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.  Faculty and staff seeking graduate faculty status (other than provisional and affiliate) must have a graduate degree.

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 may be granted for a period of up to 5 years.

2. 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 or co-direct direct graduate theses or direct graduate projects, seminar papers and/or graduate comprehensive examinations; e) supervise directed or independent studies; f) advise graduate students.  Membership may be granted for a period of up to 5 years.

3. Assistant members have the opportunity to engage in the following responsibilities: a) teach graduate courses; b) serve on but not direct theses/projects/seminar papers committees; c) supervise directed or independent studies; d) serve on comprehensive examinations committees; e) supervise internships/preceptorships, f) advise graduate students.  Membership may be granted for a period of up to 5 years.

4. Affiliate members have the opportunity to engage in the following responsibilities: a) specialized instruction (course or components of a course; supervise independent studies); b) serve as a member of thesis committees, or direct graduate project, seminar paper or comprehensive examination committees; c) supervise internships/preceptorships.  Affiliate membership is extended only to individuals external to UW-L or those with less than full-time appointment.  Membership may be granted for a period of up to 3 years.

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. 

5. Provisional membership may be granted by the Director of University Graduate Studies when a compelling need warrants.  A request for provisional membership should be initiated by the department chair and approved by the appropriate dean before being submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies.  Provisional membership may be granted at any level except that of full for one semester (fall, spring, or summer) only.  In exceptional circumstances, provisional membership may be extended for one more semester.  Faculty anticipating extended need for Graduate Faculty Membership must apply for one of the above categories.

Revised/approved 4/20/07