Section 2. The criteria for membership in the graduate faculty are set forth in the Faculty Handbook and in the Graduate College Handbook. Responsibility for designating graduate faculty rests with the department chair with the approval of the school dean, the dean of the Graduate College, and the Graduate Council.

Document History
Amended January 2026 by the Graduate Council

Section 3. Criteria for Membership in the Graduate Faculty

3a. Graduate Faculty advance the mission of Hampton University through excellence in graduate education. The Graduate Faculty is composed of Full Members and Associate Members. This policy describes the process and conditions for appointment to the Graduate Faculty at Hampton University.

3b. Full Members
“Full Members,” in this policy, are tenure-system faculty appointed to the Graduate Faculty with the right to direct master’s and doctoral theses.

3c. Associate Members
“Associate Members,” in this policy, are faculty and practitioners appointed to the Graduate Faculty who may direct master’s and doctoral theses with formal approval of the Graduate Council.

3d. Tenure-System Faculty
“Tenure-system Faculty,” in this policy, are faculty who are tenured or on a tenure-track appointment at Hampton University.

3e. Faculty on temporary annual contracts (i.e. non-tenure-track faculty, including instructors, adjunct or visiting professors), retired faculty, and emeriti faculty, upon recommendation by the department chair and with approval of the school dean and the Dean of the Graduate College, may be appointed as Associate Members of the Graduate Faculty. They may teach graduate courses and serve on thesis and dissertation committees. They may direct master’s and doctoral theses with formal approval of the Graduate Council.

3f. Retired Faculty
“Retired Faculty,” in this policy, are full-time faculty who have retired from Hampton University.

3g. Emeriti Faculty, in this policy, are tenured faculty who have been conferred emerit status at the time of retirement in recognition of their distinguished career at Hampton University.

Document History
Proposed December 2025
Amended April 2026 by the Graduate Council

Section 4. The Graduate Faculty shall have the responsibility for matters of curriculum, subject matter, research methodology, evaluation of graduate student performance, and advising and mentorship.

Section 5. Special meetings of the Graduate Faculty may be called by the Dean of the Graduate College or by written petition signed by at least ten (10) members of the Graduate Faculty.

Section 6. Members of the Graduate Faculty may serve on standing and special committees when duly elected by established procedures.

Section 7. The Graduate Faculty may initiate action on matters of concern to the body or to graduate students.

Section 8. All members of the Graduate Faculty shall have the right to vote at meetings of the Graduate Faculty.

Section 9. A majority of voting members must be present to constitute a quorum. Matters of business may be resolved by an electronic quorum of official representatives of members, utilizing means that include but are not limited to, email, virtual conferencing, and telephone conferencing. A simple majority of the official representatives voting is required for approval.

Document History
Proposed March 2026
Amended April 2026 by the Graduate Council

ARTICLE IV: THE GRADUATE COUNCIL

Section 1. The Graduate Council shall (1) formulate standards and regulations affecting all graduate curricula and work leading to a graduate degree and (2) institute said standards and regulations as delegated by the graduate faculty. The Graduate Council shall serve and act on behalf of graduate faculty and graduate students.

Section 2. Specifically the Graduate Council shall perform the following duties:

1. Review and approve minimum standards for graduate student admission.
2. Review and approve basic requirements for graduate degrees.
3. Review and approve new and revised graduate courses and degree programs.
4. Recommend policy on financial support for graduate students.
5. Develop strategies for increasing financial support for graduate students and graduate programs.
6. Provide periodic qualitative review of graduate programs.
7. Develop general criteria and procedures for the identification and selection of members of the graduate faculty.
8. Serve as a means of communication between and among the graduate faculty, administrators, and students.
9. Facilitate professional development of the graduate faculty to include coordination of research and teaching efforts at the graduate level.

Section 3. The Graduate Council shall be composed of voting members and ex officio members. Voting members consist of the Graduate Program Coordinators for each graduate program in the University. Graduate Program Coordinators are graduate faculty members designated by the department chair with the approval of the school dean and the Dean of the Graduate College.

The Graduate Council will include ex officio members who hold administrative positions important to graduate programs at Hampton University. Ex officio members may make motions and participate in debate and deliberation. They do not vote and are not included in establishing a quorum of the Graduate Council.

Ex officio members include a representative from each of the following offices:

• University Library
• University Registrar
• Office of Athletics
• Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships
• Office of Sponsored Programs
• Office of Operations Analysis and Research
• Office of the Vice President for Research
• Office of Student Business Services
• Office of Residence Life and Housing
• Student Counseling Center
• The Graduate College
• Hampton U Global

The Dean of the Graduate College is the academic officer responsible for coordinating support for the graduate programs of the University and for implementing the policies of the University regarding graduate education. The Dean of the Graduate College will serve as the chair of the Graduate Council but will not be a voting member.

Document History
Amended November 2024 by the Graduate Council
Amended December 2025 by the Graduate Council

ARTICLE V: ADMINISTRATION OF THE GRADUATE COLLEGE

The chief administrative officer of the Graduate College shall be the dean, and as such he or she shall be responsible for providing overall leadership and management for the Graduate College.

ARTICLE VI: PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE

Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern the conduct of all meetings.

ARTICLE VII: AMENDMENTS

Section 1. Proposed amendments to these Bylaws shall be submitted in writing to the chair of the Graduate Council and be made available to all members of the Council at least one week prior to the regular meeting at which they are to be discussed.

Section 2. The chair shall submit the proposed amendment to the Graduate Council for recommendations at the regular meeting of the Graduate Council.

Section 3. Any proposed amendments to the Bylaws shall be submitted to the Graduate Council and shall become effective upon approval by two-thirds of that body.

Document History
Amended April 2026 by the Graduate Council