Graduate Student Responsibilities, Rights, and Expectations
Graduate students retain the same rights as any other students, including the protections provided by all State and Federal laws and those enumerated by the University System of Georgia and the Middle Georgia State University Student Handbook. The essential responsibilities of all students are integrity and civility, but the standards for graduate students are higher than those of undergraduates for whom the University encourages a greater learning curve. The privilege of graduate studies has been awarded to students in a merit-based culture of academic excellence and campus citizenship. Therefore, the standards for graduate students are higher and will be maintained as such by the faculty of graduate studies, who have been charged with defining the expectations it has of graduate students. It is incumbent upon all students that they follow the Student Code of Conduct and that they read, understand, and follow all policies listed on course syllabi or those identified by any academic program pertaining to on-campus, off-campus, or online activity, including, but not limited to, clinical training, internships, or academic related travel.
For questions about rights and responsibilities, the classroom instructor should be the first step, with the Program Coordinator or the Dean of the School as the next step; students should contact the Dean of Graduate Studies and/or the Office of Student Affairs if questions or problems persist that cannot be addressed at the initial stages. It is incumbent upon students to be knowledgeable about their rights and responsibilities, which are subject to change without notice. Before any formal process of appeal or complaint (see the steps Student Appeals outlined below), it is the belief of the Office of Graduate Studies that dialogue based on fairness and mutual respect can solve many misunderstandings. The Dean of Graduate Studies welcomes the opportunity to host any discussions between students and faculty to avoid the potential escalation of disagreement; to promote understanding and compromise; and to advise all parties on process and record keeping as it pertains to these rights and responsibilities