Graduate Office of Admissions
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Governance Document
(Excerpt, USM Governance Constitution p. 29)
PART IV: GRADUATE STUDIES
ARTICLE I: OFFICE OF GRADUATE STUDIES
The Office of Graduate Studies is part of the Division of Academic Affairs. It houses the Office of Graduate Admissions and is headed by the Associate Provost/Dean of Graduate Studies, who is appointed by the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. The purpose of the Office of Graduate Studies is to facilitate all functions pertaining to programs beyond the bachelor's degree and to work with graduate students to enhance their graduate education. OGS provides centralized functions for consistency, functionality, and quality assurance for the various graduate programs, all of which are housed in USM colleges and schools. It is a clearinghouse for matters pertaining to graduate programs and graduate students.
ARTICLE II: THE GRADUATE COUNCIL
Section 1
Responsibilities. The Graduate Council is the graduate faculty's advisory body to the chief academic officer regarding graduate affairs. The Council shall make recommendations to the chief academic officer concerning the qualifications for designation as graduate faculty, the organization and administration of graduate affairs, the review of existing graduate programs, and the development of graduate programming including the review of proposals for new graduate degrees. The Council is charged to conduct all actions with consideration of the best interests of graduate education as a whole at USM.
Section 2
Membership. Each graduate program shall be represented on the Graduate Council by the program chair or his/her designee. "Program" is interpreted as granting a unique degree.
One graduate student representative shall be appointed by the Associate Provost/Dean of Graduate Studies from students recommended by graduate faculty.
Section 3
Chair. The Associate Provost/Dean of Graduate Studies will serve as convener, chair and facilitator of the Graduate Council.
Section 4
By-laws. The Graduate Council shall establish by-laws for the conduct of its affairs and notice of meetings, agenda, and actions. By-laws shall be made available to all members of the graduate faculty and other interested parties.
