Graduate Faculty Membership — Categories, Terms & Special Appointments

  1. Valdosta State University recognizes two levels of Graduate Faculty membership. Each level has distinct qualifications, terms of service, and application procedures. Special provisions apply for department heads and associate deans.

1. Full Graduate Faculty Membership

  • Term: Initial 5-year appointment; renewable in additional 5-year terms.
  • Who qualifies: Tenure-track faculty with appropriate graduate teaching, research, and scholarly credentials.
  • Application deadlines:
    • Fall term: September
    • Spring term: February
View Application Procedures for Full Graduate Faculty Status 

2. Temporary Graduate Faculty Membership

  • Term: Up to 3 years; renewable in additional 3-year terms.
  • Who qualifies:
    • Faculty teaching graduate courses when no Full or Associate Graduate Faculty member is available.
    • Newly hired faculty building credentials toward Full Membership.
    • Faculty serving on thesis or dissertation committees.
  • Deadline: No fixed deadline — applications accepted any time during the year.

View Application Procedures for Temporary Graduate Faculty Status. 

3. Graduate Faculty Status for Department Heads & Associate Deans

Department Heads and Associate Deans receive Graduate Faculty Status by exemption.

Purpose

To ensure department heads and associate deans can teach graduate courses and supervise graduate work as part of their administrative roles.

Eligibility

  • Full Status:
    Newly hired or appointed department heads or associate deans who:
    • Lead a department or college with graduate programs, and
    • Have taught a graduate course in the last 3 years or have equivalent graduate program experience.
  • Temporary Status:
    Interim department heads or interim associate deans leading a graduate program but not yet qualified for Full status.

 

Procedure
  1. The department head's or associate dean's direct supervisor submits a memo + CV to the Graduate School requesting the exemption.
  2. The Graduate Faculty Membership Subcommittee reviews the request and recommends the appropriate level of status.
  3. The Associate Provost for Graduate Studies and Research may renew status for qualified leaders when terms expire.
Post-Appointment
  • Former department heads or associate deans retain Full Graduate Faculty status for two years after stepping down.
  • After two years, they must reapply for Full or Temporary status.

Exclusions

Graduate program coordinators, chairs, directors, or assistant/associate department heads do not qualify for this automatic exemption.

Approved by the Graduate Executive Committee: February 16, 2023