School of Graduate Studies

Graduate Faculty Membership

The Graduate Faculty at LSUHSC-NO shall consist of those members of the teaching and research faculties who have been so designated by the Chancellor upon the recommendation of the Graduate Advisory Council (GAC) and approval by the Dean of the SGS acting on appropriate nominations. In addition to Full membership, such designations also provide for admission as an Associate member, Affiliate member, or Emeritus member, according to qualifications and experience.  

All members must complete the mandated professional development training established by the GAC and SGS Dean. All members of the Graduate Faculty must also adhere to the principles and guidelines of the Appropriate Treatment of Research Trainees and the Compact Between Biomedical Graduate Students and Their Research Advisors, published by the Association of American Medical Colleges. 

It is the policy of the SGS that only persons appointed to the Graduate Faculty may teach graduate level courses and serve on student research advisory committees. Only Associate and Full members may serve as major research professors/ research advisor to direct work on theses and dissertations. Only Full members may serve as the Administrative Advisor on theses and dissertations. Only Full Members may participate in the development of the policies of the SGS according to procedures determined by the GAC and SGS Dean.   

All members of the Graduate Faculty agree to adhere to the principles and guidelines of the Compact Between Biomedical Graduate Students and Their Research Advisors and the Appropriate Treatment of Research Trainees.

Procedure for Application

PLEASE SUBMIT ALL APPLICATIONS TO THE COMMITTEE CHAIR, DR. SURESH ALAHARI: salaha@lsuhsc.edu

Faculty members who wish to participate in graduate education at LSUHSC-NO must be nominated for membership to the Graduate Faculty.   

Nomination requires: 

  • Submission of completed application form and a current Curriculum Vitae 
  • Signature of two Full members of the Graduate Faculty supporting the Nomination 
  • Signature of a degree-granting Program Representative  
    • If the faculty member being nominated is not affiliated with a degree-granting program in the SGS, the nomination will require an additional signature of a Program Representative associated with a Graduate Degree Program, the Director of an LSUHSC-NO Center of Excellence, or their Dean. 
    • Approval indicates that the faculty member has the support of their supervisor to dedicate the time required for substantive participation in the graduate program and the faculty member is expected to be fully engaged in the graduate program’s teaching, advising, and committee work. 
  • Completion of required training modules. 

Recommendations to the Graduate Faculty are made upon completion of required training, recommendation of two Full members and the degree-granting Program Representative, and presented to the GAC by the GAC Membership Committee. The SGS Dean makes the final appointment of recommended faculty to the Graduate Faculty.  

Full Membership 

Privileges and Responsibilities

Full members of the Graduate Faculty can serve as voting members of the GAC, engage in all graduate education activities, nominate faculty for membership to the Graduate Faculty, serve as Major Research Professor/ Research Advisor to direct thesis and dissertation research, and/or serve as Administrative Chair of thesis and dissertation committees. 

Appointment as a Full member of the Graduate Faculty is for an indefinite term, but is subject to review and recurring training as determined by the GAC and the SGS Dean. 

Full members may be on the tenure-track, research track, or clinical track, provided they meet qualifications for appointment. 

Qualifications for Appointment

  • Rank of Associate Professor or above, Exceptions to the qualifications for rank are allowed by approval of the SGS Dean. 
  • Highest degree appropriate to their field of study 
  • A record of current and sustained scholarly activity (including but not limited to reports and publications in recognized journals and books in the field) 
  • Active or expected involvement in Graduate School activities such as teaching and mentoring 
  • Experience in directing graduate research, serving as a major research professor/ research advisor or member of a thesis and/or dissertation committee, mentoring graduate students, or developing and teaching graduate level courses 

Associate Membership

Privileges and Responsibilities

Associate members of the Graduate Faculty may engage in all graduate education activities. They may direct thesis and dissertation committees as Major Research Professors/ Research Advisor, provided the committee contains at least two Full members of the Graduate Faculty from the same degree-granting Program, and the full committee is approved by the outlined SGS criteria, as well as those of the degree-granting program.  

Associate members may be on the tenure-track, research track, or clinical track, provided they meet qualifications for appointment. 

Associate members are not eligible to serve as voting members of the GAC, and they may not nominate faculty for membership to the Graduate Faculty.  

Appointment as an Associate member of the Graduate Faculty is for a term of seven years, subject to annual review and recurring training as determined by the GAC and SGS Dean. Faculty members who do not meet qualifications for Full membership within 7 years may be eligible for renewing their membership as an Associate member for an additional term of five years if the qualifications for reappointment are met.  Membership renewal must be requested and is subject to annual review and recurring training as determined by the GAC and SGS Dean.  

Qualifications for Appointment

  • Rank of Assistant Professor or above 
  • Highest degree appropriate to their field of study 
  • A record of current and sustained scholarly activity (including but not limited to reports and publications in recognized journals and books in the field) 
  • Active involvement in research or teaching relevant to the Graduate School 

Affiliate Membership

Privileges and Responsibilities

Affiliate members of the Graduate Faculty may serve as members of thesis and dissertation committees and participate in teaching of graduate students. They may not serve as a major research professor/research advisor or co-mentor for thesis or dissertation work. They may not serve as course directors for graduate courses. They may not serve as voting members of the GAC. This membership is for those faculty primarily involved in clinical research and/or early-stage faculty. 

Appointment as an Affiliate member of the Graduate Faculty is for a term of seven years, subject to annual review and recurring training as determined by the GAC and SGS Dean. After seven years, an Affiliate member must request to renew their membership to retain Graduate Faculty membership. 

Qualifications for Appointment

  • Rank of Instructor or above on any faculty track 
  • Highest degree appropriate to their field of study 
  • Evidence of teaching experience 
  • Planned activities in graduate teaching or research mentorship 

Emeritus Membership 

Privileges and Responsibilities

Emeritus members of the Graduate Faculty are faculty who have retired as Full members of the Graduate Faculty and have been approved for emeritus status per the regulations in PM-69. They may continue to serve on thesis and dissertation committees as Major Research Professor/ Research Advisors, Administrative Chairs or members. 

Qualifications for Appointment

  • Appointment as a Full member of the Graduate Faculty in good standing prior to retirement.