CEBS Graduate Program Committee Bylaws
March 2007
(Proposed March 9, 2007)
Purpose
The CEBS Graduate Committee reviews all graduate program matters related to curriculum, admission and structure; and,
coordinates these program components with other committees.
Composition
1. The committee is composed of an elected member representing the graduate programs for Elementary, Secondary,
Counseling, and Educational Administration and Supervision. Additionally, one At-large member will be elected
to serve on the committee. The Graduate Program Coordinator and the Faculty Senate Graduate Council
representative serve as ex-officio, non-voting members. The department in which the program(s) resides will elect
committee members. They must hold graduate faculty status. They must also be tenured or hold a tenure track
academic appointment.
2. Elected members serve three-year terms, with two-fifths rotating off each year.
3. The graduate coordinator serves as the secretary and ex-officio, non-voting member, except in cases of tie votes at
which time s/he may vote to break the tie.
4. Department chairs where graduate programs reside shall serve as ex-officio, non-voting members on the
committee.
5. The committee will elect its chair for a two-year term.
Authority
1. The committee makes decisions on all graduate course waivers and substitutions
2. The committee recommends changes in graduate courses or curricula to the Dean through the appropriate
department chair(s).
Responsibility
1. The committee serves as the liaison between the academic unit and the Graduate Council.
2. The committee monitors the admissibility of applicants to the CEBS graduate programs.
3. The committee considers petitions for changes in each candidate’s Master’s Degree Plan before it is forwarded to
the Graduate Coordinator.
4. The committee maintains a continuing review and evaluation of the department or college’s graduate program(s)
and makes recommendations to the appropriate administrative officers,
5. The committee hears and acts on individual student degree wavier and substitution requests.
Meetings
1. Quorum: A majority of the voting committee members must be present in order for the committee to function.
2. Open Meetings: All Graduate Committee meetings shall be open to all college faculty and graduate students.
However, permission to speak at meetings must be approved by the committee chairperson.
3. Communication:
a. Monthly committee meetings with time and location information for the fall and spring semesters shall be
communicated to all college graduate faculty. The committee does not function during summer term.
b. Meeting agenda and minutes shall be communicated to all college graduate faculty.
c. When possible, review materials associated with agenda items shall be made available to committee
members at least one week prior to scheduled meetings.
4. Exceptional Situations: Should situations arise which require Graduate Committee action and the committee
cannot be properly convened, for example, during the summer term, the Graduate Coordinator, Department
Chair(s), and Dean shall act as an ad hoc committee. The ad hoc committee shall process the matters on behalf of
the Graduate Committee. As soon as possible thereafter, the Dean will formally communicate the situations and
the ad hoc committee’s actions to the graduate committee.
Duties of the Secretary
In consultation with the Committee Chair, the secretary is responsible for activities noted in this document in the
“Meetings” section, item 3. The secretary is also responsible for recording and maintaining a permanent file of all
committee minutes.