Graduate Faculty

The Graduate Faculty at Texas A&M University consists of the President, the Provost and Executive Vice President, the Associate Provosts, the Deans of all subject-matter colleges, selected Directors and properly qualified academic groups.

Effective faculty recruitment at Texas A&M University is critical to the success of the university in meeting its responsibilities in teaching, research, service, and other missions.

The Office of the Vice President for Faculty Affairs is responsible for verifying the teaching qualifications for faculty. Colleges and departments oversee hiring of graduate assistants who serve as instructors-of-record for undergraduate courses.

Requirements for Graduate Teaching Faculty

Some faculty members are automatically inducted into the Graduate Teaching Faculty if they meet certain credentialing requirements.

According to Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) guidelines, faculty teaching graduate and post-baccalaureate course work must have one of the following credentials:

• An earned doctorate or terminal degree in the teaching discipline or a related discipline.
• A master's degree or at least 18 semester credit hours of graduate-level coursework in the same or closely related field.
• Professional licensure or certification in a related field or profession.
• Significant professional, research or teaching experience in the same or closely related field.

In addition to meeting the credentialing requirements for teaching graduate courses, faculty teaching research courses such as 691 and other designated courses must also be members of the Graduate Committee Faculty.

Appointment to membership on the Graduate Committee Faculty, although considered an honor, is designed to assure competence in the directing and advising of graduate students. Such competence is, in part, a function of experience and knowledge of operational procedures; it is also characterized by ability and motivation.

See the Graduate Committee Faculty Guidelines

NOMINATION TO GRADUATE COMMITTEE FACULTY

Appointees to the Graduate Committee Faculty participate in the graduate degree programs of the University by serving on graduate student advisory committees. Members of the Graduate Committee Faculty are selected from qualified individuals among the following groups:

• Faculty and professional staff of Texas A&M University.
• Employees of Texas A&M University System agencies, such as Texas A&M AgriLife Research, Texas A&M Forest Service, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, TEES and TTI.
• Employees of affiliated research organizations (such as USDA) located near Texas A&M campus sites.
• Employees of affiliated hospitals and clinical organizations.

Nomination for membership on the Graduate Committee Faculty is accomplished by submitting a Graduate Committee Faculty nomination through the Graduate Committee Faculty nomination website. The nominations will progress through a workflow system to receive the approvals of the department head or chair of intercollegiate faculty, Chair of the Graduate Instruction Committee and College dean. The workflow will request a letter, initiated by the head of the academic department, dean of college, or chair of intercollegiate faculty, through the College Graduate Instruction Committee and the College Dean. The letter must provide evidence that the nominee meets the qualifications for the desired role(s). 

See the Graduate Committee Faculty Guidelines

Regulations

• A member of the graduate committee faculty may not serve on the graduate committee faculty of an academic program in which the member is pursuing a graduate degree or certificate.
• Individuals who have not been appointed to the Graduate Committee Faculty may not serve on student advisory committees unless special approval is granted by the Dean of the Graduate School.
• Select faculty may be approved to serve as co-chair on a doctoral or a master’s advisory committee in any degree granting unit, including those in disciplines not related to the degree held by the faculty, by its department head or chair of intercollegiate faculty.

MAINTENANCE OF COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP

Membership on the Graduate Committee Faculty is maintained only by demonstrating a consistent commitment to advancing graduate education.

Ways to demonstrate this commitment include:

• Directing or administering graduate work.
• Doing research and publishing.
• Offering other direct and substantial contributions to the graduate programs of the University, such as serving on a Graduate Instruction Committee or performing administrative assignments in graduate education.

Removal of Graduate Committee Faculty Members

Graduate Committee Faculty members may lose their posts for one of two reasons: lack of contribution to graduate educations, or voluntary and approved leave of absence or other separation from the university. Faculty who fall in the latter category may continue serve on the student’s advisory committee without a co-chair for up to one year, after which the student must secure a current member of the University Graduate Committee Faculty to serve as co- chair.

The Department Head or Chair of intercollegiate faculty shall notify any faculty member who is non-voluntarily removed from the roles of the Graduate Committee Faculty, and the faculty member has the right to appeal his/her removal through University Rule 12.99.99.M0.01 (Faculty Grievances Procedures).

Nominations

You can access the Graduate Committee Faculty Nomination form by logging into http://gradcom.tamu.edu, where you will complete the form in its entirety, upload the appropriate documents, and submit the nomination for approval through the workflow. Under the “Nominations” tab you will be able to see any request that you personally submit. Here you will also be able to see when the form is approved and print a copy of the approved nomination request.

Eligibility for Nomination

• To be nominated, faculty must be assigned a University Identification Number (UIN).
• Complete this form and submit it to Identity Management to request a UIN.
• Contact Identity Management at identity@tamu.edu or 979.862.4300 for questions.

Graduate Faculty Searchable Database

Students can use the Graduate Faculty Database to find faculty to serve on thesis, dissertation or record of study committees.

CONTACT US

Only authorized individuals can access to the Graduate Committee Faculty Nomination system. If you need access or have questions, or if any other issues arise, please contact gradcom@tamu.edu.