The Graduate Council determines requirements for admission of students to graduate work, their candidacy for degrees, and awarding of degrees. The Council approves, subject to action by the Faculty Senate, all plans of graduate instruction and all courses carrying graduate credit.

Additionally, the Graduate Council:

• Acts upon all petitions from graduate students relating to their academic work and degree requirements
• Establishes academic standards for all graduate work
• Recommends to the Graduate Faculty those who have completed degree requirements
• Makes recommendations to the Faculty Senate on all matters relating to teaching and research on the graduate level

The Council is the policy-setting body of the Graduate Faculty.