Graduate Faculty

Qualifications for Membership in the Graduate Faculty

According to the 1971 reorganization of graduate study at the University of Pittsburgh, "membership in the Graduate Faculty shall be of two classes, ‘Regular’ and ‘Adjunct’." Regular membership shall be recommended for full-time faculty or part-time tenured/tenure-stream members of the University faculty or academic staff with faculty status who are approved to direct graduate study and research at all levels. Adjunct membership shall be recommended for persons whose primary responsibility is outside the University but who hold a part-time faculty or adjunct appointment and are approved to direct graduate study and research at all levels.

The competence to direct graduate study and research at all levels is the primary qualification for membership in the Graduate Faculty. Hence, each nomination for membership should include documentation of the candidate's experience in research, in the teaching of graduate-level courses, in the supervision of graduate research, as well as scholarly publications and professional employment. The completion of a doctoral dissertation, while highly desirable, is not in itself sufficient evidence of qualification for membership in the Graduate Faculty. At the same time, faculty members without an earned doctorate are not automatically excluded and may be designated if they have exceptional qualifications by virtue of experience and accomplishment.

Appropriately qualified faculty members who are not either Regular or Adjunct members of the Graduate Faculty may be assigned by their department chairs (if approved by the Graduate Faculty of the department) the responsibility for the teaching of graduate courses and the direction of master's level research. In addition, they may serve on doctoral dissertation committees, provided that a majority (three or more) of the committee are Regular or Adjunct Graduate Faculty members. These responsibilities provide some of the experience required for later appointment to membership in the Graduate Faculty. Individuals who are candidates for advanced degrees, and especially those seeking a degree from the University of Pittsburgh, do not normally qualify for membership on doctoral dissertation committees and, except in a few professional areas, they should not normally be assigned the responsibility for the teaching of graduate courses.

Procedure for Nomination

All nominations for Regular or Adjunct membership in the Graduate Faculty must originate in the department or school offering graduate degree programs. All Regular Graduate Faculty members in the department, school, or unit must be polled, and the nomination must be signed by at least six of the Graduate Faculty members, the department chair, and the dean of the school making the nomination. If there are fewer than six Graduate Faculty members in the unit, additional support (including signatures) should be obtained from Graduate Faculty members in closely related areas of the University.

The Graduate Faculty of any school may determine appropriate discipline sub clusters to act on nomination procedures, if the total faculty so desires.

If a department or school nominates for Regular membership in the Graduate Faculty an individual whose primary appointment is in another department, the nomination must include the concurrence of the department of primary appointment.

All nominations for Regular or Adjunct membership in the Graduate Faculty should be submitted to the Provost on the appropriate form. The required supporting evidence should include a listing of graduate courses taught, service on graduate committees, research supervised, and scholarly publications.

Appointment to the Graduate Faculty

Appointment to membership in the Graduate Faculty is made by the Provost of the University.

The Provost reviews all nominations before final approval and appointment. This review is based upon the qualifications to teach and direct graduate research at all levels in accordance with the objectives of the degree programs.

For additional information, refer to AC 37 Graduate Faculty Qualifications (formerly 02-02-13), or the document Regulations Governing Graduate Study at the University of Pittsburgh.