Graduate Council

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The Graduate Council assists the Dean with review and coordination of all graduate programs, formulation of academic policies governing graduate programs, and with administration of the Office of Graduate Studies and Research. It meets monthly and is chaired by an elected chairperson. Membership in the Graduate Council consists of the chair of each division offering graduate coursework, or a full member of the graduate faculty designated by the chair, and two student representatives who are selected annually by the Dean of Graduate Studies and Research and the Graduate Student Advisory Committee. Members of the Graduate Council are listed below.

Dr. Nancy Albrecht - School Leadership/Middle and Secondary Teacher Education (Spring)

Dr. Gwen Alexander - School of Library and Information Management

Dr. Gerrit Bleeker - Dean, Graduate Studies and Associate Dean for Liberal Arts and Science

Dr. Michael Butler - Health, Physical Education, and Recreation

Dr. Marcus Childress - Instructional Design and Technology

Dr. Scott Crupper - Biological Sciences

Dr. Deb Gerish - Social Sciences

Dr. Dipak Ghosh - Accounting and Computer Information Systems

Dr. Andrew Houchins - Music

Dr. Monica Kjellman-Chapin - Art

Dr. Don Miller - Business Administration and Education

Dr. Patricia Neufeld - Counselor Education and Rehabilitation Programs

Dr. Brian Schrader - Psychology and Special Education

Dr. Abdelilah Sehlaoui - Modern Languages and Literatures

Dr. Rich Sleezer - Physical Sciences

Dr. Mel Storm - English

Dr. Nate Terrell - Sociology and Anthropology

Dr. Sophie Thayer - Early Childhood/Elementary Teacher Education

Dr. Joe Yanik - Mathematics and Computer Science

December 1992

ARTICLE I

Name

The name of this organization shall be the Graduate School, Emporia State University.

ARTICLE II

Purpose

The purpose of these bylaws is to define policies and procedures of the Graduate School and to define the roles and responsibilities of the Graduate Faculty and the Graduate Council.

ARTICLE III

Membership in the Graduate Faculty

Section 1. Nominations for full or associate membership in the Graduate Faculty shall be forwarded by the division chairperson upon a vote and recommendation of the Graduate Faculty in that division. Nominations are subject to approval by the school or college dean, the Graduate Council, and the Graduate Dean. Temporary appointments may be made for a specified term without prior approval of the Graduate Council. All temporary appointments shall be reviewed by the Graduate Council.

Section 2. Full membership in the Graduate Faculty is restricted to faculty at or above the rank of assistant professor who have received an appropriate terminal degree and who are actively participating in productive scholarly activities and the teaching and/or advising of graduate students. Full members of the Graduate Faculty assume all the rights and responsibilities stated in Article IV of these bylaws. Terms of appointment for full members are five years. (The 5 year terms of current members begin with the adoption of these bylaws.)

Section 3. Associate membership in the Graduate Faculty is open to faculty members at the rank of assistant professor and above who have a master's degree plus at least 30 hours of additional graduate work and have demonstrated productive scholarly activities appropriate to their field. Associate members may serve on graduate committees, but not as major advisor. Otherwise, they share the rights and responsibilities of full members. Terms of appointment for associate members shall be three years.

Section 4. Persons with significant professional accomplishments in their field may be appointed as Temporary members of the Graduate Faculty for a specified period. Appointments are made by the Graduate Dean upon recommendation of the school or college dean. All such appointments shall be reviewed by the Graduate Council. Temporary members are appointed to teach a specified graduate course or, because of unique qualifications, to serve as a member of a graduate committee. The length of the temporary appointment will be specified at appointment time and be consistent with the nature of the specified duties.

Section 5. Upon completion of terms of appointment, the Graduate Office will notify the appropriate divisions. The Graduate Faculty of the division (through the chairperson) must decide whether to re-appoint members for another term.

Initial and continuing membership in the Graduate Faculty are contingent upon the same criteria. Full Graduate Faculty members who during their five year appointment have not continued to teach and/or advise at the graduate level and actively participate in productive scholarly activities are not eligible for reappointment as full graduate faculty members. Full members who meet the qualification are reappointed for another term. Associate members who during their three years have not continued to teach and/or advise at the graduate level and demonstrate productive scholarly activities appropriate to their field are not eligible for reappointment at the associate level.

Section 6. The President, the Vice Presidents, the Director of Library Services, and the deans of the schools and colleges shall be eligible for membership in the Graduate Faculty.

ARTICLE IV

Functions and Responsibilities of the Graduate Faculty

Section 1. The purpose of the Graduate Faculty is to teach, advise, and demonstrate scholarly activity in graduate programs at Emporia State.

Section 2. Full and associate members of the Graduate Faculty teach graduate classes and seminars, advise students in the design of their graduate study plans, and approve said plans. Graduate faculty members can serve as committee members, but only full members serve as major advisors for theses, projects, and performances.

Section 3. Full and associate Graduate Faculty in the individual academic units shall have responsibility for the content and quality of graduate programs offered, for determining when the requirements for a graduate degree have been met and, through the Dean of the School or College and the Dean of the Graduate School, recommend to the President and to the Board of Regents that the degree be conferred.

Section 4. All members of the Graduate Faculty may initiate action on any matter of concern pertaining to graduate education by bringing it before the Graduate Council and may appear before the Council to debate the item, but may not vote on any motion that may result. Agenda items should be presented to the Chairperson of the Graduate Council 10 days before the meeting at which it is to be considered, either directly or through the appropriate representative on the Graduate Council.

ARTICLE V

The Graduate Council

Section 1. The Graduate Council shall be a representative body of the Graduate Faculty and graduate students. Its purpose shall be to enhance the quality of graduate education by providing a forum for broad participation in the formulation of academic policies that govern graduate programs. The Graduate Council shall recognize the need for shared responsibility in the governance of graduate education. The divisions, schools and colleges shall be responsible for the support and management of graduate programs, whereas the Graduate Council shall perform the functions of review and coordination. The objectives of the Graduate Council shall be as follows:

   - To develop and maintain high standards of quality in all graduate programs,

   - To recommend general academic policies and procedures relating to graduate programs in the University,

   - To represent the interests of the Graduate Faculty and graduate students in the University,

   - To advise the Dean of the Graduate School concerning the administration of the Graduate School.

Section 2. The duties of the Graduate Council shall be as follows:

   - To review and approve minimum standards for admission to graduate degree programs;

   - To review and approve the basic requirements for graduate degrees;

   - To review and approve new and revised graduate courses and degree programs;

   - To recommend policy for support of graduate students;

   - To review the administrative structure of graduate degree programs that involve more than one division, school, or college;

   - To provide for periodic qualitative review of graduate programs;

   - To develop general criteria and procedures for the establishment of membership in the Graduate Faculty;

   - To provide a copy of the minutes of all meetings of the Graduate Council to the President of the University, all vice presidents, all academic deans, all graduate deans in the Kansas Regents' system, chair of the Committee on Campus Governance, the President of the Faculty, Members of the Graduate Council, and the President of the Associated Student Government.

Section 3. The Graduate Council shall be composed as follows:

The chair of each division offering graduate coursework or a full member of the graduate faculty designated by the chair,

The Dean of the Graduate School,

Two graduate students selected by the Graduate Dean and the Graduate Student Advisory Committee, to serve two-year staggered terms.

Section 4. The organization of the Graduate Council shall be as follows:

A. Officers:

1. The Chair shall be elected annually by the Graduate Council from its membership.

2. A Vice-Chair to be elected annually by the Graduate Council from its membership.

B. Meetings:

1. The Graduate Council shall meet monthly during the academic year. Any monthly meeting can be cancelled by the Chair with the consent of the Vice-Chair. Special meetings may be called by the Chair as required.

2. Meetings are open to all members of the Graduate Faculty who may debate issues but not vote.

3. Minutes of meetings shall be recorded and maintained by the Graduate Dean's secretary, who shall be responsible for distributing the minutes as stated in Article V, Section 2, item H, above.

4. Agenda items must be submitted to the Chair at least ten calendar days prior to the meeting at which they are to be considered.

5. Items that involve a change in university graduate policy shall not be voted upon until the meeting following the meeting of introduction.

C. Committees:

1. There shall be no standing committees of the Graduate Council

2. Special committees may be appointed by the Chair as required and may include graduate students and members of the Graduate Faculty who are not members of the Council.

ARTICLE VI

Amendments

Section 1. A proposed amendment to these bylaws shall be submitted in writing to the Chair of the Graduate Council at least ten calendar days prior to the regular meeting at which it is to be discussed.

(a) Any proposed amendment shall be submitted to the Graduate Council and shall become effective upon approval by two-thirds vote.

(b) Proposed amendments may not be voted upon until the meeting following the meeting at which they are introduced.

Last Updated June 20, 2008