WSU's graduate programs are marked by outstanding faculty, challenging curricula, first-rate students, and support systems that enhance student and faculty development. The best support systems include staff, comfortable office and/or laboratory space, resources necessary for scholarship and research, and academic policies for students to meet programmatic and University requirements.
This Code serves as written guidance focusing on graduate student rights and responsibilities, and on avenues for adjudication of these rights.
Graduate students are first and foremost students; and as such are obliged, as is the University, to abide by the responsibilities codified under the Washington Administrative Code (WAC). These responsibilities serve to maintain order and censor those who disrupt the educational processes. To fulfill these joint responsibilities, the University community has established numerous policies that apply to graduate students and graduate student organizations (WAC 504-25-010), many of which appear in the WSU Student Handbook, available at the Office of Student Affairs, 360 Lighty Student Services Building.
Policies, rules, regulations, and procedures
Contained in the student handbook are the WSU Discrimination and Sexual Harassment Policy (a policy applicable to all--students, staff and faculty) and the WSU Standards of Conduct for Students. This latter document notably contains the following: Conduct Regulations, Disciplinary Process and Procedures, and Academic Integrity Standards and Procedures. These are important rules, regulations, and standards that apply to all students at Washington State University.
Aside from this--and what this code intends to
clarify--
is that WSU faculty members and graduate students share
responsibilities for creating a supportive
environment--community-minded in purpose and conducive to
learning. Good working relationships among faculty
members and graduate students require that each recognize
and honor
their respective rights and responsibilities, to insure
high
quality graduate education and environment where
the
players act ethically and professionally at all times.
The following guidelines are intended to promote an
understanding of graduate students' rights and
responsibilities as members of the academic community.
Graduate Student Rights
1. To be governed by clearly stated and justifiable academic procedures, rules, and regulations.
2. To be protected from discrimination on the basis of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, physical disability, nationality, marital status or any other criterion not appropriate to academic evaluation.
3. To be protected against improper disclosure of information concerning academic performance and personal characteristics such as values, beliefs, organizational affiliations, and health status.
4. To have grievances addressed in a timely and confidential manner without fear of reprisal.
5. To refuse to perform tasks unrelated to their academic or professional development program.
6. To take reasoned exception to information and views offered in the classroom, and to reserve judgment about matters of opinion, without fear of penalty.
7. To be accurately informed of program requirements and expectations upon enrollment.
8. To be acknowledged appropriately (e.g., publications and conference presentations) for contributions to faculty members' research and scholarship.
9. To be informed about research responsibilities as outlined in the graduate student departmental handbook, including timely feedback on submitted work and timelines for completion of research, theses and dissertations.
10. To be informed about teaching responsibilities as outlined in the graduate student departmental handbook, including advice for initial teaching assignments and continuing counsel on teaching matters such as performance expectations and grading practices.
11. To be provided with annual good-faith and unbiased evaluations of progress toward degrees.
12. To be given realistic estimates of the average length of time required for completion of master's or doctoral programs and, where applicable, realistic estimates of expected periods of research or teaching assistantship support.
13. To be protected from exploitation such as delay of a graduate student's progress toward a degree because of benefit from the student's proficiency as a teaching or research assistant.
Graduate Students' Responsibilities
1. To conduct themselves in a mature, professional, and civil manner in all interactions with faculty, staff, other graduate or professional students, and undergraduates.
2. To learn the Graduate School's policies and procedures (see Graduate School Policies and Procedures manual; specific program requirements as delineated by academic departments, and standards of performance established by faculty and their respective professional groups.
3. To maintain integrity in learning, independent scholarship, and professional development. (WSU Policies and Procedures for Misconduct in Research and Scholarship.
4. To communicate regularly with faculty advisors on matters related to progress within their graduate programs.
5. To acknowledge contributions of faculty advisors and others in work leading to conference presentations and publications.
6. To respect time constraints of faculty members.
7. To respect the responsibilities of faculty advisors to evaluate students' coursework and overall academic progress. Faculty, in turn, are responsible for monitoring the validity and quality of students' research, teaching, and other scholarly activities.
8. To fulfill, in a timely manner, the requirements of their programs, as prescribed by departments or programs.
9. To assume the initiative in selecting committee members for thesis, dissertation, and qualifying exams.
10. To contribute positively to a collegial environment within the department or program.
11. To adhere to federal, state, University, and departmental rules and regulations regarding the use of animals, human subjects, dangerous and hazardous chemicals, biohazardous and radioactive materials or radiation in research. (WSU Policies and Procedures for Animals, Human Subjects, Dangerous and Hazardous Chemicals, Biohazardous and Radioactive Materials or Radiation in Research;
Graduate students at WSU shall also maintain the expectation that departments and programs perform the following:
1. Inform incoming graduate students of codes of professional and academic conduct expected of graduate students.
2. Inform graduate students about University and program requirements, including residency, academic programs, committee formation and changes, and the nature and scope of theses and dissertations.
3. Evaluate graduate students yearly regarding progress toward intended degrees, including notification in writing about satisfactory or unsatisfactory performance. Copies of these evaluations shall be placed in the students' files.
4. Establish criteria for termination of students from programs. Newly enrolled graduate students will be given copies of the established criteria and, should a decision be made to terminate a graduate student, written notification and information regarding the decision shall be delivered in a timely manner to the student. Similarly, graduate students shall receive information regarding grievance procedures.
5. Encourage graduate students to participate in professional meetings, including the delivery of presentations of research or scholarly findings.
6. Assist graduate students in the timely completion of departmental or program requirements.
7. Have a written policy to guide collaborative projects and authorship.
8. Have a graduate student manual that includes all department policies governing graduate student appointments, rights, and responsibilities.
Expectations of Faculty Advisors and Mentors
High quality graduate programs are those with notable faculty and systems for advising and mentoring graduate students. Advice is needed by graduate students during their early experiences in graduate school. Graduate students deserve guidance from faculty whose interest goes beyond the mere advisor-director role to one of teacher and mentor. Departments and programs are responsible for encouraging effective mentoring and for insuring that graduate students receive advice and mentoring during the course of their graduate studies.
A mentor is a faculty person who assists scholarly development, contributes to intellectual stimulation, and fosters professionally enriching relationships with graduate students. Looked at in slightly different light, a faculty mentor is a peer-to-be--one who encourages and supports independent development--one who nurtures a rapid transition from graduate student to colleague through insightful guidance, trust, and mutual respect.
Students should expect that mentors will interact with them on a regular basis, providing the guidance, advice, and intellectual challenge necessary to complete their degree programs. Students may also change mentors at any time, without fear of reprisal.
Graduate students should expect that advisors and mentors will do the following:
1. Interact in a professional and civil manner consistent with University policies governing nondiscrimination and sexual harassment. Particular attention should be paid to mentoring that involves diverse or nontraditional students.
2. Create an ethos of collegiality in classroom, laboratory, or studio supervisory relations that stimulates and encourages students to learn creatively and independently.
3. Develop clear understandings about specific research expectations and responsibilities, including timelines for completion of theses or dissertations.
4. Provide verbal or written comments and evaluation of students' work in a timely manner.
5. Discuss laboratory, studio, or departmental authorship policy with graduate students in advance of entering into collaborative projects.
6. Acknowledge student contributions to research presented at conferences, in professional publications, or in applications for copyrights and patents.
7. Provide explicit and well-publicized dismissal and appeal procedures.
8. Prevent faculty rivalries from interfering with their duties as advisors, committee members, instructors, or colleagues.
9. Assiduously avoid impeding a graduate student's progress toward a degree because of benefit from the student's proficiency as a teaching or research assistant.
10. Excuse themselves from serving on graduate committees when there is an amorous, familial or other relationship between the faculty member and the student that could result in a conflict of interest.
11. Refrain from requesting students to do personal work (eg., mowing lawns, baby-sitting, typing papers) without appropriate agreement and compensation.
Additional Responsibilities
Additionally, graduate students at WSU who are supported through teaching, research, or staff assistantships, and research fellowships shall assume the following responsibilities:
Teaching Assistants
Regardless of how their assignments are crafted, TAs have the responsibility to meet the goals and objectives of their teaching assignments as articulated by course instructors and departmental administrators. TAs should strive for the highest quality of instructional pedagogy and delivery of services to students. All grading responsibilities should be fulfilled thoughtfully and in a timely manner.
Research Assistants
Employment as an RA involves commitments, not only to thesis and dissertation research, but to the goals and objectives or deliverables of the sponsored project providing salary support. RAs should, therefore, be aware of responsibilities attendant to the University's Intellectual Property and Conflict of Interest policies and procedures.
Research Fellows
Recipients of research fellowships should understand the goals and objectives of sponsoring programs. These goals and objectives may require completion of training modules or internships, the development of a scholarly document (e.g., thesis or dissertation), or specific uses of support funds. It is the responsibility of RFs to be aware of such expectations and to meet them as completely as possible.
Staff Assistants
Employment as a SA involves commitments to the unit providing support. SAs should strive for the highest quality of service and responsibility in meeting the goals and objectives of the employing unit.
Additional Responsibilities
Additionally, graduate students at WSU who are supported through teaching, research, or staff assistantships, and research fellowships shall assume the following responsibilities:
Teaching Assistants
Regardless of how their assignments are crafted, TAs have the responsibility to meet the goals and objectives of their teaching assignments as articulated by course instructors and departmental administrators. TAs should strive for the highest quality of instructional pedagogy and delivery of services to students. All grading responsibilities should be fulfilled thoughtfully and in a timely manner.
Research Assistants
Employment as an RA involves commitments, not only to thesis and dissertation research, but to the goals and objectives or deliverables of the sponsored project providing salary support. RAs should, therefore, be aware of responsibilities attendant to the University's Intellectual Property and Conflict of Interest policies and procedures.
Research Fellows
Recipients of research fellowships should understand the goals and objectives of sponsoring programs. These goals and objectives may require completion of training modules or internships, the development of a scholarly document (e.g., thesis or dissertation), or specific uses of support funds. It is the responsibility of RFs to be aware of such expectations and to meet them as completely as possible.
Staff Assistants
Employment as a SA involves commitments to the unit providing support. SAs should strive for the highest quality of service and responsibility in meeting the goals and objectives of the employing unit.
Printable versions of the Graduate Student Code