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Graduate Council

The Graduate Council was established by the Faculty Association of the University as the governing structure which is vested with the responsibility of formulating, reviewing, disseminating, and monitoring the implementation of policies and procedures concerning graduate education at the University of North Florida, including but not limited to: 
  1. graduate admissions requirements and policies,
  2. graduate completion requirements,
  3. graduate curriculum standards,
  4. graduate instruction standards, and
  5. graduate faculty standards.

As the principal review and recommending body for graduate programs, policies enacted by the Graduate Council and approved by the Graduate Dean are subject to the final review and approval of the Vice President for Academic Affairs and the President.

The Dean of the Graduate School serves as Chair of the Graduate Council. In cooperation with the colleges, the Council is responsible for setting graduate standards, providing for the continuous monitoring of standards, developing new policies and procedures as they are needed, reviewing existing policies, and providing assurance of university-wide compliance with all graduate standards.

If you would like to view the meeting minutes or handouts, please contact the Graduate School.

Graduate Council Members

Member College Department/School Program(s) Represented
Dr. Chris Joyce BCH Clinical & Applied Movement Sciences MS: Athletic Training; MSH: Kinesiology/Lifestyle Medicine
Dr. Rob Haley BCH Health Administration MHA/EHMA: Health Administration; MS: Health Informatics
Dr. Marie Smith-East BCH Nursing DNP: Anesthesiology, Nursing; MSN: Nursing
Dr. Jen Ross BCH Nutrition & Dietetics DCN: Clinical Nutrition; MS: Nutrition & Dietetics
Dr. Sherry Pinkstaff BCH Physical Therapy DPT: Physical Therapy
Dr. Elissa Barr BCH Public Health MPH: Public Health; MS: Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Dr. David Jaeger CCB Accounting & Finance MACC: Accountancy
Dr. Christopher (Brian) Flynn CCB Management MBA: Business Administration; MS: Business Analytics, MS: Management
Dr. Dawn Russell CCB Marketing & Logistics MS: Logistics & Supply Chain Management
Dr. Asai Asaithambi CCEC Computing MS: Computing & Information Sciences
Dr. Dan Koo CCEC Construction Management MS: Construction Management
Dr. Osama Jadaan CCEC Engineering MSCE: Civil Engineering; MSEE: Electrical: MS: Materials Science & Engineering; MSME: Mechanical Engineering
Dr. Matthew Gilg COAS Biology MA/MS: Biology
Dr. Stephynie Perkins COAS Communication MS: Communication Management
Dr. Brenda Vose COAS Criminology & Criminal Justice MS: Criminal Justice
Dr. Betsy Nies COAS English MA: English     
Dr. Chau Johnsen Kelly COAS History MA: History
Dr. Elena Buzaianu COAS Mathematics & Statistics MS: Mathematical Sciences
Dr. Erin Bodnar COAS Music MM: Music Education, Music Performance
Dr. Daniel Santavicca      COAS Physics  MS: Materials Science and Engineering
Dr. Josh Gellers COAS Political Science and Public Administration MPA: Public Administration, MA: International Affairs
Dr. Dan Richard COAS Psychology MS: Psychological Science
Dr. Cristy Cummings   COAS Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work MSW: Social Work
Dr. David Hoppey COEHS Exceptional, Deaf and Interpreter Education, and Leadership, School Counseling and Sport Management MS: ASL/English Interpreting, Ed Tech, Training & Development, Higher Ed Admin; MED: Counselor Education, Educational Leadership, Special Ed
Dr. Diane Yendol-Hoppey COEHS Teaching, Learning, and Curriculum EdD: Curriculum & Instruction, Educational Leadership; MED: Curriculum & Instruction, Elementary Ed; MAT: Elementary Ed, Exceptional Student Ed, Secondary Ed

 

Ex-Officio Members Department Title
Dr. Michele Moore The Graduate School Dean & Graduate Council Chair
Paige Lilley The Graduate School Director
Karina Miller The Graduate Student Organization President
Dr. Michael Binder The Faculty Association President
Jennifer Murray Thomas G. Carpenter Library Interim Dean

Graduate Council Bylaws

  • Name
    The name of this standing committee shall be The Graduate Council of the University of North Florida. It serves as the faculty’s representative body for governance of the Graduate School at the University of North Florida.
  • Purpose: Section I

    The Graduate Council is vested with the responsibility of formulating, reviewing, disseminating, and monitoring the implementation of policies and procedures concerning graduate education at the University of North Florida, including but not limited to:

    1. graduate admissions requirements and policies, 
    2. graduate completion requirements, 
    3. graduate curriculum standards, 
    4. graduate instruction standards, and 
    5. graduate faculty standards.

    To that end, the Council has the authority to initiate new policies and changes to existing policies related to graduate education, and to review and approve new policies and revisions of existing policies initiated by other units, subject to Purpose: Section II below.

  • Purpose: Section II
    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 Graduate School, the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, and the President. They may also be subject to review and approval by the Faculty Association.
  • Membership: Section I

    The Graduate Council is composed of voting and non-voting members. The membership is determined as follows:  

    1. Voting members.
      • All voting members must be Research Graduate Faculty. Each department or school responsible for the management of one or more graduate programs shall be represented by one member. The Dean of the Graduate School shall automatically serve. Voting members may select designees to attend and vote in their absence.
    2. Non-voting members.
      • The Faculty Association President, the Dean of the Library, the Associate Vice President for Enrollment Services, and the Director of the Graduate School, or their designees, will serve as ex-officio, non-voting members of the Council. The President of the Graduate Student Organization, or her/his appointed delegate, will serve as the graduate student representative. Program Directors otherwise not appointed by their department to serve as voting members are encouraged to attend as non-voting members of the Graduate Council.
    3. The Dean of the Graduate School.
      • Will serve as chairperson of the Council.
  • Membership: Section II

    The following guidelines prescribe the designation of Council members. A list of departments offering graduate programs may be found in Appendix A. 

    1. Existing program representatives.
      • Each department or school responsible for the management of one or more graduate programs will, according to that department’s policies and procedures, designate a representative for the Graduate Council. New representatives for existing graduate programs will take office at the first regularly scheduled after their appointment as program director.
    2. New department representatives.
      • As new graduate programs are approved, the Council membership may grow in accordance with the bylaws. Such growth will not require revisions to the bylaws so long as the changes affect only the membership. Appendix A will be revised as necessary, the revision date noted on that page. New programs within departments or schools already represented on the Council shall be represented by the existing Council member. Departments or schools otherwise not represented will designate a representative to serve on the Council. New representatives may take office at the next regularly scheduled meeting.
    3. Student representative.
      • The Chairperson of the Graduate Student Organization or her/his appointed delegate, in accordance to that organization’s constitution, will represent the graduate student body on the Graduate Council.
  • Conduct of Business: Section I
    The Council will meet monthly during the academic year. Special meetings may be called by the Chairperson or by a majority of the membership.
  • Conduct of Business: Section II
    The minutes of each council meeting shall be made available to council members, college deans, and graduate program directors.
  • Conduct of Business: Section III
    For any meeting a simple majority of the voting members of the Council shall constitute a quorum.
  • Conduct of Business: Section IV
    The Chair will report activities of the Graduate Council to the Faculty Association at such times as requested by the Faculty Association President. The Chair shall ensure that minutes of meetings are posted on the Graduate Council Web page in a timely manner.
  • Conduct of Business: Section V
    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.
  • Committees

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

  • Amendment of Bylaws

    These bylaws may be amended at any regular meeting of the Council by two-thirds of the votes cast, provided that the amendment has been submitted in writing to the membership at the previous regular meeting.

  • Brooks College of Health
    Department of Clinical & Applied Movement Sciences
    Department of Health Administration  
    Department of Nutrition & Dietetics
    Department of Physical Therapy
    Department of Public Health
    School of Nursing
  • Coggin College of Business
    Department of Accounting and Finance
    Department of Economics & Geography
    Department of Management
    Department of Marketing & Logistic
  • College of Arts & Sciences
    Department of Biology
    Department of Chemistry
    Department of Criminology & Criminal Justice
    Department of English
    Department of History
    Department of Mathematics & Statistics
    Department of Music
    Department of Physics
    Department of Political Science & Public Administration
    Department of Psychology
    Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work
    School of Communication
  • College of Computing, Engineering & Construction
    Department of Construction Management
    School of Computing  
    School of Engineering
  • College of Education & Human Services
    Department of Leadership, School Counseling & Sport Management
    Department of Exceptional, Deaf & Interpreter Education
    Department of Teaching, Learning, & Curriculum
  • History: Authorization by majority vote of the Graduate Council
    Originally adopted April 14, 1998
    Revised and adopted October 11, 2002
    Revised and adopted January 23, 2004
    Revised and adopted November 23, 2004
    Revised and adopted May 23, 2006
    Revised and adopted April 29, 2015
    Revised and adopted October 10, 2019
    Revised and adopted October 14, 2021