Graduate Faculty Committee ("F4 Committee")

Members of the Political Science and Justice Studies faculties who have attained the graduate faculty status (GFS) of “F4” comprise a committee whose mission is to designate the levels of GFS held by the entire faculty in each unit. This process, which involves a review of faculty members’ academic record based upon criteria approved by the Political Science Department (see ARTICLE IV), customarily occurs late in the academic year. When a new faculty member has joined either department, the committee will designate an appropriate level of GFS during the faculty member’s first semester. The regular meetings in the spring semester will provide the committee an opportunity to raise the GFS of faculty members. Every five years, the F4 Committee will undertake a comprehensive review of each member’s academic record and may then raise or reduce the member’s GFS. Faculty members may appeal these decisions directly to the F4 Committee, and if unsuccessful at this level, to the Chair of Political Science.