Policy on Graduate Field of Natural Resources Secondary Field Membership
(for faculty whose primary field membership is outside the field of Natural Resources) (Updated 10/25/2018)
The graduate field can be a place to foster inter-departmental and interdisciplinary interactions, dialogue, and collaborations, enhancing the climate for environmental research at Cornell. Thus, we encourage faculty members from across the University to apply for membership to the graduate field of Natural Resources, as mutual benefit can be gained. For the Natural Resources graduate field, the expectation is that members and their graduate students in the field are engaged and involved in the “Graduate Field”, and that each graduate faculty member is actively engaged in research, teaching, and/or outreach relevant to the field of Natural Resources. These contributions to the field are expressed in many ways such as graduate student participation in the core first-year course (NTRES 6000), student interaction with other field graduate students, faculty member attendance at graduate faculty meetings (1-2 times per semester), voting on the admission of other secondary field members, participation of student and faculty member in student annual review process every year, student and faculty member willingness to participate (as available) in annual Graduate Student Association research symposium held in January every year, faculty and student participation in sub-discipline discussion groups/seminars, and willingness to attend the department/field seminar series (as available). Through these expectations the graduate field aims to foster beneficial and long-term relationships with both students and faculty members and their involvement in the graduate field is a large contributor.
To apply for secondary membership in the graduate field of Natural Resources, faculty should provide to the Director of Graduate Studies a letter with: 1) an explanation of the faculty member rationale and motivation for joining the graduate field, 2) ability to meet the expectations as outlined in this policy, 3) an estimate of the number and type (M.S., Ph.D., MPS) of students anticipated, and 4) a current CV. Additionally the faculty is required to give a research seminar to acquaint the graduate field faculty and students with the applicant’s research area. The graduate field faculty will review the application and then vote on field membership.
If accepted into the field, secondary field membership will be for 5-year, renewable terms. If the faculty member has not advised or accepted a student in the 5-year period or if the expectations above have not been met, it is unlikely that field membership will be renewed. In addition, if the secondary field member is no longer actively engaged in research, teaching, or outreach relevant to the field, the graduate faculty may vote by majority to rescind the individual’s membership in the field.