GSH Section 14 - Graduate Council

GSH Section 14 - Graduate Council

Purpose and Responsibilities of the Graduate Council - 14.0

The Graduate Council is the principal advisory body of the Graduate School and has the following responsibilities:

  • To serve as an advisory group to the Vice Provost for Graduate Education and Dean of the Graduate School. 
  • To participate in the development of rules, policies, and standards pertaining to graduate education and graduate programs and to act upon any question affecting those policies. 
  • To participate in the establishment of rules, policies, and standards governing graduate associates and graduate fellowships, including overseeing eligibility and allocation procedures for Graduate School fellowships. 
  • To review proposals for new or revised graduate degree programs, graduate minors, graduate interdisciplinary specializations, and other curricular matters. 
  • To submit to the Council on Academic Affairs recommendations about adopting or abolishing academic degrees administered by the Graduate School. 
  • To participate in oversight of interdisciplinary graduate programs. 
  • To make recommendations about establishing, affiliating, and abolishing academic centers and other comparable organizations that are engaged in research or graduate education and make recommendations for determining the membership and authorities of their boards or governing bodies. 
  • To approve, modify, or reverse actions taken by its standing or ad hoc committees.

Membership of the Graduate Council - 14.1

Faculty Members. Twelve members of the graduate faculty are appointed for terms of three years by the Vice Provost for Graduate Education and Dean of the Graduate School in consultation with the executive deans and University Senate faculty leadership (the chair and vice-chair of Faculty Council, the chair of the University Senate steering committee, and the secretary of the University Senate). Three of the twelve shall be members of the University Senate. 

Graduate faculty members of the Graduate Council should have experience as a Graduate Studies Committee Chair or other significant involvement in graduate education. Nine of the twelve graduate faculty members will be nominated by executive deans from lists solicited from the faculty of their respective colleges; three by the executive dean of the College of Arts and Sciences; three by the executive dean of the Health Sciences; and three by the executive dean of the professional colleges. Three of the twelve graduate faculty members will be appointed by the Vice Provost for Graduate Education and Dean of the Graduate School. 

Alternate Faculty Members. Alternate graduate faculty representatives will be identified and nominated by colleges and approved by the Graduate School as alternates. Faculty alternates have the general powers and privileges as regular members when in attendance. If a graduate faculty member of the GC cannot attend the GC meetings then the alternate faculty members should be informed to serve as a proxy.

Graduate Student Members. Two graduate students shall be appointed by the Council of Graduate Students. These members shall serve terms of one year and shall be eligible for three consecutive terms.

Alternate Student Members. Alternate student representatives will be identified by the Council of Graduate Students (CGS). Student alternates have the general powers and privileges as regular members. If a graduate student member of the CGS cannot attend the GC or CGS meeting(s) then the alternative student representative(s) should be informed to serve as proxy.

Non-Voting Members. The President of the CGS and the Vice President for Research are non-voting members of the Graduate Council.

Chair. A faculty chair of the Graduate Council will be elected annually from and by the members of the Graduate Council. The chair will sit on the University Senate’s faculty cabinet.

Administrator. The Vice Provost for Graduate Education and Dean of the Graduate School or the Dean’s designee serves as the chief administrator for the Graduate Council.

Committees of the Graduate Council - 14.2

Curriculum Committee. The Graduate School/Council on Academic Affairs combined curriculum committee is the only standing committee of the Graduate Council. 

Ad Hoc Committees. Ad hoc committees to address issues requiring specific expertise will be convened at the discretion of the Vice Provost for Graduate Education and Dean of the Graduate School or Graduate Council.

Council of Graduate Students - 14.3

The Council of Graduate Students (CGS) is the student government for the approximately 11,000 graduate students at The Ohio State University. The CGS promotes and provides academic, administrative, and social programs for the graduate students and provides a forum in which the graduate student body may present and discuss academic and non-academic issues at the Ohio State University. The CGS holds at least four regular meetings every semester or summer term.

The CGS directly serves and supports graduate students and the university community in a number of ways, including:

  • Officially representing graduate student interest in university governance through the appointment of graduate students to university committees. 
  • Providing an outlet for the graduate student community to discuss and engage issues related to their interests at the university. 
  • Providing a forum for graduate student research (Edward F. Hayes Graduate Research Forum). 
  • Providing travel funds for professional development (Edward J. Ray Travel Award for Scholarship and Service). 
  • Seeking competitive compensation and benefits for graduate students. 
  • Planning special events for graduate students. 

The CGS is composed of delegates selected by the graduate students of the graduate program or by other criterion as determined by the CGS. Members of the CGS are graduate students in good standing. 

The CGS annually elects from the graduate student body the following Executive Officers: President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. 

The President of the CGS serves as a liaison between CGS and the Graduate School, the University administration, and the Ohio State Board of Trustees.