6 - 15.1

Administrative policy regarding graduate faculty

  1. Each academic unit shall form a graduate faculty committee selected from its present full members of the graduate faculty. It may be desirable for this committee to be the graduate studies committee to the academic unit. This committee shall evaluate its faculty for graduate faculty status and forward its recommendations to the academic unit administrator or designee for approval. Recommendations for graduate faculty status shall be based on the following minimum criteria.Additional criteria may be specified in the academic unit handbook.
  2. Criteria for full membership on graduate faculty.
    1. Appointment of full-time faculty status at Kent state university.
    2. Possession of the terminal degree that is appropriate to the discipline. In most academic units, this is the doctorate. In some instances, such as the case of an outstanding artist, musical performer, or other specialist, achievement that has received regional, national, or international recognition in the discipline may take the place of the terminal degree.
    3. Scholarly, creative, or professional activities resulting in publications or other recognition of distinction during the past five years as defined in the academic unit handbook. In rare instances and with great caution, this requirement may be waived for senior faculty members who have a distinguished record of thesis direction.
    4. Good teaching at the graduate level, where appropriate. It is understood that not all faculty members who participate regularly in the training of graduate students have the opportunity to teach at the graduate level.
    5. Good advising/mentoring at the graduate level, where appropriate. It is understood that not all faculty members who participate regularly in the training of graduate students have the opportunity to advise/mentor students at the graduate level.
  3. Criteria for associate membership on graduate faculty.
    1. Appointment of full-time faculty status at Kent State University.
    2. The possession of the appropriate degree in the discipline as stated in paragraph (B)(2) of this rule.
    3. Strong potential for the training of graduate students as determined by the graduate faculty of the academic unit.
    4. Any additional criteria as specified in the academic unit handbook.
  4. Criteria for temporary membership on graduate faculty.
    1. The possession of the appropriate degree in the discipline as stated in paragraph (B)(2) of this rule.
    2. Scholarly, creative, or professional activities resulting in publications or other recognition of distinction as defined in the academic unit handbook.
    3. Time-limited appointment and specified responsibilities as recommended by the graduate faculty of the academic unit.
    4. Individuals with temporary graduate faculty membership need not have appointment as a full-time faculty member at Kent State University.
  5. Duties and privileges of full members of graduate faculty.
    1. Teach graduate courses.
    2. Advise graduate students on their program of study.
    3. Serve on master's and doctoral examination committees.
    4. Direct master's theses, projects, or capstones.
    5. When approved by the graduate faculty of the academic unit, direct doctoral dissertations. Additional criteria for directing doctoral dissertations will be established in the academic unit handbook.
    6. Serve as voting members of the graduate faculty, able to serve on the graduate council and other graduate faculty committees.
  6. Duties and privileges of associate members of the graduate faculty.
    1. Teach graduate courses. Additional criteria for teaching specific graduate courses may be specified by the graduate faculty of the academic unit.
    2. Advise graduate students on their program of study.
    3. When appropriate as judged by the graduate faculty of the academic unit, serve on master’s and doctoral examination committees.
    4. When appropriate as judged by the graduate faculty of the academic unit, direct master’s theses, projects, and capstones.
    5. When appropriate as judged by the graduate faculty of the academic unit, co-direct doctoral dissertations with a full member of the graduate faculty.
    6. When appropriate as judged by the graduate faculty of the academic unit, serve as voting members of the graduate faculty, able to serve on the graduate council and other graduate faculty committees.
  7. Duties and privileges of temporary members of the graduate faculty.
    1. Teach specific graduate courses as specified by the graduate faculty of the academic unit.
    2. When appropriate as judged by the graduate faculty of the academic unit, serve on master’s and doctoral examination committees.
    3. When appropriate as judged by the graduate faculty of the academic unit, co-direct masters’ theses, projects, and capstones with a full member of the graduate faculty.
    4. When appropriate as judged by the graduate faculty of the academic unit, co-direct doctoral dissertations with a full member of the graduate faculty.
  8. All full and associate members of the graduate faculty shall have their graduate faculty status reviewed according to the foregoing procedures in the fall semester of every fifth year beginning in the fall of 2024.Academic units may review the graduate faculty status of full and associate members as necessary given revisions to academic criteria for graduate faculty status.
Policy Effective Date:
Aug 27, 2020
Policy Prior Effective Dates: 
11/4/1977, 3/18/1982, 6/15/1982, 6/25/1986, 6/1/2007, 3/1/2015, 8/19/2018