Article VIII: Graduate Programs Committee
A. Purpose
The Graduate Programs Committee serves a policy development and oversight function, as well as a curriculum oversight function for graduate programs.
B. Composition
(1) Shall consist of three Academic Faculty members elected for terms of three years.
(2) The Committee shall deliberately establish a plan for operation, record-keeping, and continuity during annual membership and leadership transitions. The plan should designate which Committee members will be responsible for each of the following roles and functions. The same person may perform more than one task.
a. Chair (Presiding Officer) functions
1. Prepare meeting agendas
2. Preside over Committee meetings
3. Oversee distribution and completion of Committee tasks
4. Serve as conduit of communication between the Committee and other institutional components such as the administration, the Faculty, the Registrar, and other standing committees
b. Chair-Elect functions
1. Prepare to take over the responsibilities of the Committee chair in the following academic year
2. Assist the chair in overseeing Committee functions
3. Preside over meetings in the absence of the chair
4. Other specific functions appropriate to the Committee
c. Secretarial Functions
The Graduate Programs Committee secretary will make available the following documents:
1. Agenda of meetings
2. Minutes of meetings
3. Proposals of changes to Policies and Procedures that require Faculty action
4. Other documents specifically relevant to the Committee, such as standard forms.
(3) The Committee shall electronically communicate its plan regarding operation, record- keeping, and continuity to the Faculty Liaison Committee and Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs on or before June 15 (at the close of each academic year).
C. Responsibilities
(1) Policy Function
a. To recommend policies pertaining to graduate program academic standards, honors, and other instructional and learning practices including, but not limited to, admission dates, admissions requirements, recruitment, credit, and student academic performance.
b. To review individual students’ requests for exception to policy and to review students being considered for academic dismissal.
c. To recommend to the Academic Faculty specific program policies as needed.
d. To monitor graduate program resource needs and make recommendations.
(2) Curricular Function
a. To study completed proposals for new graduate programs/courses and satisfy itself of:
(i) The need for the programs/courses
(ii) If need is demonstrated, that the program is consistent with the mission of the College
(iii) The manner in which the new program can be articulated with existing programs, staff, and facilities, or the need for new staff, facilities, or other resources
b. To make recommendations to Academic Faculty concerning programs, course offerings, content, and structure of graduate programs.
c. To monitor regular program reviews to ensure quality.
(3) To submit an annual report to the Faculty.
D. Program Sustainability
The Graduate Programs Committee shall receive an annual report from the Office of the Registrar identifying graduate programs with a two-year history of four or fewer newly enrolled majors and five or fewer graduated majors. The Graduate Programs Committee shall conduct its review to assess the program’s viability and the collateral impact of the program on the graduate curricula and make a recommendation to the full faculty for its vote.
The results of the full faculty vote will be transmitted by the administration to the Board of Trustees who retain final authority to close graduate academic programs. The Board of Trustees may also elect to close academic programs without faculty vote, as deemed necessary.