About the College
The College of Graduate Studies is responsible for providing leadership and vision for graduate education at the University of Central Florida. Working in conjunction with the Faculty Senate Committees and the college and graduate program directors, the Graduate College 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, admitting graduate students to the university, ensuring that academic standards are maintained, and certifying successful completion of graduation requirements and awarding graduate degrees.
Office of Graduate Admissions
The Office of Graduate Admissions guides prospective students through the graduate application and admissions processes for those enrolled in graduate degree and certificate programs and students taking graduate courses in a nondegree status.
Office of Student Services and Graduation
The Office of Student Services and Graduation processes all transactions that affect a student after initial admission through final degree completion. In regards to enrollment, the Student Services area reviews student and administrative requests for late adds/drops/withdrawals, medical withdrawals and residency reclassification. In addition, this area is responsible for maintaining the requirements built in the advisement module and for processing all exceptions. Students’ academic records are updated by processing grade changes, changes in student program status, transfer work, course substitutions and waivers.
At the end of each term, students’ academic progress is reviewed. This review includes moving students forward in good standing, entering Thesis/Dissertation students into candidacy status, as well as processing probation and dismissals. The Student Services area assists with the approval of thesis/ dissertation committee membership. It also helps organize the program review that is led by the Graduate Council, which consists of evaluating each graduate-level program on a rotating basis to help maintain the quality of our graduate programs.
In regards to Graduation, commencement organization and degree certification is also conducted in this office. On average, the graduation team certifies approximately 2,300 master’s degrees, 300 doctoral degrees, and 300 graduate certificates annually. Once all degrees and certificates are conferred and certified, the team is responsible for the direct mailing of all diplomas and certificates each term.
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. This office also oversees graduate tuition support, health insurance, and graduate fellowships, and the processing of graduate assistantship agreements and assessments.
Office of Communications
The Communications office provides communications, websites and materials to support college efforts in recruiting, admissions, student services, financial assistance, and administration. The office helps graduate programs publish information about their programs in the Graduate Catalog, provides guidance regarding thesis and dissertation policies and tracking of graduate students' progress through the thesis/dissertation process, delivers the university-wide Pathways to Success workshops program to complement students' experience in their programs, and provides other special services, such as coordinating internships for selected Professional Science Master's programs. The office also manages the Graduate Student Center and supports graduate community events, including the Grad Fair, Graduate Orientation, and Graduate Research Forum.