» GIDP Organization Chart
GIDP Annual Performance &
Post-Tenure Review Policy

Guidelines & Policies
Graduate Interdisciplinary Programs (GIDPs) provide stimulus, cohesion and visibility to the scholarly and scientific activities of faculty members engaged in interdisciplinary research and graduate education which cannot effectively be conducted within traditional disciplinary borders. Through their efforts, a broader range of research and training takes place than would otherwise be carried out at the University and their successful and productive research endeavors may ultimately generate new graduate degree program areas. GIDPs report to the Vice President for Research, Graduate Studies and Economic Development through the Director of GIDPs.

1. Guidelines for the Establishment of Graduate Interdisciplinary Programs: Any request to establish a Graduate Interdisciplinary Program will be evaluated on the basis of the degree to which the proposal meets the following criteria:

1. Significance and interdisciplinary nature of the proposed subject field. The proposed subject area must be of significant potential and require interdisciplinary approaches and the expertise of faculty from several distinct units.
2. Availability of qualified research and teaching faculty. There must be available on campus a critical number (5-10) of highly qualified research and teaching faculty members representing at least two or more academic units that are committed to joint activities in the area.
3. Support of relevant academic units. The proposed GIDP has the approval and support of the heads and deans of relevant academic departments and colleges.
4. Academic potential. There is a strong likelihood of developing a successful program which will be able to attract academically qualified students and outstanding faculty to participate in the proposed GIDP. If approved and implemented, the proposed program must add to the academic standing and reputation of The University of Arizona.

2. Graduate Interdisciplinary Programs Structure and Function.

1. Executive Committee.
   Each Graduate Interdisciplinary Program will be administered by an Executive Committee, consisting of five to ten members appointed by the Director of Graduate Interdisciplinary Programs. Executive Committee members will serve a stipulated time period in accordance with individual GIDP Bylaws, usually a three-five year term. The Executive Committee shall:

1. Establish Program Bylaws for approval by the Director of Graduate Interdisciplinary Programs. Such bylaws should be reviewed by the Executive Committee annually.
2. Propose and implement procedures to be followed in selecting and screening faculty membership.
3. Nominate new members to serve on the Executive Committee to ensure continuity.
4. Develop and implement appropriate policies and procedures regarding admissions, curriculum, student supervision, and completion of degree program requirements.
5. Provide broad policy and associated management for the Program.
6. Plan for future developments in the subject area.
7. Prepare and submit annual reviews of program activities and accomplishments to the Director of Graduate Interdisciplinary Programs.
8. Ensure that Academic Program Reviews, consistent with Arizona Board of Regents requirements, are carried out in a timely manner.
9. Facilitate interaction and communication with supporting academic unit heads and deans.
10. Develop budget proposals and make budget allocations.
11. Seek sources of funding and budgetary support.
12. Provide appropriate opportunities through seminars and forums to facilitate interactions of faculty and graduate students.
13. Establish such standing committees as are needed for effective Program operation.
14. Review faculty membership annually to ensure active faculty participation in the GIDP.

2. GIDP Chair.
   The Director of Graduate Interdisciplinary Programs will appoint a member of the Executive Committee, nominated by its membership, to serve a 3 - 5 year term as Chair, generally renewable, in accordance with individual program bylaws.  The Chair will act on behalf of the Executive Committee to:

1. Convene and chair meetings of the Executive Committee.
2. Serve as representative of the GIDP to the University Administration, granting agencies, prospective students, etc.
3. Prepare Promotion & Tenure and Continuing Review documentation for tenure-track faculty members of the GIDP according to University policies and procedures, if applicable.
4. Manage administrative matters according to University regulations.

3. Faculty Membership.
   Graduate Interdisciplinary Program faculty members are proposed for appointment to the Director of Graduate Interdisciplinary Programs by the Executive Committee, based on established criteria in Program Bylaws (including such evidences of scholarly and research productivity as current publications in peer review journals and academic presses, recent service as thesis/dissertation director, etc.).

1. Participating faculty members, generally who are tenured or tenure eligible at The University of Arizona, may serve on Executive Committees, in accordance with individual program bylaws.
2. Participating faculty members who are tenured or tenure eligible at The University of Arizona may serve on graduate examination committees as members, master's theses directors, and doctoral dissertation directors of graduate examination committees, in accordance with program bylaws.
3. Participating faculty members who do not hold tenure eligible appointments may request special approval to serve as members or co-chairs according to current University guidelines for graduate examination committees.
4. Participating faculty may hold regular membership, or associated membership, in accordance with individual GIDP Bylaws.

3. Graduate Students: Admissions, Evaluations and Monitoring of Study Programs.

1. All applications for admission to the Graduate Interdisciplinary Programs will be reviewed by the Executive Committee of the GIDP to ensure that the highest standards of academic quality are maintained in the selection process, and all recommendations for admission or denial to the Program will conform to current University policies and procedures.
2. Upon admission by the Graduate College, each new graduate student will file a plan of study according to Graduate College procedures.
3. The Chair of the GIDP will act on behalf of the Executive Committee to sign requests to schedule examinations, approve recommendations for appointment of examination committees, and recommend awards of any scholarships, fellowships, and assistantships provided by the Director of Graduate Interdisciplinary Programs for academically qualified graduate students enrolled in the Program.
4. To maintain regular academic status within the Graduate College, each student is required to maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.00, and no candidate will be awarded a degree unless a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.00 is attained for all coursework completed in graduate studies. Applicants may request transfer of coursework units to apply toward the degree program under the limitations described in the Graduate Catalog.
5. Annual review of student progress will be conducted by the Executive Committee. Graduate students who are deemed by the Executive Committee to be failing to make satisfactory academic progress in their programs of study may be recommended to the Graduate College for conversion to non-degree status.

4. Academic Programs

1. Graduate degree programs consist of a core curriculum (usually 12 to 18 coursework units) and additional coursework required to provide competency and currency in the subject area(s), as well as thesis/dissertation units. At least half of all course work units submitted on a graduate degree study plan must have received letter grades (A, B, C); at least one-half of all coursework units submitted on a graduate degree study plan must be graduate level courses, numbered 500 or above. A doctoral degree plan must include 36 units of coursework in the major subject, additional numbers of units required by the minor academic unit for completion of a doctoral minor, and 18 units of dissertation registration. Student examinations will be conducted according to the current University guidelines for graduate examination committees.
2. All GIDP course recommendations, modifications and deletions, after review of the Executive Committee, shall be signed by the GIDP Chair and then forwarded to the Director of Graduate Interdisciplinary Programs for signature approval.

5. Funding.
   Graduate Interdisciplinary Programs may require an operating budget to cover: funds to provide seminar/forum series; operating costs; administrative support, etc. Funding sources may include the Vice President for Research, participating deans, academic unit heads, and state allocations. In addition, the GIDPs may receive an allocation of scholarship awards from the Director of Graduate Interdisciplinary Programs. Participating deans and academic unit heads also provide support through commitment of faculty release time. Accordingly, the allotment of Graduate Assistantships to GIDPs by departments or colleges provides a reciprocally beneficial relationship between academic units and the GIDPs. Further, interdisciplinary courses offered by participating faculty provide additional educational training for graduate students in other academic units.

6. Faculty Recognition.
   The University of Arizona recognizes that interdisciplinary scholarship often occurs in areas of tremendous intellectual excitement and advancement of knowledge. Those faculty members who are involved in the Graduate Interdisciplinary Programs should be recognized for the participation at the time they are considered for promotion and tenure, and in consideration of continuing review. Accordingly, the dossier for such faculty members should include an evaluation by the Chair of the relevant GIDP. Similarly, the Director of Graduate Interdisciplinary Programs will provide a letter of evaluation to the GIDP Chair in consideration of promotion and tenure and continuing review, upon request.

7. Disestablishment of Graduate Interdisciplinary Programs.
   A GIDP may be temporarily placed in a state of dormancy or permanently closed.
8. A GIDP may be temporarily closed by the Director of Graduate Interdisciplinary Programs while assessing the viability of the Program.
9. A temporarily closed GIDP may be closed permanently after a three-year period of dormancy.
10. Generally, GIDPs will be closed when:
1. There are no students enrolled in the program or when the student census is so low as to not justify the existence of the program.
2. Program activities decrease below an acceptable level.
3. The Executive Committee, with the approval of the majority of the faculty membership, wishes to close the program or radically change its direction. Careful considerations and discussions with the Executive Committee will precede any action to close a GIDP.
11. To permanently close a GIDP, the Director of Graduate Interdisciplinary Programs will follow the University policies and procedures relevant to permanent closure. The procedure will require the final approval of the Board of Regents.
8. Summary.

Graduate Interdisciplinary Programs contribute to participating academic units by providing opportunities for attracting outstanding students and faculty to their programs, through increasing enrollments in courses offered by supporting disciplinary areas, and through providing opportunities to degree candidates to extend training in these established disciplinary areas to new areas of knowledge and research. At little cost to the University, new realms of graduate education, training and research and frontiers of knowledge are made available for faculty, professionals, and students.