Graduate Specific Policies and Procedures

Communication Proficiency

Basic to success in any academic program is skill in written and oral communication. The student must exhibit a capability in communication as a requirement of any course. Any instructor in any course may require a student who lacks skill in communication to seek assistance. A graduate program writing tutor is available through the Academic Success Center.

Graduate Faculty

Appointed Graduate Faculty

To be appointed to the graduate faculty, an individual must be nominated according to the graduate faculty appointment policy by her/his dean to the Committee on Graduate Programs. Nominations are then sent to the Provost who in turn makes the appointment. Candidates must have an earned terminal degree (or ABD with satisfactory progress) in the discipline or disciplines of the graduate courses being taught or must otherwise meet accreditation guidelines. It is expected that the candidate meet the “18 hours in a field” guideline and/or have clinical and/or unique qualifications. They must also demonstrate successful teaching in the discipline, demonstrate scholarly activity at the graduate level, or show progress towards scholarly activity at the graduate level, and they must hold the University rank of Assistant Professor, or higher, or the title of administrative faculty in the Graduate Programs of Nurse Anesthesia.

Contributing Graduate Faculty

Full-time, adjunct, and/or part-time faculty, called contributing graduate faculty, may be invited or assigned to teach graduate courses on a semester-by-semester basis. The invitation or assignment is made by the dean of the school and a school-based faculty committee, and the process is reviewed by the Committee on Graduate programs.

Graduate Program Directors

Each graduate program is headed by a graduate program director who has primary responsibility for program implementation for the school. The director coordinates program offerings in conjunction with the dean, admits students in cooperation with the Graduate Admission Office, plans the new student orientation, and serves as initial  advisor to the student. Students with questions concerning academic policy should initially consult with the program director and then the dean of the school. 

Petitions

All petitions concerning matters of academic policy should be addressed to the dean of the school in which the student is enrolled. All petitions for exceptions to the policies stated in this catalog must be considered by the dean of the school before being submitted to the Office of Student Records.

School Manuals/Handbooks

Schools and/or departments may publish manuals or handbooks outlining specific program requirements to supplement the University catalog. Students are expected to follow these policies, as related to their chosen program. Manuals may be obtained from students’ graduate program director.

University Committee on Graduate Programs

The University Committee on Graduate Programs provides a forum for graduate program issues and academic affairs. The Committee reviews nominations for graduate faculty and the process for the hiring of contributing graduate faculty. It also assesses and evaluates all graduate programs. Membership includes the director of each graduate program, two faculty members from each graduate program, one dean from the three schools (term limit one year, non-voting), Provost (ex-officio), Associate Provost (ex-officio), Director of West Library (ex-officio), and Coordinator of Graduate Admissions (ex-officio).