university Graduate Committee
The Graduate Committee is a standing academic university committee of The University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College. UTB/TSC "Handbook of Operating Procedures" policy 5.2.4 further defines academic university committees and councils.
Sanction
The provost of UTB/TSC appoints all members after receiving recommendations from the Academic Senate for representative members and recommendations from the designated vice president for administrative members.
Duties and Responsibilities
The committee shall review and make recommendations on graduate academic policies and standards related to curriculum, admissions, fellowships and assistantships, criteria for and appointment to the Graduate Faculty and other matters of importance to graduate education. Committee recommendations will be forwarded through the dean of graduate studies to the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs for appropriate administrative review and action. The committee’s minutes will be made available to the academic community.
Membership
Faculty membership shall be selected from those qualified to teach graduate courses and those recommended for appointment by the graduate faculty of the school or college. The Executive Committee of the Academic Senate shall present the nominees to the Academic Senate. The Academic Senate shall approve or reject the nominees. Each college and school offering graduate programs shall be represented on the Graduate Committee. The administrative membership shall include the vice president for academic affairs, the dean of instructional support, the dean of graduate studies and two other deans (one from a college and one from a professional school) recommended by the vice president for academic affairs. The administrative members are non-voting, ex-officio members. The dean of graduate studies shall serve as liaison to the vice president for academic affairs. All committee appointments or recommendations are made in the spring semester and are effective at the beginning of the next academic year.
Term
The rules for membership, including term limits, are set forth in UTB/TSC HOOP policy 5.2.4.
Officers
The chair shall be elected every May from among the faculty members of the Graduate Committee. The dean of graduate studies will serve as secretary and record and distribute minutes of each meeting.
Meetings and Procedures
A regular schedule of meetings will be established by the committee at the beginning of each academic year. Agendas will be developed and meetings called by the chair and the dean of graduate studies. A majority of faculty members constitutes a quorum. During general discussion, the committee will operate as a committee of the whole under the direction of the chair. When discussion leads to the need for a vote, the committee will follow the procedures prescribed by "Robert’s Rules of Order." Only faculty members of the committee may vote. Members must either be present to vote, or another graduate faculty member from the same school or college will act in the member’s place and will vote for the member at the meeting specified. A quorum of regularly elected members must be present to conduct business at a Graduate Committee meeting.
University Graduate Committee Members
Graduate Committee Calendar 2009 - 2010