Faculty & Staff | FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions: Graduate Faculty/Staff Responsibilities/Graduate Faculty Status

1. What does the Graduate Program Director's signature mean?
2. What is the "Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974" (FERPA) and how does it impact the manner in which our department deals with requests for student information (including addresses, status, grades, degree earned, etc.)?
3. What are the responsibilities of Graduate Faculty members ?
4. How is a faculty member added to the Graduate Faculty ?
   

1. What does the Graduate Program Director's signature mean?

The GPD's signature is an indication of legal approval that your graduate program requirements have been met, whether it be admissions, registration, or degree completion. Your role is vital in assisting the Graduate School in recommending "official action" about a graduate student or applicant. Under no circumstances, should this signatory power be delegated to another person.

2. What is the "Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974" (FERPA) and how does it impact the manner in which our department deals with requests for student information (including addresses, status, grades, degree earned, etc.)?

"The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974" protects the privacy of student records, ensuring that the University will not release confidential information about a student to a third party without that student's knowledge and consent. (Note that a third party does include a direct relative, spouse, etc.) Only those data items that have been defined by the University as directory information can be released without prior consent. The University defines directory information as a student's name, local address, home address, email address, major, local telephone number, date and place of birth, date(s) of attendance, degrees, certificates, awards received, the most recent previous educational agency or institution attended by the student, and the dollar amount of money earned on the state or trust fund payroll. For graduate students who are teaching/assisting with credit courses and for graduate students who are employed as assistant residence directors, the work department, office address, and employment category will also be considered as directory information. Knowledge of the policy should be passed on to all secretaries and all faculty.

3. What are the responsibilities of Graduate Faculty members?

Among other duties, membership in the Graduate Faculty includes the responsibility of serving on thesis and dissertation committees. All members have the responsibility for insuring that the academic quality of the program is not compromised and that all students who receive graduate degrees from this institution have attained the academic competency that the degree affords. Faculty are responsible for maintaining and improving the academic excellence of the institution through scholarly research and excellence in education.

4. How is a faculty member added to the Graduate Faculty?

Graduate Faculty membership is achieved by recommendation from the Personnel Committee of the faculty member's academic department. Each department has specific criteria for Graduate Faculty. The department head/chair or Graduate Program Director should send a memorandum requesting the appointment and a current vita to John R. Mullin, Dean of the Graduate School.