Graduate Faculty Membership

ETSU Graduate School

Graduate faculty are specially designated members of the general ETSU faculty, as a body, nurture academic and research excellence, provide a student-focused graduate education experience, and ensure quality preparation for graduate students’ professional activities following graduation. Membership on the graduate faculty is a privilege. 

Appointment to the Graduate Faculty is viewed as a commitment to excellence in graduate education and professional productivity. The Graduate Council establishes the guidelines for for appointment to the Graduate Faculty and makes recommendations for Affiliate Member and Member appointment.

GUIDELINES FOR GRADUATE FACULTY APPOINTMENT

  • CRITERIA FOR APPOINTMENT
    • Possession of the terminal degree (as defined by the discipline) from an appropriately accredited institution. If the faculty member does not hold the appropriate terminal degree or otherwise does not meet the accreditation standards for graduate faculty status in that discipline, the highest level of membership for which this faculty member may apply is Affiliate Member.
    • An identified programmatic connection with graduate course work and a commitment to participation in the graduate program, which may include activities such as advising responsibilities, directing student research and scholarly activities, serving on graduate advisory committees, or teaching graduate level courses.
    • Competency in teaching, as evaluated by the department chair.
    • Professional productivity as demonstrated by publications, grants, research, or other scholarly and creative activities.
    • Evidence of leadership at the graduate program, department, college, university, or professional level.
  • LEVELS OF MEMBERSHIP

    TEMPORARY MEMBER

    A part-time faculty member or member of the community who has special competencies for
    conduct of the graduate program may be recommended for temporary membership on the
    Graduate Faculty. Depending upon qualifications, a temporary member may teach graduate
    courses, including 4xx7/5xx7 and 4596/5956 courses, and serve on graduate student advisory
    committees as a supplemental member. A temporary member cannot chair graduate student
    advisory committees. The temporary member application is reviewed and approved the Dean of
    the Graduate School.
    Appointment term: 1 year (for teaching) or term of the advisory committee (for serving on advisory committee)

    AFFILIATE MEMBER

    A full-time or adjunct faculty member who does not meet the criteria for Member status on the Graduate Faculty but who has special competencies needed in a department’s graduate
    program may be recommended for affiliate membership on the Graduate Faculty. An affiliate
    member of the Graduate Faculty is eligible to teach graduate courses, including 4xx7/5xx7 and
    4596/5956 courses, and serve on graduate student advisory committees as a supplemental
    member. An affiliate member cannot chair graduate student advisory committees. The
    Graduate Council reviews the applicant’s credentials as documented on the application and
    recommends the classification of the appointment.
    Appointment term: 3 years

    MEMBER

    A full-time faculty member with a terminal degree who demonstrates productivity in graduate
    teaching; scholarly research, publication, and/or creative activity; directing graduate student
    research; serving on graduate student advisory committees; grant writing; and/or providing
    graduate program, department, college, university, or professional leadership is eligible for
    member status. A member of the Graduate Faculty is eligible to teach graduate courses,
    including 4xx7/5xx7 and 4596/5956 courses, and can chair or serve on graduate student
    advisory committees. The Graduate Council reviews the applicant’s credentials as documented
    on the application and recommends the classification of the appointment.
    Appointment term: 5 years

    SENIOR MEMBER

    Faculty who were given Senior Member status prior to February 2022 when Graduate Council
    eliminated the level may hold their Senior Member status until their seven-year term ends. At
    the time of reappointment, they will be eligible for Member status.

  • APPOINTMENT AND REAPPOINTMENT

    Faculty must apply for initial appointment and reappointment to the Graduate Faculty. Appointment or reappointment to the Graduate Faculty is dependent upon the ongoing performance of the activities required for membership. Thus, each member of the Graduate Faculty will be reviewed regularly based upon their membership level and appointment term.
    The review for new applicants must take place prior to teaching any graduate classes or serving on any graduate student advisory committees. The review for reappointment must occur prior to the expiration of the current appointment. If the Graduate Faculty appointment has expired, a faculty member must apply for temporary graduate faculty status to allow them to teach graduate courses immediately as well as apply for reappointment as an Affiliate Member or Member of the Graduate Faculty.
    A faculty member in post-retirement, or who holds retired or emeritus status, shall retain the level of graduate faculty appointment in effect at the time of retirement for the remainder of the term of appointment. When the appointment expires, these faculty members are eligible to re-apply for appointment to the Graduate Faculty following the same procedures and guidelines as for all faculty.
    When applying for initial appointment or reappointment to the Graduate Faculty, the applicant will provide evidence of active participation and competence in graduate teaching, direction of student research or creative activity, service on graduate student advisory committees, advising of graduate students, professional productivity, and/or providing department, college, university, or professional leadership. The Graduate Council reviews applications and will make one of the following recommendations to the Dean of the Graduate School: appointment as an Affiliate Member of the Graduate Faculty, appointment as a Member of the Graduate Faculty, or removal from the Graduate Faculty.

     

Graduate faculty, students, graduate coordinators, and department chairs can find a list of current graduate faculty, along with their appointment expiration dates.

View Current Graduate Faculty

Responsibilities of the Graduate Faculty 

  • The responsibilities associated with full membership on the Graduate Faculty include:
    • Teaching courses at the graduate level; 
    • Maintaining academic and professional credentials/licenses and appropriate research/scholarly activity;
    • Supervising graduate students;
    • Participating as a chair, co-chair, or member of master’s and doctoral advising committees;
    • Determining the admission requirements, retention standards, and degree requirements for graduate students in their program(s);
    • Reviewing and providing public comment on proposed Graduate School policies;
    • Serving as Outside Observers for thesis and dissertation defenses;
    • Serving on graduate appeal hearings;
    • Serving on Graduate Council; and
    • Promoting the general welfare of the Graduate School.
  • The responsibilities associated with affiliate membership on the Graduate Faculty include:
    • Teaching courses at the graduate level;
    • Maintaining academic and professional credentials/licenses and appropriate research/scholarly activity;
    • Supervising graduate students;
    • Participating as a member of master’s and doctoral advising committees;
    • Serving as Outside Observers for thesis and dissertation defenses;
    • Serving on graduate appeal hearings;
    • Promoting the general welfare of the Graduate School.
Dr. Sean Fox and graduate student Aly Hargrave (M.S. Biology concentration Microbiology) work in the lab.Dr. Sean Fox and graduate student Aly Hargrave (M.S. Biology concentration Microbiology) work in the lab.
Dr. Ranjan Chakraborty and graduate student Casey Stophel (M.S. Biology concentration Microbiology) discuss research findings
Dr. Ranjan Chakraborty and graduate student Casey Stophel (M.S. Biology concentration Microbiology) discuss research findings.
Professor Sage Perrott observes graduate student Cait Maltbie (M.F.A. Studio Art) using a risographProfessor Sage Perrott observes graduate student Cait Maltbie (M.F.A. Studio Art) using a risograph.

Outside Observers for Thesis and Dissertation Defenses Information for Faculty

All members of the East Tennessee State University graduate faculty have a responsibility to serve as outside observers for thesis and dissertation defenses. As objective representatives of the graduate faculty, outside observers report to the Graduate School on the fairness and rigor of thesis and dissertation defenses. Outside observers are not members of the defense committee; therefore, they do not read and comment on the draft of the thesis or dissertation nor do they participate in the deliberations or vote on the outcome of the defense. Instead, they read the abstract provided and attend the entire defense, including any committee deliberations, and report on the process used.

The outside observation confirms that the university’s procedures are properly followed, that students are treated fairly, and that the rigor of graduate defenses/presentations are appropriate to the degree sought. Furthermore, the outside observation contributes to the university’s scholarly community, builds connections across disciplines, and provides an opportunity for graduate faculty to learn about the scholarship done outside of their area. The outside observer provides details of the defense on an electronic form that is submitted to the Graduate School.