The Faculty Committee on the Graduate School Princeton’s Faculty Committee on the Graduate School represents all 43 degree-granting departments and programs that admit students to the University. Directors of Graduate Studies (DGSs) serve as voting members and fill roles as voting members on subcommittees. The committee is charged with: Advising the dean of the Graduate School Serving as the governance and oversight body for changes to Graduate School requirements, policies, or practices that require faculty approval Making recommendations to the full faculty of the University, as necessary, whether as a whole or through its subcommittees (Matters that are approved by a subcommittee and require additional approval are normally sent either to the Faculty Committee or the full faculty at a University-wide faculty meeting, but not both.) Faculty Committee (DGS) Meetings Faculty Committee meetings are scheduled regularly during the fall and spring semesters. Informally called “DGS meetings,” they include directors of graduate studies from all departments and programs. Meetings are chaired by the dean of the Graduate School, who regularly asks Graduate School staff and invited guests to update the Committee about matters relevant to graduate education. A DGS who is unable to attend may send another faculty member from their department or program, to ensure representation and to vote on important matters. Administrative staff of the Graduate School and graduate program administrators may attend as non-voting members. Subcommittees The Faculty Committee is advised by four subcommittees that carry out much of its regular work. Policy Chair: Dean of the Graduate School Secretary: Deputy dean Members: Eight (two DGSs from each division), elected in the spring for the following year Division Member Humanities Brigid Doherty (GER) Carolyn Yerkes (ART) Social Science Erika Milam (HOS) Carolyn Rouse (ANT) Natural Science Casey Lew-Williams (PSY) C. Jessica Metcalf (EEB) Engineering Jia Deng (COS) Michael Mueller (MAE) Responsibilities Discusses and makes recommendations on policy issues Reviews proposals for new graduate programs Reviews requirements and policies that pertain to all graduate students across existing programs (as well as major exceptions) Serves as a venue to discuss proposals and/or changes to processes overseen by the dean that affect all graduate students Curriculum Chair: Deputy Dean Members: Four (one DGS from each division, appointed by the dean of the Graduate School) Division Member Humanities Josh Kotin (ENG) Social Science Alicia Adsera (POP) Natural Science James Olsen (PHY) Engineering Sujit Datta (CBE) Responsibilities Recommends approval of permanent and permanent topics courses at the graduate level (One-time-only courses may be approved by the deputy dean, without full approval of the Curriculum Subcommittee.) Approves the deactivation of permanent and permanent topics courses Convenes as a review body if an existing department or program has proposed significant changes to its own curriculum or requirements, provided that those changes do not conflict with Graduate School-wide requirements (Endorsement by the Subcommittee for changes to an existing program’s curriculum or requirements is sufficient for implementation.) Course Approvals, Updates, and Inactivation The Curriculum Subcommittee reviews all proposals for new graduate courses (permanent or topics) as well as course inactivation. Visit the Curriculum Management page for details. Course Updates are reviewed by the Academic Affairs team. Fellowships Chair: Dean of the Graduate School (The Deputy Dean oversees much of the committee’s work around external fellowships.) Members: Eight (two DGSs from each division, appointed by the dean of the Graduate School) Division Member Humanities Paize Keulemans (EAS) Carolyn Yerkes (ART) Social Science Shamus Khan (SOC) Jakub Kastl (ECO) Natural Science Jonathan Pillow (NEU) Erik Sorensen (CHM) Engineering Mark Zondlo (CEE) Niraj Jha (ECE) Responsibilities Evaluates applications for certain competitive external fellowships (including foreign study grants, such as the Fulbright) Reviews Honorific Fellowship candidates and makes recipient recommendations to the dean Student Life and Discipline Chair: Dean of the Graduate School Secretary: The deputy dean or an associate or assistant dean, as appropriate Members: Four (one DGS from each division, appointed by the dean of the Graduate School) Division Member Humanities Lisa Margulis (MUS) Social Science David Wilcove (SPI) Natural Science Josh Shaevitz (BPY) Engineering Elad Hazan (COS) Responsibilities Reviews and makes recommendations to the dean on student life issues and serious academic or behavioral disciplinary matters (Matters relating to sexual misconduct have their own separate processes overseen by the Title IX Office.) For rules and procedures that govern the Subcommittee when it is called upon to adjudicate disciplinary matters and make recommendations to the dean on outcomes, see Rights, Rules, Responsibilities, Section 2.6 – “The Graduate School.”
