REQUEST FOR APPOINTMENT TO GRADUATE FACULTY
Before completing this application, please consider the categories for appointment listed below and the SACS accreditation
requirements as outlined on page 4. Call the Graduate College (770-423-6738) if you have any questions. Complete the form in its
entirety, save as a Word file and send as an email attachment along with a copy of your vita to the Graduate College, at
fdevine2@kennesaw.edu.
Date:
Name:
Rank: (Professor, Associate Professor, etc.)
Title: (Chair, Director, etc.)
Tenure Status:
tenure track, tenured
tenure track, non-tenured
non-tenure track
Department of Residence:
Graduate Program:
Semester to Begin Teaching Graduate Courses:
Type of Appointment Requested:
Full -- For a Full Appointment to the Graduate Faculty of Kennesaw State University (KSU), a faculty member must:
 hold a full-time tenure track position at KSU at the rank of Assistant Professor or above,
 show evidence of effective teaching (a minimum of five classes) at the graduate level, either at KSU or at another
college/university within five years of the time of application for, or renewal of, graduate faculty status,
 have a track record and active program of scholarship consistent with the college’s expectations for graduate
faculty. For the Coles College of Business, the faculty member must be Academically Qualified (AQ) as per Coles
College performance guidelines, and
 hold the terminal degree, or in unusual cases, have demonstrated exceptional scholarly activity or professional
experience.
Full Appointments are made for a period of five years.
Provisional -- For a Provisional Appointment to the Graduate Faculty of KSU, a faculty member must:
 hold a full-time tenure track position at KSU at the rank of Assistant Professor or above,
 have some experience teaching graduate classes, or demonstrate high potential for effective teaching at the
graduate level as evidenced by undergraduate teaching record, scholarly activity, or professional experience.
 have an active program of scholarship. For the Coles College of Business, the faculty member must be AQ as per
Coles College performance guidelines, and
 hold the terminal degree, or in unusual cases, have demonstrated exceptional scholarly activity or professional
experience.
A provisional appointment is typically awarded to new faculty without an extensive record of teaching at the graduate
level, or to faculty who have not yet demonstrated a track record of scholarship consistent with the college’s expectations
for graduate faculty. Provisional appointments may be for a period up to three years.
Temporary -- For a Temporary Appointment to the Graduate Faculty of KSU, a faculty member must:
 hold a full-time tenure track position at KSU at the rank of Assistant Professor or above,
 have some experience teaching graduate classes, or demonstrate high potential for effective teaching at the
graduate level as evidenced by undergraduate teaching record, scholarly activity, or professional experience in a
particular area related to a course or other assignment, and
 hold the terminal degree, or in unusual cases, have demonstrated exceptional scholarly activity or professional
experience. For the Coles College of Business, the faculty member must be AQ as per Coles College performance
guidelines.
A temporary appointment is typically awarded to a full-time faculty member who will teach a graduate course or serve on a
student committee, but will not do so on a continual basis. Temporary appointments are typically made for a one-year
period only and do not entitle faculty to serve on campus-wide governing bodies as a representative of the graduate
faculty or to vote as a graduate faculty member. A faculty member expecting to have longer-term involvement with a
graduate program should apply for and meet the criteria for Provisional or Full status at the end of the one-year period.
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Permission to Teach Graduate Courses -- Non-tenure track full-time faculty or administrators, part-time faculty, and
adjunct faculty may be reviewed for permission to teach graduate classes concurrent with (or after) official appointment to
the KSU faculty. In order to receive permission to teach graduate classes, non-tenure track full-time faculty or
administrators, part-time faculty, and adjunct faculty must:
 have some experience teaching graduate classes, or demonstrate high potential for effective teaching at the
graduate level as evidenced by undergraduate teaching record, scholarly activity, or professional experience in a
particular area related to a course or other assignment, and
 hold the terminal degree, or in unusual cases, have demonstrated exceptional scholarly activity or professional
experience. For the Coles College of Business, the faculty member must be AQ or Professionally Qualified (PQ)
as per Coles College performance guidelines.
Non-tenure track full-time faculty or administrators, part-time faculty, and adjunct faculty may receive approval to teach
graduate courses for a period of up to three years. Approval to teach graduate courses is contingent upon reappointment
to a specified position each year during the three-year period.
I.
ACADEMIC BACKGROUND (if you hold a terminal degree in your field, please complete Section I only):
A. Highest Degree Awarded:
Date:
Institution:
Major/Area:
Degree Awarded:
Date:
Institution:
Major/Area:
Degree Awarded:
Date:
Institution:
Major/Area:
B. What course(s) have you been assigned to teach and in what graduate program?
Beginning date:
C. Graduate Courses Taught (list all graduate courses taught over the past five years):
Course
Semester
Institution
D. Publications and Presentations (up to 10) during the preceding 2 calendar years:
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E. Graduate Teaching Philosophy (applicants for full or provisional status only): Describe your methods
and philosophy for teaching graduate courses; in particular, what distinguishes graduate courses from
undergraduate courses in student reflection, conceptualization, independent work, and any other
differences. Please provide any evidence of effective teaching.
II. JUSTIFICATION AND DOCUMENTATION FOR AN EXCEPTION (to be completed by those not holding a terminal
degree):
Please provide justification and evidence for granting an exception to the minimum graduate degree
requirements by responding to all of the following items:
A. Documented Evidence of Performance Competence and Success in College Teaching:
B. Documented Evidence of Substantial and Successful Related Work Experience:
C. Documented Evidence of Recognized Certifications or Licensures which are Related to and Acceptable
for University Level Instruction:
D. Other Documented Evidence of Outstanding Achievement, Expertise, Scholarship and/or Creative
Activity:
E. List of Official Documentation Secured and Attached to Support the Justifications Outlined in A-D of this
Section:
F. Plans for Any Expected Limitations on or Special Supervision Related to KSU Course Assignments:
APPROVALS & ENDORSEMENTS FOR GRANTING THIS EXCEPTION:
For Graduate College Use Only
Name
Department Chair
Dean
Graduate Dean (if applicable)
VPAA
Approval Date
Email on File
Dr. Charles Amlaner, Jr.
Dr. Ken Harmon
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COMPLIANCE WITH SACS ACCREDITATION
REQUIREMENTS ON FACULTY CREDENTIALS
The Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges & Schools (SACS), which grants KSU its essential
institutional accreditation, focuses heavily on institutional compliance with the accreditation criteria pertaining to meeting
the minimal faculty credentials to teach at the college level and having on file evidence that documents compliance. The
specific requirements are reflected in the following excerpts from the Criteria on Accreditation (2000):
4.8.2.2 Baccalaureate Programs
1. Each full-time and part-time faculty member teaching credit courses leading toward the baccalaureate degree,
other than physical education activities courses, must have completed at least 18 graduate semester hours in
the teaching discipline and hold at least a master's degree, or hold the minimum of a master's degree with a
major in the teaching discipline.
2. In exceptional cases, outstanding professional experience and demonstrated contributions to the teaching
discipline may be presented in lieu of formal academic preparation. Such cases must be justified by the
institution on an individual basis.
3. It is the responsibility of the institution to keep on file for all full-time and part-time faculty members
documentation of academic preparation, such as official transcripts and, if appropriate for demonstrating
competence, official documentation of professional and work experience, technical and performance
competency, records of publications, certifications and other qualifications.
4.8.2.3 Graduate Programs
1. Each faculty member teaching courses at the master's and specialist degree level must hold the terminal
degree, usually the earned doctorate, in the teaching discipline or a related discipline. In some instances, the
master's degree in the discipline may be considered the terminal degree, such as the M.F.A., the M.S.W., and
the M.L.S.; in others, a master's degree in the discipline coupled with a doctoral degree in a related discipline
is considered appropriate.
2. All faculty members teaching courses at the doctoral degree level must hold the earned doctorate in the
teaching discipline or a related discipline.
3. The Commission recognizes that in unusual cases institutions may appropriately include as graduate faculty
members those who have demonstrated exceptional scholarly or creative activity, or professional experience,
but who may not possess the required academic credentials. There also may be an occasion when a new
graduate discipline is in its formative stage in higher education and there are no faculty members available
with academic credentials in the discipline. In either case, when an institution presents evidence of
competence or academic credentials other than the doctorate in the discipline for its graduate faculty, it must
justify the employment of such faculty.
4. It is the responsibility of the institution to keep on file, for all full-time and part-time faculty members
teaching graduate courses, documentation of academic preparation, such as official transcripts and, if
appropriate for demonstrating competence, official documentation of professional and work experience,
technical and performance competency, records of publications, and certifications and other qualifications.
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