The Graduate Council, reporting to the Provost & Vice President for Academic Affairs, in consultation with the Dean of the Graduate School, defines graduate education policies at the University in alignment with university regulations and state governing bodies. This includes criteria for student admission, retention, and program completion, as well as policies on graduate faculty membership, program revisions, degree requirements, courses, and assistantships. The Council also advises the Dean of the Graduate School on graduate education matters.
Membership
The Council comprises 27 members, including 14 elected faculty members, seven dean-appointed faculty members, three graduate faculty members appointed by the Dean of the Graduate School, two graduate student representatives, and the Dean of the Graduate School as an ex-officio member. Deans of academic colleges are ineligible for Council membership. The Council elects a chairperson annually from its members.
Meetings
The Council typically convenes on the second Tuesday of each academic month. Additional meetings may be scheduled by the Chairperson, Dean of the Graduate School, or Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs.
Current Members for 2025-2026:
Elected Members
Name | Department | College |
|---|---|---|
| Catherine Roche-Wallace | MUS | Arts |
| Wesley Bradford | MUS | Arts |
| Ignatius Cahyanto | MKTG | Business Administration |
| TBD | Business Administration | |
| Amanda Shuford Mayeaux | EDFL | Education |
| Natalie Keefer | EDCI | Education |
| Farzad Ferdowsi | EECE | Engineering |
| Jonathan Raush | MCHE | Engineering |
| Phil Auter | CMCN | Liberal Arts |
| Nathan Rabalais | MODL | Liberal Arts |
| Scott Sittig | HLSI | Nursing & Health Sciences |
| Frances Stueben | NURS | Nursing & Health Sciences |
| Rui Zhang | GEOS | Sciences |
| Nicholas Kooyers | BIOL | Sciences |
Academic Dean Appointed Members
Name | Department | College |
|---|---|---|
| TBD | Arts | |
| TBD | Business Administration | |
| TBD | Education | |
| Mark Zappi | CHEE | Engineering |
| Laurel Ryan | ENGL | Liberal Arts |
| Jennifer Sittig | NURS | Nursing & Health Sciences |
| TBD | Sciences |
Dean of the Graduate School Appointed Members
Name | Department | College |
|---|---|---|
| Erika Schmit Leblanc | COUE | Education |
| TBS | ||
| TBD |
Graduate Student Members
| Name | Graduate Program |
|---|---|
| Clement Okolo, GSO President | PhD Student, Computer Sciences |
| TBD Graduate Student Rep |
Ex-Officio Member
| Name | Office | College |
|---|---|---|
| Mary Farmer-Kaiser | Dean of the Graduate School | Graduate School |