The graduate experience at Alfaisal University and the work of the Graduate School (GS) are dependent upon the efforts of the Research, Innovation & Graduate Council (RGC), College Graduate Offices, and the Student Affairs Office.
1.4.1 Research & Graduate Council (Executive committee)
The Research, Innovation & Graduate Council (RGC), which is chaired by the Vice President for Research & Graduate Studies, is responsible for safeguarding the excellence of graduate education. The Council is the administrative arm of the Graduate School and is empowered on its behalf to enforce its regulations and policies. The Council membership will consist of the College Vice Deans for Research & Graduate Studies, the Director of the Graduate School, and the Director of Research & Innovation. The duties and functions of the RGC consist of the following:
- Sets the policies and standards for graduate admission, and degrees in coordination with the Colleges and Student Affairs Office.
- Reviews established degree programs and responds to issues referred to it by the Vice President, the Provost’s Office, and the Deans
- Recommend internal regulations, in coordination with academic departments and Student Affairs, for the organization of graduate studies.
- Recommend graduate courses for approval, amendment, and modification, extending to programs as well.
- Endorse titles of graduate degrees in both Arabic and English on recommendation of colleges’ councils.
- Recommend awarding of graduate certificates in the case of thesis option programs.
- Decide on all matters related to graduate students in the university with Student Affairs.
- Set the general framework for research plans, rules for theses writing, format for their production and templates of theses exam reports.
- Examine periodic reports submitted by the departments of the university.
- Study matters forwarded to it for consultation by the University Council, the Council of Deans or Provost Office and offer suggestions and advice.
1.4.2 Role of College Graduate Offices and Vice Deans
- Have overall academic responsibility for Graduate Studies within their respective Colleges
- Reviews new graduate programs before submission to RGC
- Vice Deans are responsible for setting up Thesis Advisory Committees for graduate students and all aspects of Theses external evaluation and defenses.
1.4.3. Standing Committee for Graduate Studies
A Standing Committee for Graduate Studies (SCGS) (formally called Permanent Committee for Graduate Studies) is formed at the university level and is chaired by the Vice President for Graduate Studies. It reports directly to the university president. Membership consists of:
• Five deans of colleges and institutes that offer graduate programs at the university, considering the diversity of colleges and institutes’ specializations.
• Dean of development and quality at the university.
Dean, director, or head of the executive management unit, who is the secretary of the committee.
• Three members with experience and specialization in graduate studies from inside or outside the university.
The members are appointed by a decision of the University Council; Based on a nomination from the university’s president, for a renewable period of two years. In accordance with the provisions of Article # 7 of the Rules and Regulations for Graduate Studies in Universities from the Ministry of Higher Education (MOE), the Standing Committee shall undertake the following tasks:
1. Proposing general policy for graduate studies at the university and following up on its implementation after approval by the University Council.
2. Recommending approval of the admission requirements for graduate studies programs and updating them, based on the proposal of the councils of departments, colleges, and specialized institutes.
3. Overseeing joint graduate programs.
4. Recommending the endorsement of graduate studies programs and their amendments - after studying and arbitration - to the University Council, based on proposals from the Department Council, and the approval of the proposal by the College Council.
5. Recommending the approval of study plans and detailed standards for the University Council, based on proposals from the Department Council, and endorsement from the College Council, in accordance with international benchmarking.
6. Suggesting standards for graduate programs; for approval by the University Council.
7. Suggesting the rules regulating the evaluation of graduate programs; for approval by the University Council.
8. Supervising the evaluation of graduate studies programs at the university on a regular basis, through committees or specialized bodies inside or outside the university.
9. Studying comprehensive reports prepared by the executive management on the graduate studies programs at the university, and the results of evaluating those programs, and submitting them to the University Council.
10.Recommending approval of college council proposals regarding graduate study programs that are compatible with the needs of society, the plans and visions of the Kingdom, and global trends, for approval by the University Council.
11.Supporting proposals for defining degrees and academic certificates, and their names in Arabic and English, based on the proposals of the department and college councils.
12.Recommending the numbers of students who can be accepted each academic year in the graduate studies programs, based on proposals from the relevant department councils, and endorsement from the colleges’ councils.
13.Suggesting controls for forming supervisory committees and discussing scientific theses.
14.Setting general frameworks and standards for comprehensive exams and graduation research.
15.Setting the general framework for research plans, and the rules for governing how to write, print, produce and present theses, prepare forms for the discussion committee reports, and judge the theses.
16.Studying periodic reports related to graduate studies, which are presented by the scientific departments at the university.
17.Proposing submission of graduate programs outside the university’s premises and submitting them to the University’s Council; to take what action it deems appropriate.
18.Recommending approval of the colleges’ proposals regarding development initiatives related to graduate studies.
19.Recommending financial compensation for applying to graduate studies programs, the financial compensation or tuition fees for the programs, and the financial compensation for support services related to graduate studies, based on the proposals of the department and college councils.
20.Recommending allocating free scholarships for students - in full or in part - according to the regulations approved by the University’s Council.
21.Recommend the closure or suspension of graduate studies programs that do not comply with qualitative standards or with the university's strategy. 22.Consider what is referred by the Chair of the Standing Committee, the President of the University, or the University’s Council; to study and express an opinion. 23.The Standing Committee may delegate some of its powers to its Chair, and it may also form permanent or temporary committees from among its members or from others; to study what is assigned to it.