Graduate Faculty membership is an extension of an individual’s UAB academic appointments. All individuals appointed to faculty positions in UAB departments are eligible for appointment to the Graduate Faculty. The Dean of the Graduate School can elect to remove a faculty member in cases where performance is not meeting the expectations of the Graduate School. The Graduate Faculty appointment form, a letter of nomination from the Department Chair or Division Director, and a current CV should be sent via email (as a single PDF attachment) to carram@uab.edu. See complete submission instructions.

Graduate Faculty Level I

Graduate Faculty Level I is for faculty who will serve primarily as lecturers, course directors, or members of thesis or dissertation committees. To qualify, an individual must hold a terminal degree in his or her field and must hold a UAB faculty appointment, or an equivalent appointment at Southern Research or Hudson Alpha with an adjunct appointment at UAB. A letter of support from the Department Chair or Division Director describing the expected role of this faculty member in graduate education is required together with the appointment form and current CV of the faculty member in UAB format. Appointments will be reviewed every five years. Faculty with Emeritus status may also serve on student committees with the same roles and responsibilities as Level I.

Graduate Faculty Level II

Graduate Faculty Level II is reserved for individuals who will serve as primary graduate student mentors and/or chair graduate student thesis or dissertation committees, in addition to serving as lecturers, course directors, or members of thesis or dissertation committees. To qualify, an individual must hold a terminal degree in his or her field, have expertise to support the training of graduate students, and have demonstrated excellence and scholarship within their field. All individuals must hold a UAB faculty appointment or an equivalent appointment at Southern Research or Hudson Alpha with an adjunct appointment at UAB. All faculty with a Level II appointment must have evidence of mentoring experience and/or obtain mentor training through the Graduate School. Faculty without prior mentoring experience will be required to have a senior faculty member serve as a co-mentor for the first mentee. Level II membership also requires participation in GRD 717 Responsible Conduct in Research as a facilitator at least once every five years, in compliance with federal funding agencies. A letter of support from the Department Chair or Division Director describing the expected role of this faculty member in graduate education is required, along with the completed appointment form and current CV of the faculty member in UAB format. Appointments will be reviewed every five years.

Ad Hoc Graduate School Membership

Ad Hoc Graduate School Membership is a status granted to individuals who are only peripherally or occasionally involved in graduate student training. These individuals typically do not have a UAB faculty appointment, although some UAB faculty may request Ad Hoc appointment if their involvement in graduate education is expected to be temporary. UAB researchers with Scientist 1-4 appointments may be granted Ad Hoc membership. Ad Hoc members may only serve on individual graduate student committees. They cannot serve as a primary mentor of graduate students or serve as chair of a student thesis or dissertation committee. A letter of support from the Program Director describing the individual’s role in graduate education and relevant experience should be included with the appointment form and the individual’s current CV. The letter should also include the name of the graduate student on whose committee the individual will serve. Ad Hoc appointments are made on a case-by-case basis. Once approved, these appointments will be reviewed every five years.

Policies on Retired and Emeriti Faculty Serving on Thesis and Dissertation Committees

A retired or emeritus faculty member may continue to serve as a member and/or co-chair on the thesis and dissertation committees if they were appointed to these roles prior to their retirement.

Upon their retirement, a retired or emeritus faculty member will not continue to serve as a chair of thesis and dissertation committees. They may serve as a member or a co-chair of those committees if they wish.

A retired or emeritus faculty member may be appointed as a member and/or co-chair on thesis and dissertation committees formed after their retirement as long as they are professionally active in their field of study through publishing, attending professional conferences, reviewing for academic journals or other related activities.

All requests for retired and emeritus faculty members to continue service on thesis and dissertation committees must be submitted to the Graduate School accompanied by the faculty member’s recent CV. All requests must be approved by the Graduate School.