| Mutual Responsibilities in Graduate Education
at the University of Minnesota
Approved by the Graduate School Executive Committee 5/28/97;
Amended 11/28/00
Preamble
A major purpose of graduate education at the University of
Minnesota is to instill in each student an understanding of and capacity
for scholarship, independent judgment, academic rigor, and intellectual
honesty. Graduate education is an opportunity for the student to develop
into a professional scholar. Graduate research and teaching assistantships
offer an "apprenticeship" experience in the academic profession
as well as financial support. It is the joint responsibility of faculty
and graduate students to work together to foster these ends through relationships
that encourage freedom of inquiry, demonstrate personal and professional
integrity, and foster mutual respect. This shared responsibility with
faculty extends to all of the endeavors of graduate students, as students,
employees, and members of the larger academic community.
High quality graduate education depends on the professional
and ethical conduct of the participants. Faculty and graduate students
have complementary responsibilities in the maintenance of academic standards
and the creation of high quality graduate programs. Excellence in graduate
education is achieved when both faculty and students are highly motivated,
possess the academic and professional backgrounds necessary to perform
at the highest level, and are sincere in their desire to see each other
succeed.
The following principles illustrate what students should expect
from their programs and what programs should expect from their students,
to help achieve this excellence.
Principle 1: Information About Policies and Procedures
The Graduate School and graduate programs are responsible for
providing students and prospective students with access to information
about their graduate program, areas of specialization, degree requirements,
and average time to completion of degrees. Graduate programs are responsible
for providing access to information about graduate student financial support
in the program, such as the prospects for fellowships, assistantships
or other financial support and the proportion of students receiving financial
support. In addition, graduate programs should provide students and applicants
with information about career experiences of graduates of the program.
All such information should be presented in a format that does not violate
the privacy of individual students. Programs are encouraged to provide
relevant information in their handbooks, websites or other readily accessible
formats.
Students are responsible for keeping themselves informed about
current policies of their program and the Graduate School that affect
graduate students. Students and alumni also have a responsibility to respond
to program inquiries about their career development.
Principle 2: Communication About Academic Status
The Graduate School and graduate programs are responsible for
providing students with information about their individual academic status:
who in the Graduate School and in their graduate program is responsible
for communicating to them about admission issues and progress through
the degree program, how the communication will take place, and the possibility
for appeal to a third party for assistance in resolving disputed issues.
Students are responsible for communicating with the Graduate
School and their graduate program about changes in their circumstances
that affect their status and progress toward the degree.
Principle 3: Research Contributions
Individual faculty as research directors are responsible for
providing students with appropriate recognition for their contributions
at conferences, in professional publications, or in applications for patents.
It is the faculty member's responsibility to clarify the principles for
determining authorship and recognition at the beginning of any project.
Students are responsible for discussing their expectations
regarding acknowledgment of research contributions or intellectual property
rights with the appropriate person(s) in the research team, preferably
early in the project.
Principle 4: University Governance
Departments and graduate programs are responsible for defining
specific opportunities for student participation on committees as they
deem appropriate. The University recognizes that graduate students make
important contributions to governance and decision making at the program,
department, college, Graduate School and University level; specific roles
for participation are defined at each level by the relevant governing
bodies.
Students are responsible for participating in University governance
and decision making that enrich the campus community.
Principle 5: Respectful Employment Conditions
University faculty and staff are responsible for assuring that
graduate students are able to conduct their work, as students or students/employees,
in a manner consistent with professional conduct and integrity, free of
intimidation or coercion. Students who are employees also have the protection
of all University employment policies and laws. Graduate programs are
responsible for providing clear communication to students about the possibility
for appeal to a third party for assistance in resolving disputed issues.
Students are responsible for reporting unprofessional conduct
to the appropriate body or person, as defined in the academic or employment
grievance policy; they should be able to do so without fear of reprisal.
Students are responsible for acting in a respectful and fair manner toward
other students, faculty, or staff in the conduct of their academic work
or work they may do in connection with an assistantship.
Principle 6: Conditions of Employment
The University (through its departments, research projects
or other employing units) is responsible for providing to prospective
graduate assistants a written offer of financial support before a response
to the offer is required. Such communication must indicate their salary
and the terms and conditions of their appointment, including the general
nature of the work they will be performing, duration of employment, and
whether and how this employment is tied to their academic progress. The
details of specific teaching or research assignments may need to await
later written clarification.
Students are responsible for accepting the conditions of employment
only if they believe they are qualified and able to complete the tasks
assigned. Students have a responsibility for communicating in writing
any changes in their circumstances that affect their ability to fulfill
the terms and conditions of their employment.
Principle 7: Safe Work Environment
Supervisors are responsible for providing a safe working environment
for graduate students, and for developing and publicizing safety policies
and training programs to achieve that goal.
Graduate students are responsible for helping to maintain a
safe working environment, for adhering to safety policies, for participating
in training programs and for reporting safety violations to the proper
authority.
Principle 8: Responsible Conduct of Research
Students are responsible for carrying out their research in
a responsible manner.
The faculty and Graduate School are responsible for ensuring
that students receive training and guidance in the responsible conduct
of research as appropriate for each field.
Other University Documents
These documents may provide information and guidance relevant
to the graduate education experience.
|
