The University of South Florida recognizes Graduate Faculty and Affiliate Members of Graduate Faculty. Only Graduate Faculty, and Affiliate Members of Graduate Faculty approved for such purposes, may serve as Major Professors, Co-Major Professors, and members of thesis and dissertation committees.
Graduate Faculty Definition
Graduate Faculty is defined to consist of all tenure-track or tenured faculty appointed at the Assistant, Associate, or Professor rank, who holds a terminal degree or equivalent in their discipline. For USF Health, this would include all faculty ranked at the Assistant, Associate, or Professor ranks. Graduate Faculty members are eligible to direct and serve on masters, specialist, and doctoral level committees. To serve as a Major Professor for a doctoral level committee, a Graduate Faculty member must engage in current and sustained scholarly, creative, or research activities, such as publications, performances, exhibitions, patents, inventions and research grants.
Note: A faculty member who retires from the State of Florida while serving on a student Thesis/Dissertation Committee must be removed from that Committee as of the date of retirement. Please contact the Office of Graduate Studies for guidance related to thesis/dissertation committees. A request for approval as an Affiliate Member of Graduate Faculty might be needed to be submitted to return to Committee service. For more information on the State requirements, refer to the FRS section on re-employment: https://employer.frs.fl.gov/forms/Retiree-FAQ.pdf
Affiliate Members of Graduate Faculty membership may be granted by the Office of Graduate Studies Dean or designee to individuals who do not meet the University definition of Graduate Faculty, but whose scholarly activity, skills or expertise meet criteria established by the College. Affiliate Members of Graduate Faculty membership is in effect for a specified period of time and specific purposes. Affiliate Members may be eligible to
- serve on masters, specialist, and doctoral level committees,
- co-direct master’s, specialist’s, and doctoral level committees, at the discretion of the College.
Affiliate Membership is effective for up to three (3) years; following which a request for reaffirmation of approval to renew the Affiliate Membership is required. Once approved, membership is good for the duration of the Committee. When membership expires, a new membership request must be submitted to be approved for any additional committees.
In exceptional circumstances, applicants for Affiliate Member of Graduate Faculty status who are employed by the University and demonstrate continued scholarly activity may also request approval to serve as Major Professor on master’s, specialist, and doctoral level committees as part of the request. (Also see Committee Approval policy and procedures)
Emeritus Professors and retired or recently resigned professors may also be appointed as an Affiliate Member of Graduate Faculty with the approval of the Department, College, and Office of Graduate Studies Dean or designee.
Note: A faculty member who retires from the State of Florida while serving on a student Thesis/Dissertation Committee must be removed from that Committee as of the date of retirement. Please contact the Office of Graduate Studies for guidance related to thesis/dissertation committees. A request for approval as an Affiliate Member of Graduate Faculty might be needed to be submitted to return to Committee service. For more information on the State requirements, refer to the FRS section on re-employment: https://employer.frs.fl.gov/forms/Retiree-FAQ.pdf
For approval, a current CV and request for approval, including the reason for the request (e.g. serving on a master’s student supervisory committee), is submitted through the Major, the Department, the College, and the Office of Graduate Studies. For procedures, contact the Office of Graduate Studies.
Graduate Faculty Approval – Graduate faculty is defined as noted above; Colleges and Departments may have additional requirements. The Office of Graduate Studies will maintain a list of Graduate Faculty along with approval guidelines from the Departments and Colleges.
List of Graduate Faculty
References:
SACSCOC Comprehensive Standard 3.7.1, https://sacscoc.org/app/uploads/2019/07/faculty-credentials.pdf for specific information and requirements in reference to the teaching of graduate courses.
Also, note, per USF Policy 10-115 – Faculty Credentials for Teaching Undergraduate and Graduate Courses - https://usf.app.box.com/v/usfpolicy10-115
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