Graduate Faculty at Appalachian

Appalachian's graduate faculty teach graduate courses, mentor graduate students, serve on thesis and dissertation committees, and do research and creative activities to stay current in and advance their fields. Over 500 faculty are members of the graduate faculty currently.

NOTE: The next meeting of the Graduate Faculty has been postponed to August 2011.

As set forth in Article V of the Faculty Handbook for Appalachian State University,

"To promote excellence in graduate education, to inform the faculty of current concerns, and to provide opportunities for exchange of ideas, there shall be a Graduate Faculty."

"The purpose of the Graduate Faculty shall be to pursue critical thinking, academic inquiry and integrity, and to expand cultural horizons beyond that available through the undergraduate program."

"The Graduate Faculty shall be comprised of all Appalachian State University faculty designated under the rules of the Graduate Council as graduate faculty. The Graduate Faculty is represented by the Dean of Graduate Studies and Research, who is the administrative officer, and the Graduate Council."

Current Graduate Faculty

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Membership in the Graduate Faculty

Article V Section 3 of the Faculty Handbook states, “The Graduate Faculty shall be comprised of all Appalachian State University faculty designated under the rules of the Graduate Council as graduate faculty.” At its April 20,2009 meeting, the Graduate Council approved a new process for graduate faculty membership. There are now only two types of membership: graduate faculty and affiliate graduate faculty, and the timeline has been aligned with the PTR review process. For a full description of the changes, please see the Graduate Council Resolution.

The associated Bylaws in the Faculty Handbook will be changed in the next cycle; the draft bylaws are available here.

Requirements for Graduate Faculty Membership

The following qualifications are required for Graduate Faculty Membership:

  • The highest degree (PhD, EdD, MFA) in the discipline
  • Evidence of engagement in graduate education and research, including:
    • Evidence of effective teaching and mentoring at the graduate level; new faculty may include evidence of potential for effective teaching and mentoring
    • Evidence that the faculty member is staying current in the discipline

The Graduate Council has created a list of suggestions for appropriate evidence of engagement. Academic departments are encouraged to use these lists as guidelines in conjunction with the requirements laid out in their promotion, tenure, reappointment, and merit pay documents.

Procedure for Requesting Membership:

  1. A faculty member should request consideration for graduate faculty membership upon hiring, and again at each formal review for PTR: reappointment, tenure, promotion, or post-tenure review. If the faculty member is on administrative assignment, he or she should apply for membership every five years.
  2. The application should include the form, an up-to-date vita or resume, and a letter describing evidence of engagement in graduate education and research during the last five years, including:
      • Evidence of staying current in the discipline
      • Evidence of effective teaching and mentoring at the graduate level; new faculty may include evidence of potential for effective teaching and mentoring
  3. The application should be included with the other materials submitted for PTR, and should be reviewed by the DPC or Post-tenure Review Committee as appropriate, the Department Chair, and the Academic Dean prior to submission to the Dean of Research and Graduate Studies for final approval and appointment.
  4. Upon appointment, the faculty member will hold membership on the graduate faculty until the next PTR review, or 5 years, whichever occurs first.

Procedure for Requesting Affiliate Membership:

  1. Affiliate membership may be requested by a department in circumstances where the faculty member’s credentials do not meet the above requirements, but professional or other academic experience equip the individual to teach a specific graduate class or classes or serve on a thesis or dissertation committee. The specific responsibility and timeline must be disclosed in the application. Affiliate membership may be requested for up to three years.
  2. The application should include the form, an up-to-date vita or resume, and a letter describing evidence of engagement in graduate education and research during the last five years, including:
      • Evidence of staying current in the discipline
      • Evidence of effective teaching and mentoring at the graduate level; new faculty may include evidence of potential for effective teaching and mentoring
  3. The application should be signed by the Chair, and reviewed by the Academic Dean prior to submission to the Dean of Research and Graduate Studies for final approval and appointment.

Graduate Faculty Meetings

QUESTIONS? Contact Janice Voss (VossJF).