Criteria for initial appointment to graduate faculty (five-year term)

1. An earned terminal degree in the field of appointment or a closely related field. Departments should specify which degree is appropriate.
2. Three examples of peer-reviewed scholarly achievement in the field of appointment within the past four years as evidenced by:
   • Publication of research in peer-reviewed journals, peer-reviewed e-publications, peer-reviewed conference proceedings or research monographs
   • Publication of books will be weighted more heavily according to discipline-specific criteria
   • Receipt of external research grants, fellowships or other honors awarded through a peer-review process
   • Evidence of leadership or innovation in professional practice as indicated by publication of technical reports or receipt of patents
   • For candidates in the applied creative arts, evidence of professional accomplishment in the arts as demonstrated by juried/reviewed/invited performances, exhibitions or books.

Criteria for newly hired assistant professors

1. One publication in the immediate past four years will be required for initial appointments.
2. In an interdisciplinary program without its own faculty appointments, a full-time or fractional-time appointment in one of the participating graduate academic programs is required.

Criteria for reappointment to graduate faculty (five-year term)

1. Three examples of peer-reviewed scholarly achievement in the field of appointment within the past four years as evidenced by:
   • Publication of research in peer-reviewed journals, peer-reviewed e-publications, peer-reviewed conference proceedings or research monographs
   • Publication of books (will be weighted more heavily according to discipline-specific criteria)
   • Receipt of external research grants, fellowships, or other honors awarded through a peer-review process
   • Evidence of leadership or innovation in professional practice as indicated by publication of technical reports or receipt of patents
   • For candidates in the applied creative arts, evidence of professional accomplishment in the arts as demonstrated by juried/reviewed/invited performances, exhibitions or books.
2. Evidence of involvement in graduate education within the past five years:
   • Teaching graduate-level courses
   • Direction of graduate student theses and dissertations and service on thesis and dissertation committees
   • Graduate administrative service such as Graduate Council membership, departmental graduate committee chair
3. Full-time or fractional-time faculty appointment in the university unit. In an interdisciplinary program without its own faculty appointments, a full-time or fractional-time appointment in one of the participating graduate academic units is required.

All three criteria must be satisfied for reappointment.

Criteria for faculty on phased retirement 

Members of the graduate faculty who have entered phased retirement, or are in the announced year of their retirement in the year they come up for graduate faculty status renewal may either (1) submit the regular renewal materials or (2) request an extension of their graduate faculty status without undergoing the regular renewal process. For extension requests, the department chair should submit a brief memo explaining the request and confirming the date of planned retirement. Retention of graduate faculty status through such an extension is made on the condition that no new advisees be added to the faculty member's workload during this period.

Graduate Council recognizes:

1. Differences exist between disciplines, and the Graduate School supports the process by which departments endorse individual faculty for graduate faculty appointments and obtain dean's approval for said appointments with final approval by the Graduate School dean. At each level of approval, the equivalency of three peer-reviewed publications in four years must be met.
2. This is a minimum standard, and departments may impose higher standards. We expect that this standard will fit most departments.
3. If a department determines it needs to define a different minimum equivalency more appropriate to its discipline, then the following procedure will be followed:
   • The department must present a revised equivalency proposal to the dean of the Graduate School, who will consult with the Academic Standards Committee.
   • The equivalency proposal will be reviewed by the Academic Standards Committee, which will make their recommendation to the Graduate School dean.
   • The Graduate School dean will work with the chair of the department and the dean of the unit to establish the minimal equivalency.
   • In the event that there is a disagreement between the Graduate School dean and the chair of the department or dean of the unit regarding the minimal equivalency standard, the provost will make the final decision for the unit's graduate faculty appointment publication criteria following a meeting with the Graduate School dean, the school/college dean, and (in departmentalized colleges) the department chair.
   • If a department does not submit a minimum equivalency proposal, the department will be held to the Graduate School's minimum standards.
4. Consistent with current practice and policy, faculty members may appeal graduate faculty appointment decisions. The appeal process requires approval first from the department chair or program director, then the school/college dean, and finally from the Graduate School dean, who will seek advice from the Academic Standards Committee.
5.  Evidence of scholarly engagement as indicated, for example by journal editorship or other juried works and invited fellowships.  Only completed/active works (and not those either "in preparation" or "submitted") will be accepted for consideration of criteria.