Graduate College Handbook

This Iowa State University Graduate College Handbook is a comprehensive resource for policies and procedures that pertain to graduate students and postdoctoral scholars. Members of the graduate faculty craft policies through their elected representatives on the Graduate Faculty Cabinet. Faculty and staff in the Graduate College implement the policies as efficiently and fairly as possible. Students and faculty are invited to collaborate with their representatives on the Graduate Faculty Cabinet to enact policy changes that may improve graduate education at Iowa State University.

× Workday Student is live! While policies are unchanged as a result of Workday Student, some of the processes outlined here may differ from how you complete them in Workday. The Graduate College is working on updating the Handbook to exclude processes no longer in place. If you have questions about how to complete a transaction in Workday, please click on our Workday banner on our home page and refer to the appropriate topic to locate training materials.

Chapters and Subsections

• Chapter 1: Admissions
  • 1.1 Admission Process
  • 1.2 Application Requirements
  • 1.3 Admission Standards and Requirements
  • 1.4 Special Applicant Categories
  • 2.1 Enrollment Policies
  • 2.2 Registration Policies
  • 2.3 Special Populations
  • 2.4 Withdrawals and Cancelations
  • 3.1 Fellowships
  • 3.2 Graduate Assistantships
  • 3.3 Tuition Scholarship and Fee Awards
  • 3.4 Other Financial Support
  • 4.1 Graduate Administrative Components
  • 4.2 Changes in Graduate Program or Status
  • 4.3 Special Graduate Majors and Degree Programs
  • 4.4 Graduate Degree Requirements
  • 5.1 Courses and Credits
  • 5.2 Grading
  • 6.1 POS Committee
  • 6.2 POS Committee Makeup
  • 6.3 Developing the Program of Study
  • 6.4 POS Committee Responsibilities: A Summary
  • 7.1 Academic Requirements
  • 7.2 Financial Obligations for Graduation
  • 7.3 Graduation Ceremony Arrangements
  • 7.4 Diplomas
  • 7.5 Certification of Degree
  • 7.6 Registration Hold for Graduates
  • 8.1 Advising and Mentoring Opportunities for Graduate Students
  • 8.2 English Skills Improvement
  • 8.3 Graduate and Professional Student Senate
  • 8.4 Interdisciplinary Graduate Studies
  • 8.5 Mediation of Student Grievances
  • 8.6 Non-departmental Home for Postdoctoral Fellows
  • 8.7 Oversight of Interdepartmental Graduate Programs
  • 9.1 Introduction
  • 9.2 Environment for Student Success
  • 9.3 Resources and Best Practices to Promote Graduate Student Success
  • 9.4 Specific Policies and Laws of Interest to Graduate Students
  • 9.5 Student Grievance Procedures
  • 9.6 Maintaining Academic Standing
  • 9.7 Dismissal for Failure to Maintain Academic Standing
  • 9.8 Expectations for Assistantship Appointments
  • 9.9 Termination of Assistantship Appointments
  • 9.10 Inability to Perform Duties
  • 9.11 Discipline of Graduate Assistants Other than by Termination
  • 9.12 Behavioral Expectations
  • 10.1 Definition
  • 10.2 Appointment
  • 10.3 Performance Management
  • 10.4 Dismissal
  • 10.5 Appeals Process for Postdoctoral Scholar Dismissal
  • 10.6 Postdoctoral Scholars Dispute/Complaint Resolution

  Appendices

  • Appendix A - The Graduate College
  • Appendix B - Majors, Minors, Degrees, and Areas of Specialization
  • Appendix C - Graduate Certificate Programs
  • Appendix D - Master’s Programs at Iowa State University
  • Appendix E - Professional Master’s Coursework Only Guidelines
  • Appendix F - Dual-Listed Courses
  • Appendix G - Graduate Faculty Membership & Associate Membership
  • Appendix H - Graduate Program Learning Goals