (of a thesis, seminar paper, or graduate project), and have the support of the department(s) in which the program is housed.  Departments should carefully review the credentials, roles, and contributions to UW-L graduate programs of professionals external to the University prior to pursuing this exception.  Use of this “exception” should be carefully applied by departments/programs, and compelling evidence for Full Graduate Faculty membership must be presented.

 

  1. Provisional membership may be granted by the Director of University Graduate Studies when a compelling need warrants.  Provisional Membership may be granted at any level except that of full for one semester (fall, spring, or summer) only.  Faculty anticipating extended need for Graduate Faculty Membership must apply for one of the above categories.

 

  

Graduate Faculty Membership Category Criteria

 

Full members must meet the following criteria:  1) hold the doctorate or other appropriate terminal degree (e.g., M.F.A.); 2) provide evidence of the ability to teach at the graduate level; 3) provide evidence of continuing scholarly accomplishments in their discipline or professional field as defined by the department; and 4) provide evidence of the ability to serve as director of theses, seminar papers, graduate projects, or graduate comprehensive examination committees. See exception under the Affiliate Category – number 4 above.

 

Associate membership may be granted when all the criteria for full membership are not met, but compelling evidence indicates the individual will contribute significantly to a graduate program of the University by teaching, serving as a member of theses, seminar papers, graduate projects, or comprehensive graduate examination committees.

 

Assistant members must meet the following criteria: 1) hold a graduate degree; 2) provide evidence the individual will contribute special expertise through teaching internship/preceptorship supervision, serving as a member of theses, seminar papers, graduate projects, or comprehensive examination committees.

 

Affiliate membership may be extended only to individuals external to the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse who will contribute to the University’s graduate programs through internship/preceptorship supervision, specialized instruction, contribution of professional expertise and knowledge to a graduate program, and/or serving as members of theses, seminar papers, graduate projects, or comprehensive graduate examination committees.

 

 

Graduate Faculty Membership Procedures for Application Submission

 

 

1.      Complete the Graduate Faculty Membership Application, include a copy of your department’s definition of scholarship, and indicate what the terminal degree is for your discipline.  First time applicants, as well as applicants seeking renewal of graduate faculty status, shall include an updated c.v./resume.  All materials must be received by the due date.

 

  1. Primary review of each application will be assigned to a minimum of two members of the Graduate Council, one of whom should be from within a given candidate’s college and a second of whom should be from outside the candidate’s college.

 

  1. The reviewers will present their recommendations concerning candidates’ applications to the full Graduate Council.  Fro each candidate, the Graduate Council should be informed of the concurrence between the reviewers’ recommendations, the departmental recommendation, and the college dean’s recommendation.

 

  1. The full Graduate Council shall vote on each application for Graduate Faculty Membership.  The Council will determine to grant full, associate, assistant, or affiliate membership or will deny membership by a simple majority vote of the members present.

 

  1. Applicants for Graduate Faculty Membership shall be informed of the Graduate Council’s decision by letter in a timely manner from the Director of University Graduate Studies.

 

  1. Applicants for Graduate Faculty Membership who disagree with the Graduate Council’s decision regarding their application may petition the Council for a review of the decision.  Faculty requesting a review should state their rationale for their review in a letter and may append a revised application or other supporting materials.  Requests for reviews of decision will be considered by the entire Graduate Council and will be decided by a simple majority vote of the members present.

 

  1. Applications for membership on the graduate faculty will be invited and reviewed each fall and spring term.

 

  1. The Graduate Council recognizes Graduate Faculty Membership from other campuses.  When invited to work with UW-L graduate students, Faculty employed primarily at other regionally accredited campuses with their home institutions’ Graduate Faculty Membership will be asked to submit evidence of such and will be designated as an affiliate or assistant member of the UW-L Graduate Faculty.

 

File: graduate faculty policy with “exception” April 04