CALIFORNIA STATE POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY, POMONA

ACADEMIC SENATE

ACADEMIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

REPORT TO

THE ACADEMIC SENATE

AA-003-112

Master’s Thesis Committee Guidelines

Academic Affairs Committee Date: May 7, 2014

Executive Committee Received and Forwarded Date: June 9, 2014

Academic Senate Date: July 23, 2014 FIRST READING

Resources Recommended and Consulted

Recommended Consulted Claudia Pinter-Lucke Claudia Pinter-Lucke AA-003-112, Master’s Thesis Committee Guidelines 2

University Catalog University Catalog Department Chairs Department Chairs Graduate Coordinators Graduate Coordinators Rebecca Rivas Rebecca Rivas Graduate Council Extended Graduate Council

Discussion

1. The attachment provided with the referral indicates current policies in place regarding the selection of thesis committees at other campuses across the CSU.

The Academic Affairs committee agrees that a commonly accepted standard would be beneficial.

The only concern would be faculty availability to serve on committees if two full- time faculty members are required but the referral provides for selection of an external third member, which would help offset this requirement, especially since this referral applies only to the thesis culminating experience, not the project.

The committee also agrees with the expectations for committee service, as well as the process for reconstituting a committee as necessary.

Recommendation

The recommendation is to adopt the following policies as described in detail in the referral:

(1) Composition of Committee

a. The thesis committee shall be comprised of at least three members.

b. The thesis committee chair must hold a tenured or tenure track faculty appointment in the department in which the student’s degree is offered.

c. The second member must also be a tenure-track, tenured full- time (including FERP with a .5 three quarter appointment for Fall/Winter/Spring) faculty member in the university. Upon approval of the department, a temporary faculty member may

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serve.

d. The third member of the thesis committee may come from outside the department or University. .

e. The composition of the thesis committee is subject to exception through the process of petition and approval by the department and Office of Graduate Studies.

(2) Eligibility of Committee Members

a. All members of a committee must hold, at a minimum, a master’s degree or equivalent in an appropriate discipline and be current in the field, as determined by the department. Committee members’ qualifications will be vetted by the Graduate Coordinator

b. Departments may institute guidelines concerning faculty eligibility and selection beyond those included here. Students and their department graduate advisor are responsible for complying with all guidelines.

(3) Terms of Service

a. All members of the committee must sign an agreement to serve as a member of the Masters Thesis Committee.

b. A signature on this agreement signifies full participation through the completion of the process, which may span more than one year.

c. It is the responsibility of both the student and the committee member to ensure that the committee member will be available throughout the process.

d. The graduate coordinator (or the department chair if the graduate coordinator is a member of the thesis committee) may require the reconstitution of a committee. AA-003-112, Master’s Thesis Committee Guidelines 4

(4) Replacement of Committee Members

Committee members may be replaced. It is the student’s responsibility to find a suitable replacement in consultation with the Graduate Coordinator (or the department chair/program director if the Graduate Coordinator is a member of the thesis committee), under circumstances such as:

a. A faculty member resigns from the committee.

b. The committee member can no longer fulfill policy requirements.

c. The committee has become dysfunctional such that the student’s progress is obstructed.

d. There is evidence of unethical behavior on the part of a committee member.

ATTACHMENT: Current CSU Policies

College Minimum Approval of Thesis committee Qualifications for Qualifications for Comments Comments about adjuncts or committee and/or Changes to Committee committee chair additional members about FERPS Lecturers Bakersfield Not specified Policies differ by program but Not specified Not specified Not specified Not specified graduate coordinators are generally responsible for ensuring the integrity of the thesis committee. Channel 3 a formal Candidacy Form must be must be CSUCI- PhD required PhD required PhD required Islands signed by the thesis supervisor and based; or, co-advise by the program director with a CSUCI faculty. PhD required

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College Minimum Approval of Thesis committee Qualifications for Qualifications for Comments Comments about adjuncts or committee and/or Changes to Committee committee chair additional members about FERPS Lecturers Chico 2-3, depending Graduate Coordinator must approve Strong Background Same as chair. May be fully Not specified (no on dept. committee members that are from in the appropriate In some departments, retired from verification) outside department or retired. academic area. Is (1) may be associated the program Committee chair, graduate able to with a program other but willing to coordinator, and graduate dean communicate and than the one granting volunteer his must approve committee members work well with other the degree. (2) may be or her time to who do not meet minimum criteria. faculty in the fully retired from the serve on the program, and have program but willing to committee. time to participate. volunteer. Prohibited Tenured or tenure- for people with conflicts track faculty of interest member who is from the program, See next columns. including members participating in the early retirement program. Prohibited for people with conflicts of interest Dominguez 3 The full committee will be selected in Faculty member in Full –time faculty Not specified Not specified Hills consultation with the committee the department or members or Emeritus (no chair. Approval of requests for program reviewing Faculty verification) additional committee members and approving the should be obtained from the thesis. See next columns. committee chair. Exceptions must be granted by the Graduate Dean in consultation with the Graduate Council East Bay Not specified Not specified but at least one Must be a CSUEB Not specified FERPing Not specified member must be a CSUEB faculty faculty member faculty member from the major department from major cannot serve department as chairs of graduate thesis committees unless they are teaching three of four quarters each academic year and will be teaching for the expected duration of the thesis. Fresno 3 The full committee will be selected in Member of the Two members on May serve as Part-time and adjunct may consultation with the committee Master’s Graduate committee must be second or serve as third readers chair. Approval of requests for Faculty Group of members of the third reader. additional committee members student’s degree Master’s Graduate Program should be obtained from the program. Must have Faculty Group. must appoint committee chair. previously served as FERP faculty a second or third See next columns. serving on member of a thesis thesis committee. committees as adjunct faculty during each of the academic terms in which they have inactive status. AA-003-112, Master’s Thesis Committee Guidelines 6

College Minimum Approval of Thesis committee Qualifications for Qualifications for Comments Comments about adjuncts or committee and/or Changes to Committee committee chair additional members about FERPS Lecturers Fullerton 3 Not specified Not specified See next columns Not specified Not specified (no verification)

Humboldt 3 Committee membership will be With rare Generally is a Humboldt Fully retired Lecturers are not permitted to established by the student in exceptions, the State University faculty, faculty are chair committees, but may consultation with the major Chair is a Humboldt or adjunct faculty, who not permitted volunteer to serve as members. professor who will chair the State University holds an earned PhD or to chair Adjunct faculty must have committee, and approved by the tenured or other terminal degree, committees, earned a PhD or other terminal graduate coordinator and the Vice probationary faculty and may be from a but may degree, and may be from a Provost. member in the discipline secondary to volunteer to discipline secondary to the student’s primary the student’s thesis or serve as student’s thesis or project. discipline project. members

See next columns.

Long Beach 3 Must be approved by appropriate Tenured or tenure- Full-time faculty Not specified Not specified department graduate advisor and track member from member at CSULB. Must the college associate dean or a department be a person qualified in director of graduate studies. Any authorized to offer a the specific area of the change in the composition of the graduate degree. thesis. committee requires justification and May serve as thesis must be approved by the director. appropriate department graduate advisor and college associate dean or director of graduate studies. Los Angeles 2-3 Approval is first by department Full-time faculty Full-time faculty Faculty May serve as an extra member chairperson. Then a Request for member. May assist member involved in of a graduate committee (ex. A Thesis Committee form should be student in finding FERP may fourth member of the submitted to the college dean for faculty for the serve on a committee). approval committee or to graduate replace existing committee as members if they a regular become unable or member if unwilling to serve they agree to assist the student whenever needed, not just during term(s) on duty.

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College Minimum Approval of Thesis committee Qualifications for Qualifications for Comments Comments about adjuncts or committee and/or Changes to Committee committee chair additional members about FERPS Lecturers Monterey 3 The thesis chair and the academic The chair of the All members of the Not specified Part-time and adjunct faculty Bay coordinator/director of the graduate committee must thesis committee will be may serve as third or fourth program must approve the hold a individuals with members on a thesis composition of the thesis committee. tenured/tenure- advanced degrees committee. track faculty and/or relevant appointment in the professional experience. Division within Second member must be which the graduate a tenured / tenure-track program resides. faculty within the graduate program Division. Third member may be external to the Division and provide expertise in the student’s field of study.

Northridge 3 A Curriculum vitae of a part time Full-time faculty Two committee Not specified One of the committee (no faculty or off-campus committee from student’s members must be full- members may be part-time verification) member must be attached to the department time faculty from faculty. Must meet one of the Thesis Planning Form for approval by student’s department. following minimal qualifications the Committee Chair, department Third member may be on the committee: Graduate Coordinator and the full-time faculty from a) Hold a M.A. in the field or Associate Vice President of Graduate student’s department or in a related field or Studies. be part-time faculty or equivalent degree off-campus

See next columns b) Have experience in the topic or area of the Thesis

c) Professional recognition through publications, reports, papers or membership in a national professional organization and/or working committees in their institution or agency AA-003-112, Master’s Thesis Committee Guidelines 8

College Minimum Approval of Thesis committee Qualifications for Qualifications for Comments Comments about adjuncts or committee and/or Changes to Committee committee chair additional members about FERPS Lecturers Pomona 3 (2 by Committee Chair shall approve Full-time permanent Committees of 3 must A FERP or A lecturer may not serve as the (proposed) exception) committee. faculty member with include two members Emeritus Thesis Committee Chair but an appointment in with tenured, tenure- faculty may serve as the 3 AVP for Academic Programs must the student’s track, or FERP faculty member a thesis committee (or the 2 approve deviations from Committee department; must appointments. cannot serve member on a 2 member Membership Guidelines hold a terminal as the Thesis committee). degree or the It is strongly Committee equivalent in an recommended (but not Chair but This member must hold, at a appropriate required) that the third may serve as minimum, a Master’s degree or discipline and be member of the thesis the 3rd equivalent in an appropriate current in the field committee will be from member of a discipline and be current in the as determined by outside the department. thesis field as determined by the the department. committee department. (or the 2nd on a 2 member committee).

Sacramento 3 A Curriculum vitae of a part time Full-time faculty Two committee FERP or Adjunct faculty may be (College of faculty or off-campus committee from student’s members must be full- Emeritus appointed to master’s Education member must be attached to the department time faculty from faculty committees as a third reader requires 2) Thesis Planning Form for approval by student’s department. member may when their expertise is valuable the Committee Chair, department Third member may be serve either to the instruction and Graduate Coordinator and the full-time faculty from as a chair or evaluation associated with the Associate Vice President of Graduate student’s department or 2nd/3rd development and defense of Studies. be part-time faculty or member of a the thesis or project. Adjunct off-campus committee committee members will have for a thesis the terminal degree or a significant scholarship record or a significant professional achievement record in an area related to the subject of student’s thesis or project.

San 3 Exceptions to the Graduate Council Should have a strong Recommended that all Not specified Adjunct faculty may be Bernardino (College of recommendations must be approved background in the be CSUSB faculty. appointed to master’s Education by the committee chair, graduate appropriate committees when their requires 2) coordinator and Dean of Graduate academic area, be Should have a strong expertise is valuable to the Studies able to background in the instruction and evaluation communicate. appropriate academic associated with the area, be able to development and defense of communicate. the thesis or project. Adjunct committee members will have See next columns the terminal degree or a significant scholarship record or a significant professional achievement record in an area related to the subject of student’s thesis or project.

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College Minimum Approval of Thesis committee Qualifications for Qualifications for Comments Comments about adjuncts or committee and/or Changes to Committee committee chair additional members about FERPS Lecturers San Diego 3 FERP faculty must be approved by Normally, thesis Should hold a FERP or In special circumstances of the department. committee chairs permanent (tenure or Emeritus direct benefit to the student, should also have tenure track) faculty faculty an adjunct faculty member or Final appointment of the specific expertise appointment. The member may lecturer may serve as either a membership of thesis committees (theoretical, second member should serve either second or third member of a rests with the Dean of the Graduate methodological, or have a full-time or joint as a chair or thesis committee who may be Division. If the dean does not topical) in the area appointment in the 2nd/3rd expected to be available for the approve of the thesis committee of the proposed department in which the member of a period required for the student recommendation, the dean will thesis. The chair thesis is written. Second committee to complete the thesis. Such confer with the department prior to should hold reader should hold a for a thesis. faculty must hold a terminal making any final decision. permanent (tenure terminal degree or the degree or equivalent in an or tenure track) equivalent in an appropriate discipline and be faculty appropriate discipline current in the field as appointments. The and be current in the determined by the department. chair should have a field as determined by full-time or joint the department, and (b) appointment in the regularly teach department in which graduate-level courses the thesis is written. Chair should hold a See next columns. terminal degree or the equivalent in an appropriate discipline and be current in the field as determined by the department, and (b) regularly teach graduate-level courses. San 2 To change the composition of his/her The chair of the The second reader of the Faculty in the With special permission, some Francisco committee, a student must submit a committee must committee must hold Early long-term lecturers with Petition for ATC Substitution or hold tenured/tenure-track Retirement terminal degrees in their field Committee Revision form to tenured/tenure- faculty appointments in or with special expertise may Program Graduate Studies. track faculty the major department. be approved as the second appointments in the In circumstances where (FERP), or in reviewer major department special expertise is very rare available in another cases, Emeriti Lecturers may volunteer department, the faculty, may services as a third member of a graduate dean may serve as student’s committee if they authorize a designated second or have extensive expertise in the tenured/tenure-track area under study. third readers faculty member from a related department to on a serve as second reader. Culminating Experience. See next columns. They must sign an agreement form with the student indicating when they will be available to review drafts and the final project. AA-003-112, Master’s Thesis Committee Guidelines 10

College Minimum Approval of Thesis committee Qualifications for Qualifications for Comments Comments about adjuncts or committee and/or Changes to Committee committee chair additional members about FERPS Lecturers San Jose 3 Not specified The chairperson of The majority of Faculty on Part-time temporary faculty the thesis committee members partial may serve as 3rd member on committee shall shall hold faculty retirement committee hold a permanent appointments. may serve as (tenured or tenure the track) faculty See next columns. committee appointment chair, as well as a committee member San Luis 3 Approval by graduate coordinator or Thesis advisor be a Must be faculty member Not specified Not specified Obispo department head permanent full-time and from student’s (no faculty member program verification) from the student’s program San Marcos 2 The thesis chair and the The chair of the All members of the Not specified Non tenure track individual (no coordinator/director of the graduate thesis committee thesis or project must have unique knowledge verification) program must approve the must be a tenure committee will be and expertise which will composition of the thesis committee. line faculty member individuals with enhance the quality of the Individual programs may have more and must have advanced degrees project. stringent guidelines for thesis and knowledge and and/or relevant project committee membership, as expertise in the field professional experience. approved by the Dean of Graduate of study. Second member must Studies. hold a graduate degree Sonoma 3 Not specified Faculty member, See next columns Not specified Not specified (no tenured/tenure verification) track members of the student’s department Stanislaus 2-3, depending The approval of master’s committee From the Second member is from Under certain Not specified on dept. appointments is the responsibility of department in which the department in which circumstance the department the thesis or project the thesis or project is s, a retired or is written. Full time written. emeritus Committee members who are not instructional faculty, faculty members of the faculty must be tenured or tenure See next columns. member with approved by the other members of track. an academic the thesis or project committee of specialization the student’s major department and and/or the College Dean qualifications that are not held by another department member may serve as a volunteer third committee member, but not as the committee chair

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