The Graduate Program

 

Mission and Goals

Graduate study at the University of Montevallo is directly linked to the University’s overall mission through providing professional programs of focused study and avenues for continuing growth to students who have made a commitment to careers in a selected number of fields. According to the Vision Statement of UM’s Strategic Plan, “Our vision for graduate students builds on [the University’s] undergraduate foundation, using traditional and innovative instructional methods to foster growth in specialized skills and knowledge required by practicing educators, counselors, speech-language clinicians, scholars in the humanities, and other professional leaders, within a nurturing environment steeped in the unique ‘Montevallo experience.’” High-quality educational experiences are emphasized that will allow graduates to practice in and contribute to their chosen profession or field of scholarship at deeper levels of complexity, challenge, and specialization. Each program is designed to offer the graduate student opportunities to extend and apply old and new knowledge and skills and to develop greater intellectual maturity and creative independence.

All eligible graduate programs that are offered at the University of Montevallo have received professional accreditation at the state and/or national level in their given field, and all programs are supported by the University’s base of liberal arts and sciences.

Graduate study at the University of Montevallo complements the undergraduate program, providing the same sense of community and quality of interaction between students and faculty. Further, the University creates an appropriate graduate environment by insuring adequate and up-to-date library resources, faculty-sponsored graduate student gatherings and paper presentations, advice from faculty regarding proper publication and conference channels, and a graduate seminar-like setting in many of its graduate classes.

Degrees and Programs

Initiated in 1955, the program has grown to include three master’s degrees in eight majors and a number of concentrations, as well as the Educational Specialist degree and AA certification in two areas. The degrees offered by UM are:

Master of Arts (M.A.)

English

Master of Science (M.S.)

Speech-Language Pathology

Master of Education (M.Ed.)

Counseling and Guidance

Elementary Education (K–6)

Instructional Leadership

Preschool to 12th Grade Education (P–12)

Secondary Education (6–12)

Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) and Class AA Certification

Instructional Leadership

Teacher Leadership

Governance

The Board of Trustees at the University of Montevallo is charged with authority to approve the number and type of graduate degrees; the number and nature of departments, divisions, schools or colleges through which the curriculum is administered; and the extent to which the institution should offer distance learning programs.

Graduate Council
It is the responsibility of the Graduate Council to determine policy concerning the graduate program, including review and approval of new and existing graduate curricula and programs (with such actions then referred to the vice president for academic affairs), eligibility for graduate faculty status, review and renewal of graduate faculty and to consider such other business that may be submitted to it pertaining to graduate programs. Each academic department that houses a graduate program seats at least one member on the Graduate Council; however, upon request and approval of the Council, departments with more than one graduate program may seat additional representatives by program. The Dean of Graduate Studies serves as chairperson, and the academic deans, the Director of Carmichael Library, and the Director of Graduate Admissions and Records serve as ex-officio members.

The Dean of Graduate Studies invites each department without a graduate program but with graduate courses to be present when input/participation from that department is deemed necessary by the Council.

Administration of Programs
Graduate programs are administered primarily within the academic department and the appropriate college.

Graduate Faculty
The University of Montevallo shall seek to employ faculty fully qualified and highly competent to provide sound and effective graduate instruction. Full-time and part-time faculty who teach graduate courses must be approved for Graduate Faculty or Adjunct Graduate Faculty status. This action is initiated in the academic department and subsequent approval is required of the College Dean and Graduate Council.

The criteria for Graduate Faculty approval include:

• holding the appropriate academic credential—an earned doctorate in the teaching discipline or a related discipline, or a master’s degree which is considered a terminal degree in the discipline (e.g., M.F.A.); and
• demonstration of currency in the discipline—continued scholarly, creative, and/or professional activity.

In addition to the previously noted criteria, graduate faculty are expected to be instructors of the highest quality, integrating knowledge of the literature of the discipline, ongoing student engagement in research and/or appropriate professional practice and training experiences into their teaching. Accordingly, student evaluations of graduate instruction include feedback related to these areas.

Once every six years, the Department Chair will submit to the College Dean a recommendation regarding renewal of the faculty member’s graduate faculty status. The Dean will act on the recommendation and submit it to Graduate Council. Graduate Council will act on the Dean’s recommendation and notify the faculty member, Chair, and Dean.

Full-time Faculty Not Holding the Terminal Degree. In some cases regular faculty without the terminal degree may be approved to teach graduate courses. Such approval is contingent upon a course-specific justification based on other degrees held, evidence of exceptional scholarly/creative activity, and/or evidence of exceptional professional experience as documented on the vita and specifically related to course description and/or outcomes.

The University acknowledges the critical importance of well-qualified graduate faculty to program quality. Consequently, the continuation of existing graduate programs and the approval of new graduate programs shall be contingent upon the employment of four qualified full-time faculty who teach or will teach in the particular program.

Faculty participating in graduate programs also must be in sufficient number to provide effective teaching, advising, and scholarly or creative activity, and to participate appropriately in curriculum development, policy-making, institutional planning and governance.

Part-Time Faculty. While part-time faculty often will be necessary to address unusual institutional needs and to enhance the instruction/professional preparation of graduate students, the number of part-time faculty providing graduate instruction shall be limited.

It is the intent of the University and of Graduate Council to ensure that part-time faculty meet the same criteria for academic and professional preparation as full-time faculty. Adjunct Graduate Faculty status may be approved for faculty under guidelines specified for Graduate Faculty. Adjunct faculty holding the terminal degree may be approved for Adjunct Graduate Faculty status for a period of two years.

Adjunct faculty who do not hold the terminal degree may be approved to teach graduate courses. Such approval is contingent upon a course-specific justification based on other degrees held, evidence of exceptional scholarly/creative activity, and/or evidence of exceptional professional experience as documented on the vita and specifically related to course description and/or outcomes.

All departments housing graduate programs provide meaningful orientation, supervision and evaluation of part-time graduate faculty members.

Each academic department housing a graduate program develops and publicizes a clear statement of procedures to ensure graduate student access to part-time graduate faculty.

Dean of Graduate Studies
The role of the Dean of Graduate Studies, with assistance from the Office of Graduate Studies, is to provide leadership for the Graduate Council in the formulation of general policy; communicate policy to appropriate constituents on-campus and to students, especially through the development of the Graduate Bulletin and other policy/procedures statements; communicate with other campus units that have direct involvement with graduate programs (e.g., library, computer services, student support services); respond to general inquiries regarding graduate study; receive and facilitate action on applications for admission to graduate study; support graduate students with a program of graduate honors scholarships and financial assistance for professional development; maintain records regarding graduate student admission, retention, and completion; communicate with graduate students regarding their progress, e.g., academic warning and dismissal; and participate in grievance process as it involves graduate students and as requested by individual college deans and the Vice President for Academic Affairs, although actual decisions are formally within the authority of the college dean and the Vice President for Academic Affairs.

Office of Graduate Studies
The role of the Office of Graduate Studies, maintained on a daily basis by the Director of Graduate Admissions and Records and one Program Assistant, under the supervision of the Dean of Graduate Studies, is to respond to inquiries and requests for information; maintain student records; and evaluate credentials for student admission, retention, and completion, using criteria established by graduate program faculty and Graduate Council.

Curriculum

Graduate courses
All graduate courses offered by the University of Montevallo are acceptable for credit as requirements or electives applicable to at least one University degree or certificate.

Cross-listed courses
Some departments at the University of Montevallo occasionally offer cross-listed graduate and undergraduate courses. In these cases, the department maintains a significant difference between undergraduate and graduate instruction. This difference is indicated clearly in course syllabi. Graduate students are expected to produce acceptable levels of research and/or performance through activities such as independent research, outside readings, and more comprehensive examinations.

Program/curriculum review and evaluation
Curriculum review and evaluation are processes owned by each academic department in which a graduate program resides. Under the auspices of a graduate program review (every five years to coincide with the SACS review calendar), the general requirements of which are set by Graduate Council, faculty and administration in each department review and evaluate graduate curricula, along with studying compliance with general institutional policies established by Graduate Council.

Periodic program review occurs for a number of reasons (e.g., accreditation changes, assessment data). On a regular, ongoing basis, department faculty may encounter a need for a graduate program revision (i.e., adding or deleting graduate courses, revising the content or description of existing courses, or changing any other aspect of the graduate program). This might even include a recommendation to delete an existing graduate program, especially for viability reasons.

All such program revisions, after careful consideration and approval within the department, are referred for review and action by the college CEPC. Program revisions approved by the CEPC may be subsequently reviewed—and approved—by the entire college faculty prior to being forwarded to the Graduate Council for information and the Vice President for Academic Affairs for approval. The Vice President for Academic Affairs typically will share program revision proposals with the Council of Deans prior to final action. Notice of approved program revisions are reported by the dean back to the department chair. The Vice President for Academic Affairs also reports such actions to the Registrar’s Office and the Office of Graduate Studies.

A more formal program review occurs every five years when Graduate Council calls for a complete review of all graduate programs (i.e., curriculum, faculty, degree requirements) to verify compliance with general institutional policies as well as external accreditation requirements (where appropriate). The Graduate Program Review is completed by all department chairs and faculty with graduate programs or courses. Data regarding all aspects of all graduate programs are compiled and reviewed by the Graduate Council. Results from analysis of these data are reported to the Graduate Dean, Graduate Council, and the Vice President for Academic Affairs.

Course evaluation/improvement
The evaluation of graduate instruction is addressed annually as a part of the faculty performance assessment process and every five years as a part of the graduate program review process. The departmental self-study/review of graduate programs describes changes in teaching methods and course structure/content as a result of student evaluations and other assessment activities—as well as describing subsequent changes in student response and performance.

The Graduate Dean, in cooperation with Graduate Council and the college deans, reviews changes in graduate instruction and student performance on the basis of departmental review data.

Alternative delivery formats
Graduate courses offered in non-traditional formats (e.g., concentrated or abbreviated time periods) are designed to ensure sufficient opportunity for preparation, reflection, and analysis concerning the subject matter; at least one calendar week of reflection and analysis for students for each semester hour of credit awarded; and levels of student knowledge and competencies equivalent to those acquired in traditional formats.

Curriculum action/change
Curriculum action to modify existing programs or to initiate new programs is the responsibility of the administration and faculty of each graduate program. Action/information proceeds as follows.

Department Faculty (action)

College Curriculum and Educational Policies Committee (action)

College Faculty (action)

Graduate Council (action)

Deans’ Council (action)

Vice President for Academic Affairs (action)

Alabama Commission on Higher Education (ACHE) (action and/or information when appropriate)

University Records (information)

Accrediting agencies are consulted at various points in this process in order to ensure compliance with standards and to enhance the development of educationally sound programs. In some cases, agencies such as the Alabama State Department of Education have an approval role. In this case, time of approval and its placement in the process stated above depends on the sequence of the normal SDE program review cycle.

Proposals for new programs include documentation of assessment of needs, market and environmental factors, and resource requirements and financial implications for the University—parallel to ACHE requirements. Proposals for new programs, upon approval of the Vice President for Academic Affairs, are submitted for approval to the Alabama Council of Graduate Deans and ACHE. Furthermore, proposals for new programs that differ substantially from existing programs are submitted to the Executive Director of the Commission on Colleges in advance of the admission of students.

All program changes are documented by the appropriate academic department or college, from initial action at the departmental level through final approval.