70-600-1 05/06/05
GRADUATE STUDIES (PROCEDURE)
I. Graduate Studies Oversight:
A. Oglala Lakota College offers the following graduate degree:
Master of Arts in Lakota Leadership and Management.
* Emphasis in Education Administration
B. The Director of Graduate Studies chairs the Policy and Review Committee consisting of the Vice
President for Instruction, four (4) academic department chairpersons and three (3) faculty members
with earned PhD's. The Policy and Review Committee's functions include:
1. Approval of graduate faculty members.
2. Review of graduate degrees, programs, and courses.
3. Recommend new graduate degree programs and courses to Instructional Affairs Committee.
4. Review and recommend changes in graduate policies and procedures.
5. Approve advisory board membership.
C. Each degree program will have an advisory board composed of community members, field professionals,
full time faculty, and one graduate student carrying at least three (3) credit hours. Advisory
boards shall:
1. Provide wolakolkiciyapi to each degree program.
2. Serve as external advocates to the program.
3. Assist in fund raising for the program.
4. Provide advice to the Director of the Graduate Studies Department.
5. Meet at least biannually.
6. Consist of not less than five (5) or more than seven (7) members.
II. Student Related
A. All students must submit the completed graduate application for admission form prior to enrolling
in graduate courses and have a bachelor's degree or an earned graduate degree from an accredited
academic institution.
B. There are two (2) types of admission.
1. Degree Admission - a degree admission is intended for students seeking one of the Master's
degrees.
a. Cumulative undergraduate 2.5 GPA or an earned graduate degree.
2. Non degree admission - a non degree admission is intended for students seeking continuing
education, certificate renewal, and personal enrichment.
C. Student Course Load
1. Full time status is six (6) graduate credit hours per semester.
III. Degree Programs
A. Academic Progress
1. All graduate degree programs require nine (9) credit hours of Graduate Studies Department core
courses.
2. All graduate students enrolled in a degree program must receive at least a "B" in any course or
will be placed in probationary status (student is restricted to taking three (3) credit hours
the next semester and must receive a B or better).
3. Students admitted to a graduate program may retake a core or required course once. If they
receive less than a "B" grade the second time, they are on academic suspension. Suspended
students must reapply for admission to the Graduate Program.
4. Graduate students are required to apply for degree candidate status after completing nine (9)
credit hours.
B. Class size
Minimum class size for graduate courses is six (6), maximum size will be fifteen (15) or, at the
discretion of the Graduate Studies Director, class size may be adjusted.
C. Grading
The instructor will grant credit for the course when course objectives are achieved and meet the
rigor and competency of graduate coursework.
1. Instructors will assign grades according to Oglala Lakota College grading policy, (A-B-C-D-F).
2. Incomplete grades are strongly discouraged. Only extreme, extenuating circumstances should
result in an incomplete grade which must be made up before a student may enroll in additional
graduate level courses.
3. Students enrolling in flex numbered, non-approved degree program graduate courses are subject
to approval through the appropriate department, Graduate Director, and Vice President for
Instruction.
4. Change of grade (see policy 76-200). Appendix one (1)
D. Attendance Policy
It will be at the discretion of graduate faculty to establish their attendance policy as stated in
the course syllabus. Due to graduate level course expectations, it is recommended that faculty
drop graduate students who miss 9 course contact hours.
E. Transfer Credits
1. Graduate students may transfer in six (6) graduate credit hours from another accredited
institution upon review of official transcripts by the Director of the Graduate Studies
Department. For time limits see policy 70-920. (see appendix B)
F. Independent Study
Students may enroll for 3 graduate credit hours of independent study in their final semester of
coursework prior to enrollment in Community Action Project (CAP)/ School Community Action Project
upon approval of Graduate Studies Director and appropriate faculty. Students must maintain a GPA
of 3.0 or better.
G. Status Sheets
Once a student enters a degree area, the student must obtain a status sheet for that degree program
from the counselor or academic advisor and keep it as a permanent record of his/her progress.
Students should always consult their status sheets when making course decisions and upon advisement
of the Graduate Studies Department staff. If a student fails to maintain enrollment for one
semester, and changes have been made to the status sheet, that student must follow the new status
sheet. The Graduate Studies Office will retain copies of the status sheets.
IV. Graduate Faculty
A. All Oglala Lakota College full-time instructors and administrators with an earned doctorate are
eligible to become members of the graduate faculty.
B. Individuals without an earned doctorate may be approved by the Director of Graduate Studies,
provided they have demonstrated expertise in the area to be taught and are able to supervise
graduate research and or graduate level projects.
C. Full-time faculty of undergraduate departments are approved to teach graduate courses by the
Director of Graduate Studies or Vice President for Instruction in consultation with the appropriate
Department Chairperson.
D. Adjunct graduate faculty are approved by the Director of Graduate Studies.
E. Scheduling:
The Director of Graduate Studies, in coordination with the Vice-President for Instruction, may
schedule courses as part of special projects offerings to designated constituencies.
F. Faculty Teaching Load:
1. One graduate course is equivalent to one and a half (1 ½) undergraduate course teaching loads
per semester. The maximum teaching load for a full-time graduate instructor is nine (9) credit
hours per semester. The minimum teaching load for a full-time graduate faculty member is six
(6) credit; an approved non-teaching assignment will constitute the remainder of instructor's
academic teaching load. No overloads are allowed when teaching graduate courses fulltime.
2. Adjunct faculty instructors may teach one (1) graduate course per semester and may not teach
any other graduate course during that semester. Exception: In the case that an interim class
is taught an adjunct instructor may teach a second class as long as the dates in which the
classes are taught do not overlap each other. Compensation is at 5/4 the associate rate for
teaching undergraduate courses.
3. Full time faculty for other departments may teach one (1) graduate course per semester upon
approval from their respective department chair.
4. Overload may be considered only when a full time faculty has not been approved to teach a
graduate course as part of undergraduate teaching load. (Full time faculty may teach one (1)
graduate course nine (9) hours undergraduate)
V. Student Grievance Policy
The grievance procedure set forth herein is designed to provide a method to resolve differences
excluding grievances regarding grades (76-200). Time lines are to be adhered to unless all parties
involved in the grievance agree to modifications.
A grievance is defined to be a claim (request or complaint) by a student not covered under the
Personnel Complaints and Grievance procedures.
Student Grievance Procedure
Step 1: Student hereafter referred to as grievant, will submit a written grievance within ten (10)
working days of the incident to the Director of Graduate Studies with proper documentation
and stated outcomes.
Step 2: Director of Graduate Studies will attempt to resolve the issue by calling a meeting with
the concerned parties. This meeting will be called within five (5) working days of
receiving the written grievance.
Step 3: If the issue is not resolved at this level, the grievant will take it to the Vice President
of Instruction. The Vice President for Instruction will attempt to resolve the issue by
calling a meeting with the concerned parties. This meeting will be called within five (5)
working days of receiving the written grievance from the student.
Step 4: If the issue is not resolved at this level within five (5) working days, the grievant will
take it to the "Appeals Committee" which consist of one member each from the Graduate
Advisory Board, student membership, graduate faculty, and Policy and Review Committee.
Step 5: If the issue is not resolved at this level within five (5) working days the grievant may
make written submission to the President who must rule on the issue within ten (10)
working days.
Step 6: If the issue is not resolved at this level within 10 working days, the grievant may request
that the President's Secretary place this on the agenda of the next Board of Trustees
Personnel/Grievance Committee.
NOTE:
A. In the event the grievance involves the Director of Graduate Studies, the Vice President
of Instruction will assume the role of the Director in this process.
B. Student can have representation at their own expense.
VI. Academic Dishonesty
To promote the value of honesty, plagiarism by a student will result in a hearing for immediate
dismissal from graduate studies.
The Director of Graduate Studies will call a meeting within ten (10) days after receiving written
complaint for plagiarism by the faculty member. A committee that consists of the Director for Graduate
Studies, full time graduate faculty member, Graduate Policy Review Committee member, and Vice President
of Instruction will hear the complaint. The student will be informed in writing by the Director for
Graduate Studies of the Committee decision within five (5) days.
There will be no appeal from a finding of dismissal.
Appendix A
76-200
Appendix B
70-920