1.0  Purpose

1.1         The purpose of this university policy is to establish the policy and procedures under which tenured Wayne State University faculty may pursue graduate or professional degrees from Wayne State University.

1.2         The further purpose is to outline the procedures to be followed by all parties involved in implementing the policy when a Wayne State University faculty member is eligible to pursue a graduate or professional degree.

2.0  Definitions

2.1         The policy described here applies to those faculty who hold the ranks of Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, or Professor and who have been granted tenure by Wayne State University.  Individuals who are on the tenure-track but have not yet earned tenure are not eligible to pursue graduate or professional degrees at Wayne State while in University employment.  Faculty who are not tenured and not on the tenure-track, including lecturers and senior lecturers, may enroll in degree programs outside of their own academic unit with approval of the dean of their college.

3.0  Policy

3.1         The University recognizes that under certain circumstances, faculty members at Wayne State University may find it in their best interests and the best interests of the University to obtain a graduate or professional degree.

3.2         Tenured faculty members holding the rank of Assistant Professor or above at Wayne State University may pursue a graduate or professional degree at Wayne State University under these conditions:

1.   The candidate has documented the necessity for seeking the degree at Wayne State University rather than at an alternative institution; and

2.   The candidate possesses a master's degree that historically was considered the terminal degree in his/her discipline; or, the candidate already possesses a doctorate in one field and seeks a graduate degree in another field in order to strengthen his/her program of teaching, scholarship, or service; and

3.   The candidate has identified an appropriate graduate or professional program that has agreed to accept him/her; and

4.   The candidate, the Dean of his/her college, the Dean of the college in which the degree would be earned, and the Dean of the Graduate  School have reviewed the application and have determined appropriate steps to eliminate all conflicts of interest that may occur as a result of such enrollment; and

5.   The department or college in which the faculty member seeks to obtain a graduate degree has identified, where necessary, a doctoral committee, including, where possible, two individuals external to Wayne State University, with expertise and appropriate credentials to supervise and evaluate the qualifying examinations  and dissertation to be completed; and

6.   The candidate is not a faculty member in the same college as the proposed degree program nor are any members of the doctoral committee from the same college in which the candidate holds faculty appointment.  This provision may be waived by the Dean of the Graduate School in rare cases where the candidate's department of faculty appointment is in the same college as a separate and distinct degree program in which the candidate's enrollment would advance the candidate's program of teaching, scholarship or service.  In such a case, no member of the doctoral committee shall come from the candidate's department of appointment; and

7.   The candidate shall agree to continue in regular, full-time service with Wayne State University for two academic years following the completion of the proposed degree program or, if not completed, the completion of the last course taken as part of the programs.

4.0  Procedure

4.1         Candidates must apply in writing to the Dean of the Graduate School.  Letters of application must be accompanied by the following:

1.   A statement by the candidate that details the rationale for seeking the graduate or professional degree at Wayne State University rather than at an alternative institution; and the significance of the degree for the candidate and his/her program; and

2.   A letter from the department or college administrator or committee responsible for graduate or professional studies in the department in which the candidate seeks to enroll indicating that the candidate would be admitted to the program if the application is approved by the Dean of the Graduate School; and

3.   A letter from the Dean in whose college the degree would be obtained indicating that he/she has determined that the integrity of the program will not be jeopardized by admitting the candidate; and

4.   Letters of endorsement from the Dean/Department Chair in whose college/department the faculty member holds appointment.

4.2         Letters of application will be reviewed by the Dean of the Graduate School and the Provost; the latter will make a recommendation for final action to the President.

5.0  Duration

5.1         This university policy is revocable by the President at any time and without notice.

6.0  Effective Date

6.1         This university policy is effective upon issuance.

6.2         This University Policy supersedes University Policy 2005-02 First Release. 

Signed by President M. Roy Wilson, February 28, 2018.