The University of Memphis maintains five levels of graduate faculty: full, associate, affiliate, adjunct, and teaching adjunct. Only full graduate faculty members may chair doctoral committees. Full or associate graduate faculty may chair master's committees. Full members of the Graduate Faculty may direct dissertations and associate members may direct theses in an academic unit other than their own at the discretion of the graduate coordinator and/or the chair of that department. Affiliate or adjunct graduate faculty may be members of doctoral and master's committees in their areas of expertise, but may not chair them.

In extraordinary circumstances, a qualified scholar from another institution may apply for Graduate Faculty status as an Adjunct Research Co-Mentor in order to co-chair a student’s committee. No more than one adjunct or affiliate graduate faculty member may serve as a voting member of a student’s committee. Teaching adjuncts may not serve on graduate committees. Membership in the Graduate faculty is required in order to teach 6000 level graduate courses or above.

The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools requires that faculty teaching graduate and post-baccalaureate course work have an earned a doctoral or terminal degree in the teaching discipline or a related discipline. All departmental graduate coordinators should be members of the Graduate Faculty.

Additional information pertaining to application for graduate faculty status, including the Guidelines and Procedures for Graduate Faculty Status, is available on-line or can be obtained from the Graduate School.