TCU Academic Affairs Councils

Procedures for Member Selection

Faculty membership is normally restricted to full-time faculty, excluding lecturers. Click here for the procedures to select members for University Council, Undergraduate Council and Graduate Council

University Council

The University Council governs all major academic matters involving policy, program development, degree offerings, calendar, and some aspects of student life. Matters that cannot be resolved by other committees and recommendations of the Graduate Council and Undergraduate Council may be submitted to the Council for review and decision.

Responsibilities include:

Academic calendar including final examination scheduling, class recesses, registration periods, and related issues
graduation requirements for all degrees including grading policies and computation of GPA, residency requirements, semester-hour credit requirements, transfer credit, and thesis/dissertation requirements
Academic policies governing final exams, academic conduct, student-initiated withdrawal, academic probation & suspension, and use of the Q symbol.
Policies governing retention and progression of students in academic programs
Curriculum requirements including proposed changes in the TCU Core Curriculum Requirements and related school/college requirements, proposed addition or deletion of degree programs, and proposed (significant) programmatic changes
Annual review of all international consortia relationships and education contractual agreements
Matters as brought to the Council by the Provost/Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs.

For schedules, members and minutes, visit provost.tcu.edu/university-council.

Undergraduate Council

The Undergraduate Council reviews and recommends policies and practices pertaining to undergraduate academic affairs; reviews and acts on all undergraduate curricula changes (courses and programs); and periodically reviews undergraduate programs for consistency within the University’s mission and program integrity. Recommendations of the Undergraduate Council are forwarded to the Provost/Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs for review, approval or referral to the University Council.

Responsibilities include:

Course offerings (including additions/deletions) applicable to degree and certificate programs (note that 5000-level courses are considered both undergraduate and graduate)
Addition or deletion of majors and minors
Addition or deletion of degree and certificate programs
Requirements for bachelor’s degrees
Policies governing program admission and continued matriculation
Undergraduate grading policies and practices
Policies involving credit by examination, experiential learning and other nontraditional courses
Matters as brought to the Council by the Provost/Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs.

For schedules, members, processes and forms, visit ugradcouncil.tcu.edu.

Graduate Council

The Graduate Council reviews and recommends policies and practices pertaining to graduate academic affairs; reviews and acts on all graduate curricula changes
(courses and programs) from the school/colleges or the Office of Graduate Studies and Research; and periodically reviews graduate programs for consistency within the University’s mission and program integrity. Recommendations of the Graduate Council are forwarded to the Provost/Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs for review, approval or referral to the University Council.

Responsibilities include:

course offerings (including additions/deletions) applicable to degree and certificate programs
Addition or deletion of degree programs
Requirements for master and doctoral degrees
Policies governing program admission and continued matriculation
Graduate grading policies and practices
Criteria for graduate financial aid
Criteria and procedures for appointment to the Graduate faculty
Matters as brought to the Council by the Provost/ Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs.

For schedules, members, processes and forms, visit gradcouncil.tcu.edu.