Graduate Faculty Policy
Minnesota State University, Mankato Policy on Graduate Faculty Status
Apply or renew your Graduate Faculty Status
Overview
The Graduate Faculty Status policy reflects the philosophy that graduate education can flourish only in a climate in which faculty scholarship and professional activity are expected. To sustain a graduate culture requires a genuine commitment to scholarship and professional activity in all its forms, as well as, effective teaching and advising. Graduate faculty appointments at Minnesota State University, Mankato are intended to signify active involvement in one or more graduate programs. Thus, only faculty with Graduate faculty appointments may teach graduate courses, mentor graduate students as they develop capstone projects, direct graduate-level independent studies, and advise graduate students in developing programs of study.
In establishing policy, Minnesota State University, Mankato intends:
- To demonstrate to external accreditation bodies that Minnesota State University regards scholarship as important and necessary to graduate education and, through the criteria, has a systematic approach to monitoring scholarly productivity.
- To provide support for faculty to meet the criteria, for the enhancement of graduate programs, and for fostering a graduate culture.
Graduate Faculty Appointments: Types and Rights
The three types of appointments to the Graduate Faculty are:
- Research Graduate Faculty Status
- Regular Graduate Faculty Status
- Associate Graduate Faculty Status
The rights of graduate faculty are granted in accordance with the level of status as outlined below.
Research Graduate Faculty Status
Research Graduate Faculty is reserved for faculty who have a cumulative record of high performance in scholarship and professional activity.
Faculty with Research Graduate Faculty status may:
- Teach doctoral-level courses at the 700 level.
- Teach master level courses at the 500 and 600 levels.
- Serve as the coordinator or director of doctoral and/or master program(s).
- Supervise and serve on doctoral dissertations and master theses, alternative plan papers (APP), or other capstone experiences.
- Direct doctoral and master level independent study.
- Advise doctoral and master students in their program of study.
Regular Graduate Faculty Status
Most members of the Graduate Faculty hold Regular Graduate Faculty Status.
Faculty with this status may:
- Teach master level courses at the 500 and 600 levels.
- Serve as the coordinator of the master’s program.
- Serve on dissertation committees or supervise or serve on master thesis committees, alternative plan papers (APP), or other capstone experiences.
- Direct master level independent study.
- Advise master students in their program of study.
Associate Graduate Faculty Status
Associate Graduate Faculty status is primarily for non-tenure track faculty, part- or full-time fixed-term faculty, or adjunct faculty who teach service courses, supervise students in internships or practicum, as well as, for faculty from other institutions who may be invited to serve on thesis or dissertation committees.
Faculty with this status may:
- Teach master level courses at the 500 and 600 levels.
- Serve on dissertations and theses committees, alternative plan papers (APP), or other capstone experiences.
Overview of Criteria
The standards outlined in this document are the minimum necessary. Faculty are encouraged to exceed these standards individually and collectively. Departments may recommend criteria that exceed these standards to the Graduate Sub Meet and Confer for approval.
There are three sets of criteria for teaching graduate courses:
- Earned Degree
- Scholarship
- Professional Activity
The standards used in applying these criteria vary according to the status being sought and are outlined below.
Earned Degree
Earned degree means an appropriate degree from an institution accredited at the time the degree was awarded.
Scholarship
Scholarship consists of publications, presentations, and externally-funded grants as described below.
B.1. Publications
- Research, theoretical, or tutorial articles published in refereed journals; theoretical, creative, or other professional books, textbooks, and/or chapters in edited textbooks/research books published by a national publisher and reviewed by peers.
- Research, theoretical, creative, or tutorial articles in non–refereed journals.
- Research, theoretical, creative, or tutorial monographs published by regional or national organizations.
- Refereed or juried artistic activities, non-print productions appropriate to the discipline.
B.2. Presentations and Externally-Funded Grants
- Research, theoretical, or tutorial presentations at international, national, or multi-state regional conferences sponsored by organizations such as professional associations, governmental agencies, foundations, or universities.
- Similar papers presented at state or multi-state regional conferences or conventions.
- Funded grants external to Minnesota State University, Mankato.
- The presentation of art, music, dance, literature, or theatre that is open to the campus community, general public, professional association, or other external entity.
Professional Activity
Professional activity consists of consulting, contract work, professional practice, service, and internally-funded grants.
C.1. Professional Service
- Consulting or contract work in the areas of disciplinary and research expertise appropriate to the academic discipline.
- Professional practice in the areas of disciplinary and research expertise appropriate to the academic discipline.
- Leadership activity in professional associations, civic organizations, or other groups in areas appropriate to the academic discipline.
- Service on university, civic, non-profit, or other boards, committees, task forces, or other groups in areas appropriate to the academic discipline.
C.2. Other Professional Activity, including but not limited to:
- Editorial involvement for state, regional, or national publications.
- Funded grants from Minnesota State University, Mankato.
- Departments may recommend additional activities unique to the discipline.
Criteria for Research Graduate Faculty Status
1. Terminal Degree
Applicants for Research Graduate Faculty Status must hold an appropriate terminal degree from an institution accredited at the time the degree was awarded and be in a tenured or tenure–track position at Minnesota State University, Mankato. The CV submitted with the application should indicate that the applicant has earned a terminal degree.
2. Scholarship
The evidence of scholarship provided in this section must include accepted forms of activity, appropriate to the academic discipline, from the four–year period prior to the initial application or the review year. Refer to list of B.1 and B.2 activities.
An applicant is expected to show evidence of:
- At least two scholarly works from B.1 and
- At least one scholarly work from B.2.
Additional substantive scholarly work from B.1 may substitute for presentations or externally funded grants in B.2 with the recommendation of the department chair and, if applicable, the chairperson of the Graduate Faculty Status Committee (GFSC). Evidence of scholarly activity should be listed on the application form.
3. Professional Activity
The evidence of professional activity provided in this section must include accepted forms of activity appropriate to the academic discipline, from the four-year period prior to the initial application of the review year. Refer to the list of C.1 and C.2 activities.
An application is expected to show evidence of:
- At least two professional service activities from C.1, or
- At least two other professional activities from C.2, or
- At least one professional service activity from C.1 and one professional service activity from C.2.
Evidence of professional activity should be listed on the application form.
Criteria for Regular Graduate Faculty Status
Terminal Degree
Applicants for Regular Graduate Faculty Status must hold an appropriate terminal degree from an institution accredited at the time the degree was awarded and be in a tenured or tenure–track position at Minnesota State University, Mankato. The CV submitted with the application should indicate that the applicant has earned a terminal degree.
Scholarship
The evidence of scholarship provided in this section must include accepted forms of activity, appropriate to the academic discipline, from the four–year period prior to the initial application or the review year. Refer to list of B.1 and B.2 activities.
An applicant is expected to show evidence of:
- One scholarly work from B.1, or
- One scholarly work from B.2.
Evidence of scholarly activity should be listed on the application form.
Professional Activity
The evidence of professional activity provided in this section must include accepted forms of activity appropriate to the academic discipline, from the four-year period prior to the initial application of the review year. Refer to list of C.1 and C.2 activities.
An applicant is expected to show evidence of:
- One professional service activity from C.1, or
- One professional activity from C.2.
Evidence of professional activity should be listed on the application form.
Criteria for Associate Graduate Faculty Status
Advanced Degree
Applicants for Associate Graduate Faculty Status must hold a minimum of a master's degree from an institution accredited at the time the degree was awarded. The CV submitted with the application should indicate the highest degree received.
Scholarship & Professional Activity
The evidence of scholarship and/or professional activity provided in this section must include accepted forms of activity, appropriate to the academic discipline, from the four–year period prior to the initial application or the review year. Refer to list of B.1, B.2, C.1, and C.2 activities.
An applicant is expected to show evidence of:
- One scholarly work from B.1, or
- One scholarly work from B.2, or
- One or professional activity from C.1 or C.2.
The Graduate Faculty Status Application must be submitted to the chair of the department along with a curriculum vita (CV) that includes accomplishments during the preceding four years that satisfy the requirements for the graduate faculty status sought.
Appointment and Review Procedures
Newly Hired Fixed Term or Probationary Faculty
For newly hired fixed-term or probationary faculty, the appropriate level of graduate faculty status, if any, is determined by the Dean of the College in consultation with the Department Chair. Probationary faculty who wish to apply for a status other than the status conferred at the point of hire may apply at any point during the probationary cycle.
Tenured Faculty
Faculty submits the Graduate Faculty Status Application, along with a curriculum vita (CV) that includes accomplishments during the preceding four years that satisfy the requirements for the graduate faculty status sought to the chair of the department. Refer to appendix A Graduate Faculty Status application form.
Review Process
This review process is distinct from the tenure and promotion review process, and the PDP/PDR review process. Personnel committees should not use a faculty member’s Graduate Faculty Status in their deliberations.
Department Level
Upon the discretion of the department and college, each department may select members from the tenure-track or tenured faculty with approval to teach at the graduate-level to serve on the Department’s Graduate Faculty Status Committee (GFSC) or equivalent committee. This committee will be selected in accordance with the procedures established by the college and the department. The procedures for selecting the committee will be placed on file in the College of Graduate Students and Research (CGSR).
In the absence of a departmental GFSC, the department chair forwards the departmental recommendation, application, and CV to the College Dean.
College Level
Upon the discretion of the college, a College GFSC may be formed to review Graduate Faculty Status applications and make recommendations to the Dean. In the absence of a College GFSC, the Dean will independently review Graduate Faculty Status applications and render recommendations. The Dean forwards the recommendation, Graduate Faculty Status Application, and CV to the CGSR.
University Level
All applications must be forwarded to the Dean of Graduate Studies and Research no later than October 19th of the academic year. The Dean of the CGSR will forward the applications to the faculty members of the Graduate Committee. Members of the Graduate Committee will make a recommendation to the Dean of the CGSR based on the established criteria. The College Dean will review all materials and recommendations and make the final decision.
Procedural Miscellany
Renewal
The Dean of the College of Graduate Studies and Research shall initiate the renewal and review process by notifying the Academic Deans by September 1 of the academic year of the Research Graduate Faculty and the Regular Graduate Faculty up for review and potential renewal. Associate Graduate Faculty status must be renewed every four years.
Appeals
A faculty member denied graduate faculty status during the initial year of hire or subsequent review years may reapply at any time the faculty member has pertinent evidence for consideration. Whenever there is an appeal, the faculty member should submit the appeal in writing to the Dean of CGSR. The Graduate Dean will have the option of holding individual or collective meetings with the applicant, the GFSC Chair, the Department Chair, and/or the College Dean to resolve the differences and to ensure that the criteria were followed. The Graduate Dean will consult with the Chair of the Graduate Committee and then make the final decision after these consultations.
Waiver
A waiver from the scholarly and/or professional activity, as well as exemption for the degree requirement, may be granted by the Graduate Dean to a faculty member to teach a highly specialized course or to meet an emergency. The waiver shall be granted on a semester–by–semester basis after consultation with the Department Chair and the College Dean.
Emergency Clause for Doctoral Programs
In cases whereby departments offering doctoral programs experience a sudden change in faculty meeting the qualification for Research Graduate Faculty within the department as a result of death(s), resignation(s), reassignment(s) or other unforeseen events, a 3-year exemption may be requested by the department chair for faculty not meeting the qualifications for Research Graduate Faculty status by the Department Chair. Approval is required by the College Dean and Graduate Dean.
Visiting and Collaborative Faculty
When intellectual or professional necessities or consortia agreements necessitate non–MSU faculty have graduate faculty status, the department chair will make an application for the candidate. The application will be made using the emergency application process and selection of graduate faculty status commensurate with the degree earned, scholarship, and professional activity. The appointment is for three years and is renewable.
Ex Officio Graduate Faculty Status
Academic administrators at the rank of Dean or higher are conferred Ex Officio Regular Graduate Faculty status unless they have elected to submit an application for Research Graduate Faculty status. Administrators with this status may:
- Teach master level courses at the 500 and 600 levels.
- Serve on dissertation committees or supervise or serve on master thesis committees, alternative plan papers (APP), or other capstone experiences.
