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Graduate Studies Council

This page contains the role statement and council charges.

Role statement

The Graduate Studies Council reviews, develops, and recommends policy regarding graduate education at Western Michigan University. Policy recommendations shall include, but are not limited to, the admission of applicants to the Graduate College and to graduate degree programs, development of graduate curricula and approval of graduate programs, selection of graduate faculty, awards and fellowships and graduate student personnel practices. Reviews shall include, but are not limited to, existing programs, proposed new programs, significant program changes and academic standards of graduate level programs. The work of the council is accomplished through standing and ad hoc committees which act on behalf of the council, within the framework of its policies, subject to review by the council.

Council Standing Committees

1. Agenda Committee—prepares the agenda for meetings of the Graduate Studies Council.
2. All-University Graduate Student Research and Creative Scholars Award Committee—reviews applications and makes recommendations as to the recipients of All-University Graduate Student Research and Creative Scholars Awards.
3. All-University Graduate Student Teaching Effectiveness Award Committee—reviews applications and makes recommendations as to the recipients of All-University Graduate Student Teaching Effectiveness Awards.
4. Graduate Student Advisory Committee—reviews services and needs of graduate students; makes recommendations to appropriate officials and offices; recommends graduate students for appointments to University councils and committees; and serves as liaison between departmental graduate student organizations, the Graduate Studies Council, and the dean of the Graduate College.

Charges

2011-12

Senate Vice President William Rantz will serve as the Executive Board representative.

In addition to the specific responsibilities and functions noted in the Graduate Studies Council’s role statement and the work of the GSC standing committees, the Faculty Senate Executive Board charges the GSC to consider, as a committee of the whole or through the appropriate sub-committee or task force, the following issues:

1. There are four charges from the Higher Learning Commission that are required by the U.S. Department of Education in the Academic Program Integrity Policy Drafts (dated July 19, 2011) forwarded by Eileen Evans, Vice Provost for Institutional Effectiveness.  GSC is asked to review three of them:

• Credit Hour
• Repeated Coursework
• Monitoring Enrollment

2. Work with the associate provost for Extended University Programs and the Undergraduate Studies Council (possibly form an ad hoc committee) to

• compare the current Curriculum Change Guide for Offering an Existing Program at Another Location or On-Line (from November 2007) with a draft of proposed guidelines submitted by EUP.  
• isolate the proposed policy changes within the proposed guidelines that are inconsistent with the current Curriculum Change Guide for Offering an Existing Program at Another Location or On-Line.
• provide specific rationale for any requested changes to the current policy that the councils support and recommend. 

3. Review the role of graduate programming within the draft University Strategic Plan, and provide input as needed. Review progress being made related to graduate programming as outlined within the adopted Academic Affairs Strategic Plan.

4. Begin discussion of medical school concerns pertaining to graduate curriculum, etc..

5. From the viewpoint of faculty and graduate student "users," review the effectiveness and efficiencies associated with university-wide required policies, practices, and forms related to graduate students.

6.  Consider means to collect input from graduate students on a periodic basis regarding their graduate experiences at WMU, and the best means to use such data to inform best practices.

7.  Solicit, review, and award the Graduate Student Research and Creative Scholar Awards, and the Graduate Teaching Effectiveness Awards, and other means to promote excellence in graduate education at WMU. 

8.  Review policies and any issues related to the required annual review of all graduate students.

9.  Review the scope and description of the role statement and assess the effectiveness of council practices. Develop recommendations for a role statement that includes specific functions. Council policies, for example, are referenced, yet these policies are not articulated. 

10. Address any continuing or outstanding issues or initiatives as deemed necessary by the council. To the extent possible conclude any outstanding initiative by producing a memorandum of action, report or resolution. 

Note

It is understood that the GSC will seek information from and communicate with all administrative offices necessary to carry out its charges. The GSC is expected to keep the Senate Executive Board apprised of progress, especially in connection with any MOA it may develop and to give advance notice of any action the GSC seeks to place on the Senate agenda, including the final text of any proposed MOA, report or resolution. The Executive Board should also be notified of substantive procedural issues addressed by the GSC.  The GSC shall provide a written summary of its progress on the above charges and any other activities undertaken no later than June 30, 2012.

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