The Graduate School Charter was established in January, 1957, in accordance with provisions in the University of Washington Handbook, Volume II, Chapter 23 of Sections 23-41, 23-45e, and 23-46a of the Faculty code. It was amended in 1974, 1983, 2008, 2009, 2018, and 2020. The Graduate School Charter was renamed “Charter of the Graduate School Council” as part of the 2008 revisions.
SECTION I. Role of the Graduate School Council
A. The Council is an elected body of Graduate Faculty serving in an advisory capacity to the Vice Provost and Dean of the Graduate School. The Council has legislative authority for all matters pertaining to graduate education requiring a vote of elected representatives.
B. The Graduate School Dean or appointed representative sits as chair of the Council.
C. The Council shall:
- Advise the Dean and make recommendations concerning graduate education policies and the review of graduate degree and certificate programs.
- Act on behalf of the Graduate Faculty with respect to academic standards and practices.
SECTION II. Graduate School Council Membership
A. The Council shall include one Graduate Faculty representative from each college or school on the Seattle campus and two representatives each from UW Bothell and UW Tacoma. The College of Arts and Sciences shall have one representative from each of its divisions. UW Bothell and UW Tacoma representatives shall come from different schools on each campus (see Executive Order IX for definition of UW Bothell and UW Tacoma schools).
B. Faculty with a Graduate Faculty appointment from an inter-school or inter-college department may represent either of these units on the Council and may participate in either unit’s selection process.
C. Representatives shall be elected according to the following guidelines.
- Each college, school, or campus shall manage its own nomination and election process.
- All voting members of the Graduate Faculty from a school, college, or campus shall be allowed to participate in the selection of a Council representative. Voting members are those who hold a Graduate Faculty appointment within that school, college, or campus.
- In the case of the Graduate School, the Dean of the Graduate School shall determine the voting members for selection of the Graduate School representative who will represent the Graduate School’s interdisciplinary programs.
- The school, college, or campus shall submit to the Dean of the Graduate School the name of an elected representative before the final day of class, Spring Quarter.
- Elected representatives serve for staggered terms of three years in order to provide continuity of the body. If a representative takes a leave of absence or is unable to complete his or her term, a replacement to complete the term shall be appointed by the Dean or Chancellor of the unit represented.
D. The President of the Graduate and Professional Student Senate sits ex officio as a member of the Council, without vote.
E. A representative of the University Libraries sits ex officio as a member of the Council, without vote.
F. A representative of UW Continuum College sits ex officio as a member of the Council, without vote.
G. A representative of the Graduate Program Coordinators may sit ex officio as a member of the Council, without vote.
SECTION III: Relationship of the Graduate School Council to Other Graduate School Administrative Entities
A. The Graduate Program Coordinators
- The Dean shall appoint, upon the recommendation of the academic unit chair/program director, a Graduate Program Coordinator for each graduate degree-offering unit.
- The Dean may convene meetings of the Graduate Program Coordinators. The Graduate Program Coordinators may identify a representative to attend Council meetings.
B. The Graduate Program Coordinators may recommend changes in academic policy and serve as an advisory body to the Dean.
SECTION IV: Revisions to the Charter of the Graduate School Council
A. The Dean of the Graduate School proposes Charter revisions to the Council. The Council may enact the proposed changes through a quorum majority vote where half of those entitled to vote are present at the meeting when the vote is taken.