Governance Document—SLS PhD Program
Doctoral Program in Second Language Studies
Program Locus
The PhD Program in Second Language Studies (SLS) at the University of Hawai’i, approved in 1988, is administered by the Department of Second Language Studies. The graduate faculty of the program is interdisciplinary, drawn not only from the SLS Department but also from faculty of other departments in the College of Languages, Linguistics and Literature and other units of the University. The Graduate Faculty of the SLS PhD program is, therefore, not coincident with that of the MA in SLS, although the latter forms a natural subset thereof. Although certain administrative operations of the PhD Program in SLS are the responsibility of the department of SLS staff, the Chair of the PhD program in SLS has the prerogative to establish committees and appoint individuals to specific duties.
Program Structure
Graduate Faculty of SLA
1. Graduate faculty membership is attained following procedures outlined by the Graduate Division. University of Hawai’i faculty who have already been appointed as full members of the Graduate Faculty through nomination by their home departments (whether SLS or any other department) may be nominated for concurrent membership on the graduate faculty of SLS PhD program by any current member of the SLS PhD program graduate faculty. Before graduate faculty nominations are forwarded to the Dean of the Graduate Division, faculty CV’s are circulated to all members of the SLS PhD program Graduate Faculty for a vote.
2. Scholarly research in the field of SLS or one of its sub fields (second language analysis, second language use, second language learning, second language pedagogy) is the primary factor to be considered for nomination to the graduate faculty of SLS PhD program, for both initial membership and periodic re-certification as specified by Graduate Division policies.
3. Full members of the graduate faculty of the SLS PhD program have the normal privileges and responsibilities of graduate faculty members specified in the Graduate Division Handbook. They may serve as advisors to students in the PhD program and as chairs or members of dissertation committees; may prepare and grade qualifying, comprehensive, and final exams; and are eligible to participate in the administration of the graduate program through any of its committees.
4. At the present time, there are no provisions for any category of membership other than full membership on the graduate faculty of the SLS PhD program.
Graduate Chair for SLS
1. At the recommendation of the Policy Committee of the Graduate Faculty of the SLS PhD program, the SLS department chair nominates a PhD program chair to the Dean of the Graduate Division. Any member of the Graduate Faculty of the SLS PhD program is eligible to serve as chair of the graduate field of study if so nominated.
2. The Graduate Chair of SLS is responsible for the overall administration of the PhD Program and for carrying out the duties of a graduate chair as outlined in the Graduate Division Manual (see Graduate Division Manual, 1999, Section: Faculty Chairing Graduate Fields of Study, except for specific duties and responsibilities which are specified below as being delegated to other individuals or committees.
SLS PhD Program Policy Committee
1. The SLS PhD program Policy Committee consists of the SLS Graduate Chair, who is its ex officio chair, seven members of the SLS PhD program graduate faculty appointed by the graduate chair, and two student members, elected by the student body. Each member of the SLS Policy Committee has one vote.
2. The SLS PhD progrm Policy Committee initiates, evaluates and approves all curricular matters relating to the PhD program in SLS; decides general matters of policy relative to the doctoral program; and conducts program reviews. In all instances, input will be actively solicited from all concerned parties.
SLS Admissions Committee
1. Members of the SLS Admissions Committee are appointed by the graduate chair. The committee consists of a chair, three additional faculty drawn from the graduate faculty, and two students (one voting, one consulting) elected by the student body.
2. The SLS Admissions Committee is responsible for all aspects of admissions, including initial inquiries, correspondence with applicants, coordination with the Graduate Division and other units, decision-making, and record keeping. The Admissions Committee will put on file in the department of SLS office each semester a complete report covering its actions, including the reasons for each decision taken.
Ratification and Procedures for Amendment
1. Having been approved by the SLA Policy Committee on 5/13/94, this SLA Governance Document will be submitted to the Graduate Faculty of SLA and will become effective if ratified by a two-thirds majority of those voting.
2. An amendment to this document maybe proposed to the SLA Policy Committee by any member of the graduate faculty or any member of the Policy Committee (including student representatives). An amendment will be placed on the ballot if it is recommended by a two-thirds vote of the Policy Committee.
3. To be ratified, an amendment requires a two-third majority of the ballots received from the electorate. The electorate consists of all members of the graduate faculty plus SLA students selected by the student body whose number shall not exceed 25% of the faculty electorate.
[Document ratified May, 1994; amended May 10, 1996, May 20, 2002, September 2009]
