I. Administration
The Role of the Graduate Division
The Graduate Division encompasses all post-baccalaureate advanced degree programs at UC Irvine and all graduate students, exclusive of the M.S. in Medical Sciences, L.L.M, M.D and J.D. programs. In addition, the Graduate Division oversees all post-doctoral training programs at UCI, exclusive of the medical intern and medical resident programs conducted by the School of Medicine. The Dean of the Graduate Division is administers graduate and post-doctoral study at UCI in accordance with academic policies established by the Academic Senate via the Graduate Council.
The Graduate Division serves as the campus-wide advocate for the advancement of graduate education and strives for standards of excellence, fairness, and equity in all graduate programs at UCI. To fulfill this mission, the Graduate Division:
- Facilitates programmatic activities which help develop and promote academic quality through strategic planning, policy development, and effective resource allocation.
- Articulates the views, needs, and priorities of graduate education within the context of general policy and budget development to ensure that academic goals properly inform campus-wide decision making.
- Facilitates communication among schools, departments, and administrative offices to ensure that the academic policies established by the Academic Senate’s Graduate Council are implemented through efficient and rational administrative procedures.
- Protects the general welfare of graduate students and postdoctoral fellows in all areas of concern, including, but not limited to, financial support, and academic progress.
- Administers appropriate regulatory activities designed to ensure campus-wide and UC system-wide accountability aimed at ensuring academic quality standards and other institutional policies and regulations related to graduate students and postdoctoral fellows.
- Encourages timely completion of graduate degrees by monitoring student degree progress, encouraging faculty advising and mentoring, and ensuring fair and equitable treatment of all students. Provides campus-wide student services that facilitate academic progress, as well as professional development.
- Enhances access, representation, and the educational experience of underrepresented students in order to achieve the University’s diversity objectives. Develops institutional initiatives to enhance the pool of qualified applicants and, by implementing Graduate Council policies, ensures the academic excellence of entering students.
- Works with the Graduate Council to develop local graduate education policies. Provides information, institutional data, and analysis of issues impacting graduate education to support the Council’s policy functions, and recommends new policies. Implements Graduate Council policies and provides outcome assessment and analysis.
- Works with the Council in evaluating new program initiatives and assessing continuing programs.
- Provides central administrative services that help sustain and improve the quality of graduate education.
The Role of Graduate Council
The Graduate Council is a standing committee of the Academic Senate, Irvine Division, charged with reviewing and regulating graduate education within the framework of Academic Senate regulations. The Graduate Council reviews all proposals for new degree programs and carries out, on behalf of the Academic Senate, mandated periodic reviews of existing graduate programs. Representatives include members of the Academic Senate, the Graduate Dean (ex officio), three graduate students, and a Library representative. There is a monthly meeting schedule during the academic year. One Council member is appointed campus representative to the UC System-wide Academic Senate Coordinating Committee on Graduate Affairs (CCGA).
The Graduate Council sets policies and standards for admission to graduate student status; determines eligibility for fellowships and assistantships; establishes policies relating to graduate degrees; approves changes in degree requirements; establishes procedural rules for graduate study; sets policy for satisfactory academic progress, graduate student course loads, transfers of academic credit, part-time study, and leaves of absence.
The Role of the Faculty Graduate Advisor
The Faculty Graduate Advisor is the official faculty representative of the Graduate Dean in matters affecting graduate students in the Faculty Graduate Advisor’s academic unit. A close working relationship is established between the Advisor and the Graduate Division. The Graduate Dean is dependent upon the experience and judgment of Graduate Advisors, and upon their recommendations, in matters requiring the Graduate Dean’s action. The Graduate Division staff provides information to the Advisors on a continuing basis and responds to requests for special assistance.
The Faculty Graduate Advisor is responsible for supervising graduate study in their department and for ensuring that each graduate student has an individual faculty advisor and mentor. In many academic units, the advisor is instrumental in the appointment and supervision of graduate student Teaching Assistants, Associates, Readers, and Tutors. In most schools, there is also an Associate Dean for Graduate Studies who coordinates many of the functions which affect graduate students. This faculty member works in conjunction with their academic dean and department chairs.
Continue to the next Chapter: II. ADMISSIONS