Visiting Scholars / Graduate Students / Postdoctoral Scholars

Visiting Scholars

Visiting Scholar Registry Form University Policies and Procedures 8-15

"Visiting Scholar" is an honorary title formally conferred by the president upon persons who normally have an academic appointment at another institution or an equivalent appointment elsewhere and who wish to spend at least one or more semesters on our campus.

  1. Only the president can grant a visitor visiting scholar status, and such appointments are for specified periods of time. Persons appointed to the position of visiting scholar receive letters of welcome from the president of the university and the dean of the graduate school.
  2. Visiting scholars will be entitled, without charge, to audit university classes with the permission of the instructor, and to use university research equipment, where feasible, on such terms as may be agreeable to those in charge. They will also be entitled to on- campus parking, library, and recreational privileges, on the same basis as regular faculty members, and to enjoy approved faculty discounts at the bookstore, and at the theatre, athletic contests, and other events.
  3. Visiting scholars are not entitled to compensation as employees of the university, are not appointed to teaching or research positions, and do not receive direct financial support either from or through the university except for one-time honorariums under special circumstances approved by the vice president for academic affairs. Any incidental services performed for the university by a visiting scholar are deemed to be performed as a volunteer.
  4. The visiting scholar designation is not a contractual relationship, and therefore should not be used for postdoctoral fellows, for visiting professors who have teaching responsibilities, or for persons employed for a short period for the purpose of performing services for the university in return for an agreed compensation. Where compensation is contemplated, an auxiliary faculty appointment or consulting contract, as may be appropriate, should be used.
  5. A person who registers for regular academic credit does not qualify for appointment as a visiting scholar.

Graduate Students & Postdoctoral Scholars

VGSPS Registry Form University Policies and Procedures 8-16

"Visiting Graduate Student" or "Visiting Postdoctoral Scholar" is a title conferred by the Dean of the Graduate School upon visiting graduate students or visiting postdoctoral scholars.

  1. A person is appointed a Visiting Graduate Student or Visiting Postdoctoral Scholar by the Dean of the Graduate School. Appointments are for specified periods only. Individuals appointed to the position of Visiting Graduate Student or Visiting Postdoctoral Scholar receive letters of welcome from the Dean of the Graduate School.
  2. Visiting Graduate Students and Visiting Postdoctoral Scholars receive library privileges, may attend the university as nonmatriculated students, and may use university research facilities where feasible and agreeable to those in charge. Library privileges are given without charge. Other privileges include those for which all graduate students are eligible, including University identification, parking, etc.
  3. Visiting Graduate Students and Visiting Postdoctoral Scholars are not entitled to compensation as graduate assistants or employees of the university, are not appointed to teaching or research positions, and do not receive direct financial support either from or through the university.