Graduate Programs
HCD Handbook for Graduate Students and Advisors
OVERVIEW OF GRADUATE STUDY IN HCD
DEPARTMENTAL STRUCTUREThe Department of Human and Community Development (HCD), is 1 of 7 departments within the College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences (ACES).
PEOPLE The Head of the Department is Dr. Robert Hughes, Jr. (hughesro@uiuc.edu) whose office is in 274 Bevier Hall.
The Director of Graduate Studies is Dr. Ramona Oswald ( roswald@uiuc.edu ). The Director of Graduate Programs coordinates graduate program affairs, including admissions, T.A. assignments, fellowship awards, approving student's petitions for waivers of department requirements. She serves as the general advisor and advocate for all graduate students.
The Chair of the Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS) graduate concentration is Dr. Reed Larson ( larsonr@uiuc.edu ). The Chair of the Community and Rural Studies ( CRS ) concentration is Dr. Sonya Salamon (ssalamon@uiuc.edu). The Chair of the Dual Degree Program in Marriage and Family Services is Dr. Laurie Kramer (lfkramer@uiuc.edu). The Chair of the on-campus Agricultural Education (AGED) concentration is Dr. Neil Knobloch (nknobloc@uiuc.edu). The Chair of the off-campus Agricultural Education concentration is Dr. Joe Harper ( jgharper@uiuc.edu). The Chairs supervise the review of students in each concentration, oversee the qualifying exam process, and proposes new graduate course offerings or changes to the Department Head.
The Graduate Secretary is Leann Topol (ltopol@uiuc.edu, 333-3869, 128 Bevier Hall). The Graduate Secretary handles student records, official papers, and general information about the graduate program, fellowships, and awards.
OTHERS The Director of the Child Development Laboratory is Dr. Brent McBride ( brentmcb@uiuc.edu). The Assistant Director is Deborah Trouth ( dtrouth@uiuc.edu).
The Director of the Child Care Resource Service is Judy Hartley ( hartleyj@uiuc.edu ).
OFFICES
The HCD Departmental Office is located in 274 Bevier Hall. The Department Head is located in this office. Mailboxes for Bevier Hall are located in an adjoining office (268 Bevier Hall). The HCD Graduate Secretary is located in 128 Bevier Hall.
The HCD Business Office is located in 174 Bevier Hall.
The CDL Office is located in 206 Child Development Laboratory, with mailboxes located outside the office.
DESCRIPTION OF HCD GRADUATE PROGRAMSHCD offers graduate degrees in 3 concentrations to meet different student goals. Students may choose programs in Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS), Community and Rural Studies (CRS), or Agricultural Education (AGED). The Ph.D. degree program (HDFS and CRS only) is designed to prepare students to be researchers, educators, policy developers, or professionals who develop, evaluate, and implement programs for children, families, and communities. The M.S. degree program is designed to prepare students to be practitioners in education, business, and human service settings, or it can be used for progress toward the Ph.D. degree. The small size of the programs (about ten new students are admitted each year) permit graduate students to tailor their courses of study to meet their individual interests and to work closely with faculty members on research of mutual interest.
HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND FAMILY STUDIES (HDFS) The HDFS concentration focuses on the psychological and social development of individuals across the life span and the structures and well-being of families. The concentration takes an interdisciplinary approach to understanding children, youth, and families in their natural settings, with training that includes psychological, sociological, anthropological, and educational approaches to understanding human development and families in the U.S. and in other cultures. Drawing from the faculty's interdisciplinary strengths, students design their work to investigate particular types of family structures or ecological questions. Through course work in human development, students also acquire information about the ways family members make transitions through early childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and old age. Students in the HDFS doctoral concentration can also choose an option in Applied Human and Community Development, which is intended to prepare students to enter careers in administration, human services, social policy, international aid agencies, or traditional careers in teaching and research.
Finally, HCD and the School of Social Work offer a dual Master's degree program in Marriage and Family Services. Students who complete the program earn an M.S.W. degree from the School of Social Work, accredited by the Council on Social Work Education, and an M.S. degree in HCD (concentration in Human Development and Family Studies). The dual focus of the program enables students to acquire theoretical knowledge related to the development and functioning of family systems, research competence, knowledge of social policies and programs that affect families, and practical skills in family-focused prevention and intervention. A unique feature of the program is its emphasis on understanding and working with amilies from a variety of socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds.
COMMUNITY AND RURAL STUDIES (CRS) The CRS concentration focuses on the systematic study of rural and urban communities in terms of how they are organized and function as social systems, how they are linked to organizations and institutions beyond the community, and how their changing directions are determined by leaders and members. This concentration has options in community studies and in rural and community development. The community studies option focuses on the systemic properties of communities, emphasizing social networks, norms, values, stratification, and social cleavages. It recognizes the importance of the community as a context in which individuals and families receive services, develop social networks, and are exposed to experiences and opportunities that affect their perceptions and life satisfaction. The rural and community development option focuses more specifically on rural areas and communities as the objects of development efforts. Major emphasis is on community organization and analysis, development strategies, and community-based research methods. The CRS concentration is interdisciplinary and draws on courses and materials from sociology, anthropology, geography, urban and regional planning, community health, and others. There is sufficient flexibility within the concentration to accommodate a wide range of student community interests.
AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION (AGED) The AGED Master of Science program is planned as a professional degree for students who have completed the requirements of a 4-year curriculum in agricultural education or allied fields of study. Areas of concentration include program planning, curriculum development, teaching methodologies, instructional technologies and youth development. Students in the program complete course work in both education and agriculture for their professional development as high school or community college instructors of agriculture programs. A thesis is optional in this program.
Students in the AGED concentration may also pursue state certification for teaching high school agriculture. The Council on Teacher Education serves as the governance system for certification at the university and specific course work can be planned for students to meet requirements for both certification and the Master of Science degree.
GRADUATE ADMISSIONSStudents with a bachelor's degree (B.A. or B.S.) or Master's degree from a different institution may apply for direct admission into the Ph.D., Dual Degree (MS/MSW), or AGED Master's degree programs. Students who were accepted into the Dual Degree or AGED programs and who wish to enter the Ph.D. program must undergo an internal review to be admitted, because of differences in entrance requirements between a terminal Master's and the Ph.D. program. Admission into the Ph.D. program from a terminal Master's program will only be considered after the student has completed at least 1 year of course work, and may not be considered until the Master's thesis has been completed.
REQUIREMENTS FOR ON-CAMPUS GRADUATE STUDY
ADMISSIONS CRITERIA The aim is to admit a diverse set of quality students, including students from a range of cultural and experiential backgrounds. No single criterion or cut off will be used. Rather, the admissions committee will evaluate a student's whole application and how well it fits with our programs. The following criteria will be considered:
1. Grades and course work at prior institutions. Transcripts will be used to determine the adequacy of the candidate's previous education or training for graduate-level study in HCD. The minimum GPA for full status admission will be a 3.0 (out of 4.0). Priority will be given to applicants who will not require remedial course work. 2. GRE scores. As a guideline, GRE scores should be above 500 for Master's applicants and above 550 for Ph.D. applicants (4.0 and 4.5 for GRE Analytical Writing), though the Admissions Committee may admit candidates below these scores if the student demonstrates compelling strengths in other areas. GRE scores should be no older than 2 years old.
ADMISSIONS PROCEDURES
NON-DEGREE ADMISSIONS Students seeking non-degree admissions must fulfill the same requirements and meet the same admissions criteria as students applying for on-campus graduate study (as described above). Acceptance as a non-degree student does not guarantee acceptance into the degree program nor does it entitle a student to financial assistance through the department.
Additional information on non-degree admissions from A Handbook for Graduate Students and Advisors , University of Illinois Graduate College, is reproduced below.
Non-degree Status
Students with non-degree status are admitted to courses on a part-time basis if there is enough space. Once accepted for admission by a department and the Graduate College, a non-degree student has the same enrollment pattern options as a degree candidate. Either the major department or the Graduate College, however, may encumber the registration of a non-degree student for any term. The non-degree student must maintain the same minimum grade-point average as a degree candidate in that department.
There are several restrictions and conditions that apply to non-degree status. A non-degree student:
A non-degree student who plans to enroll only during the summer term need not be admitted by a specific department, but may carry an unassigned non-degree status in the Graduate College. Certification of an earned baccalaureate degree is all that is required by the Graduate Admissions for admission to this classification. A student who wants to apply for unassigned non-degree status must make an application through Graduate Admissions, 901 West Illinois.
Students with no advising department should seek advice either from the department to which they plan to apply for degree status in future terms or from the Graduate College. Such students are allowed to register continuously each summer until the pattern of enrollment is broken, assuming withdrawal did not occur in the previous summer term and an acceptable GPA is maintained.
A non-degree student who wants to change to degree status must file a new application and pay a new application fee to initiate the request. The student should ask the department he or she wishes to enter as a degree candidate if there are additional supporting credentials required for degree status applications.
Part-Time Non-degree Registration
Part-time non-degree students may register after the third day of instruction for a fall or spring semester. Registration for summer terms is allowed following early registration in April. To register, follow the instructions for late registration. Part-time non-degree students who register prior to the end of the 10th day of instruction are not charged a late registration fee.
Late Registration
After the tuition payment due date: the student meets with an advisor and secures any required course approvals and clearances. The student brings the completed Schedule Planning Form to Window 25, 100A Henry Administration Building to complete registration. Tuition payment is due on the day of registration.
There is a penalty for registering late: students are assessed a late registration fine of $15 (amount subject to change) unless they are registering as a visitor.
MINIMUM GRADE POINT AVERAGE
The University of Illinois and the Department consider 2 grades of C to fall below acceptable performance at the graduate level. Such a performance is grounds for termination from the HCD program. For those students admitted on limited status no further registration will be permitted unless the GPA has been raised to the Department minimum of 3.0 after 1 term. If requirements are met, the Department makes a request to the Graduate College for reinstatement of the student to full status.
ANNUAL REVIEWS
Ph.D. students and 1st year Master's students are provided a written review of their progress by the end of each school year. The student's advisor, in consultation with other faculty members, drafts these evaluations. Advisors discuss the reviews with each student and a copy is then placed in the student's file. Please see pages 36-38 for further information.
RECOMMENDED ACTIVITIES FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS
It is expected that students attend all brown bag seminars sponsored by the department. In addition, students preparing themselves for a career in academia are strongly advised to engage in the following activities:
THE ROLE OF THE FACULTY ADVISOR The faculty advisor plays an important role in graduate education. At the least, the advisor should assist students in designing and implementing their program of study as well as provide guidance in their professional development. Advisors can serve as mentors and advocates, providing additional experiences, opportunities, and resources to facilitate students' professional socialization.
Although students are free to consult at any time with other members of the faculty, their faculty advisor should be their primary source of assistance and advice within the department. The advisor has the responsibility to discuss all matters regarding the program and the Graduate College.
Each year, students and advisors should evaluate progress and develop plans for course work, research, professional experiences, and preparation for program requirements (e.g., qualifying exams, prelims, theses, and dissertations). The advisor may request that these plans be submitted in writing. Advisors are also responsible for presenting their students' progress at the yearly student evaluation.
The advisor may also play a more specific role in guiding a Master's thesis or Ph.D. dissertation. In this role, the advisor is also the chair of the student's committee. In this role:
"One of the most important contributions an advisor makes, both to reducing the time spent in the process and to facilitating completion of the dissertation, is to help students select manageable topics and to discourage them from undertaking that which is too broad in scope to complete in a reasonable and timely fashion." (Adapted from the Role and Nature of Doctoral Dissertation . Council of Graduate Schools Task Force, 1990)
FACULTY: A summary of some characteristics of good mentors can be found on the HCD network server: s:\everyone\Graduate Program\Grad Resources\ What Makes a Good Mentor
SELECTING A FACULTY ADVISOR
The Director of Graduate Programs serves as the advisor for all new students when they first begin the graduate program. An interim advisor may be assigned shortly after enrollment, and students are encouraged to select a 'permanent' advisor by the end of the 1st year. This advisor may serve a student until they complete their degree; however, changes in advisor are possible. Students and advisors should inform the Director of Graduate Programs whenever a change of advisor is made, or if there are any concerns regarding the relationship.
The selection of an advisor is actually one of mutual selection. Most advisors and advisees share an area of interest (in research, teaching, or outreach).
TIME-TO-DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
For students enrolled in the HDFS and CRS tracks in the HCD doctoral programs, the M.S. degree should take 2 years, and the Ph.D. 3 years beyond that. For students coming into the program with a Master's degree, 4 years is the expected duration of study for the Ph.D.
Students in the Dual Degree program are expected to complete both degrees in 3 years. The requirements for the HCD (HDFS) component of the Dual Degree program should take 1 year; 2 years if a thesis is done. Students should note that the M.S. degree in HCD is awarded concurrently with the M.S.W. degree (i.e., not at the end of the 1st HCD year), when both the HCD (HDFS) and Social Work components of the program have been completed.
It is understood that family circumstances and other factors may sometimes extend students' work beyond these time periods. Under normal circumstances, however, these are the time periods that students, with assistance of their advisors, should strive to meet.
Students who have not completed their work within the expected time periods or who do not show reasonable progress towards their degree will no longer be guaranteed (or priority for) financial support. The objective is to be able to reassign RA and TA positions to support new students. However, there may be circumstances in which a student who is beyond the expected time period is making reasonable progress toward the degree and the Department Head agrees that she or he merits support for an additional year. The annual review of students provides a forum for yearly evaluation of whether students are making progress towards the degree and communicating to them about whether they are viewed as being on schedule. Reasonable progress is gauged by evidence of progress through the milestones of the degree, including completing course work, undertaking research, doing an internship (if applicable), completing the Master's thesis, completing qualifying exams, passing the dissertation proposal hearings (preliminary exams), and making measurable progress on dissertation work.
NOTES: • University regulations stipulate that "A Master's degree candidate must complete all degree requirements, under normal circumstances, within 5 years," that a doctoral candidate must complete all requirements within 7 years," and that "a candidate or a doctoral degree who has received a Master's degree elsewhere must complete the requirement within 6 years." These upper limits are appropriate for students in HCD, with allowances made for leaves of absence.
2. Financial need will not be a factor in awarding fellowships, waivers, or assistantships ( Handbook for Graduate Students and Advisors , p. 15). The Office of Student Financial Aid awards scholarships, college work study, and loans to graduate students.
FINANCIAL AID
A variety of assistantships, fellowships, and other awards are available for students in HCD. Stipends for fellows and assistants, as well as other awards vary from year to year. Your advisor, the Graduate Secretary, or the Director of Graduate Programs can inform you of current and anticipated opportunities.
HCD attempts to provide all students with financial support that will allow them to complete their degree programs in a timely manner. Support could be in the form of graduate assistantships (teaching, research, or general), Fellowships (Department, College, Graduate College, or University) or scholarships. The department will try to consolidate support for a student under one supervising faculty member when possible (and agreed upon by the student and their supervisor).
Although funding of all students for the duration of their study is a goal of the department, the unpredictable nature of budget constraints from year to year does not always make this possible.
The department appoints teaching, research, and other graduate assistantships and defines their work responsibilities. Assistantships are awarded as a percentage appointment for a particular period of time. All research and teaching assistantships that are at least 25% and less than 67% for three-quarters of both semesters include tuition and a partial fee waiver. A TA or RA during the academic year provides for tuition and a partial fee waiver for summer school. These conditions for tuition and fees apply to Dual Degree students only while they are enrolled in HCD during the first year. Tuition and fee waivers for Dual Degree students cannot be guaranteed after they register in the School of Social Work beginning in the summer following their first year.
RESEARCH ASSISTANTSHIPS
Research assistants (RAs) support the research program of a faculty member. RA duties may typically include:
• compiling bibliographic materials in the library • assisting in the development of data collection procedures • conducting interviews or observations of research participants • coding, entering, and managing data using computers • conducting statistical analyses • assisting in the preparation of reports or manuscripts • supervising undergraduate research assistants.
Specific responsibilities are determined by the supervising faculty member, who should come to a mutual agreement with a student regarding their expectations. Faculty supervisors and students should also agree on the student's work schedule (i.e., number of hours and days). The number of hours put in by research assistants can be variable depending on the percentage appointment a student has and the nature of the research the student is involved in. An important factor in the time commitment may be whether or not the research assignment is related to the student's dissertation. RAs are usually paid from funds obtained by faculty members in support of their research. The availability of these RA positions may therefore vary from year to year depending on faculty grants. Appointments are arranged through discussions between faculty members and graduate students.
TEACHING ASSISTANTSHIPS
A teaching assistant is involved in instruction of students, in or out of the classroom. Some typical responsibilities for TAs (in addition to attending all classes) might include:
TAs Should Not:
The department will provide office space and any equipment necessary for teaching.
GRADUATE ASSISTANTSHIPS (GA's)
A limited number of GA's are available. See the Director of Graduate Programs
Teaching Assistantships Eligibility Criteria
The student must be registered in the Graduate College in good standing. Exceptions may be granted for students during the summer, provided they were registered in good standing during the previous spring term.
Selection Criteria
Teaching assistantships are awarded based on the student's knowledge of the course's content area.
Priority will be given to students holding the position in the prior year contingent on satisfactory academic progress and acceptable performance of responsibilities with the prior assigned assistantship.
Priority will be given to graduate students in Human and Community Development
Research Assistantships Eligibility Criteria
The student must be registered in the Graduate College in good standing. Exceptions may be granted for students during the summer, provided they were registered in good standing during the previous spring term.
Selection Criteria
Research assistantships are awarded based on the student's knowledge and prior experience in the topic area of the research, and on the match between the student's research interests and faculty or staff members' research interests.
Priority will be given to students holding the position in the prior year contingent on satisfactory academic progress and acceptable performance of responsibilities with the prior assigned assistantship.
Priority will be given to graduate students in Human and Community Development
Graduate Assistantships Eligibility Criteria
The student must be registered in the Graduate College in good standing. Exceptions may be granted for students during the summer, provided they were registered in good standing during the previous spring term.
Selection Criteria
Graduate assistantships are awarded based on the student's skills and prior experience relevant to the position.
Priority will be given to students holding the position in the prior year contingent on satisfactory academic progress and acceptable performance of responsibilities with the prior assigned assistantship.
Priority will be given to graduate students in Human and Community Development
APPOINTMENT CONDITIONS
APPOINTMENT PERCENTAGE (REQUIRED HOURS)
Assistantship appointments are usually made in terms of percentages of time, based on a 40 hour work week. Typical appointments are for 25% (10 hours per week) or 50% (20 hours a week), but other percentage appointments are possible. The actual hours of work students are expected to work may vary from week-to-week depending on the type of assistantship they hold and the specific arrangements made between students and supervisors.
PROCEDURE FOR DETERMINING ASSISTANTSHIP ASSIGNMENTS
Forms will be distributed to faculty and graduate students in January of each year to assess preferences for TA and RA assignments for the following academic year. Faculty and graduate students are free to modify their preferences over the course of the spring semester, until a final offer has been accepted by a student.
All graduate students will receive announcements about special assignments - those involving independent teaching experiences, assisting the Director of Graduate Programs, or other similar experiences. Students will be sent, via e-mail, a description of the special assignment along with any requirements associated with the position. After consulting with their advisor, interested students will submit a letter of interest and curriculum vitae to the Director of Graduate Programs within 10 days of the announcement. The Director will then consult with the faculty member sponsoring the special assignment and/or the Department Head to determine which student will be given this opportunity.
Students will receive a letter of appointment from the Director of Graduate Programs for assistantships and fellowships controlled by the department. Students will be asked to sign the letter and return it within 1 week to the Graduate Secretary.
DURATION OF APPOINTMENT
Most assistants are appointed for the nine month academic year, although eleven month or one semester appointments are not uncommon. Teaching assistantship appointments are typically made to follow the academic year. Research assistantship appointments may begin and end at any time, but nine or eleven months is the usual mode. Assistantship appointments begin before the start of classes, and end after finals for each semester.
Assistants are responsible for fulfilling their obligations during these periods. Some assistants may not be required to work while school is not in session, but others (primarily research and graduate assistants) may be expected to be available before classes begin, between the fall and spring semesters, or after classes end in the spring. For example, a typical research assistantship is a nine month appointment, which includes pay for work between fall and spring semesters when school is not in session . Students who desire to be away during the winter break or other times should make arrangements with the supervising faculty member. Makeup work is typically expected. In all cases, it is wise to have assignments and periods of work spelled out very clearly by the supervisor, preferably in writing, so as to avoid later misunderstandings.
STIPEND RATES
The University sets the minimum salary, but pay scales are left up to the department. The current HCD stipend rates are available on: s:/everyone/Graduate Program/GRAD hiring form.
PAY DATES
As assistantships usually begin on August 16, the first payday falls on September 15, and on every succeeding 15th day of the month thereafter, for the duration of the appointment. Appointments that end on some date other than the 15th will be paid the appropriate fraction of a month's pay on the following 15th. Most appointments for the academic year or the spring semester end on May 15.
SICK DAYS, HOLIDAYS, AND BENEFITS
An assistant on a nine- or eleven-month appointment is entitled to 13 paid sick days during the length of the appointment. Assistants should inform their faculty supervisors when sick leave days are being taken. Assistants are entitled to university holidays (e.g., Memorial Day, Christmas) off, but there is no automatic entitlement to other vacation days. An assistant who suffers an injury during employment may receive workers' compensation benefits. As an additional benefit, spouses and dependent children of staff members who have appointments of at least 25 percent time are treated as residents for purposes of tuition assessment.
TUITION AND FEE WAIVERS
To receive a tuition and service fee waiver an assistant must work for at least 91 days during the term, with the term defined as beginning on the first day of registration and ending on the last day of finals. Resignation prior to the 91 days means that you will be responsible for payment of the tuition and service fee. Similarly, if the student begins the appointment after September 20 the waiver will not apply.
Although the tuition and service fee are waived, students are responsible for other fees (such as health insurance, the health clinic, and general fees). All of these must be paid by the tenth day of class (in fall and spring semesters) or severe fines are levied.
If a student ends the assistantship before serving 91 days, a charge for tuition and fees can be avoided if: (1) the student withdraws from classes at the same time or before the registration date, or (2) the student files a clearance form for graduation within one week following the registration date.
COURSE LOADS FOR STUDENTS RECEIVING FINANCIAL AID Students on assistantship during the fall or spring semesters must be registered during those semesters. Students on summer assistantships are encouraged, but not required to be registered during the summer semester (if not registered, health insurance coverage is affected). Students on fellowships must be registered during any semester(s) in which they receive the fellowship. In general, the Graduate College policy is that the level of registration should reflect the student's use of university resources (classes, thesis advising, library usage, etc.).
FELLOWS AND TRAINEES
The minimum course load for those holding a fellowship is defined by the Graduate College as three units or the equivalent. For definition of (or the equivalent) see an advisor or Director of Graduate Programs. As many as four units may be taken without special petition. A full course load (3 to 4 units) is required of University Fellows and Graduate College Fellows.
GRIEVANCE PROCEDURES FORSTUDENTS IN HCD *
A grievance may arise when a graduate student believes that his/her status as a graduate student, including a University appointment based on student status, has been adversely affected by an incorrect or inappropriate decision or behavior. Examples include, but are not limited to:
Students experiencing conflicts should first attempt to resolve them by conference with the supervisor or advisor. (Note that the University has other channels for allegations of sexual harassment and discrimination based on race, disability, and sexual orientation. These complaints should be directed to the Department Head).
Informal discussion of problems is the preferable route to take, whenever possible. A student may find it beneficial to seek advice from his/her advisor, the undergraduate or graduate program director, or another faculty member to get a wider base of experience on the type of issue involved and the range of possible approaches for addressing it.
If informal discussion and negotiation fails to resolve the conflict, the following steps are appropriate:
• The student should present the problem to the HCD Department Head and the 2 together should attempt to formulate an appropriate response to the issue.
• If the student is not satisfied with the response resulting from step 1 (or if the initial grievance concerns the Department Head), the student should contact a member of the HCD Grievance Committee and direct the issue in writing to this committee. A written grievance should be filed within 180 calendar days of the decision or behavior resulting in the grievance.
The student may find out who the members of this committee are by asking a faculty member or the receptionist in Bevier 274.
a. Upon receiving a grievance, the committee shall, in consultation with the student, appoint a faculty member to serve as a 'mentor' for the student.
b. The committee shall see that all parties involved in the grievance receive a copy of the student's written grievance and have the opportunity to respond in writing to the grievance. c. The committee shall meet, gather supplementary information from all parties involved, as needed, and make a recommendation to the Department Head. This recommendation should be made within 2 months of the committee's receiving the written grievance (this time limit may be extended during the summer months when the parties involved are not available).
d. All parties involved shall be given a copy of the committee's written recommendation.
3. A party dissatisfied with the outcome of a department grievance finding may appeal this decision to the Graduate College. An appeal must be filed in writing with an Associate Dean of the Graduate College within 30 calendar days of the date of the parties are in receipt of the departmental decision being appealed. This appeal can be based only upon demonstrated specific deficiencies in the application of an approved departmental grievance procedure to the student's grievance. For more information regarding Graduate College procedures please see http://www.grad.uiuc.edu/grievepolicies/index.html.
* HCD grievance procedures are currently under review for approval by the Graduate College.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
(Reprinted from A Handbook for Graduate Students and Advisors , University of Illinois Graduate College, Web: http://www-.grad.uiuc.edu/grad_handbook/sec12.htm ).
Integrity and intellectual honesty in teaching and scholarship are of paramount importance. The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is committed to principles of academic integrity and responsible scholarly conduct. Campus policies outline ethical and professional standards applying to faculty, students, and staff, and prescribe procedures to be followed when unethical conduct may have occurred.
1. Responsible Professional Conduct: Guidelines for Teaching, Research, and Services
Members of the Urbana-Champaign campus community are expected to adhere to the highest standards of professional conduct in carrying out their teaching, research, and service responsibilities. Such conduct is subject to norms and ethical codes that vary somewhat among disciplines, as well as to differing individual perceptions and interpretations; but certain general ethical guidelines reflecting the commitment of the campus to these standards are applicable to all UIUC faculty, staff, and graduate assistants.
The document, Responsible Professional Conduct: Guidelines for Teaching, Research, and Service (webster, uihr.uiuc.edu/ahrhandbook/chap5), sets forth a variety of these guidelines. They deal with matters of differing orders of magnitude and in many cases may seem obvious, but all of these matters can be - and many have in fact been - the occasion of serious problems. Such problems can best be avoided if all members of our community are made clearly aware and mindful of the standards of conduct expected of them.
Some types of conduct mentioned, expressly forbidden by University rules and regulations, may have severe consequences. Others, not formally proscribed, are nonetheless properly included among the matters to which campus standards of professional conduct apply. Some are addressed in the formalized code of ethics some disciplines have adopted or are reflected in prevailing practices in various disciplines. Where our standards surpass such other norms, it is our standard to which members of our campus community are expected to adhere.
The following guidelines relate to activities involved in fulfilling instructional responsibilities, in acquiring and using data in the course of conducting research, in authoring scholarly publications, and in interacting professionally with other individuals on this campus and elsewhere. No set of guidelines can cover all of the kinds of cases to which professional ethical considerations apply. Moreover, the interpretation of specific guidelines in actual situations may be uncertain, and the assessment of complex situations to which a number of different standards and other important considerations apply may be difficult. Those who find themselves faced with such further problems in these areas of academic life should seek the advice and counsel of campus and professional colleagues and appropriate administrators.
INSTRUCTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES
Members of academic units have a fundamental obligation to respect the dignity of all students and to foster their intellectual growth and development.
Instructors should explain at the beginning of each course the grading criteria to be used and the requirements for successful completion of the course work. Such criteria and requirements should be clear and should be applied consistently and fairly.
Faculty members should ensure that students are provided feedback and guidance to facilitate their academic progress.
Instructors should acknowledge sources of and observe copyright for materials prepared for course distribution.
In any student-faculty collaboration, the intellectual contributions of the student should be fully and appropriately acknowledged.
HANDLING OF DATA
Individuals conducting research are obligated to record and preserve data in a manner that accurately reflects the work done, and that allows appropriate scrutiny and evaluation of those data. Falsification of data, fabrication of data, and unacknowledged appropriation of the data of others are unethical; they are also violations of the University's academic integrity policy. Data (including source materials) should be retained for an appropriate length of time after publication so that they are available for inspection by collaborators or, when appropriate, by other qualified individuals. Data should never be withheld from collaborators except for purposed integral to the project. Individuals conducting research should consider carefully all results, including those that do not fit research expectations.
AUTHORSHIP, ATTRIBUTION OF CREDIT, AND OTHER PUBLICATION PRACTICES
Authors should conform to formally promulgated and/or generally observed standards and practices for authorship and attribution of credit in their disciplines.
Plagiarism is unethical and is a violation of the University's academic integrity policy.
Authorship should be accorded to those who contribute both actively and meaningfully to a study.
Authors (including coauthors) have responsibility for their publications and should respond in an appropriate forum to legitimate inquires about their data, methods, or interpretations.
Authors should adhere to the standards and requirements of journals to which they submit manuscripts, particularly with respect to simultaneous submissions and originality of research.
Authors should acknowledge funding sources that support their research.
Authors should publish only those findings that result from careful considerations of the materials under study and, when appropriate, replication or verification of the study.
Authors should present in publications of experimental research sufficient information about methodology to permit others to repeat or extend the work.
PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT
Members of an academic unit must honor contractual obligations in teaching, research, and public service. They should further conduct themselves in a professional and collegial manner in all dealings with each other.
Members of academic units should provide an environment for professional development of all staff.
Individuals assessing the work of others should base their assessments on appropriate professional criteria.
Members of academic units should seek collegial resolution of professional disputes.
Individuals engaged in teaching, research, or public service should respect and abide by legitimate and reasonable requests for confidentiality.
Individuals conducting research have an obligation to follow procedures that assure the ethical treatment of human subjects and animals, as well as applicable regulations.
Individuals engaged in research and teaching should understand and comply with pertinent regulations for health and safety in the workplace; should see to it that students and collaborators in learning or research projects understand and comply with these regulations; and should work to minimize risks to health and safety in the learning or research environment.
Individuals conducting research should spend monies in ways consistent with the goals stated in contract documents.
Individuals conducting research and/or the officials of their administrative units have an obligation to keep clear records of expenditures and to make these records available to qualified parties.
2. ACADEMIC INTEGRITY IN COURSE WORK
The University has the responsibility for maintaining academic integrity to protect the quality of education and research on the Urbana-Champaign campus and to protect those who depend upon its integrity. Students have the responsibility to refrain from infractions of academic integrity, from conduct that may lead to suspicion of such infractions, and from conduct that aids others in such infractions. Infractions of academic integrity, as well as the penalties and the procedures for dealing with them are defined in Rule 33 of the Code of Policies and Regulations Applying to All Students. Rule 33 ( www.uiuc.edu/admin_manual/code/rule_33.html) applies to course-based infractions by both undergraduate and graduate students. It does not apply to infractions of academic integrity in organized research (including funded research, research intended for publication, work performed as a research assistant, or theses and dissertation s). More detailed information concerning the operation of the procedures in the Code of Policies and Regulations Applying to All Students may be obtained from the Office of Student Conflict Resolution, 300 Student Services Building, 610 East John Street, Champaign, IL, 61820, (217) 333-3680.
3. ACADEMIC INTEGRITY IN RESEARCH AND PUBLICATION
In addition to the Responsible Professional Conduct guidelines (webster.uihr.uiuc.edu/ahrhandbook/chap5/academic_integrity.html), the University of Illinois Policy and Procedures on Academic Integrity in Research and Publication ( www.vpaa.uillinois.edu/policies/acad_integrity.html) sets forth University-wide procedures for addressing particular instances of unethical conduct in research and publications. Under this policy, all members of the University community are expected to observe high standards of academic integrity and ethical behavior in research and publication. Any practice or conduct by a member of the University community that seriously deviates from those ethical standards for proposing, conducting, and publishing research that are commonly accepted within the professional community constitutes academic misconduct in violation of University policy.
"Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to,
a. "Fabrication or falsification of data, including intentionally misleading, selective, or deliberately false reporting of credentials or other academically related information;
b. "Unacknowledged appropriation of the work of others, including plagiarism, the abuse of confidentiality with respect to unpublished materials, or misappropriation of physical materials;
c. "Evasion of or intentional failure after notice failure by the University or federal, state, or another appropriate agency to comply with research regulations or requirements, including but not limited to those applying to human subjects, laboratory animals, new drugs, radioactive materials, genetically altered organisms, and to safety; and
d. "Other conduct which seriously deviates from accepted ethical standards in scholarship."
Differences of interpretation or judgement or honest error do not constitute academic misconduct.
A student or faculty member who believes that academic misconduct has occurred has several options for pursuing the matter informally. Most such problems can and should be resolved without resort to formal procedures, through consultation with an advisor, department or unit head, or the campus Research Standards Officer.
Where informal resolution is unsuccessful or inappropriate to attempt, the Policy and Procedures provides a process for fact-finding and adjudication of academic misconduct issues involving faculty members and academic professionals.
Portions of the Policy and Procedures also apply to certain academic integrity infractions charged against graduate students. Under the Bylaws of the Graduate College , all charges of academic integrity infractions against graduate students involving research and/or publication will be dealt with as prescribed in the Policy and Procedures , with certain procedural modifications. The Bylaws contain a complete discussion of the modifications, and both the Bylaws and the Policy and Procedures should be consulted in the event that formal proceedings are necessary. Copies of the Policy and Procedures may be obtained from departmental offices and from the campus Research Standards Officer, 417 Swanlund, 601 East John Street, 333-0034. This documentis also available at www.uiuc.edu/unit/vcres/ai/index.html.
4. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
The term 'intellectual property' refers to a category of intangible property which includes patents, copyrights, trade secrets, and trademarks. University employees and other persons using University facilities, equipment, funds, or resources need to be award of University policies and procedures related to sponsored research and intellectual property issues, including rights to inventions and copyrightable works developed at the University. For additional information about intellectual property, consult the Office of Technology Management, 404 Swanlund, 601 East John Street, 333-7862, or www.oc.uiuc.edu/rtmo/index.html.
The following section outlines the guidelines to some common issues and questions that graduate students face. Both students and faculty are encouraged to consult the Graduate College 's A Handbook for Graduate Students and Advisors and consider it to be the official policy on these matters.
REGISTRATION
For information on registration, please consult the University of Illinois web site:
The general steps students should take before registering for classes are:
• The student should read this handbook to determine the program requirements he or she have yet to finish.
• The student should meet with their advisor to work out their programs. Students with TA or RA assignments should take into account the demands of these assignments, and should make sure that there are no conflicts between assistantship demands and course requirements. If there are conflicts, the student is responsible for trying to negotiate a solution with their faculty supervisor.
• If the advisor or student has any questions, they should contact with the Director of Graduate programs after they have consulted this Handbook .
• Complete registration as instructed. Students should consult the Graduate Secretary for questions regarding registration.
INCOMPLETE WORK
If you get an 'EX' (excused), or blank grade, you need to complete your assignments by the last day of instruction of the following semester. For example, if you receive one of these grades for the fall semester, a letter grade must be filed by the last day of instruction in the spring semester. In the case of HCD 499 or HCD 493 a 'DF' (deferred) is earned until the thesis work or equivalency project is completed. The 'DF' grade is then changed to 'S' or 'U'.
Note: When you have completed 'DF' work, please see the Graduate Secretary in Room 128 Bevier Hall and get a supplemental grade report form for your advisor to sign so that a letter grade can be substituted for the 'DF'. Once signed by your advisor, return the form to the Graduate Secretary. This must be done when a student's thesis is completed and submitted to the Graduate College or you do not receive a degree.
AUDITING COURSES
Courses to be audited are not listed on the program card. In order to audit a course, you should seek permission by completing a visitor's permit form (obtained in Room 321, Administration Building ) after registration. Once visitor status has been recorded on your transcript, you will never be able to take the course for credit. In many cases, it is advisable to 'sit in' rather than officially audit a class, provided the class instructor approves.
PROGRAM CHANGES
Advance enrolled students can add or drop courses during the regular registration period, and all students can do so later in the semester. If you want to drop a course or add a course, log on to your account on UI Direct and make the change. The Graduate College sets the latest dates for adding and dropping or changing the pass/fail grading. The date for adding courses without petitioning is approximately 4-5 weeks before the semester end; the Graduate College does not accept changes after those dates without clear and compelling justification.
GRADUATE COLLEGE PETITIONS
The requirements and procedures of the Graduate College may be found in the Graduate College Bulletin. Students may petition the Dean of the Graduate College for exceptions to these rules if they find themselves in special circumstances. However, informal consultation with the faculty advisor or the Director of Graduate Programs is usually helpful before completing a petition form. Forms for petitions may be obtained from Office of Admissions and Records, 901 West Illinois, the Graduate College Office in Coble Hall, or from the Graduate Secretary in 128 Bevier Hall. Petitions need to be approved by the advisor and the Director of Graduate Programs before being forwarded to the Graduate College.
LEAVE OF ABSENCE
A handbook for Graduate Students and Advisors - The Graduate College - January 1999 There are no longer formal leaves of absence. A student who must interrupt his or her graduate program for an acceptable reason may do so and re-enter any time within 2 years of last registration provided the time limit for the degree has not been exceeded. With departmental approval, the student may re-enter, using U of I Direct to register for courses for the term in which he or she returns.
However, students are warned that any lapse of registration will result in the loss of the full tuition-waiver privileges that may have previously accompanied their assistantships. Returning students in base-rated tuition waiver programs will have access only to the base-rate waiver privileges that began in fall 1996.
Graduate students who must interrupt their graduate program for more than 2 years must petition the Graduate College for re-entry, securing appropriate departmental approval before submission of the petition. Students wishing to re-entry are advised to consult with the department or unit in which they plan to re-enroll.
Whether leaving for 1 or more terms, a student holding an educational loan should consult the lender before terminating his or her student status. International students leaving campus are required to secure clearance from the Office of International Student Affairs.
HANDLING MISCELLANEOUS ISSUES
To have COURSES TAKEN AS A GRADUATE Non-degree STUDENT TO COUNT towards his/her degree:
Student must prepare a petition listing specific courses and dates taken, requesting that they be counted toward his/her degree program and submit it to the Graduate Secretary. Please note a maximum of 12 graduate non-degree hours can be counted towards a student's degree.
To TRANSFER CREDIT FOR WORK COMPLETED OUTSIDE THE GRADUATE COLLEGE :
Student must successfully complete 8 hours of course work in the Graduate College. Prepare petition and submit official transcript(s) of work from an accredited institution. Make sure courses were taken within the past 5 years and carry a grade of A or B (grade will not appear on UIUC transcript). Transfer credit does not count as 'residence' credit. Students should submit the petition to their advisor and then to the Graduate Secretary.
To OBTAIN AN OFFICIAL COPY OF HIS/HER GRADUATE RECORD:
Students may order by using UI Integrate Self-Service.
To REGISTER IN ABSENTIA:
Student must state clear and convincing reasons, in consultation with your advisor and the Graduate Coordinator, including nature and location of research, available facilities, and the amount of credit requested. Student must have completed the required residence credit, have not exceeded his/her time limit, and have passed prelims.
To OBTAIN A LETTER OF CERTIFICATION FROM THE GRADUATE COLLEGE INDICATING THAT HE/SHE HAS COMPLETED DEGREE REQUIREMENTS:
Student must register for thesis research for the semester in which he/she plans to take his/her final examination, complete an Application for Degree , successfully complete his/her final examination, deposit an approved thesis, and pay any debt he/she owes to the University.
Advisor must obtain appropriate signatures on the Certificate of Result for the final examination and return to the Graduate Secretary in 128 Bevier Hall. The Graduate Secretary will then forward the form to the Graduate Records Office.
The Department Head must sign signature page ( Red Bordered forms) and Departmental Approval form so that it can be deposited in the Thesis Office of the Graduate College (218 Coble Hall, 801 South Wright Street).
To RECEIVE UNIT CREDIT TOWARD A GRADUATE DEGREE for course work taken for hour credit as an undergraduate at UIUC:
Please see Graduate Secretary for rules and regulations regarding this procedure.
COMMUNICATION
E-mail is the primary form of communication within the department. Students are encouraged to establish an e-mail account (by going to University's Computing Services Office [CSO] at 1304 Digital Computer Lab, 1304 West Springfield, Urbana ). Students will also have network accounts to log into computers in faculty labs or at computers located in 16 CDL and 108 Bevier Hall.
The HCD Website is: http://www.aces.uiuc.edu/hcd/
Mailboxes for graduate students are located outside 206 Child Development Laboratory (CDL) and in 268 Bevier Hall. Students will be assigned a mailbox in the building where their primary office will be. Important messages and announcements are distributed in the mailboxes, and students are encouraged to check their boxes regularly. The addresses for the mailboxes are:
206 Child Development Laboratory 1105 W. Nevada Street Urbana, IL 61801
268 Bevier Hall 905 S. Goodwin Avenue Urbana, IL 61801
Phone lists are available on the HCD network server, at s:\everyoneHCD Mailroom. A hard copy is generally distributed at the beginning of the fall semester. In addition, an electronic phone book for the University can be found on the web at:
http://www.uiuc.edu/overview/info/directories.html
OFFICES AND KEYS
Each student will be assigned desk space in the Child Development Laboratory or Bevier Hall. In addition, students on assistantships may also be assigned space in their faculty labs. Office keys and outside door keys (to enter after 5 PM ) can be obtained from 174 Bevier Hall. Lost keys should be reported immediately (there is a $10.00 charge for the cost of replacing keys).
SEMINARS AND BROWN BAGS
Students are expected to attend department brown bags and seminars. These seminars are arranged to contribute to your educational experience and are a benefit of attending a major research institution. This is also an excellent opportunity for more experienced graduate students to gain practice in presenting research or other substantive material. A schedule of these brown bags will be available after the beginning of each semester. E-mail reminders are usually sent out before each seminar or brown bag.
OFFICE SUPPLIES AND SERVICES
Graduate teaching assistants may obtain supplies for the course they are teaching by contacting their faculty supervisor. Research assistants should check with their supervisors before obtaining supplies for the work or operating the copy machine. Duplicating and costs associated with personal course work and thesis work are a student's financial responsibility.
COMPUTING SUPPORT AND CONSULTING SERVICES
Computer support for the networks and computers in Bevier Hall and the Child Development Lab can be reached by calling 244-2884 and leaving a voice mail message or by e-mailing- ds-ccsg@uiuc.edu.
The University's Computing Services Office (CSO) provides mainframe and microcomputer consulting and statistical consulting at 1304 Digital Computer Lab, 1304 West Springfield, Urbana. The consultants assist in writing control statements for running any computer program, advise in setting up data storage (such as magnetic tape or disk file), assist in the correction of program errors, and provide answers to questions on utility programs. This service is free. A number of statistical packages are available on either of the large computers at DCL. The Statistical Services consultants at DCL provide free services for users of the statistical packages. Consultants help users prepare the control statements necessary to run an analysis and printouts may be taken to them for explanation of errors or for explanation of output.
The following numbers can connect you with specific types of consulting:
Microcomputer Consulting 244-0608 Statistical Consulting 333-2170 Systems Consulting 333-6133 General Information 244-6261 or 244-6264
The Social Science Quantitative Lab (SSQL) also provides statistical consulting (333-6750).
WRITING TUTORS
Writer Workshop (Undergraduate Library, 333-8796) provides writing help for graduate/undergraduate students. The workshop is staffed by graduate students from Rhetoric, English as a Second Language (ESL) or Linguistics and can assist students with 'work in progress'. Students are seen on a 'walk-in' basis, although they may be asked to make an appointment during busy periods).
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