Oakland University Graduate School
O’Dowd Hall, Room 520 (map)
586 Pioneer Drive
Rochester, Michigan 48309-4481
(248) 370-2700 • Fax (248) 370-3226
Oakland University Graduate School is dedicated to academic excellence in graduate education at Oakland University and advocates for support for graduate programs and graduate students. Under the direction of the Vice Provost for Graduate Education and working in consultation with the Graduate Council of the University Senate, Oakland University Graduate School has responsibility for ensuring the highest standards in student admission; for providing academic records management, academic standing and degree services for currently enrolled students; and for the authorship, maintenance and oversight of graduate policy and standards that promote high quality in educational programs and curricula.
Oakland University Graduate School works with faculty, academic departments and the deans of the college and schools to recruit and develop a graduate student body across disciplines and professional fields reflective of academic strength and the university’s commitment to diversity, and to design programs to support student achievement and success.
Oakland University Graduate School also partners with departments and university governance in program review, accreditation, registration, and evaluation efforts conducted locally and by external authorities, and thereby contributes to the ongoing campus-wide commitment to assessment.
Graduate Governance
Oakland University graduate governance is shared by several decision-making bodies, each with areas of authority and responsibility. The following provides a guide to these decision-making bodies and helps to explain how the policies and procedures that govern graduate education are created and managed at Oakland University.
Board of Trustees
Oakland University is governed by an eight-member Board of Trustees appointed by the governor to serve eight-year terms. The board provides general supervision of the university, including control and direction of all expenditures from the institution’s funds. The board also appoints the university president as well as the secretary to the board and treasurer.
University Senate
The University Senate is an all-university governance body whose membership includes administrative officers, students and faculty members elected for two-year terms to represent their academic units. The Vice President for Academic Affairs is its presiding officer. It serves as a legislative forum that meets monthly during the academic year. The Senate recommends new degree programs to the president and the board and must approve the constitutions of colleges and schools. It determines academic policies and provides opportunity for public deliberation on issues of importance to the university.
Graduate Council
Oakland University’s Graduate Council is a permanent standing committee of the University Senate. It makes recommendations to the Senate regarding graduate study. The Senate reviews the recommendations of the Council and submits its recommendations to the Provost and President. The full list of Graduate Council charge is listed on the Senate Committee Charges webpage.
Graduate Catalog
The Graduate Catalog is the listing of academic programs, degree requirements, policies, and related information. All data in the Oakland University Graduate Catalog reflects information as it was available at the publication date.
Graduate Degree Programs
Graduate programs, with philosophical foundations in the university’s role and mission, are directly linked to the research, scholarship and public service activities of the university. New knowledge is produced and directed toward the solution of technological, social, economic and political problems and issues. Students, educated in intellectual inquiry and critical analysis, are full partners in graduate programs structured to maximize personal growth and achievement as specific career-related goals are obtained. Dynamic relationships with regional companies provide real advantages in pursing career options through work-study, internships, project involvement and community action.
Program Development and Review
New programs are developed along established guidelines and within the framework of the university’s role and mission statement. The approval process is monitored by Oakland University Graduate School. It includes evaluation by and endorsement from several designated internal and external bodies. Once in place, graduate programs are reviewed on a regularly scheduled basis by faculty program review committees, Oakland University Graduate School and Graduate Council. At the time of publication of this catalog, several programs are in various stages of review. Program or course changes resulting from these reviews will be announced. Students should maintain contact with their advisers and Oakland University Graduate School to be fully aware of the current status of programs to which they have been admitted.