To: Monica Fitzgerald, Chair, Committees on Committees

From: Jim Sauerberg, Faculty Handbook Coordinator

Date: January 8th, 2018

RE: Terminal Degrees

It is not productive to have occasional and hidden duties within the Faculty Handbook. One such is found in section 2.1.1.1 Terminal Degrees, which indicates that the UEPC/GPSEPC “shall initially review such proposed non­doctoral terminal degree designation, and shall review all such designations every six years thereafter." From communication with Chairs Metherd and Edwards, it doesn’t appear that they were aware of this responsibility.

Further, upon studying it, they are not clear that we need to “review all such designations” at a regular interval. We therefore recommend the following changes.

1.7.4.5 Undergraduate Educational Policies Committee

Role:

  1. Together with the Graduate and Professional Studies Educational Policies Committee, reviews non-doctoral degrees that have been proposed as terminal degrees (See 2.1.1.1 Terminal Degrees).

1.7.4.6 Graduate and Professional Studies Educational Policies Committee

Role:

  1. Together with the Undergraduates Educational Policies Committee, reviews non-doctoral degrees that have been proposed as terminal degrees (See 2.1.1.1 Terminal Degrees).

2.1.1.1 Terminal Degree

A doctorate is normally considered to be a terminal degree. Any department wishing to propose another degree as terminal in a specialized field (e.g., the M.F.A. in Creative Writing) should make its case as clearly and fully as possible before the hiring process begins for any position that may be affected. Theto the Undergraduate Educational Policies Committee (or the Graduate and Professional Studies Educational Policies Committee, if more as appropriate) shall initially review such proposed non-doctoral terminal degree designation, and shall review all such designations every six years thereafter. Upon such a review they shall recommend approval or disapproval to the Academic Senate. Upon the approval by the appropriate CommitteeSenate, non-doctoral terminal degrees are subject to final approval by the Provost. Any person hired as having the appropriate terminal degree and who has continued in the same position shall be considered to have permanent approval even if at some later date another degree is designated as terminal for that position. Such initial and permanent approval will appear in that faculty member's contract.

New Language:

A doctorate is normally considered to be a terminal degree. Any department wishing to propose another degree as terminal in a specialized field (e.g., the M.F.A. in Creative Writing) should make its case as clearly and fully as possible before the hiring process begins for any position that may be affected to the Undergraduate Educational Policies Committee (or the Graduate and Professional Studies Educational Policies Committee, as appropriate. Upon approval by the appropriate Committee, non-doctoral terminal degrees are subject to final approval by the Provost. Any person hired as having the appropriate terminal degree and who has continued in the same position shall be considered to have permanent approval even if at some later date another degree is designated as terminal for that position. Such initial and permanent approval will appear in that faculty member's contract.