The Graduate Council

The responsibility for formulating policies for graduate academic programs is delegated to the Graduate Council, subject to approval of the Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs and, where appropriate, the President of the University. The Council acts as a curriculum committee for graduate program modifications, including the addition and deletion of graduate courses. Additionally, the Council reviews proposals for new programs prior to action by the Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs. All graduate policy changes approved by the Council are submitted to the Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs and to the President for review and approval. The Dean of The Murphy Graduate School serves as chair of the Graduate Council.

The Council consists of one elected member of the Graduate Faculty from each of the six academic colleges offering graduate study and four members from the Graduate Faculty appointed by the Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs in consultation with The Dean of The Murphy Graduate School. To be eligible for Graduate Council membership, full Graduate Faculty status is required for both elected and appointed members. Elections and appointments are made each March in the following academic college sequence: 1st year College of Business Administration and College of Education (election) and two appointments; 2nd year College of Health Sciences and College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences (election) and one appointment; 3rd year College of Science, Mathematics and Technology and College of Visual and Performing Arts (election) and one appointment. Appointments made by the Provost in consultation with the Graduate Dean will include one Graduate Faculty from each of the Colleges of Education, Health Sciences, and Science, Mathematics and Technology. The fourth appointee will be made from either the College of Business Administration, Liberal Arts and Social Sciences or Visual and Performing Arts. Vacancies are filled in the same manner in which the member to be replaced was selected. The term of membership on the Graduate Council is three years. Two full consecutive terms of office are allowed. The President of the Graduate Student Association serves on the Graduate Council as a student representative and is a voting member with a term of office of one year. Consequently, there are eleven (11) voting members of the Graduate Council.

Ex-officio members of the Graduate Council include the following: Dean of The Murphy Graduate School; Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs; Associate Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs; Director of Financial Aid; Director of Disability Services; Dean of the Levi Watkins Learning Center; Director of Counseling Services; and the University Registrar.