TITLE:
Graduate
Council
APPROVAL
DATE:
February 6, 2007
PURPOSE:
To establish
policy concerning the Graduate Council
REVIEW
DATE:
Fall
2009 and every five years thereafter
OPERATING
DETAILS:
1.
The function of the Graduate
Council is to recommend
general policies applicable to all graduate programs offered through
the
Colleges and to discuss problems, procedures, planning and
administration of
graduate programs.
2.
Membership of the Graduate
Council will consist of
the Director of Graduate Studies, who serves as Chair; the Dean of the
College
from each of the graduate programs; the Program Director/Department
Chair from
each of the graduate programs; one Faculty Member from a College that
does not
have a graduate program; one Graduate School faculty member; and one
Graduate
Student. Graduate Program Coordinators and the Chief Academic Officer
serve as
ex-officio members.
Composition of the Council
is subject to change as graduate programs are added or suspended from
the
University’s offerings. The
undergraduate faculty representative, the graduate faculty
representative, and
the graduate student will be selected on a rotating basis.
3.
The Graduate Council has the
responsibility for
establishing minimum standards and policies for admission and retention
of
students in all graduate programs. Individual graduate programs
may
impose additional requirements if these have prior approval of the
Graduate
Council.
4.
The Council will insure that
all graduate programs
are in compliance with the standards of the Commission on Colleges of
the
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Individual program
accreditation, if desired, is the responsibility of the College.
5.
The Council will establish
minimum policies and
regulations affecting graduate curricula and requirements leading to
graduate
credits and degrees, including courses of study.
6.
All curriculum policy matters
of academic units that
pertain to the graduate program will be reviewed and approved by the
Council. All additions, deletions, or other changes in graduate
course
offerings of academic units must be approved by the Council.
7.
Graduate Council will
systematically examine and
evaluate curricula offerings and requirements in terms of prescribed
criteria,
and in terms of revised or changing standards and policies of the
8.
The Council will recommend
action on new programs as
they meet criteria established by the Council and standards of the
Commission
on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and in
terms of
resources of the institution.
9.
The Council will define
eligibility criteria for
membership in the graduate faculty and will approve faculty nominations.
10. The Director of Graduate Studies serves as
Coordinator of the Graduate Programs and Chair of the Graduate
Council.
The Director is charged with the administration of the Office of
Graduate
Studies and has the responsibility of admitting students to Graduate
Studies
and monitoring their academic progress. Admission and retention
of
students are carried out in collaboration with the Program
Coordinator/Department
Chair using guidelines established by the Graduate Council.
11. The
Graduate Council functions as the Student Grievance Committee for
grievances
involving graduate students. Procedures for hearing graduate student
grievances
are defined in PS # 3523, paragraphs 4 through 12.