AUTHORITY AND RESPONSIBILITY

Authority of the Graduate Faculty

The Graduate Faculty of the University, acting through the University Council on Graduate Study, establishes general regulations and minimal requirements for graduate degrees throughout the University. This responsibility applies to the traditional MA, MS, and PhD degree programs as well as to advanced professional degrees and graduate certificates, except for the first professional degree programs in Medicine, Dental Medicine, Pharmacy and Law. The Provost has final authority in the interpretation and application of the regulations established by the University Council on Graduate Study.

The Graduate Faculty of each department or school establishes the requirements for degrees earned under its jurisdiction provided these requirements are in accord with those established by the University Council on Graduate Study. The dean of each school has final authority in the interpretation and application of these additional requirements and/or regulations.

Responsibility

Each department or school with a graduate program is expected to:

1. establish and maintain a high quality graduate program appropriate for its discipline and in accord with the regulations established by the University Council on Graduate Study;
   
2. provide each graduate student with a written copy of the regulations concerning graduate study and the requirements for advanced degrees; and
   
3. designate a faculty member (or a committee) to advise each graduate student concerning all aspects of the graduate program and provide for a thesis or dissertation adviser and the appropriate committees.

Each graduate student is expected to become familiar with the general regulations concerning graduate study and with the specific regulations of his or her major department of graduate study and to accept responsibility for the completion of degree requirements as prescribed.

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