The Division of Graduate Studies is responsible for providing leadership and vision for graduate education at the University of Central Florida. Program quality, graduate admissions, recruiting, enrollment management, student services and records, financial support, policies, appeals, program development and review, benchmarking, and completion of graduate degrees are important concerns of the Division.

Working in conjunction with the Faculty Senate Committees and the college and graduate program coordinators, UCF Graduate Studies is responsible for developing university-wide graduate plans and policies, coordinating graduate activities, distributing tuition support and fellowships to the colleges, facilitating the adoption of new graduate programs, coordinating the recruitment of graduate applicants, and admitting graduate students to the university. Students apply to the university through the Office of Graduate Admissions and Student Services. Admission decisions are made by the colleges, schools and departments. Any policy questions about graduate issues should be directed to the Division of Graduate Studies or the Graduate Council. Questions about operational procedures should be directed to individual college or graduate program coordinators or to the Division of Graduate Studies.

Mission Statement

The UCF Division of Graduate Studies provides leadership and services to create high-quality learning environments for graduate students.

About Our Mission

UCF Graduate Studies is an advocate for graduate education, working to mobilize and arrange the resources needed for enrollment and program growth. We track and analyze emerging trends and changes in graduate education, both nationally and with our peer institutions, and provide support and guidance for interdisciplinary and cooperative programs. We are mindful of the need to retain the academic values of the graduate programs while acting as a partner in the social and economic well being of the community and state.

We collaborate with the faculty to develop policies and best practices that further the high academic standards and excellence of our graduate programs. We are client-centered, focused on providing the information and services that students need to enhance their experience with UCF and that faculty and staff need to effectively carry out their responsibilities to students. Cooperation with colleges, graduate programs, institutes and centers, administrative offices, and support services is emphasized to provide an excellent experience for our graduate students from inquiry to graduation.

Through its primary activities, programs and services, UCF Graduate Studies contributes to program development and growth, enrollment management and recruiting, enhanced infrastructure and technological support for our graduate students and programs, and quality student support services for a diverse and talented graduate student population.

Division of Graduate Studies Administration

Vice Provost and Dean	Patricia J. Bishop
Associate Dean	Max Poole
Executive Director, Graduate Studies and International Services Center	Tracy R. Jones
Director, International Services Center	Nataly Chandia
Director, Office of Graduate Financial Assistance and Publications	Debra Winter
Associate Director, Student Services and Records	Dore M. Carter
Associate Director, Graduate Admissions	Barbara Rodriguez
Assistant Director, Graduate Recruiting	Nicole Marsh

Office of Graduate Admissions and Student Services

The Office of Graduate Admissions and Student Services guides students through the graduate application and admissions processes for those enrolled in graduate degree and certificate programs and students taking graduate courses in a nondegree status.

This office also works with the graduate programs, colleges, and graduate students, and provides academic services to current students from the time they are admitted until they graduate. The mission of our student services office is to enhance the quality and visibility of graduate education at UCF and to facilitate the academic success of our graduate students.

Office of Graduate Financial Assistance and Publications

Graduate Financial Assistance assists students in applying for fellowships and in identifying other sources of financial support for graduate study. This office also oversees graduate tuition support, financial processing for fellowships, and processing of Graduate Teaching contracts and assessments. The Thesis and Dissertation office assists graduate students through format review and final submission of their thesis and dissertation documents. This office also develops and maintains the Graduate Catalog, websites, and other published materials for the Division of Graduate Studies and International Services Center.

Office of Graduate Recruiting

UCF Graduate Studies develops and implements a university recruiting plan. It also provides the colleges and programs with guidance, resources, and assistance in regard to the recruitment of graduate students. The focus of these efforts is to help meet university goals related to enrollment management and the achievement of a diverse and talented graduate student population.

In addition, this office supports the Recruiting and Retention Enhancement Program that awards individual graduate programs the opportunity to develop recruiting plans and to implement them.

Graduate Council

The Graduate Council is a standing committee of the Faculty Senate and reports to the Senate on graduate policy and curriculum matters. The Graduate Council deals with policy issues and standards for the university. New graduate program requests, changes to existing graduate programs, additions, deletions and modifications to graduate courses, and new policies or changes to existing graduate policies are initiated and reviewed by the Graduate Council. New graduate program requests require final approval by the Board of Trustees, and approval for doctoral programs is required from the Florida Board of Governors. The Graduate Council has three subcommittees that examine and formulate policies and procedures, hear petitions for variances from graduate programs, college, or university requirements, and review new graduate program requests, changes to existing graduate programs, additions, deletions and modifications to graduate courses, among other matters. Each subcommittee consists of four senate members and at least three non-senate members.

Duties of the Graduate Council

1. Reviews and recommends university-wide graduate policies and standards.



2. Reviews all new proposals for planning and implementation of graduate programs, including deletion of existing programs.



3. Reviews all matters referred by the Graduate Council subcommittees.



4. Transmits its recommendations to the Faculty Senate Steering Committee, which normally submits these recommendations to the Division of Graduate Studies on behalf of the Provost.

Policy Subcommittee

1. Examines existing policies and procedures and recommends new policies and procedures with regard to graduate education, including but not limited to policies and procedures affecting admissions, academic progress, and financial support for graduate students.



2. Reviews all matters referred by the Graduate Council.



3. Transmits its recommendations to the Faculty Senate Steering Committee.

Appeals and Awards Subcommittee

1. Hears petitions for variances from graduate program, college, or university requirements for graduate nondegree, certificate, or degree program students at the university or applicants to graduate programs. A student petition is considered when the department and college have reviewed the request and denied the petition or when the student is requesting an exception to university policies or regulations. Applicant petitions are considered upon request of the applicant when the program has reviewed an appeal of an admissions decision and denied admission.



2. Recommends approval or denial of appeals or petitions to the Vice Provost and Dean of Graduate Studies, who will notify the student, department, and college of the action.



3. Hears all requests from graduate program coordinators for exceptions to graduate policies and procedures.



4. Reviews nominees for the University Excellence in Graduate Teaching and makes recommendations to the Vice Provost and Dean of Graduate Studies.



5. Reviews nominees for the Award for Excellence by a Graduate Teaching Assistant, the Award for Excellence in Graduate Student Teaching, the Award for Outstanding Master's Thesis, and the Award for Outstanding Dissertation.



6. Monitors graduate program quality and makes recommendations to the Graduate Council.



7. Reviews all matters referred by the Graduate Council.

Graduate Curriculum Subcommittee

1. Reviews curricular issues related to graduate education.



2. Reviews proposals for new graduate programs and deletion of existing programs.



3. Reviews proposals for changes to existing graduate programs (such as hours, thesis/non-thesis options) and makes recommendations to the Vice Provost and Dean of Graduate Studies.



4. Reviews proposals for new tracks or options to existing graduate programs and deletions of tracks or options, and makes recommendations to the Vice Provost and Dean of Graduate Studies.



5. Reviews proposals for new graduate certificate programs and the deletion of existing certificate programs and makes recommendations to the Vice Provost and Dean of Graduate Studies.



6. Reviews all requests for additions, revisions, and deletions of graduate and special topics courses and makes recommendations to the Vice Provost and Dean of Graduate Studies.



7. Reviews all matters referred by the Graduate Council.

College Graduate Coordinators

College graduate coordinators are appointed by the respective college Deans (or Directors of Schools with graduate academic programs) to work with the Division of Graduate Studies. The primary responsibilities of the college graduate coordinators are to identify opportunities for graduate education, communicate the college vision of graduate education to faculty, staff, students, and the university, coordinate and represent college graduate concerns to others, conduct studies that ensure program quality and standards in the college and report this information to the university, assist with program reviews, and prepare an annual report to the Division of Graduate Studies on college graduate activities.

Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences—Dr. Steve Ebert
College of Arts and Humanities—Dr. Consuelo Stebbins, Interim
College of Business Administration—Dr. Djehane Hosni
College of Education—Dr. B. Grant Hayes
College of Engineering and Computer Science—Dr. Jamal Nayfeh
College of Health and Public Affairs—Dr. Stephen Holmes
College of Nursing—TBA
Rosen College of Hospitality Management—Dr. Paul Rompf
College of Optics and Photonics—Dr. David Hagan
College of Sciences—Dr. Michael Johnson
Interdisciplinary Studies—Dr. Elliot Vittes

Graduate Program Directors

The graduate program directors are appointed by the respective department Chairs (or Directors of other units with graduate academic programs) to work with the college and university personnel in furtherance of graduate education. Under the direction of their department chair, they are primarily responsible for recruiting graduate students and responding to inquiries; providing for student services such as mentoring, career development opportunities, and student orientations; providing for office space for graduate assistants; informing students and faculty of student completion rates; informing students and faculty of financial support available to graduate assistants; ensuring program standards in their department; and preparing an annual report to the colleges on their activities.