Office of the Provost

a. the setting of policy for the operation of and priorities for the growth of the graduate programs,

b. the approval of all graduate programs offered by the university,

c. the authorization of all graduate degrees conferred by the university,

d. the setting of minimum standards for admission to and graduation from graduate programs, and the approval of departmental additions thereto,

e. the means by which the graduate programs can be strengthened.

a. The Graduate Council shall advise the Vice Provost for Academic Affairs on all matters, except that it shall not be empowered to authorize the conferral of graduate degrees. The mission of the Graduate Council shall include recommendation of new graduate degree proposals; supervision of the approval of new graduate courses; participation in the periodic evaluation of graduate programs; periodic review of academic policy and admissions policies and procedures; assisting the Provost in setting directions for research; and assisting in other matters as requested by the Provost.

b. The Graduate Council will inform the Graduate Faculty of recommendations which will alter the direction of, or will significantly affect the quality of, the graduate programs. This may be done by mail or by meeting.

a. Only members of the Graduate Faculty are eligible for membership on the Graduate Council. Department Chairs are ineligible for membership on the Graduate Council.

b. The Vice Provost for Academic Affairs will be the Chairperson of the Graduate Council. The Chair shall have the responsiblity of ensuring that the Graduate Faculty decisions are coordinated with the overall George Mason University policies and procedures as set by the George Mason University Board of Visitors.
(Amended September 6, 2000 - see below).c. The duties of the Chairperson will include:

i. calling meetings of the Graduate Council,
ii. predsiding at meetings of the Graduate Council,
iii. overseeing the conduct of all mail ballots distributed among the Graduate Council,
iv. performing additional duties delineated hereafter,
v. overseeing the taking and maintaining of minutes of Graduate Council meetings.



d. The Council shall include the Vice Provost for Research and seven other members: one each from the College of Nursing and Health Science; School of Management; Information Technology and Engineering; Graduate School of Education; one representing the Institutes; and two from the College of Arts and Sciences.
(Amended June 9, 2000, September 6, 2000, and November 5, 2003 - see below).

e. Council Members all serve a term of three years commencing on 1 September.

f. Members shall be elected by the faculty of each School or College in a manner determined by the faculty of each College. This procedure shall be initiated by the Chair during the Spring Semester in order to fill vacancies occurring on the Graduate Council the following 1 September.

g. In the event that a member of the Graduate Council should vacate his or her position prematurely, the Chair, in consultation with the Dean of the Collge concerned, will appoint a member of the Graduate Faculty to serve that portion of the term remaining until the next 1 September, by which time the position will be filled by the procedure prescribed in (f) above.

Adoption and Implementation

Section 1. The procedure for amending the bylaws will be as follows:

a. The motion to amend may be made at a meeting of the Graduate Council. Such motion must be confirmed by a majority of those present at a meeting of the Graduate Council.

b. The motion (as amended) will be submitted to a voice vote of the Faculty. It will pass only if favored by a majority of those voting.

c. A successful motion for amendment will require the usual approval (Vice Provost for Academic Affairs, Provost and President) before it takes effect.

May 2000 Amendment to Article III, Section 2, Paragraph b. Changed to read: the Chairperson of the Graduate Council will be a member of the Provost Office, appointed by the Provost. (Passed by Graduate Council, September 6, 2000). Amendment to Article III, Section 2, Paragraph d. Changed to read: The Council shall include one representative from the Provost's staff selected by the Provost; two representatives each from the College of Arts and Sciences, Graduate School of Education, and School of Information Technology & Engineering; one representative each from the School of Management, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, School of Public Policy, School of Computational Sciences; and one representative elected from among the Institute of the Arts, Institute for Conflict Analysis & Resolution, or School of Law. In cases where a unit has two representatives, one must be elected from among the non-administrative faculty.
(Passed by Graduate Council, June 9, 2000.) Units with graduate student populations greater than 1000 are entitled to two representatives. Units with 100-1000 graduate students would have one representative. Units with fewer than 100 graduate students would select one of the existing members to represent their interests on the Graduate Council.
(Passed by Graduate Council, September 6, 2000.) The Council shall include one representative from the Provost's staff selected by the Provost. Each graduate degree granting school, college or institute shall have at least one representative. Units with graduate student populations greater than 1000 are entitled to two representatives, one of which must be elected from among the non-administrative faculty.
(Passed by Graduate Council, November 5, 2003.) Amendment to Article III, Section 2, Paragraph h. Addition:

A quorum is needed to conduct Graduate Council business, which shall consist of eight members. If a member cannot attend, the member may appoint a substitute. This substitute may vote on matters before the Council at that meeting. (Passed by Graduate Council, June 9, 2000.)