Graduate Council

Effective Date Feb 19, 2015

(Graduate Policy 4.2)

The Graduate Council is responsible for graduate policy and procedures and makes recommendations to the dean of the graduate school on these matters.

The council has the authority to approve graduate curricula. As part of this authority council reviews and approves corresponding coursework to ensure that such coursework is at a level of rigor beyond that of baccalaureate programs. Concomitant to this approval is a review of course syllabi to ensure that curricula contain courses that include opportunities for students to review the literature within the targeted discipline and engage in research and/or appropriate professional practice and training experiences.

Exceptions to graduate policies must be approved by the Graduate Council.

Membership (Rev. 3/23/06)

(Graduate Policy 4.2.1)

Only members of the graduate faculty may be appointed to the Graduate Council. Membership is as follows:

  • The dean of the graduate school is an ex officio member of the council. Unless specifically authorized in graduate policies, the dean of the graduate school has no voting powers.
  • The deans of the colleges and academic unit heads with graduate programs are ex officio members of the council. Unless specifically authorized in graduate policies, they have voting powers only in the case of a stalemate (as specifically authorized in graduate policy “Stalemate Votes”).
  • The academic units of the university are represented by one member from each academic unit offering graduate programs, approved by the academic unit head, with each member having one vote.
  • The chair of the council is elected for a minimum two-year term by the council members from a slate of candidates prepared by a nomination committee, which is appointed prior to the March meeting by the current chair.
    • Re-election is possible.
    • Results are announced prior to the April meeting, and the chair-elect co-presides at the April meeting.
    • If the chair is from the College of Aeronautics, Nathan M. Bisk College of Business, or College of Psychology and Liberal Arts, then an additional representative will be appointed by the appropriate dean to represent that college as a voting member of the council.
    • When the term of the chair expires, that person becomes a past presiding officer for the following two years as a non-voting member of the Graduate Council.

Stalemate Votes (Rev. 3/23/06)

(Graduate Policy 4.2.2)

If a vote results in a stalemate, the ex-officio members present will vote in the following order: First, the deans of the colleges will vote. If a tie vote still exists, chair of the Graduate Council will vote. An unbreakable tie defeats a motion.

Term of Membership (Rev. 2/19/15)

(Graduate Policy 4.2.3)

Each calendar year beginning in September, one-half of the membership will be appointed to a two-year term. Re-appointments are possible. If a member of the Graduate Council cannot complete the two-year term due to resignation from or termination by Florida Tech, the academic unit head will appoint a replacement for the unexpired duration of the term. If a dean or academic unit head wishes to replace a representative for any other reason, the academic unit head will recommend the change, and with the approval of the academic dean, provide supporting justification to the Graduate Council, who will make the final determination. 

Standing Committees of the Graduate Council (Rev. 10/17/02)

(Graduate Policy 4.2.4)

Committee on Standards

(Graduate Policy 4.2.4.1)

The committee reviews requests for deletion of courses from the overall GPAs of master's students who are changing majors. It also makes recommendations by simple majority vote on other matters that may from time to time be referred to it by the Graduate Council.

A course may be removed from a student's overall GPA by action of the Graduate Council, as recommended by the committee, if all of the following conditions are met:

  • The student is no longer enrolled in the same major as when the course was taken.
  • The course was never applied toward any degree earned by the student.
  • The course is one that is rarely or never taken by students in the requesting student's new major field.

If all three conditions are met, the student may request that the Graduate Council exclude the course(s) from the calculation of the student's overall GPA. The request will be forwarded to the student’s current academic unit head for a recommendation. The committee on standards will then review the student’s request and the academic unit head’s recommendation and make its recommendation to the council.

The committee consists of one member from each college or school offering graduate programs. Members are appointed by the chair of the Graduate Council and hold office until they either leave the Graduate Council or are replaced.

Appeal Committee for Academic Dismissals

(Graduate Policy 4.2.4.2)

The Appeal Committee for Academic Dismissals has been disbanded. See graduate policies 1.11 and 2.9.1 for current policy regarding academic dismissals. 

Committee for Graduate Faculty Review

(Graduate Policy 4.2.4.3)

The committee annually reviews members of the graduate faculty at five-year intervals from their initial appointment. It makes recommendations by simple majority vote to the deans of the appropriate college or school, and the dean of the graduate school for reappointment. Information regarding the activities of graduate faculty is provided to the committee based on the areas of activity specified in graduate policy on graduate faculty, “Appointment Policy.”

The committee consists of three members of the Graduate Council appointed by the chair of the council for two-year terms. In cases where a member of the committee is subject to review, the council will appoint a substitute for that review cycle.

Special Committees of the Graduate Council

(Graduate Policy 4.2.5)

Appeal Committee for Academic Misconduct Dismissals (Rev. 3/18/04)

(Graduate Policy 4.2.5.1)

The dismissal appeals committee meets each time a misconduct dismissal is appealed.

The committee acts as hearing examiner with regard to the appeal. It reviews statements and supporting materials submitted by both the appellant and the university, conducts such independent investigation as it deems proper, conducts administrative review hearings if necessary at which the appellant and, if appropriate, other witnesses appear, and, by simple majority vote, decides the disposition of the appeals. The necessary power and authority to carry out the foregoing is delegated by the Graduate Council to the appeals committee for academic misconduct dismissals. In unusual circumstances, however, the matter may be referred to the full Graduate Council by either the dean of the graduate school or the dean of the college or school in which the student was enrolled. Such referral may take place at any time following action by the committee. The Graduate Council will review the record of the committee’s deliberations and any other information that may have come to light subsequent to the committee’s investigation, and will either support the committee’s decision or replace it with its own decision. The council may uphold the decision of the committee or may supersede the committee with its own decision with regard to the appeal.