Graduate Student Orientation and Advisement (A-61)
Original Implementation: October 31, 2000
Last Revision: October 30, 2007
Academic departments offering graduate programs should provide all of their graduate students, both full-time and part-time, with a systematic, effective program of orientation and academic advising. All students are to be assigned a graduate faculty member as an advisor to direct the student during his or her program of studies. The responsibility of the advisor will include but may not be limited to:
- providing or arranging for an orientation to departmental organization, administration, key personnel, facilities and procedures
- directing the student to university resources, guidelines, procedures, and policies which may affect the student's graduate experience
- informing the student of the program's relationship to the college, university, and external agencies
- providing an orientation to the registration process, including dates, procedures, early registration, restrictions, and other information
- advising the student on degree requirements such as core or required courses, proper sequencing of courses, minimum credit hours, minimum grade-point averages, removal of withheld grades, thesis vs. non-thesis option, transfer courses, and time limits for completion of degree programs
- advising the student on graduate school requirements such as maintaining good academic standing in the graduate school, comprehensive examinations, thesis approval procedures, thesis/exhibition/dissertation examinations, and policies and procedures relevant to taking (and retaking) comprehensive or thesis examinations
- providing the student with an explanation of academic honesty in the classroom and in research
- advising the student on his or her rights and responsibilities and pointing out the process of appealing decisions and/or the actions of others
- assisting the student with the process of applying for graduation and completing all documentation required for graduation.
Departmental orientation and advising programs must be appropriately evaluated and included in the annual departmental assessment report, including information on how the results of the assessment will be used to enhance effective assistance to students.
Cross Reference: Current Graduate Bulletin, Graduate Student Handbook, Student Handbook
Responsible for Implementation: Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Contact for Revision: Dean and Associate Vice President for Graduate Studies and Research
Forms: None