Two Proposed Changes to the Constitution of the Graduate Faculty
(Spring 2013)
The School of Graduate Studies proposes two changes to the Constitution of the Graduate Faculty (last revised
and approved by the Graduate Faculty in fall 1995). The first proposed change relates to a revision in the
membership and size of the Graduate Council—the executive body of the Graduate Faculty that receives,
considers, and takes final action on all graduate matters including curriculum, policy, and administration. The
second proposed change revises criteria relevant to qualifications necessary to serve as a member of the
Graduate Faculty. Such a change is necessary to align the UW-W membership criteria with those at other
comprehensive universities that offer professional doctoral programs, and to expand educational opportunities for
our professionally-oriented graduate programs.
Proposed Change #1: Changing the membership and size of the Graduate Council
FROM:
[excerpted from The Constitution of the Graduate Faculty]
ARTICLE V - Graduate Council
Section 1: The Graduate Council of the Graduate Faculty shall be composed of the Dean of Graduate Studies
and Continuing Education, one graduate faculty member from each department offering a graduate course and
one graduate student representative from each of the four colleges. The faculty representative shall be chosen by
ballot by the Graduate Faculty members of that department. Student representatives shall be selected by their
respective colleges. The Dean of Graduate Studies and Continuing Education shall be the ex-officio chairperson
of the Graduate Council.
TO:
ARTICLE V - Graduate Council
Section 1: The Graduate Council of the Graduate Faculty shall be composed of the Dean of Graduate Studies
and Continuing Education, one graduate faculty member representative from each (active) graduate degree
program, and one (at-large) graduate faculty member and one graduate student representative from each of the
four colleges. The faculty representative from each graduate program shall be chosen by the Graduate Faculty
members of that program. The at-large graduate faculty members and student representatives shall be selected
by their respective colleges. The Dean of Graduate Studies and Continuing Education shall be the ex-officio
chairperson of the Graduate Council.
Rationale:
The change is prudent for a variety of reasons. One, it would grant more graduate governance authority to the
graduate faculty members on campus more familiar with graduate programming and graduate students. The
current membership make-up has 15 members (50% of the graduate faculty membership on the Graduate
Council) from departments that do not regularly offer any coursework for graduate credit. The proposal would
allow for continued participation of faculty not currently involved in graduate education, but would reduce that
participation from approximately 15 to 4. Second, it would be a more effective use of faculty time—reducing the
need for faculty not involved in graduate education to spend time reviewing policy and curriculum proposals and
attending meetings of the Graduate Council. Finally, the change would align UW-W Graduate Council
membership with those at other UW System comprehensive institutions offering graduate programs (see
Appendix 1).
Proposed Change #2: Revising the guidelines for graduate faculty membership
FROM:
[excerpted from The Constitution of the Graduate Faculty]
ARTICLE III - Membership
Section 1: Graduate Faculty members shall include those persons of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater who
qualify for and accept appointment as Graduate Faculty. Persons are "qualified" who have (1) an educational
code of 1 as defined in the most recent version of the Faculty Handbook, (2) a rank of at least assistant professor,
(3) a demonstration of successful scholarly activity (or artistic equivalents for professors in the fine arts), and (4)
graduate-level subject matter competence and a record of successful teaching.
Section 2: Acceptance of appointment of the Graduate Faculty also carries with it the willingness of the member
to transact graduate affairs. Graduate affairs include, but are not limited to, graduate admissions decisions and
recommendations; graduate student academic advisement; Graduate Council and/or departmental graduate
committee activities; candidacy and comprehensive examination responsibilities; theses, seminar or clinical paper
development and evaluation; and graduate course instruction.
Section 3: Membership is limited to those members of the administrative staff and faculty who are qualified as
defined in Section 1 of this article.
Section 4: Individuals not meeting the above qualifications may be considered for election to the Graduate
Faculty by petition, recommendation of a department and/or college graduate studies committee, and vote of the
Graduate Council.
Section 5: Departments shall determine which of their faculty members meet the qualifications of Section 1 and
shall forward a list of their recommended graduate faculty to the Dean of Graduate Studies and Continuing
Education for review and approval. This list will be submitted the last week of February in Spring Semester
relevant to appointment for the next academic year. Nominations not approved by the Dean may be appealed
before the Graduate Council. Graduate Council has the right to review and approve by simple majority vote.
TO:
ARTICLE III - Membership
Section 1: Graduate Faculty members shall be designated for participation at one of three levels.
 Full Membership: will hold an educational code of 1 as defined in the most recent University Handbook
(earned a doctorate or other terminal degree, e.g., MFA); hold a minimum rank of assistant professor; provide
evidence of successful teaching at the graduate level; and demonstrate current and continuing productive
scholarship, professional achievement, and/or creative activity or performance.
 Associate Membership: will hold an educational code of 1 as defined in the most recent University Handbook;
hold a minimum rank of assistant professor; demonstrate successful teaching and hold subject matter
competence at the graduate level; and demonstrated success in scholarship or creative activity.
 Temporary Membership: will have earned a master’s degree in a relevant discipline; accrued five years
professional experience/expertise relevant to graduate-level subject matter; provide evidence of successful
teaching; and demonstrated continued practice of professional expertise or acquired knowledge that
contributes to the graduate program.
To qualify for a given membership level, the faculty member must meet all stated criteria.
Section 2: Eligibility to participate in various graduate affairs is determined by the level of membership.
 Full Membership: eligible to teach all 500, 600, 700, 800, and 900-level courses; direct or serve on theses
and/or dissertation committees; chair or serve on comprehensive examination committees; and serve on the
Graduate Council.
 Associate Membership: eligible to teach 500, 600 and 700-level courses; serve on master’s theses and
comprehensive examination committees, and serve on the Graduate Council.
 Temporary Membership: eligible to teach 500 and 600 level courses and 790-level (special, individual studies
and practicum courses); and serve on comprehensive examination committees.
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Persons transacting graduate affairs within a department must be members of the Graduate Faculty as defined in
this article. Acceptance of appointment to the Graduate Faculty at Full and Associate levels also carries with it the
willingness of the member to transact other graduate affairs at the department/program level which include, but
are not limited to, graduate admission decisions and recommendations; graduate student academic advisement;
and departmental graduate committee activities. Graduate Council membership is limited to faculty holding Full or
Associate memberships.
Section 3: Membership in the graduate faculty is limited to those members of the administrative staff and faculty
who are qualified as defined in Section 1 of this article. Full Membership will be granted to all new tenure-track
faculty appointed at assistant professor level or above. Such individuals will be given five years to establish the
credentials to remain at Level I as defined in Section 1. Further, Full Membership will be granted to all faculty who
hold graduate faculty membership as defined in Article III, Section I of the Graduate Faculty Constitution prior to 1
September 2013. Such individuals will be given five years to establish the credentials to remain at Full
Membership as defined in Section 1. Temporary Membership appointments are made for single academic terms
and are requested by academic departments.
Section 4: Departments shall determine which of their instructional personnel meet the qualifications for each of
the levels described in Section 1. During the first week of August, the School of Graduate Studies will supply
each academic department with a list of faculty and academic teaching staff assigned to the department as
identified by the Office of the Provost. Departments will return rosters with indication of graduate faculty
membership level by the first week of September.) Similarly, Temporary Membership appointments must be
approved by the graduate faculty of the academic department and the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies
and Continuing Education. Appropriate documentation for Temporary Membership appointments (including a
current academic vita) and rationale for the exception will be forwarded from the department to the Dean of the
School of Graduate Studies and Continuing Education for review and approval prior to including the course in the
timetable. Nominations not approved by the Dean may be appealed before the Graduate Council. Graduate
Council has the right to review and approve by simple majority vote.
Section 5: Departments may seek academic term exceptions allowing instructors to perform graduate activities
identified in Section 2 not affiliated with their level of membership (e.g., Associate Membership serving on a
dissertation committee, Temporary Membership teaching a 700-level course).
Rationale:
The change in Article III of the Constitution of the Graduate Faculty is designed to address the evolution in
graduate programming at UW-Whitewater. First, the creation of three levels of graduate faculty membership
reflects the realization that graduate faculty actively involved in support and oversight of graduate student
research and creative activity should be active scholars themselves. The creation of Full Membership graduate
faculty status (reflecting active and continuing involvement in scholarly and creative activity) is particularly
important as the institution seeks approval of its first (professional) doctorate program. Note that the definition of
what constitutes “continuing scholarship and creative activity” is not defined (does not specify a number of
referred publications, conference, or creative presentations), but rather leaves that definition and decision to the
academic department or college. Further, note that this definition of graduate faculty status is in line with those of
peer institutions offering professional doctorate programs (Appendix 2: Peer Guidelines for Graduate Faculty
Status).
Second, the revision allows academic departments freedom to seek academic term exceptions that allow a
master’s-qualified instructional staff or ad hoc faculty member to teach a graduate-level course with Temporary
Membership when they bring five years’ professional experience and/or specialized knowledge to relevant
curriculum. This revision recognizes the very professional nature of UW-W graduate programs, and the value to
be infused by perspectives that sometimes come from outside of the academy.
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