On October 9, 2024, Graduate Council approved the following updates to the policy on Faculty Roles on Advisory Committees:
Advising Members of Immediate Family. The nepotism policy defines members of the immediate family as the following: spouse, partner, child, grandchild, parent, grandparent, sibling, in-laws, or spouse, partner, or child of any of the foregoing or with whom the faculty member has a close, personal relationship. A faculty member may not serve as major professor or as a member of any committee that plans a program of study or evaluates the educational progress of a member of their immediate family.
The policy on serving on graduate advisory committees for family members does not address every conceivable situation or ethical dilemma that may be encountered. Faculty members serving as advisors or on graduate advisory committees are expected to exercise good judgment absent specific guidance from this policy or other applicable laws, rules, regulations, and Board of Regents’ policies and procedures. All reasonable efforts should be taken to avoid real or perceived conflict of interest in advising or serving on advisory committees for family members.
Specific questions pertaining to advising or serving advisory committees for family members should be directed to the Graduate Coordinator, the Department Head/Chair or Dean of the unit or the Dean of the Graduate School.
