Office of Graduate Studies, Definition of Graduate Faculty & Graduate Council Description

OFFICE OF GRADUATE STUDIES

Beginning in 1962, the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh introduced graduate study to northeastern Wisconsin. There are currently over 40 master’s, post-master’s (GAP), certificate, and doctoral programs with a variety of emphases, electives, and research areas. Courses are regularly scheduled during late afternoon and evening hours, many are online, enabling students to pursue most graduate degree programs while working full time.

Vision

The University of Wisconsin Oshkosh will be recognized as the premier provider of graduate education north of Madison.

Mission Statement

Graduate education at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh fosters scholarly activities that develop leaders who think creatively and analytically. Our graduate students and alumni contribute to the intellectual vitality of their communities by not only creating knowledge but by applying that knowledge.

THE GRADUATE FACULTY

The University of Wisconsin Oshkosh has an outstanding graduate faculty. The graduate faculty has responsibilities for graduate curriculum, admissions decisions and recommendations, student academic advisement, Graduate Council and/or departmental graduate committee activities, candidacy and comprehensive examinations, involvement with theses, clinical papers, field projects or culminating experiences, classroom instruction and assessment of learning.

The following specifically outlines how the Graduate Council defines and describes the Graduate Faculty and Graduate Instructional Academic Staff. This definition is aligned with the University’s definition of Minimum Qualifications for Faculty and Instructional Academic Staff.

Definition:

Graduate Faculty and Graduate Instructional Academic Staff shall include the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh personnel who are qualified to engage in graduate-level activities.

Graduate-Level Activities:

Activities may include, but are not limited to: assignment to graduate classroom instruction; graduate curricular oversight and assessment; graduate admissions decisions and recommendations; graduate student academic advisement; facilitation of graduate student growth and development; Graduate Council and/or departmental graduate committee activities; candidacy and comprehensive examination responsibilities; involvement in culminating projects such as field projects, theses, seminar or clinical papers, clinical internship; external promotion of graduate activities.

Minimum Criteria for Qualification:

Although individual departments may adopt more stringent requirements based on departmental needs, the minimum requirements to qualify as a member of the Graduate Faculty or Graduate Instructional Academic Staff are:

1. A graduate degree in the professional field or discipline or an appropriate graduate degree as determined by the individual department;
2. A record of productive scholarship, creative endeavor, or achievement in application (e.g., mentor, teacher, practitioner)

Appointment and Renewal Process:

A. By October 1st of each academic year, each college/unit shall provide the Dean of Graduate Studies a list of new nominees, continuing members, and deleted members of the Graduate Faculty.

B. Assignment to participate in graduate-level activities will follow standard University, College, and Departmental personnel and administrative protocols.

THE GRADUATE COUNCIL

The University of Wisconsin Oshkosh Graduate Council is a representative body that is responsible for the formulation of policies concerning graduate programs of the University. The Council serves as an advisory body to the Dean of Graduate Studies and Provost and is concerned with the implementation of graduate study policies. Specific functions and powers of the Council are to:

1. Establish goals and directions for graduate education at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh that are supportive of quality and consistency of standards.
2. Advise the Dean of Graduate Studies and Provost on matters related to planning and coordination of graduate education.
3. Request that the Dean of Graduate Studies and Provost direct specific studies to be undertaken on matters of concern to the Council.
4. Review existing graduate programs with recommendations for administrative action for continuance, modification, or discontinuance.
5. Review new or substantially revised graduate programs and recommend administrative action on them.
6. Collaborate with representatives of other institutions in the development and conduct of inter-institutional agreements for program offerings.
7. Serve as an appellate body for exceptions to the Office of Graduate Studies policy.