1. Provost's Office
  2. Governance, Policies and Procedures
  3. Governance (Program)

Governance (Program)

The framework of program governance is based on the Graduate School governance document [PDF] approved by the Graduate Council and on each program's governance plan as approved by the Graduate Council after submission by the program and approval by the Committee on Structure (Graduate Council Bylaws, Section 3.2A). 

The Graduate Center Governance document (Section 6.4B) mandates student representation on the program's Executive Committee and standing committees (Faculty Membership, Curriculum and Examinations, Admission and Awards, Elections).  The program governance document specifies the criteria for student membership on program committees and what such student member responsibilities and prerogatives shall be.  The program governance document provides for the expression of student opinions on decisions affecting appointment, promotion, and tenure of individual faculty members. 

Changes in Governance

To modify the program's governance, the following steps must be taken, in accordance with the Graduate Center Governance document:

  • With the approval of the Committee on Structure and Graduate Council, specific aspects of the program governance and organization may be modified to meet exceptional conditions that may prevail in a doctoral program

  • Programs may at any time propose a change in their governance within the requirements of the Graduate Center Governance document provided that changes are submitted by a majority of the program's Executive Committee to the Committee on Structure for review and recommendation.

  • If at least 30 percent of the faculty or 30 percent of the students in a program wish to recommend a change in the program's governance, their proposal will be considered by the Committee on Structure of the Graduate Council. If the Committee on Structure approves their proposal, it forwards the proposal with its recommendation to Graduate Council for its approval.

Standing Committees

Each program has the following Standing Committees (and such other committees as its faculty, its governance structure, and its Executive Committee may determine), with the following charges.

Faculty Membership: To nominate members of the program's faculty with a view toward including in the doctoral program faculty newly appointed at the colleges; to maintain a roster of potential doctoral faculty appointments; to record annually the status of those faculty members currently designated; to review all other actions taken in regard to membership on the doctoral faculty.

Curriculum and Examinations: To review curriculum and to submit curriculum recommendations for action; to recommend procedures and standards for the conduct of examinations.

Admission and Awards: To recommend admission and awards procedures and standards for the program; to administer the procedures.

Elections: To conduct all program elections.

For further details, see the GC governance document and Graduate Council bylaws. For members of Graduate Council standing committees, see the Graduate Council.