Florida State University Graduate Policy Committee Minutes

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.