Graduate Faculty Handbook
The Faculty of the Graduate School
The Graduate School’s policy regarding Graduate Faculty supplements university policy concerning Graduate Faculty as outlined in the University Faculty Handbook and its accompanying Graduate Faculty Policy. Graduate School policy concerning Graduate Faculty also has been formed as a result of recommendations from accrediting bodies. Over the years, the definitions of Graduate Faculty status as well as the procedures for appointment have undergone changes, and further modifications of definitions and/or procedures are subject to review and recommendation by the Council of Graduate School Programs. In any case where this policy conflicts with the University’s Faculty Handbook, the University Faculty Handbook shall prevail.
The Graduate Faculty are responsible for teaching graduate-level courses, designing the academic content of graduate degree programs, mentoring students in research settings, serving on graduate student committees, and supervising graduate students in the research and writing of theses and dissertations. Graduate Faculty are responsible for ensuring the academic and professional development of graduate students in a supportive and inclusive environment.
Graduate Faculty Status
At the time of appointment or promotion to a tenure-track or tenured position, each faculty member of the university is, by definition, automatically granted the status of Graduate Faculty by the Senior Academic Officer.
Affiliate Graduate Faculty Appointments
The status of Affiliate Graduate Faculty may be conferred on full-time non-tenure track faculty and other qualified members of the University. Appointment is made by the Senior Academic Officer on the recommendation of the faculty member’s dean or department/program chairperson. The specific roles and contributions of Affiliate Graduate Faculty are established at the level of the relevant academic unit. The duration of the appointment may not exceed the length of the faculty member’s contract.
Extended Appointments
When a Graduate Faculty member resigns from Loyola University Chicago, they are able to serve as external members of theses or dissertation committees. They are also permitted to continue as thesis/dissertation directors for up to one year. In both cases the student will need to create a new committee form in GSPS and designate the faculty member as an external member with an accurate and updated email address. In the case of a Graduate Faculty member who was serving as director, the student also should select a co-director who is a Graduate Faculty at Loyola in the case that they do not complete their degree within one calendar year. Students can reach out to the Graduate School for assistance with this process.
Emeritus Appointments
When a Graduate Faculty member obtains emeritus status, they are able to serve as members and/or chairs of theses or dissertation committees for up to one year, unless invited to continue serving in the role beyond one year by the faculty member’s department.
For the Graduate School, an invitation for an emeritus faculty member to continue to serve as the chair of a dissertation or thesis committee should be sent to the Dean of the Graduate School and should include a justification of how the Master’s or PhD student will best be served by the emeritus faculty continuing to serve as the chair of the committee. It is also recommended that the student identify a co-director who is current faculty in the program.
Revocation of Graduate Faculty
An individual may have their status as Graduate Faculty revoked by the Senior Academic Officer when the individual has failed to perform the duties expected of a Graduate Faculty.
Generally, the department chair or Dean would submit a recommendation to the Senior Academic Officer to revoke the faculty member’s graduate faculty status. The Senior Academic Officer will consider the recommendation in their decision. In exceptional cases, revocation of graduate faculty status may also be initiated by the Dean, the Office for Equity and Compliance, the Vice Provost of Graduate Education, the Provost, or the President.
The faculty member must be informed of any recommendation to revoke graduate faculty status and must be provided with the opportunity to supply an explanatory or rebuttal statement. Any such statement by the faculty member must become a part of the recommendation considered by the Senior Academic Officer.
Faculty whose status as Graduate Faculty has been revoked may not teach graduate-level courses, design the academic content of graduate degree programs, mentor students in research settings, serve on graduate student committees, and/or supervise graduate students in the research and writing of theses and dissertations.
Duties and Responsibilities of Graduate Faculty in the Graduate School
Serving as Graduate Faculty in the Graduate School comes with certain duties and responsibilities, including teaching graduate courses, supervising graduate students and/or mentoring graduate students.
TEACHING GRADUATE COURSES
In addition to the general responsibility that Graduate Faculty have for the graduate curriculum in their department or program, Graduate Faculty have the opportunity for more specialized, higher-level teaching to graduate students at the 300/400 level or at the 400 level. Graduate Faculty are required to follow university policy on the teaching of these courses. The assignment of faculty to teach graduate courses (including courses numbered 300/400, 400, or above) must follow Loyola’s Faculty Credentialing and Course Assignment Policy.
SUPERVISING GRADUATE ASSISTANTS
Graduate Assistants, in the form of Research or Teaching Assistants, constitute valuable opportunities for professional development for the graduate student. The assignment of a Graduate Faculty member as the supervisor for a Research or Teaching Assistant is at the discretion of the program or department or may follow from a faculty grant.
An overview of policies, responsibilities of and available resources related to Graduate Faculty in their supervision of Graduate Assistants can be found in the Graduate Assistant Handbook.
MENTORING GRADUATE STUDENTS
Mentoring is both a responsibility and a privilege. The future of the various professions to which we send our graduate degree students depends upon their preparation and their attitude towards their professional responsibilities. Graduate Faculty in the Graduate School who serve as faculty mentors are expected to be models for graduate students with respect to a professional attitude towards the acquisition, communication, and application of knowledge.
In their role as mentors, Graduate Faculty may serve on or chair dissertation and thesis committees. The Graduate School’s policy on serving in these roles can be found in the Academic Catalog.
Council of Graduate School Programs
The primary function of the Council of Graduate School Programs is to discuss and formulate the aims, purposes, and quality standards for graduate programs under the auspices of the Graduate School at Loyola University Chicago. The Council has jurisdiction over all academic matters delegated and makes policy recommendations in such areas as: admissions, curriculum, qualifying exams or projects, theses and dissertations, and overall objectives. The Council also serves in an advisory role to the Dean of the Graduate School.
Further information about CGSP, including its By-Laws, can be found here.
Graduate Program Directors
Graduate Program Directors (GPDs) are central to the success of Loyola University Chicago’s graduate programs. They serve as unique liaisons among Graduate Faculty, the graduate student body, and the Graduate School administration. GPDs are responsible to their department or program chair and to the Dean of the Graduate School. They possess the authority to speak for the department or program on any matter relating to graduate programs. The Graduate Program Director represents his/her unit on the Council of Graduate School Programs, as outlined in its By-Laws.
The Faculty of the Graduate School
The Graduate School’s policy regarding Graduate Faculty supplements university policy concerning Graduate Faculty as outlined in the University Faculty Handbook and its accompanying Graduate Faculty Policy. Graduate School policy concerning Graduate Faculty also has been formed as a result of recommendations from accrediting bodies. Over the years, the definitions of Graduate Faculty status as well as the procedures for appointment have undergone changes, and further modifications of definitions and/or procedures are subject to review and recommendation by the Council of Graduate School Programs. In any case where this policy conflicts with the University’s Faculty Handbook, the University Faculty Handbook shall prevail.
The Graduate Faculty are responsible for teaching graduate-level courses, designing the academic content of graduate degree programs, mentoring students in research settings, serving on graduate student committees, and supervising graduate students in the research and writing of theses and dissertations. Graduate Faculty are responsible for ensuring the academic and professional development of graduate students in a supportive and inclusive environment.
Graduate Faculty Status
At the time of appointment or promotion to a tenure-track or tenured position, each faculty member of the university is, by definition, automatically granted the status of Graduate Faculty by the Senior Academic Officer.
Duties and Responsibilities of Graduate Faculty in the Graduate School
Serving as Graduate Faculty in the Graduate School comes with certain duties and responsibilities, including teaching graduate courses, supervising graduate students and/or mentoring graduate students.
TEACHING GRADUATE COURSES
In addition to the general responsibility that Graduate Faculty have for the graduate curriculum in their department or program, Graduate Faculty have the opportunity for more specialized, higher-level teaching to graduate students at the 300/400 level or at the 400 level. Graduate Faculty are required to follow university policy on the teaching of these courses. The assignment of faculty to teach graduate courses (including courses numbered 300/400, 400, or above) must follow Loyola’s Faculty Credentialing and Course Assignment Policy.
SUPERVISING GRADUATE ASSISTANTS
Graduate Assistants, in the form of Research or Teaching Assistants, constitute valuable opportunities for professional development for the graduate student. The assignment of a Graduate Faculty member as the supervisor for a Research or Teaching Assistant is at the discretion of the program or department or may follow from a faculty grant.
An overview of policies, responsibilities of and available resources related to Graduate Faculty in their supervision of Graduate Assistants can be found in the Graduate Assistant Handbook.
MENTORING GRADUATE STUDENTS
Mentoring is both a responsibility and a privilege. The future of the various professions to which we send our graduate degree students depends upon their preparation and their attitude towards their professional responsibilities. Graduate Faculty in the Graduate School who serve as faculty mentors are expected to be models for graduate students with respect to a professional attitude towards the acquisition, communication, and application of knowledge.
In their role as mentors, Graduate Faculty may serve on or chair dissertation and thesis committees. The Graduate School’s policy on serving in these roles can be found in the Academic Catalog.
Council of Graduate School Programs
The primary function of the Council of Graduate School Programs is to discuss and formulate the aims, purposes, and quality standards for graduate programs under the auspices of the Graduate School at Loyola University Chicago. The Council has jurisdiction over all academic matters delegated and makes policy recommendations in such areas as: admissions, curriculum, qualifying exams or projects, theses and dissertations, and overall objectives. The Council also serves in an advisory role to the Dean of the Graduate School.
Further information about CGSP, including its By-Laws, can be found here.
Graduate Program Directors
Graduate Program Directors (GPDs) are central to the success of Loyola University Chicago’s graduate programs. They serve as unique liaisons among Graduate Faculty, the graduate student body, and the Graduate School administration. GPDs are responsible to their department or program chair and to the Dean of the Graduate School. They possess the authority to speak for the department or program on any matter relating to graduate programs. The Graduate Program Director represents his/her unit on the Council of Graduate School Programs, as outlined in its By-Laws.