Best Practices in Graduate Education

Graduate education at Oklahoma State University (OSU) is aligned with national best practices articulated by the Council of Graduate Schools (CGS). Similar ideas and themes are shared by CGS member institutions across the country. Through the Graduate College, OSU is committed to promoting excellence in graduate education and providing opportunities for graduate students and graduate faculty to excel in teaching, research and outreach in a manner consistent with its land-grant mission.

 

Best Practices in Graduate Program Structure

Conceptually, the overarching organizational structure for the entities that have responsibilities for OSU’s graduate education enterprise is shown below. This diagram and document illustrates the collaborative, team approach necessary to enabling the success of OSU graduate students and Graduate Faculty. It is a companion to the“Best Practices in Graduate Education”and“Best Practices: Advisory Committees and Defenses”endorsed by Graduate Council on April 19, 2013 and August 28, 2015, respectively, that describes the OSU graduate education environment and rights and responsibilities of graduate students, Graduate Faculty, Advisory Committees and the Graduate College.

 

Best Practices in Advisory Committees and Defenses

This document is to provide guidance aligned with National best practices about the roles of Oklahoma State University Graduate Faculty in their capacity as Advisory Committee Members and about expectations surrounding academic milestones, such as thesis and dissertation defenses. It is a companion to the overarching best practice principles for OSU graduate education endorsed by Graduate Council in 2013 –OSU Graduate Education Best Practices. 

 

Best Practices for Enhancing Academic Integrity in Written Works

As stated in Oklahoma State University (OSU) Policy and Procedure 2-20822 Academic Integrity, “an institution’s reputation and intellectual freedom depend on its uncompromising commitment to the ideal of academic integrity.” As the body of disciplinary and interdisciplinary literature grows at record pace and the time demands on faculty and students increases, it is imperative to continue to ensure proper attribution of the work of others through attention to detail as sources are developed. Irrespective of intentionality, plagiarism, the taking of work or ideas of another and representing it as one’s own, is a concern of everyone in the higher education community.