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Florida State University Graduate Policy Committee Minutes

 Collection
Identifier: MSS 2007-024

Scope and Contents

The collection is primarily composed of the minutes of the Florida State University (FSU) Graduate Policy Committee. Other documents include correspondence, student records, indexes, budgets, and reports.

The great majority of the papers cover the period 1936 to 1958. Gaps exist between July 1956 to November 1958, April 1959 to March 1960, June 1961 to January 1964, and January 1964 to November 1968. While there are some substantial gaps in the collection, the FSU Graduate Policy Committee minutes is a valuable source to a researchers studying the University's academic policies and procedures during the middle to last quarter of the 20th Century.

Dates

  • Created: 1936-1984
  • Other: Majority of material found in 1936-1958

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open to all researchers. Some materials were placed in a separate folder because of the confidential nature (i.e. grades, GPA reports, etc.) of their contents.

Conditions Governing Use

To request permission to quote, publish, broadcast or otherwise reproduce from the archives, please contact Heritage & University Archives, Florida State University Libraries, Tallahassee, Florida. Researchers must obtain separate permission from the copyright holders of material held within University Archives collections for which the institution does not hold copyright.

Biographical or Historical Information

Throughout its history, the Florida State University (FSU) Graduate Policy Committee considered university-wide policies affecting graduate education. In 1936, the committee was known as the Florida State College for Women (FSCW) Graduate Committee. The records indicate that the committee dealt with many different issues, such as acceptance or rejection of student theses; student suitability for continued graduate education; adoption and formation of college-wide graduate policy; and curriculum catalog content.

By the early 1940s, the Committee's responsibilities remained the same, except that it was no longer responsible for deciding each student's suitability as a graduate candidate, nor was it involved in the acceptance or rejection of each prospectus. On December 12, 1944, the Committee's name was changed to the Graduate Council.

When FSCW became FSU in 1947, the Graduate Council's responsibilities included the awarding of fellowships, assistantships and other similar financial aid disbursements. From 1954 to 1957, its members were appointed by the University President and Dean. The Council increasingly recommended items for inclusion in the University's budget.

From 1959 to 1963, the Council's membership was elected by the graduate faculty from that department with each department having one representative. The Dean of the Graduate School presided over meetings. The Council was responsible for matters of policy as well as approval of candidates for graduate degrees. In the late 1960s, the Council changed its name to the Graduate Policy Council.

By 1974, the Council was composed of 12 faculty and one graduate student. The faculty representatives were chosen by the Faculty Senate Steering Committee, and the graduate student was appointed by the president of student government. On October 30, 1978 the Council's name changed to the Graduate Policy Committee. By 1984, the number of graduate students included in the Committee was increased to two.

Early members of the committee included Ruth Connor, Guy Diffenbaugh, and Paul F. Finner. Later members included Louis Shores, Mark H. DeGraff, Milton W. Carothers, and Dean John Broward Culpepper. On one occasion, President Doak Campbell addressed the committee to discuss the merits of establishing a program for a master's degree without the thesis requirement.

Extent

1.60 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

The collection includes correspondence, committee papers, reports, sub-committee reports, proposed budgets and syllabi documenting the deliberations of the Florida State University (FSU) Graduate Policy Committee.

Arrangement Note

Each folder is arranged chronologically by academic year. Bound volumes cover more than one academic year.

Method of Acquisition

Cannot be determined.

Existence and Location of Originals

Portions of collection available online?: No

Processing Information

Processed by Charles Danner in September 2007.

Title
Florida State University Graduate Policy Committee Minutes
Author
Charles Danner
Date
00/00/2007
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
eng

Repository Details

Part of the FSU Special Collections & Archives Repository

Contact:
116 Honors Way
PO Box 3062047
Tallahassee FL 32306-2047 US
850-644-3271