Faculty Resources
Faculty Resources
The policies regarding graduate faculty status and graduate directive status are intended to ensure that student research, mentorship, and coursework are being directed by faculty members who show evidence of current scholarly publications, scholarly activities, creative works, and stay current in advances in their field's specialization.
Graduate Faculty status allows a faculty member to serve on a thesis or dissertation committee.
Criteria for Admission to the Graduate Faculty
1. All in-unit faculty holding a terminal degree-Ph.D. or equivalent, as specified in the university-wide tenure criteria, will become members of the graduate faculty, and with departmental, institute/school/college, and the graduate dean’s approval will be granted graduate faculty status. All graduate faculty appointments or changes in status, as a result of reassessment, must be reviewed by the Graduate Dean for final approval.
2. Schools, colleges, institutes, or departments may develop (time independent) criteria for master’s and doctoral directive status, which exceed the terminal degree requirements indicated in item 1 above. Changes in criteria must be granted by the Graduate Council, prior to implementation.
3. Government, corporate, adjunct, or visiting faculty members must meet the requirements in items 1, and 2 above, prior to being invited to serve on thesis or dissertation committees. Written documentation of the faculty member’s qualifications and approval at the college or departmental level must be submitted to the Graduate Dean’s Office.
4. All graduate faculty appointments or changes in status, as a result of reassessment, must be reviewed by the Graduate Dean for final approval.
Submission Process: Submit all applications and CVs to FAMU Graduate School (gradstudies@famu.edu).
Deadline: Second Monday of each month.
Graduate Directive status allows a graduate faculty member to chair a thesis or dissertation committee.
Criteria for Master’s Directive Status
Members of the graduate faculty with master’s directive status may serve as a major professor for master’s degree students. To seek master’s directive status, the following criteria should be met:
- Should have obtained graduate faculty status;
- Preferably possess three years of teaching experience in higher education;
- Hold the rank of assistant professor or above; and
- Evidence of scholarly publications and/or creative works.
NOTE: Departments may have additional requirements for master’s directive status.
Criteria for Doctoral Directive Status
Members of the graduate faculty with doctoral directive status are authorized to serve as a major professor for doctoral degree students. To seek doctoral directive status, the following criteria should be met:
- Should have obtained the master’s directive status or be eligible for this status;
- Hold the minimum rank of assistant professor or above; and
- Evidence of five refereed publications or a combination of refereed journal publications.
NOTE: Departments may have additional requirements for doctoral directive status.
Submission Process: Submit all applications and CVs to FAMU Graduate School (gradstudies@famu.edu).
Deadline: Second Monday of each month.
Graduate Courtesy Status entitles a governmental, corporate, or industry expert, a regular faculty member from another university, or an adjunct or visiting faculty member at FAMU to apply for graduate faculty status at FAMU. The aforementioned persons must have the courtesy appointment approved by the
Provost prior to being granted graduate faculty status. Graduate Faculty status allows the “courtesy faculty member” to serve on (not chair) a thesis or dissertation committee.
Submission Process:
Applicants should submit a completed copy (containing the academic chair and academic dean signatures) of this application, a completed copy of the application for graduate faculty status (containing all signatures), and a CV to FAMU Graduate School (gradstudies@famu.edu).
Application: Courtesy Appointment to Obtain Graduate Faculty Status