Utah State University Old Main

Graduate Council

The Graduate Council establishes regulations and standards for graduate study with the approval of the Faculty Senate and advises the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies on exceptions or adjustments to policy. Graduate Council members assist with:

  • Reviewing graduate program curriculum proposals: Proposals for new curricula or revisions to existing curricula (R401s) are reviewed and approved by the Graduate Council.
  • Reviewing changes to Graduate School policy: Changes to Graduate School requirements (e.g., admission requirements) are reviewed and approved by the Graduate Council.
Graduate Catalog
Council Bylaws
Meeting Minutes
The Graduate Council includes one representative from each of the eight colleges/schools, a representative from the Faculty Senate, a representative from the library and the USUSA graduate senator and graduate director, all of whom are voting members. The council is chaired by Dr. Richard Inouye, Vice Provost of Graduate Studies. An Associate Vice President for Research serves as a non-voting member on the council.

The Graduate Council sends one member as a representative to the Curriculum Committee and one to the Educational Policies Committee.

All college faculty representatives serve four-year terms with two new members elected each year. The Faculty Senate representative is nominated by the Faculty Senate for a two-year term. The graduate students are appointed for one-year terms by the Graduate Student Senate.

Member Representing Email Term End
Abby Benninghoff Agriculture abby.benninghoff@usu.edu 2020
Nancy Hills Arts nancy.hills@usu.edu 2022
Chad Albrecht Business chad.albrecht@usu.edu 2022
Andy Walker Education andy.walker@usu.edu 2022
Rose Hu Engineering rose.hu@usu.edu 2021
Colleen O’Neill Humanities colleen.oneill@usu.edu 2022
Jim Lutz Natural Resources james.lutz@usu.edu 2022
Sean Johnson Science sean.johnson@usu.edu 2023
Victor Lee Faculty Senate victor.lee@usu.edu 2020
Todd Welch Library todd.welch@usu.edu 2019
Richard Inouye Chair, Vice Provost of Graduate Studies richard.inouye@usu.edu
Jared Fry USUSA Graduate Senator gradsenator.ususa@usu.edu 2020
USUSA Director of Research
USUSA Director of Graduate Campus Affairs		 graddirector.ususa@usu.edu 2020
Alexa Sand Office of Research alexa.sand@usu.edu
The Graduate Council meets monthly during the academic year, typically on the second Wednesday of each month. All meetings are held at 3 p.m. in Old Main 164J.

Agenda items are due by 5 p.m. on the dates listed below. Meeting agendas are distributed before each meeting.

If you are unable to attend a meeting, please contact Geneva Harline and provide the name of who will substitute for you.

Meeting Date Agenda Items Due
Sept. 11 Aug. 28
Oct. 9 Sept. 25
Nov. 13 Oct. 30
Dec. 11 Nov. 27
Jan. 8 Dec. 23
Feb. 12 Jan. 29
March 11 Feb. 26
April 8 March 25