Policies

The Graduate Council

The Graduate Council (http://tgs.unt.edu/gsc) establishes all university policies governing graduate programs, approves new programs, and approves all substantive changes in existing programs. The membership of the Graduate Council includes elected faculty members who represent each of the eight districts of the faculty senate, plus four at-large members. Elected faculty members serve staggered, three-year terms on the council and represent the interests of the graduate faculty of the university. Two student members, selected by the graduate student council, are invited to represent the interests of graduate students. Ex-officio members include the Dean of the Toulouse Graduate School (who serves as co-chair), the associate graduate deans, the provost, the university librarian, and each of the deans of the schools and colleges with graduate programs. The Toulouse Graduate School staff implement the policies determined by the Graduate Council.

Ex-officio members

Victor Prybutok, PhD, Vice Provost for Graduate Education and Dean of the Toulouse Graduate School
Joseph R. Oppong, PhD, Academic Associate Vice Provost and Academic Associate Dean, Toulouse Graduate School
Michael McPherson, PhD, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Marilyn Wiley, PhD, Dean of the G. Brint Ryan College of Business
Randy Bomer, PhD, Dean of the College of Education
Paul Krueger, PhD, Dean of the College of Engineering
Nicole Dash, PhD, Dean of the College of Health and Public Service
Kinshuk, PhD, Dean of the College of Information
Albert Bimper, PhD, Executive Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
Jana Hawley, PhD, Dean of the College of Merchandising, Hospitality and Tourism
John W. Richmond, PhD, Dean of the College of Music
John Quintanilla, PhD, Dean of the College of Science
Karen Hutzel, PhD, Dean of the College of Visual Arts and Design
Andrea Miller, PhD, Dean of the Frank W. and Sue Mayborn School of Journalism
Diane Bruxvoort, MLIS, Dean of Libraries

Elected members

Lawrence Williams, PhD, Professor, World Languages, Literatures, and Cultures
John Martin, Librarian, University of North Texas Libraries Scholarly Communication
Doug Brozovic, PhD, Associate Professor, Mathematics, College of Science
Denise Philpot, PhD, Professor, Advanced Data Analytics, Toulouse Graduate School
Nolan Gaffney, PhD, Associate Professor, Management, G. Brint Ryan College of Business
Selcuk Acar, PhD, Associate Professor, Educational Psychology, College of Education
Paul Hudak, PhD, Professor, Environmental Science, College of Science
Jaymee Haefner, PhD, Associate Professor, College of Music
Kris Chesky, PhD, Professor, College of Music
Gwen Nisbett, PhD, Associate Professor, Mayborn School of Journalism, College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
Dale Yeatts, PhD, Professor, Sociology, College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences

Academic policies

The general policies of the Toulouse Graduate School are determined by the Graduate Council and administered by the Toulouse Graduate School dean’s administration.

Standards, and other requirements may be modified at any time by the Graduate Council.

Student Standards of Academic Integrity

A research university is built upon the academic integrity of its members. As an intellectual enterprise, a research university is dependent upon trust, honesty, and the exchange of ideas in a manner that gives full credit and context to the sources of those ideas. UNT’s policy on the Student Standards of Academic Integrity is designed to uphold these principles of academic integrity. The policy protects the rights of all participants in the educational process and validates the legitimacy of degrees awarded by the university.

The policy covers categories of academic dishonesty such as cheating, plagiarism, forgery, fabrication, facilitating academic dishonesty, and sabotage. The policy includes descriptions of infractions, penalties and procedures. In the investigation and resolution of all allegations of student academic dishonesty, the university’s actions are intended to be corrective, educationally sound, fundamentally fair, and based on reliable evidence. The full policy (06.003) is available online at policy.unt.edu, where it can be located by searching for either title or number.

Appeal processes

Students who believe they have not been fairly treated in any aspect of their graduate program have the right of appeal. Students with questions concerning discrimination, grade appeal, academic integrity, disability, financial aid, accommodations, or the Code of Student Conduct must contact the appropriate academic personnel or compliance officer and refer to the appropriate policies. Appeals concerning extension of time to complete a degree should be initiated through the student’s major department. Appeals concerning admission to the Toulouse Graduate School are initiated through the Dean of the Toulouse Graduate School. Appeals concerning admission to a particular degree program should be initiated through the student’s major department. Appeals regarding specific requirements to complete a degree should be initiated through the student’s major department. All other appeals should be initiated through the Dean of the Toulouse Graduate School.

Admission decision and time extension appeals will be handled in a different manner. Information about these processes should be sought from either the student’s department or the Office of the Dean of the Toulouse Graduate School.

Appeal to the Toulouse Graduate School

After the determination of the student’s home college Dean, the student can appeal further by initiating an appeal to the Dean of the Toulouse Graduate School (TGS) in writing. The appeal to the Dean of TGS can only be made based on at least one of the following grounds:

1. The decision was based on unfair treatment;
2. Procedural error

This appeal must be made within fifteen (15) calendar days of the date of the college’s decision. If the Toulouse Graduate School determines that the appeal is not based on one of these criteria, the appeal will be dismissed, and the matter is resolved.

If it is determined that the appeal is based on at least one of the grounds mentioned above, the Toulouse Graduate School shall provide the Dean of the student’s home college a copy of the written appeal within three (3) calendar days of its receipt.

The Toulouse Graduate School may consult with the student and the Dean of the student’s home college to resolve the appeal. If the Toulouse Graduate School is unable to resolve the appeal in consultation with the student and the Dean of their home college, the Toulouse Graduate School will forward the appeal to a faculty committee within seven (7) calendar days of its receipt.

Committee Review

Committee Membership: An ad hoc appeal committee is composed of three full graduate faculty, none of whom will be from the student’s department or involved in the decision process that took place prior to this appeal. The student will be given the right to select one of the three faculty members on the committee. Should the student opt to select a faculty member, that member must be a member of UNT’s full graduate faculty.

Committee Process

1. The home college Dean shall submit a written response to the appeal to the committee. The committee may request additional information and may meet with the student, the instructor, and/or others, as it deems appropriate.
2. After reviewing the student’s statement, the college’s response, and any additional information requested and provided by the student or the instructor, the committee issues one of the following recommendations to the department and college:
   1. The decision should remain unchanged, as it was not assigned as the result of unfair treatment or a departure from procedural standards.
   2. The decision should be changed, in which instance the committee must provide a written explanation of this finding to department and college.
3. If the committee recommends a change and the department disagrees, the department must provide a written explanation of the disagreement to the committee. The committee then makes a final recommendation to the Dean of the student’s home college, taking into consideration the department’s response.

Upon the conclusion of steps 1, 2, and, if applicable, 3, directly above, the committee submits its final recommendation in writing to the Dean of the Toulouse Graduate School. 

Dean, Toulouse Graduate School

The Dean of the Toulouse Graduate School shall review the appeal committee recommendation, as well as all information gathered during the appeal process, make a determination, and notify the department, college, and student and process appropriately.

Failure of Response

If any person, whether student, faculty, or administrator, fails to respond to requests made as part of the grade appeal process within seven (7) calendar days of the request, the requester will proceed as needed to advance the appeal process.

General policies

Americans with Disabilities Act

The University of North Texas does not discriminate on the basis of an individual’s disability and complies with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended (ADA). In accordance with the requirements of the ADA, the university will not exclude any individual with a disability from the full and equal enjoyment of its services and facilities. The university will make reasonable modifications in its policies, practices or procedures to ensure that people with disabilities have an equal opportunity to enjoy all of its programs, services and activities.

The university provides reasonable accommodations in the form of academic adjustments and auxiliary aids to qualified students with disabilities, and provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities who are employees or applicants for employment. For information about student accommodations, contact the Office of Disability Access at 940-565-4323. Faculty and staff should contact the Office of Human Resources at HRAdministration@unt.edu.

Changes of address

It is the responsibility of the student to provide correct enrollment, permanent, and local mailing address information at all times and on all documents at the university. Students who change their enrollment or mailing address must notify the Registrar’s Office by calling 940-565-2111 or update their address at my.unt.edu.

Identification card regulations

The official UNT identification card is distributed during registration. The ID card provides access to several on-campus amenities, such as: athletic events, events on campus, access to dining halls and recreational center, material checkout in certain locations, and more. As the student’s official university identification, it must be presented to any UNT official upon request.

Lost ID cards may be replaced for a $10 charge. Misplaced ID cards that have been turned in are held in the ID Systems Office located in Eagle Student Services Center, first floor. Students are asked to retain their ID cards, even though they may not be enrolled. The cards are reactivated upon subsequent enrollment.

Fraudulent use of the ID card subjects the user to a fine of $2,000 and up to one year in jail (Class A Misdemeanor). Anyone who uses the ID card to give false information to a police officer is subject to a fine of $200 (Class C Misdemeanor).

Liability for personal loss

The university is not responsible for and does not assume any liability for loss of or damage to personal property, including damage to vehicles. Students are encouraged to obtain personal insurance coverage for loss of or damage to possessions on campus, including possessions in dormitories and vehicles.

Motor vehicle regulations

Persons who operate motor vehicles and bicycles on the UNT campus must comply with the Texas Transportation Code and published university regulations regarding vehicle and bicycle use, parking, display of decals and penalties for violation. The regulations are available online at transportation.unt.edu.

Emergency closures

Weather conditions may temporarily disrupt university operations in that university administration may determine it is necessary to delay opening time, close early or close for the day.

Courses taught online via Web CT are unaffected by inclement or severe weather closings unless instructors inform students otherwise. Those students should continue course work as regularly scheduled.

Closings due to inclement or severe weather are posted on the UNT web site (unt.edu) and released to the Dallas–Fort Worth news media outlets. Registered students, faculty and staff will be notified via the Eagle Alert system as appropriate. Students can update their Eagle Alert contact numbers by going to my.unt.edu. Updates on inclement or severe weather can also be found by checking Facebook (@northtexas), following Twitter (@UNTEagleAlert) and listening to local media outlets.

Detailed information, guidelines, safety tips and resources pertaining to inclement weather can be found at unt.edu/weather.

Notice of complaint

The university may issue an official request or notice of complaint to a student to appear before a university administrator when a student’s conduct or behavior is reasonably believed to be in violation of a published university policy or rule. A student who receives a notice of complaint should always consider it important and respond immediately. Failure to answer a notice of complaint can result in disciplinary action up to and including administrative withdrawal from the university.

Transportation services

The UNT Shuttle serves the Denton campus, including Discovery Park, Eagle Point and various off-campus student housing complexes. Additionally, students can access the Denton local bus service fare free by presenting a valid UNT ID.

During the fall and spring semesters the e-ride service provides transportation around the UNT campus and Eagle Point for areas not served by the campus shuttle. Between the hours of 2 a.m. and 7 a.m., a late night service operated by Lyft is available to students. Visit transportation.unt.edu for current e-ride information.

Alternative transportation options, including car sharing, bicycling and ridesharing, are supported by Transportation Services as well.

For information regarding hours of operation, route schedules and alternative transportation options, visit their website at transportation.unt.edu.

Other policies in print

Additional policies and guidelines pertaining to particular subjects or for specific publics are listed in other publications, such as the Housing Handbook, available in the Housing and Residence Life office; Parking Regulations, available from Parking Services in the Parking Office and the UNT Bookstore in the University Union; The Financial Connection, available in Financial Aid and Scholarships. International students should consult the International Admissions and Advising Center for information regarding policies and procedures required by federal regulation agencies.

Tuition and fees information is available online at sfs.unt.edu/tuition-and-fees.

Other policies may be found in the “Code of Student Conduct.” The code is available on the UNT web site (may be found at studentaffairs.unt.edu/dean-of-students/conduct).

All university policies are subject to change throughout the year.

University of North Texas Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act

Pursuant to the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act Amendments of 1989, the University of North Texas is required to establish a drug and alcohol prevention program for its students and employees. UNT is also required to provide this information to students, faculty, and staff upon entry and annually. Following is a description of UNT’s program. A biennial review of this program is done to determine its effectiveness, to implement changes to the program if they are needed and to ensure that the university’s disciplinary sanctions described are consistently enforced. The DFSCA report can be found at deanofstudents.unt.edu.

Standards of conduct

University of North Texas regulations prohibit the unlawful possession, use, distribution and sale of alcohol and illicit drugs by University students and their guests and for employees on University-owned or controlled property and at University-sponsored or supervised activities.

University discipline

Violation of these university regulations can result in disciplinary action up to and including expulsion for students and discharge for employees.

Legal sanctions

Local, state and federal laws also prohibit the unlawful possession, use, distribution and sale of alcohol and illicit drugs. Criminal penalties for violation of such laws range from fines up to $20,000 to imprisonment for terms up to and including life.

Health risks

Specific serious health risks are associated with the use of alcohol and illicit drugs. Some of the major risks are listed below. For more information contact the Recovery and Intervention Support and Education Center at 1800 W. Chestnut, Chestnut Hall, Suite 301, or by calling 940-565-3177.

• Alcohol and other depressants (barbiturates, sedatives, and tranquilizers) – addiction, accidents as a result of impaired ability and judgment, alcohol poisoning, overdose when used with other depressants, damage to a developing fetus, heart and liver damage and death.
• Marijuana – impairs short-term memory, thinking, and physical coordination. Can cause panic reaction and increase the risk of lung cancer and emphysema. Can interfere with judgment, attention span, concentration, and overall intellectual performance. Impairs driving ability. May cause psychological dependence and compromise the immune system.
• Cocaine – addiction, cardiovascular system damage including heart attack, brain damage, seizures, lung damage, severe depression, paranoia, psychosis. Similar risks are associated with other stimulants, such as speed and uppers.
• Nicotine – tobacco smoke contains thousands of chemical compounds, many of which are known to cause cancer. Nicotine, which is a central nervous system stimulant, produces an increase in heart and respiration rates, blood pressure, adrenaline production and metabolism. People can rapidly become physically and psychologically dependent on tobacco. Compromises the immune system.
• Inhalants – inhalants are a diverse group of chemicals that easily evaporate and can cause intoxication when their vapors are inhaled. Most inhalants are central nervous system depressants. Use of these drugs slows down many body functions. High doses can cause severe breathing failure and sudden death. Chronic abuse of some of these chemicals can lead to irreversible liver damage and other health problems.
• Prescription drug abuse – adverse reactions, dependency, withdrawal, and overdose.

Resources

A variety of resources exist for alcohol and other drug prevention education, counseling and referral. For detailed information concerning these resources available from the University and community agencies, students may contact the Recovery and Intervention Support and Education Center, 1800 W. Chestnut, Chestnut Hall, Suite 301, 940-565-3177. Faculty and staff members may contact the Employee Assistance Program at 800-343-3822 or Human Resources at 940-565-4817.