Graduate Enrollment for Ohio University Employees
Employees must apply for and be admitted to graduate status as a degree, certificate, or non-degree student through the normal application processes.
Admission and registration do not automatically invoke a tuition benefit. Employees must file benefit request forms separately with Human Resources.
Full-time Ohio University faculty and administrators must complete a Conflict of Interest review before enrollment as a graduate student.
Employee Application Deadlines
| Entry Term | Application Deadline without Conflict of Interest Review | Application Deadline with Conflict of Interest Review* |
|---|---|---|
| Summer | April 1 | April 1 |
| Fall | July 31 | April 1 |
| Spring | December 15 | November 1 |
*Graduate Council meets monthly during fall and spring semesters. Conflict of Interest documents must be submitted with sufficient time for review prior to the desired entry term. Temporary, provisional permission may be given for registration if a full review is not possible due to the academic calendar.
Conflict of Interest Review Summarized
Full-time Faculty and Administrators
University employees, except senior administrators (president, provost, vice presidents, associate/vice provosts, and deans) are eligible to apply for admission to a graduate program or to non-degree status.
The graduate program and the employee’s supervisor(s) must consider whether dual status as a student and an employee might affect academic performance and evaluation, has the potential to exert pressure on either the employee or program faculty, or creates a situation where either the student or program faculty control resources necessary for the student’s employment. This information is documented through Conflict of Interest questions on the application and forms distributed after an admission recommendation.
Graduate Council reviews Conflict of Interest documents. If a conflict is determined to exist and there is no viable way to remove that conflict, the employee shall not be admitted to a graduate degree or non-degree status.
Academic Employees
The Faculty Handbook (Section II.G) stipulates that no academic employee above the rank of Instructor, Research Assistant, or equivalent may receive from the University the master’s degree or the doctor’s degree in any graduate program where the employee has membership, teaches courses, serves on master’s or doctoral committees, has, or is expected to have, other supervisory responsibilities which might give rise to conflicts of interest or the appearance of conflicts of interest.
Ohio University faculty members or senior administrators seeking a terminal degree must enroll in academic programs outside the colleges in which they are employed. Appeals regarding this policy follow the guidelines established in accordance with the “Faculty Grievance Committee” procedures.
Change in Employment or Degree/Non-Degree Status
Employees who hold graduate status must report changes in employment to the Graduate College to determine if a new conflict of interest review must occur.
Process
| Step | Specifics | Timing |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Conflict of interest information is documented through Conflict of Interest questions on the application and forms distributed after an admission recommendation. | Initiated by the Graduate College after an admission recommendation is made by a graduate program. |
| 2 | The graduate program submits conflict of interest documentation to the Graduate College. | Upon completion of the Conflict of Interest application. |
| 3 | Graduate Council reviews Conflict of Interest documentation and determines the outcome of the conflict of interest. | All conflict of interest documentation submitted by the graduate program is forwarded by the Graduate College to Graduate Council for review. Conflict of Interest documentation is reviewed by the Graduate Council on an ongoing basis during fall and spring semesters |
| 4 | Graduate College communicates the decision in writing to the graduate program and graduate student. If a conflict is determined to exist and there is no viable way to remove that conflict, the employee shall not be admitted to a graduate degree or non-degree status. | Initiated following the Graduate Council decision. |
Additional Resources
- Graduate Catalog
- Graduate Study for Employees Policy 45.101
- Educational Benefits for Ohio University Employees Policy 40.015
- Graduate College Forms
- Application and Admission FAQs
Questions
Please contact the Graduate College by emailing graduate@ohio.edu or calling 740.593.2800.