Graduate Council

The Graduate Council is responsible for formulating, reviewing, disseminating, and monitoring the implementation of policies and procedures concerning graduate education at North Dakota State University

The Graduate Council is composed of a Council chair (and alternate), a faculty representative from each academic college, two graduate students, and six at-large faculty representatives. Membership consists of:

  • One member from each academic college (7) either appointed or elected by the members of their faculty
  • Three faculty representatives elected by full members of the graduate faculty
  • Three faculty representatives appointed by the Dean of the College of Graduate and Interdisciplinary Studies
  • One graduate student designated or elected by the Graduate Student Council
  • One graduate student appointed by the designated or elected by the Dean of the College of Graduate and Interdisciplinary Studies

 

2023-24 Graduate Council Members
Member Department Term Ends
Mark Nawrot College of Graduate and Interdisciplinary Studies Ex-Officio
Tim Greives
Graduate Council Chair
Biological Sciences May 2024
Joel Caton
College Representative
Animal Science May 2026
Linlin Chai
College Representative
Management and Marketing May 2026
Erin Conwell
Dean's Appointment
Psychology May 2024
Britt Heidinger
Elected Member
Biological Sciences May 2024
Pamela Jo Johnson
College Representative
Public Health May 2024
Svetlana Kilina
College Representative
Chemistry and Biochemistry May 2023
Lu Liu
College Representative
Computer Science May 2026
Zoltan Majdik
College Representative
Communication May 2024
Charlette Moe
Elected Member
Music May 2024
Juan Osorno
Dean’s Appointment 
Plant Sciences May 2025
Nate Wood
College Representative
School of Education May 2025
Changhui Yan
Dean's Appointment 
Computer Science May 2026
Student Members
Fazal Manan Graduate Student Council Representative
Kazi Sarjana Safain Graduate Dean's Appointment

 

 

Graduate Council By-Laws

By-laws Updates 2024 (posted for voting purposes only)

Bylaws-track changes.pdf

Bylaws - edits applied.pdf

Article I: Name

The name of this standing committee shall be the Graduate Council of North Dakota State University.

Article II: Purpose

Section 1

The Graduate Council is responsible for formulating, reviewing, disseminating, and monitoring the implementation of policies and procedures concerning graduate education at North Dakota State University, including but not limited to:

(a) graduate admissions requirements and policies,

(b) graduate completion requirements,

(c) graduate curriculum standards,

(d) graduate instruction and advising standards,

(e) graduate faculty standards and status, and

(f) graduate student appeals.

To that end, the Council approves all proposals for new graduate programs or changes to current programs. The Council approves renewal of graduate faculty status and must approve requests for non-graduate faculty to teach graduate courses.

 

Section 2

Graduate Council policies, including all policy and procedural information published in the Graduate Catalog and other university documents, are subject to review and approval by the College Deans, the Dean of the College of Graduate and Interdisciplinary Studies, the Provost, and the President. They may also be subject to review and approval by the full members of the graduate faculty at the discretion of the Graduate Council.

Article III: Membership

Section 1

The Graduate Council is composed of a Council chair (and alternate), a faculty representative from each academic college, two graduate students, and six at-large faculty representatives.

The Dean of the College of Graduate and Interdisciplinary Studies, a representative from the NDSU Libraries and representatives from the Graduate School shall automatically serve as non-voting members.

The Chair of the Council may serve up to two consecutive two-year terms. Faculty representatives may serve up to two consecutive three- year terms. Graduate student representatives may serve a two-year term. An exception to the term limit may be approved by the majority of the Graduate Council and the Dean of the College of Graduate and Interdisciplinary Studies

 

Section 2

The following guidelines prescribe the designation of Council members. A list of academic colleges may be found in Appendix A.

The Graduate Council chair and the alternate shall be elected by the full graduate faculty and must have previously served on the Graduate Council. The Dean of the College of Graduate and Interdisciplinary Studies shall appoint the inaugural chair.

Each academic college will designate or elect a representative from the members of their faculty. Of the six at-large faculty representatives, three shall be elected by the full graduate faculty and three shall be appointed by Dean of the College of Graduate and Interdisciplinary Studies. Nominees for the three elected at-large positions will provide a brief bio that describes their qualifications and contributions. The faculty representatives will be tenured or tenure-track faculty who are full members of the graduate faculty and have graduate teaching and/or advising responsibilities.

Of the two graduate student members, one member will be designated or elected by the Graduate Student Council. One of the graduate student members will be designated by the Dean of the College of Graduate and Interdisciplinary Studies.

Article IV: Conduct of Business

Section 1

The Council will meet at least monthly during the academic year. Special meetings may be called by the Chair or by a majority of the membership.

 

Section 2

The minutes of each council meeting shall be made available to council members, college deans, and graduate program directors. The Chair shall ensure that minutes of meetings are posted on the Graduate Council web page in a timely manner.

 

Section 3

For any meeting, a simple majority of the voting members of the Council shall constitute a quorum.

 

Section 4

The Chair shall set the agenda. Any member of the committee may request the addition of an agenda item. The order of business for Graduate Council meetings shall be:

• Approval of the minutes of the previous meeting.
• Announcements.
• Consent Agenda.
• Committee and other reports.
• Unfinished business.
• New business.
• Adjournment.

 

Section 5

The rules contained in the current edition of Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised shall be the parliamentary authority for the Council when applicable and when not inconsistent with these bylaws or any special rules of order the Council may adopt.

 

Article V: Committees

The Council shall have the Chair form or cause to be formed a Curriculum Committee and an Affiliate Faculty Committee. The Curriculum Committee will review graduate course and curriculum changes and provide recommendations to the Graduate Council. The Affiliate Faculty Committee will review applications for Affiliate Faculty Status and graduate teaching waivers and provide recommendations to the Graduate Council. The members of the Curriculum Committee and the Affiliate Faculty Committee will be elected by the Graduate Council. Each committee will elect a chair among its members.

In addition, the Chair shall form or cause to be formed such special committees as it needs. Each special committee shall have a charge that includes its organization, responsibilities, the term of existence, and method of meeting and reporting.

Non-members of the Graduate Council may serve as non-voting members of committees at the request of the Graduate Council Chair to provide specific expertise.

Article VI: Adoption and Amendment of Bylaws

Section 1

Adoption of the bylaws will be by a vote of the full members the graduate faculty.

 

Section 2

These bylaws may be amended at any regular meeting of the Council by two-thirds of the votes cast, provided that the amendment is minor and has been submitted in writing to the membership at the previous regular meeting. Major amendments, as determined by a simple majority of the voting members present at any regular meeting of the Council, must be approved by the full members of the graduate faculty.

 

Appendix A

The following are considered academic colleges for the purposes of determining members of the Graduate Council:

• College of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Natural Resources
• College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences
• College of Business
• College of Engineering
• College of Human Sciences and Education
• College of Health Professions
• College of Science and Mathematics