General Information

University Council on Graduate Education

The University Council on Graduate Education is chaired by the vice provost and University dean for Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs. The provost serves ex officio. Membership consists of the associate deans of graduate education of the School of Arts & Sciences, Hajim School of Engineering & Applied Sciences, Eastman School of Music, School of Medicine and Dentistry, School of Nursing, Simon Business School, and Warner School of Education and Human Development; and a faculty representative from each of the PhD degree granting departments and programs across the University.

The principal functions of the Council are to decide, on the basis of quality considerations, which departments shall be authorized to give work toward the PhD degree and to authorize or restrict, as necessary, the different PhD programs; to scrutinize the policies, standards, and facilities for work for the degree of doctor of philosophy throughout the University to ensure a minimum quality standard is met; and to make reports on the findings and recommendations to the provost and president. In performance of this function, the council may engage scholars from other universities.

Upon nominations by the faculties or other authorized agencies in the several schools, the council recommends to the provost for transmission to the Board of Trustees the candidates for the doctor of philosophy degree.

The steering committee of the council, composed of the University dean of graduate education and the associate dean of graduate education (or equivalent) of each school, advises the council in the performance of its functions, exchanges information, and adjusts procedures in the schools to enable administrative uniformity as needed.