Handbook of Operating Procedures > Series 300 Faculty and Academic Policies > 3.2.7 Advanced Degrees

3.2.7 Advanced Degrees

A. Purpose

This document states the institutional policy concerning faculty seeking advanced degrees.

B. Persons Affected

Faculty

C. Definitions

Faculty is defined to include all ranks, full-time and part-time.

D. Policy

A faculty member (tenured or not) may pursue an advanced degree in a component institution of the UT System other than the one at which he or she is employed or at another institution outside of the UT System.

E. Responsibilities

The Office of the Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs is responsible for the administration of this policy

F. Guidelines

Coursework toward an advanced degree by a full-time faculty member must be approved by the head of the faculty member's department and the appropriate dean or deans and the chief administrative officer of the institution. 

A non-tenured faculty member who wishes to pursue an advanced degree on his or her home campus must be recommended by the head of the department in which the faculty member is employed, and the recommendation must be approved by the appropriate dean or deans and the President of the institution. 

A tenured faculty member should not normally pursue an advanced degree on the faculty member's home campus.

Depending upon the amount of course work carried by the faculty member (student), adjustments in salary may be made as deemed appropriate by the head of the institution in which the faculty member is employed. Any paid faculty development leave for such a purpose should be paid from faculty salaries as permitted under legislative appropriations or from non-state funds.

In view of the need for self-improvement and increased interdisciplinary education, there should be no prohibition against faculty members taking course work that is not to be applied toward a degree. 

The amount of course work allowed a full-time faculty member is normally not more than one course during the work day without advanced approval of the immediate supervisor.

The guidelines may be modified for an individual institution upon recommendation by the Chief Administrative Officer and review and administrative approval by the appropriate Executive Vice Chancellor.

G. Review

The Divisional Head for this policy is the Provost. This policy shall be reviewed every five years or sooner if necessary by the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs in consultation with the Council of Academic Deans and the Faculty Senate.