Types of Appointment

  1. Regular members (RGF): UHM faculty at rank 2 or higher in an academic department or college/school that houses the graduate program with which the graduate faculty appointment would be affiliated. This program is considered their “home” graduate program. For those with split appointments, it is the graduate program in the unit where the individual’s locus of tenure is assigned. RGF are eligible for a level 3, 2, or 1 graduate faculty appointment.
    • RGF members may also include temporary faculty, instructors, post-doctoral fellows, and any others with a similar UH appointment in the department/unit; however, these individuals are limited to a level 1 graduate faculty appointment.
  2. Cooperating members (CGF): UH faculty from another graduate program at UHM, research (R) faculty employed by a UHM research unit or faculty members in a department without a graduate program, or on another UH campus. For UH faculty in a unit without a graduate program or employed on another UH campus, the first CGF appointment will be the “home” graduate program. CGF are eligible for a level 3, 2, or 1 graduate faculty appointment. The level of the nominee is determined by the nominating graduate program.
    • CGF members may also include temporary faculty, instructors, post-doctoral fellows, and any others with a similar UH appointment from other UH units; however, these individuals are limited to a level 1 graduate faculty appointment.
  3. Affiliate Graduate Faculty members (AGF): Non-UH faculty or community members otherwise qualified who possess a specific expertise or background that may contribute to a student’s graduate work. They may only be nominated for a Level 1 appointment which is specific to the nominating program. Graduate faculty who have resigned from UH may be reappointed as AGF, if appropriate. Affiliate graduate faculty appointments are processed as non-compensated Board of
    Regents (BOR) appointments using the Payroll Notification Form (PNF) and are renewable, as appropriate, annually. Renewal is based on satisfactory performance, current Title IX training completion and conduct as determined by the graduate program and Graduate Division.

    • Adjunct and Clinical Faculty: Due to the short-term nature of their appointments, adjunct and clinical faculty are not normally considered for appointment to the graduate faculty. If a graduate program wishes to nominate such faculty, please follow the procedures for the nomination of an AGF.
  4. Emeritus (EGF): UHM faculty awarded as Emeritus faculty by the Board of Regents may continue to serve as a member of the graduate faculty. This includes in their home graduate program as well as with other graduate programs at UHM, if they wish. They may finish their advising/committee work (including as University Representative) with students who have reached candidacy at the time of their retirement, but may not chair, advise, or serve as UR for any further students after their retirement. They may, however, serve as a committee member (i.e., level 1 only).
  1. General (GGF): UHM faculty members at rank 2 or higher in an academic department or unit that does not have a graduate program. Their research expertise may be of interest and help to benefit a student’s thesis or doctoral research.
    • GGF are eligible for a level 1 graduate faculty appointment. Upon approval for a CGF appointment, this appointment will be rescinded.
    • On the Nomination Form, use Graduate Division on line for Name of Graduate Program.

Levels of Appointment

  • Level 3 (formerly Full) members may advise and chair master’s and doctoral committees in their home and/or cooperating graduate programs, prepare and/or assist in preparing/grading qualifying, comprehensive and final exams, assist in the administration of their home graduate program, and serve as university representative after completing service on a doctoral committee at UHM. They may also serve as committee members on any master’s and doctoral committees for students in other programs.
    • RGF and CGF only
  • Level 2 (formerly Associate) members may advise and chair Plan A master’s thesis committees in their home and/or cooperating graduate programs help prepare and grade qualifying, comprehensive and final exams and also participate in the general administration of their home graduate program. Level 2 graduate faculty may not advise or chair doctoral committees, or serve as the University Representative. They may also serve as committee members on any master’s and doctoral committees for students in other programs.
    • RGF and CGF only
  • Level 1 members may serve as a member on a thesis or doctoral committee. They may not advise students, serve as chair or as University Representative, but may help grade, qualifying, comprehensive and final exams. The role of a Level 1 member is primarily to contribute expertise with regard to the topics, methods, analyses or other related aspects of students’ research. They may also serve as committee members on any master’s and doctoral committees for students in other programs.
    • RGF, CGF, EGF, GGF only
    • AGF – participation is limited to the graduate program with which they have a graduate faculty appointment. Another AGF appointment would be necessary if asked to serve on committees for students in another graduate program.

Related information

  • The primary difference between levels 3 and 2 relates to whether or not the individual may chair a doctoral committee and serve as a University Representative.
  • Cooperating graduate faculty members from other UH campuses may not serve as a University Representative on thesis/doctoral committees.
  • Level is unrelated to faculty rank and denotes privileges with regard to working with graduate students.
  • The level of a second graduate faculty appointment may not exceed that of their first graduate faculty appointment (i.e., home graduate program). Newly appointed tenure-track “I” and “R” UHM faculty at Rank 3 or above are eligible to become level 3 members of the graduate faculty, unless otherwise specified by the graduate program. A nomination form and current CV should be submitted. The participation privileges of cooperating, affiliate, emeritus, and other graduate faculty members in a graduate program is left to the discretion of the graduate program’s RGF members.

The nomination of a graduate faculty member should have the support of the majority of the program’s graduate faculty and are also recommended by the College/School Dean/Director. A graduate faculty appointment must be re-established if the home program changes (i.e., faculty member leaves one department for another at UHM) or if their status at UH changes (e.g., resignation, retirement). Review of all program graduate faculty occurs concurrently with Program Review or following an accreditation visit.

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