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Graduate School

Faculty Status Recommendation

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Graduate faculty are elected by the Graduate Council upon recommendation by the department or school chairs/directors and the academic deans.

Graduate faculty may be granted Regular or Associate status.

Regular graduate faculty status is premised upon membership in the University’s Corps of Instruction as defined in Chapter 2, Section 2.1.2 of the Faculty Handbook which states, in relevant part: “The University’s Corps of Instruction consists of all full-time members of the faculty except for research and visiting professors (all ranks) and those clinical faculty who are not employed directly by the University.”

Initial appointments for R1 status are handled through the faculty qualifications process for new hires. Changes in Regular Graduate Faculty members are approved by the Graduate Council following review of relevant credentials.

All regular graduate faculty must have:

  • Completed an earned doctorate or other terminal degree in the teaching/academic discipline.
  • A record of scholarly activity / productivity as described for each of the three status levels.
  • Documented integrity assurance program training (CITI certification).
  • Documented and sustained evidence of successful mentorship of advanced undergraduate or graduate students. In the absence of such past experience, this criterion may be satisfied through appropriate and relevant mentorship training.
  • Demonstrated and sustained quality of instruction appropriate to the individual’s academic discipline.

Three levels of regular graduate faculty status (R1 – R3) are described below. Each level is commensurate with the faculty member’s established record of scholarly activity and productivity and guides the appropriate level of engagement that the faculty member may have in working with and supervising graduate students.  Regular graduate faculty status will be reviewed for renewal every five (5) years by the Graduate School using information from Faculty Success (formerly Digital Measure).

Associate Graduate Faculty may be granted one of three levels that differ in responsibilities (see form).

A1, A2 & A3 levels are for part-time, visiting, adjunct, and teaching faculty.

Associate Graduate Faculty status must be renewed every three years.

All faculty recommendations form must be approved by the department/school Chair or Director and by their college Dean.

Qualifications and Responsibilities for each level are outlined on the Graduate Faculty Recommendation forms below.

You can visit the Graduate Faculty Criteria web page for the specific appointment criteria.

Please download the Graduate Faculty Status Recommendation Forms below.

Please email all forms in one document to: Desira Bailey (desira.l.baileyFREEMississippi)