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Administration         State of Florida Board of Governors University of Central Florida Board of Trustees University of Central Florida Administration Division of Graduate Studies Graduate Council College Graduate Coordinators Graduate Program Coordinators

State of Florida Board of Governors

University of Central Florida Board of Trustees

University of Central Florida Administration

Office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

Office of the Vice Provost for Regional Campuses

Office of the Vice Provost for Information Technologies and Resources

Office of the Vice Provost for Academic Administrative Systems

Division of Graduate Studies

Office of Undergraduate Studies

Office of Research

Office of University Relations

Office of the Vice President for Student Development and Enrollment Services

Division of Graduate Studies

The Division of Graduate Studies is responsible for providing leadership and vision for graduate education at the University of Central Florida. Program quality, graduate admissions, recruiting, enrollment management, student services and records, policies, appeals, program development and review, benchmarking, and completion of graduate degrees are important concerns of the division.

Working in conjunction with the Faculty Senate Committees and the college and graduate program coordinators, UCF Graduate Studies is responsible for developing university-wide graduate plans and policies, coordinating graduate activities, distributing tuition support and fellowships to the colleges, facilitating the adoption of new graduate programs, coordinating the recruitment of graduate applicants, and admitting graduate students to the university. Students apply to the university through the Office of Graduate Admissions and Student Services. Admissions decisions are made by the colleges, schools and departments. The office also maintains and updates graduate student records indicating the status of students as they progress through their academic programs. Any policy questions about graduate issues should be directed to the Division of Graduate Studies or the Graduate Council. Questions about operational procedures should be directed to individual college or graduate program coordinators or to the Division of Graduate Studies.

Mission Statement

UCF Graduate Studies provides leadership to create high-quality learning environments for graduate students and to achieve the university's goal of international prominence in key areas of graduate studies. Graduate Studies is an advocate for graduate education, working to mobilize and arrange the resources needed for enrollment and program growth. We track and analyze emerging trends and changes in graduate education, both nationally and with our peer institutions and provide support and guidance for interdisciplinary and cooperative programs. We are mindful of the need to retain the academic values of the graduate programs while acting as a partner in the social and economic well being of the community and state.

UCF Graduate Studies collaborates with the faculty to develop policies and best practices that further the high academic standards and excellence of our graduate programs. We are client-centered, focused on providing the information and services that students need to enhance their experience with UCF and that faculty and staff need to effectively carry out their responsibilities to students. Cooperation with colleges, graduate programs, administrative offices, and support services is emphasized to provide an excellent experience for our graduate students from inquiry to graduation.

Through its primary activities, programs and services, UCF Graduate Studies contributes to program development and growth, enrollment management and recruiting, enhanced infrastructure and technological support for our graduate students and programs, and quality student support services for a diverse and talented graduate student population. We are a strong advocate for providing graduate education to persons who are full-time working professionals requiring flexible and relevant advanced education, those who are full-time graduate students being mentored by our graduate faculty, and those who are non-traditional, underrepresented or economically disadvantaged.

Office of Graduate Recruiting

UCF Graduate Studies develops and implements a university recruiting plan. It also provides the colleges and programs with guidance, resources, and assistance in regard to the recruitment of graduate students. The focus of these efforts is to help meet university goals related to enrollment management and the achievement of a diverse and talented graduate student population.

In addition, this office supports the Recruiting Enhancement Program that awards individual graduate programs the opportunity to develop recruiting plans and to implement them.

Office of Graduate Admissions and Student Services

The Office of Admissions and Student Services guides students through the graduate application and admissions processes for students enrolled in graduate degree and certificate programs and students taking graduate courses in a nondegree status.

This office also works with the graduate programs, colleges, and graduate students, and provides academic services to current students from the time they are admitted until they graduate. The mission of our student services is to enhance the quality and visibility of graduate education at UCF and to facilitate the academic success of our graduate students.

Office of Graduate Financial Assistance

Graduate Financial Assistance assists students in applying for fellowships and in identifying other sources of financial support for graduate study. The Office of Graduate Financial Assistance also oversees graduate tuition support and financial processing for fellowships. Questions should be directed to gradfaid@mail.ucf.edu.

Graduate Council

The Graduate Council is a standing committee of the Faculty Senate and reports to the Senate on graduate policy and curriculum matters. The Graduate Council deals with policy issues and standards for the university. New graduate program requests, changes to existing graduate programs, additions, deletions and modifications to graduate courses, and new policies or changes to existing graduate policies are initiated and reviewed by the Graduate Council. New graduate program requests require final approval by the Board of Trustees, and for doctoral programs approval is required from the Board of Governors of the State. The Graduate Council has three subcommittees that examine and formulate policies and procedures, hear petitions for variances from graduate programs, college, or university requirements, and review graduate Course Action Requests, among other matters. Each subcommittee consists of four senate members and at least three non-senate members.

Duties of the Graduate Council

1. Reviews and recommends university-wide graduate policies and standards.



2. Reviews all new proposals for planning and implementation of graduate programs, including deletion of existing programs.



3. Reviews all matters referred by the Graduate Council subcommittees.



4. Transmits its recommendations to the Faculty Senate Steering Committee, which normally submits these recommendations to the Office of Graduate Studies on behalf of the Provost.

Policy and Procedures Subcommittee

1. Examines existing policies and procedures and recommends new policies and procedures with regard to graduate education, including but not limited to policies and procedures affecting admissions, academic progress, and financial support for graduate students.



2. Reviews all matters referred by the Graduate Council.



3. Transmits its recommendations to the Faculty Senate Steering Committee.

Appeals Subcommittee

1. Hears petitions for variances from graduate program, college, or university requirements for graduate nondegree, certificate, or degree program students at the university or applicants to graduate programs. A student petition is considered when the department and college have reviewed the request and denied the petition or when the student is requesting an exception to university policies or regulations. Applicant petitions are considered upon request of the applicant when the program has reviewed an appeal of an admissions decision and denied admission.



2. Recommends approval or denial of appeals or petitions to the Vice Provost and Dean of Graduate Studies, who will notify the student, department, and college of the action.



3. Hears all requests from graduate program coordinators for exceptions to graduate policies and procedures.



4. Reviews nominees for the University Excellence in Graduate Teaching and the University Excellence in Graduate Mentoring Awards and makes recommendations to the Vice President for Academic Affairs.



5. Reviews nominees for the Award for Excellence by a Graduate Teaching Assistant, the Award for Excellence in Graduate Student Teaching, the Award for the Outstanding Master's Thesis, and the Award for the Outstanding Dissertation
6. Monitors graduate program quality and makes recommendations to the Graduate Council.



7. Reviews all matters referred by the Graduate Council.

Course Review and New Programs Subcommittee

1. Reviews curricular issues related to graduate education.



2. Reviews proposals for new graduate programs and deletion of existing programs.



3. Reviews proposals for changes to existing graduate programs (such as hours, thesis/non-thesis options) and makes recommendations to the Vice Provost and Dean of Graduate Studies.



4. Reviews proposals for new tracks or options to existing graduate programs and deletions of tracks or options, and makes recommendations to the Vice Provost and Dean of Graduate Studies.



5. Reviews proposals for new graduate certificate programs and the deletion of existing certificate programs and makes recommendations to the Vice Provost and Dean of Graduate Studies.



6. Reviews all requests for additions, revisions, and deletions of graduate and special topics courses and makes recommendations to the Vice Provost and Dean of Graduate Studies.



7. Reviews all matters referred by the Graduate Council.

College Graduate Coordinators

College graduate coordinators are appointed by the respective college Deans (or Directors of Schools with graduate academic programs) to work with the Division of Graduate Studies. The primary responsibilities of the college graduate coordinators are to identify opportunities for graduate education, communicate the college vision of graduate education to faculty, staff, students, and the university, coordinate and represent college graduate concerns to others, conduct studies that ensure program quality and standards in the college and report this information to the university, assist with program reviews, and prepare an annual report to the Division of Graduate Studies on college graduate activities.

College of Arts and Sciences—Dr. Michael Johnson
College of Business Administration—Dr. Robin Roberts
College of Education—Dr. Michael Hynes
College of Engineering and Computer Science—Dr. Jamal Nayfeh
College of Health and Public Affairs—Dr. Ken Adams
Rosen College of Hospitality Management—Dr. Randall Upchurch
College of Optics and Photonics—Dr. David Hagan

Graduate Program Coordinators

The graduate program coordinators are appointed by the respective department Chairs (or Directors of other units with graduate academic programs) to work with the college graduate coordinators. Under the direction of their department chair, they are primarily responsible for recruiting graduate students and responding to inquiries; distributing tuition support to individual students; providing for student services such as mentoring, career development opportunities, and student orientations; providing for office space for graduate assistants; informing students and faculty of student completion rates; informing students and faculty of typical financial support available to graduate assistants; ensuring program standards in their department; and preparing an annual report to the college graduate coordinators on their activities.