Faculty Senate

Faculty Senate
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo MI 49008-5332 USA
(269) 387-3310

Graduate Studies Council

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.

Charges 2024-25

In addition to the specific responsibilities listed in the Graduate Studies Council’s role statement and the work of its standing committees including but not limited to the All-University Graduate Student Research and Creative Scholars Award Committee; the All-University Graduate Student Teaching Effectiveness Award Committee; and the Transfer of Credit Committee, the Faculty Senate Executive Board charges the GSC to consider, as a committee of the whole or through the appropriate committee or task force, the following:

  1. Review, act, and vote on each graduate curriculum proposal that comes before GSC within 30 days and submit decisions to the WMU electronic curriculum system as well as include decisions in the council minutes.
  2. Collaborate with the International Education Council and the Undergraduate Studies Council to provide recommendations on how to best support faculty in the area of global learning (e.g., global classrooms, virtual study abroad, and internationalized curriculum). Conclude the initiative by producing a report to the Executive Board or a Memorandum of Action.
  3. Solicit, review, and award the All-University Graduate Student Research and Creative Scholar Awards, the All-University Graduate Teaching Effectiveness Awards, and any other awards to promote excellence in graduate education at WMU.
  4. Review the scope and description of the council’s role statement and assess the effectiveness of the council’s practices. 
  5. At the annual April GSC meeting, the council members must review the draft year-end report, to be submitted to the Faculty Senate office, by the council chair no later than June 30.
  6. Address any continuing or outstanding issues or initiatives as directed by the Faculty Senate Executive Board, members of the council, faculty, and/or academic administrators. Conclude the initiative by producing a report to the Executive Board or a Memorandum of Action.

Approved by the Faculty Senate Executive Board on Aug. 23, 2024

Click here for a printable version of the GSC 2024-25 Charges.

NOTE: The GSC will seek information from the Graduate College and related administrative offices to maintain communications with those offices on issues directly related to them. Council recommendations are to be submitted to the Executive Board in the form of a memorandum of action (MOA) on which the recommendation(s) is/are stated. Any draft MOAs requested by the Executive Board should be submitted using the MOA template.

The GSC chairperson shall provide a written report of the council’s accomplishments and progress for the year; list the above charges noting each item’s progress and current status; any other activities undertaken; and draft charges for the 2025-26 academic year, no later than June 30, 2025.