Compliance Certification Report
| 3.6.2 | The institution ensures that its graduate instruction and resources foster independent learning, enabling the graduate to contribute to a profession or field of study. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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[Compliance] |
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Narrative: |
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| The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) is in compliance with Principle 3.6.2 because a focus of master's and doctoral programs is independent inquiry through both faculty-assisted and self-directed research and creative activity by graduate students. The Graduate Council of UAH works with the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies to evaluate and recommend policies on graduate education to the Provost. All graduate curricular changes and new proposed graduate courses are reviewed for approval by the Curriculum Committee of the Graduate Council. The School of Graduate Studies thus provides guidance to the University's colleges and departments for the development of programs that foster independent learning by their graduate students. The graduate programs at UAH are designed to produce graduates who are not only knowledgeable in their fields, but who can use this knowledge to perform independent inquiry and creative activity. The UAH Graduate Catalog 2003-2005, p. 36, states that the School of Graduate Studies requires that students pursuing an advanced degree at UAH demonstrate "independent scholarly work." The completion of a thesis or dissertation is a primary means of evaluating the accomplishment of this goal. In the case of a master's degree with thesis, the UAH Graduate Catalog 2003-2005, p. 51, states that "the thesis should show evidence of the student's capability for research, independent thought, and analysis." The thesis is supervised and approved by a faculty committee composed of at least three members of the graduate faculty and appointed by the chair of the department, with approval of the graduate dean. The supervisory committee is composed of at least three members of the graduate faculty, with a majority being from the major department/program. For the PhD degree, the requirements include an independent research project, the results of which are presented in the form of a dissertation. Residency requirements for the degree forms part of the evaluative process of the student. During their residency at UAH students are evaluated for their investigative abilities, independent thought, and scholastic progress by faculty members other than the major advisor. The dissertation is evidence that the student can "independently identify a problem of contemporary significance through familiarity with the current literature in the major field, organize and execute a program of research, recognize and analyze the results, and present them in cogent, well-written exposition." The Ph.D. committee, which is appointed by the chair of the department or program director, with approval of the graduate dean, is composed of at least five members of the graduate faculty, with at least half being from the major department/program. (UAH Graduate Catalog 2003-2005, p. 54) Although the thesis or dissertation committee provides guidance during the process of conducting the research and preparing the manuscript, the primary responsibility for completion of an acceptable thesis or dissertation rests with the student. The School of Graduate Studies provides thesis and dissertation guidance to graduate students through the Thesis and Dissertation Manual, prepared by the Graduate Council, and through the assistance of an official proofreader provided by the office of Graduate Studies. For a non-thesis master's degree, students must demonstrate an ability to integrate their basic knowledge in a discipline with the solution of a practical problem. In some disciplines students gain acquaintance with research methods and appreciation of the place and function of original investigation in the field of studies though a capstone course, a group project, an individual project, or an individual written or oral report. In other fields, such as nursing and education, required clinical practicum experiences, clinical placements and internships provide the setting in which the graduate students apply course knowledge to the independent practice of their professions. The contribution of our graduate students to their disciplines is evaluated by the departments and programs via evidence such as scholarly publications, job and educational placement, and involvement in professional societies and organizations. The University provides resources to foster independent learning by providing funds for student travel to professional meetings to present the results of their work and to interact with other researchers in their discipline. These funds are provided by departments, colleges and the School of Graduate Studies. Various colleges and departments also sponsor research competitions and recognition for outstanding independent research. |
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