Graduate Council Structure and Responsibilities

1. Faculty Membership: The Graduate Council (GC) is composed of no more than eighteen faculty members elected by the faculty: base membership includes two representatives from each college (Business, Community and Public Service, Education, Liberal Arts and Sciences, Engineering and Computing, Health Professions, Nursing, Interdisciplinary Studies), plus two representatives from the university libraries.   Each committee member will serve on one of two subcommittees (Policy and Standards or Program Review).  Subcommittees will include one member from each college and the library.  Faculty from the same college will serve for staggered three-year terms.  Representatives on the GC shall hold graduate faculty status.
2. Student Membership: Two graduate student representatives from different graduate programs, selected by the Graduate Student Association.  Each subcommittee will have a graduate student representative.
3. Administration Membership: The Dean and Associate Dean of the Graduate School serve as ex-officio members, as representatives of the Provost.  Other ex-officio members include administrative staff that have a central role in graduate education, including the Office of the Registrar, Office of Admissions, and the Center for Adult and Continuing Studies.
4. Responsibilities: The GC is responsible for matters related to graduate education at Grand Valley, to include (but not limited to):

• To review and recommend actions upon new proposed graduate programs and certificates and/or revisions to current graduate programs.
  • New graduate program proposals, certificates and proposals for change to programs or certificates will be reviewed.As program matters are reviewed by the GC, the proposers may be invited to participate in the discussion and review process.Recommendations from the GC related to program matters will be transmitted to UCC via the online curriculum system.
• To review and recommend actions upon and, as needed, initiate policies and standards related to graduate education that ensure quality, consistency, equity, and fairness, while not impinging upon the disciplinary expertise and responsibility of the program faculty. This shall include matters related to admission, program progress, and completion for post-baccalaureate students in non-degree, certificate, and degree program statuses.
  • Recommendations regarding policy changes or new policies and standards for graduate education will be referred to the ECS for final action.
  • To identify and monitor quality indicators of graduate education
• To review and recommend actions upon requests for exceptions to university minimum standards or policies.
• To review and recommend actions related to existing graduate programs at the time of assessment and/or program review and/or accreditation.
  • Existing graduate programs shall be reviewed by GC on a revolving and regular schedule, aligned with the UAC program review and external accreditation review (if applicable). The review will employ quality indicators developed by GC that are outside of the normal UAC purview, but incorporate appropriate program materials submitted to UAC and FSBC.
• To advise on allocation of university financial support for graduate students.
• To consider and recommend graduate financial aid policies and options and advise on allocation of university financial support for graduate students.
• To call meetings of all faculty to discuss emerging issues in and and strategic planning for graduate education at Grand Valley.