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Faculty Membership

Graduate Faculty Membership

Graduate faculty membership is aligned with University hiring, evaluation, and assessment procedures, which comply with regional accreditation and state guidelines. Departmental and college standards for hiring and reviewing graduate faculty are comprehensive and meet regulations of The Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). Departments meet additional requirements related to discipline-specific accrediting agencies.

The assigned privileges in each graduate faculty membership category described below are minimums. It is recognized that departments have varying needs and expectations for faculty concerning graduate faculty membership. Departments and colleges may choose to assign: a) all privileges, b) a selection of privileges, or c) add privileges through an endorsement. This process provides flexibility, through endorsements, so that departments can meet the needs of their graduate enterprise and align faculty expectations with departmental tenure and evaluation processes.

Graduate faculty membership privileges may include the ability to:

  • Conduct graduate classes and seminars that stimulate creativity and contribute to the growth and development of independent scholarly attitudes and performance;
  • Be productive, creative scholars devoted to discovery, development, and refinement of knowledge and techniques in one’s field of expertise, usually resulting in publication for evaluation and criticism by peers;
  • Encourage among students informal activities that can lead to scholarly or artistic production;
  • Seek out undergraduate students of outstanding ability and encourage them to pursue graduate study at West Texas A&M University;
  • Maintain standards of student performance that will prepare graduates who can carry professional and scholarly responsibilities of an educated person in a free society;
  • Periodically review curricular offerings and program requirements of the graduate program in their department or division.

Faculty seeking to serve a graduate role in a department outside of their own discipline must request and receive approval by the associated department and college through the endorsement process outlined on this page.

Removal of graduate faculty membership status is determined by department and college or by employment termination.

Additional information regarding graduate faculty membership can be found in the Faculty Handbook.
 

View Current Graduate Faculty Members



Types of Graduate Faculty Appointment Membership

There are three levels of graduate faculty membership at West Texas A&M University. The levels of membership include: Graduate Faculty-Fellow, Graduate Faculty-Tenured, and Graduate Faculty-Affiliate. Each membership level has corresponding privileges, but all appointments require approval as outlined in each subsequent section below.

The graduate faculty shall include the president of the university, the provost / vice president for academic affairs, the dean of the graduate school, the deans of the colleges, and all academic heads of departments and divisions that have a graduate program, as ex officio members with voting privileges.

Graduate Faculty-Fellow Membership

All tenure-track and full-time instructors of the WT faculty who have a role in graduate education may be appointed to graduate faculty-fellow membership.

Appointment: Graduate Faculty-Fellow

Eligible Members: Assistant Professors and Full-Time Instructors

Approval Process:

  • New WT faculty hires:
    • The Faculty Credentialing Form (FCF) should be completed by the department head on behalf of the new faculty hire as early in the hiring process as possible
    • If an offer has been extended to the candidate, include a copy of the offer letter; however, the offer is contingent upon approval of credentialing by the provost
  • Existing WT faculty with updated graduate responsibilities:
    • Submit an updated FCF with a curriculum vita and transcripts (if needed to show a new degree and/or additional coursework) and additional documentation for consideration of other qualifications
  • The completed FCF and the candidate’s curriculum vitae, transcripts, and supporting documentation should be sent for review and approval by both the department and college
  • Once approved by the department and college, the FCF and all supporting documentation should be submitted to the office of the provost for final review and approval
    • Save a copy of the files for record and submit to Brandy Pacheco, bpacheco@wtamu.edu or Old Main 307

Privileges may include:

  • Teaching graduate courses
  • Advising curriculum
  • Recruiting graduate students
  • Participating in comprehensive examinations
  • Serving as thesis / dissertation committee member
  • Serving as co-chair thesis / dissertation committee
  • Serving as voting graduate faculty member
  • Serving as graduate program director
  • Serving on Graduate Council*

* Preference for Graduate Council membership is for a) Graduate Faculty-Fellow members who serve in the role of program directors and b) for Graduate Faculty-Tenured members (both graduate program directors and non-program directors). Graduate Council membership is selected according to the WTAMU Faculty Handbook.

Members must seek graduate faculty endorsement for other graduate privileges.

Graduate Faculty-Tenured Membership

Tenured WT faculty members who have a role in graduate programs may be appointed to graduate faculty-tenured membership when they are granted tenure. If a faculty member is already a fellow, there is no additional application process. In addition to the graduate faculty-fellow membership privileges described above, graduate faculty-tenured members may chair thesis or dissertations.

Appointment: Graduate Faculty-Tenured

Eligible Members: Professors and Associate Professors

Approval Process:

  • New WT tenured faculty hires:
    • The Faculty Credentialing Form (FCF) should be completed by the department head on behalf of the new faculty hire as early in the hiring process as possible
    • If an offer has been extended to the candidate, include a copy of the offer letter; however, the offer is contingent upon approval of credentialing by the provost
  • Existing WT tenured faculty with updated graduate responsibilities:
    • Submit an updated FCF with a curriculum vita and transcripts (if needed to show a new degree and/or additional coursework) and additional documentation for consideration of other qualifications
  • The completed FCF and the candidate’s curriculum vitae, transcripts, and supporting documentation should be sent for review and approval by both the department and college
  • If approved by the department and college, the FCF and all supporting documentation should be submitted to the office of the provost for final review and approval
    • Save a copy of the files for record and submit to Brandy Pacheco, bpacheco@wtamu.edu or Old Main 307

Privileges may include:

  • All Faculty-Fellow privileges (unless otherwise determined)
  • Serving as chair thesis / dissertation

Members must seek graduate faculty endorsement for other graduate privileges.

Graduate Faculty-Affiliate Membership

Eligible members, as indicated below and including our VERO partners, can become graduate faculty-affiliate members. These members can receive all graduate faculty privileges through the process outlined below and an endorsement.

Eligible Members:

  • Retired WTAMU Faculty
  • A&M System Faculty*
  • VERO Faculty*
  • WTAMU Part-Time Instructors
  • WTAMU Adjuncts
  • Other External Individuals

*TAMU System graduate faculty procedures also apply.

Approval Process:

  • The Graduate Faculty Membership Form (GFMF) should be completed and sent with the candidate’s curriculum vitae for review and approval by both the department and college
  • If approved, the GFMF and all supporting documentation should be submitted to the Graduate School for review
  • The Graduate School will review application and appoint status
  • If approved, the GFMF and all supporting documentation will be sent to the VPAA for final approval and records

Privileges may include:

  • Teaching graduate courses
  • Advising curriculum
  • Recruiting WT graduate students
  • Participating in comprehensive examinations
  • Serving as thesis / dissertation committee member
  • Serving as co-chair thesis / dissertation

Member must seek graduate faculty endorsement for other graduate privileges.

Graduate Faculty - Special Endorsement

When special consideration is requested for an individual to participate in a graduate privilege to which they are not assigned as per the minimum categories above, a graduate endorsement may be sought. Endorsements are provided to the individuals that demonstrate evidence of the qualities and skills deemed necessary by the nominating department, college, and graduate school to fulfill the graduate associated role being requested. Faculty seeking to serve a graduate role in a department outside of their own discipline must request and receive approval by the associated department and college through this endorsement process.

Appointment: Graduate Faculty - Special Endorsement

Eligible Members: All membership categories

Approval Process:

  • The Graduate Faculty Membership Form (GFMF) should be completed for all endorsements and sent with the candidate’s curriculum vitae for review and approval by both the department and college
  • If approved, the GFMF and all supporting documentation should be submitted to the Graduate School for review
  • The Graduate School will review application and appoint status
  • If approved, the GFMF and all supporting documentation will be sent to the VPAA for final approval and records

Endorsements are given on a five year renewable term.

Privileges may include, if endorsed:

  • Teaching graduate courses
  • Advising curriculum
  • Recruiting WTAMU graduate students
  • Participating in comprehensive examinations
  • Serving as thesis / dissertation committee member
  • Serving as co-chair thesis / dissertation
  • Voting graduate faculty member
  • Serving as graduate program director

Graduate Program and Faculty Review

A yearly review of graduate faculty and programs is completed through a required WTAMU annual review. Additionally, the tenure and promotion process reviews progress and credentials for graduate faculty. With the support of the graduate school, a periodic review of all graduate programs is completed as according to THECB’s Academic Affairs and Research Division.

The following are responsible for the approval signatures and process of graduate faculty membership:

  • Department or School: Direct Supervisor or Department Head;
  • College: Dean or Associate Dean;
  • Graduate School: Graduate School Dean or Associate Dean.

The provost/vice president for academic affairs will notify the dean of the graduate school of personnel changes which relate to graduate faculty status. Direct supervisors may also recommend membership withdrawal or abeyance through appropriate administrative channels.

Graduate Faculty Membership Appeals

A faculty member may appeal membership decisions through the Graduate Council. The faculty member must file a declaration of intention to appeal, in writing, with the dean of the graduate school at least two days before the Graduate Council meets. A department/division head or another faculty member may appeal on the faculty member’s behalf. If the appeal is unsuccessful, further appeal may be made to the dean of the graduate school and provost/vice president for academic affairs.