Graduate Student Bill of Rights

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The Graduate Student Bill of
RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Below is the original document, a revision was made in September 2008. For the most current version please see Graduate Student Bill of Rights and Responsibilities_rev8_09.pdf

This document is a product of the Graduate Student Association of the University of California, Davis. The document was endorsed in principle by the Graduate Council and the Graduate Division of the UC Davis campus on November 7, 1990.

Rights

GRADUATE STUDENTS HAVE A RIGHT TO THE FOLLOWING:

  1. A graduate student has a right to be respected as a person of merit and junior colleague upon gaining admission to a graduate program. (References #3 and #9)

  2. Graduate students have a right to an accurate description of the availability and the likelihood of financial and resource support within their programs.

    1. Prospective and currently enrolled graduate students should be provided a thorough description of the requirements and qualifications necessary for academic employment, training or financial support at the university. (Ref. #1; #4, p. 29-77; #5, p. 35; #6, p. 7-22; #10)

      b. Assignments of office or lab space to departments and programs should consider the need for adequate graduate student space. (Ref. #12, Sect. 360-21)

  3. Graduate students have a right to specific and concrete requirements for achieving an advanced degree. These requirements should be communicated clearly to him or her upon entrance to the graduate program. (Ref. #1; #4, p. 10-19; #5, p. 36-37; #6, p. 13-17; #8)

    1. Prospective and currently enrolled graduate students have a right to know and should be informed of the "normative time to degree" and the "average time to degree" within a specific graduate program. (Ref. #4 p 20-21; #5, p. 37; #6, p. 20)

      b. Prospective and currently enrolled graduate students have a right to know a program's student attrition rate and, if available, the predominant reasons for lack of program completion.

  4. Graduate students have a right to have their progress towards achieving an advanced degree be evaluated in an objective manner and based on criteria that are understood by the graduate advisor and the student. (Ref. #3 and #7)

    1. Evaluations should be factual, specific, and should be shared with the student within a reasonable period of time. Evaluations which should be in writing include: annual progress reports, split decisions on qualifying examinations, and unusual or additional program requirements. (Ref. #4, p 10-18,29-31; #6, p 16, 22)

      b. The reasons for unsatisfactory performance on programmatic examinations should be stated clearly to the student in a written evaluation. (Ref. #4,p. 29-30)

  5. A graduate student has a right to regular feedback and guidance concerning his or her academic performance. (Ref. #3)

    1. A graduate student and major professor should arrive at and maintain a mutually agreeable schedule of evaluative/supervisory conferences.

      b. Graduate students should be given a fair opportunity to correct or remediate deficiencies in their academic performance. (Ref. #4, p 27-28; #6, p. 21-22, 25)

      c. Any intent to dismiss a student from a graduate program for academic reasons must be preceded by specific, written performance information, well in advance of actual dismissal. Only the Dean of the Graduate Division can dismiss a student from a graduate program for academic reasons. (Ref. #4, p. 32; #6, p. 23)

  6. Graduate students have a right to not be discriminated against, such as actions based on a student's gender, race, age, sexual orientation, disability, religious or political beliefs. Official grievance procedures and informal complaint procedures should be clearly defined at the Graduate Division and at the department or graduate program level.. These procedures should be presented to graduate students. (Ref. #10; #12, Sect. 280-05; #13; #14)

  7. Graduate students have a right to reasonable confidentiality in their communications with professors. (Ref. #3; #5, p. 43; #6, p. 25-27)

    1. Generally, a student's performance or behavior should not be discussed by a professor with other students.

      b. Discussion of the student's performance among faculty should be of a professional nature, and should be limited to the student's academic performance and fitness as a graduate student; the substance of the communication should be based on a need to know relevant information.

  8. Graduate students have a right to refuse to perform tasks if those tasks are not closely related to their academic or professional development program. The student's vulnerability in having a lesser status and authority in the academic unit or lesser experience in the academic field of study should not be exploited to the personal advantage of the faculty member. (Ref. #3 and #11)

  9. Graduate students have a right to co-authorship in publications involving significant contributions of ideas or research work from the student. The student should receive "first authorship" for publications which are comprised primarily of the creative research and writing of the student. Faculty and graduate students should agree as early as possible, upon authorship positions commensurate with levels of contributions to the work. (Ref. #2; #3; #4, p. 23; #6, p. 19-20)

  10. Graduate students have a right to expect that their departments or graduate programs incorporate student representatives into the decision-making process at that level. Graduate student involvement in appropriate policy decisions made at the department/graduateprogram level provides for increased communication of student ideas and concerns, as well as evidence that graduate students are "in training" as future academicians.

Responsiblities

GRADUATE STUDENTS HAVE THE FOLLOWING RESPONSIBILITIES:

  1. Graduate students have a responsibility to conduct themselves, in all educational activities, in a manner befitting an academic colleague. Graduate students' behavior should be a credit to themselves, the higher academic unit and the university.

  2. Graduate students have a responsibility to devote an appropriate amount of time and energy toward achieving the advanced degree within "normative time", except when special circumstances apply.

  3. Graduate students have a responsibility to provide accurate and honest reporting of research results and to uphold ethical norms in research methodology and scholarship.

  4. Graduate students have a responsibility to participate in the campus community to the extent that each is able, and should leave the campus enriched in whatever ways possible.

    1. To contribute to the academic development and the social environment of the department or program in which he or she is pursuing the advanced degree.

      b. To contribute to administration of the graduate program, student government and/or the university.

  5. Graduate students have a responsibility to take the initiative in asking questions that promote their understanding of the academic requirements and the financial particulars of their specific graduate program.

  6. Graduate students have a responsibility to understand their role in the development of the relationship between faculty mentor and graduate student.

    1. To have an awareness of time constraints and other demands imposed on faculty members and program staff.

      b. To communicate regularly with faculty mentors and advisors, especially in matters related to research and progress within the graduate program.

  7. Graduate students have a responsibility to uphold the public service aspects of the mission of a public university, at a level appropriate to their ability and graduate program.

References

REFERENCES
Many of the graduate student Rights and Responsibilities are supported by existing University guidelines and policies. A list of applicable guidelines and policies is provided below.

  1. Departmental or Program Publications.

  2. "Ethics in Authorship," Graduate Council, University of California, Davis, March, 1993. Addresses the issue of ethics in authorship as it relates to graduate student/major professor interactions (or comparable collaborative author circumstances). Available in Graduate Studies and in the Graduate Adviser's Handbook (p. 23)

  3. "Faculty Code of Conduct," Academic Personnel Manual, University of California, Davis, Section APM-015, p. 8-9.(Sept. 1, 1988) Defines the professional responsibilities of faculty, ethical principles relating to teaching and students, and types of unacceptable faculty conduct. Available in departmental offices, Graduate Studies and the GSA office.

  4. Graduate Adviser's Handbook, Graduate Studies , University of California, Davis, March 1993. Provides graduate program advisers with detailed information about graduate education at U.C. Davis. Topics of interest include: qualifications necessary for fellowships, scholarships, grants and awards; university requirements for the Master's and Doctoral degrees; the concept of normative time to degree; annual evaluations of graduate student progress; policies regarding probation and disqualification; and ethics in authorship. Available through your graduate program adviser and the GSA office.

  5. Graduate Announcement, University of California, Davis, Volume 30, No. 2, July 1990. Includes brief descriptions of all U.C. Davis graduate programs. Describes library and research facilities. Briefly covers financing your graduate education, degree requirements, and the concept of normative time to degree. Available through Graduate Studies, and in the GSA office.

  6. Graduate Student Handbook, Graduate Studies and Research, University of California, Davis, Sept. 1993. Provides information and guidelines for the entire graduate student experience, from initial orientation to completion of your degree. Covers such topics as financing your education, university degree requirements, the graduate student's Annual Progress Report, and grievance procedures, among many other topics. Available in every new graduate student's orientation packet. Also available from graduate program staff, Graduate Studies, and the GSA office.

  7. Grade Recording Instructions, (May 1993) Registrar's Office, University of California, Davis. Also available at the GSA office.

  8. "Requirements for Higher Degrees," Manual of the Academic Senate: Davis Division Regulations, Davis Division of the Academic Senate, University of California, Davis, sections 500-520, p. 1-6.(Feb. 1991) Available from faculty, departments, Graduate Studies, and the GSA office.

  9. "Standard of Student Conduct," Manual of the Academic Senate: Handbook for Faculty Members of the University of California, University of California, Section IV, p. 107.(Oct. 29, 1973) Available from faculty, departments, the Graduate Division, and the GSA office.

  10. Student Orientation Packet, Graduate Studies, University of California, Davis, 1995. Provided to every new graduate student at Orientation. Includes, among other items, information regarding Problems and Grievances, Graduate Student Support and Financial Aid, and Academic Appointments. Available in Graduate Studies and the GSA office.

  11. "Teaching and Classroom Policies and Responsibilities," Manual of the Academic Senate: Handbook for Faculty Members of the University of California, University of California, p. 37-38. (1978) Available from faculty, departments, the Graduate Division, and the GSA office.

  12. U.C. Davis Policies and Procedures Manual

  13. "University Policy on Nondiscrimination, Sexual Harassment, Student Records, and Privacy," U.C. Davis General Catalog, 1994-95, p. 402-403. Available from the U.C.D. Bookstore and in the GSA office.

  14. Resources for Addressing Graduate Student Complaints and Grievances, Office of Graduate Studies, University of California, Davis, November 1994. Available at Graduate Studies and the GSA office.

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