Degree progress and academic expectations
The university's academic standards are primarily developed and implemented through faculty governance via the Faculty Senate and Academic Council, with administrative oversight from the President and Provost offices.
The Faculty Senate is the legislative body of the Academic Council and has responsibility for academic policy as well as the authority to grant degrees. VPGE interprets and disseminates university-level policies, which are set by the Committee on Graduate Studies and the Faculty Senate. This shared governance model ensures both institutional accountability and faculty expertise in academic matters.
Your Best Resource: Your Degree Program
Your degree program's policies and procedures, including current student handbooks, are your primary resource for academic questions about your degree. Your student services staff can explain requirements and procedures and your dean’s office staff can explain school-level academic policies.
Graduate Academic Policies and Procedures Handbook
The GAP describes university-wide academic policies that apply to all graduate students. The GAP can be a handy reference throughout your graduate studies.
- Visit the GAP website
- General Requirements, Progress and Milestones
- Degree-Specific Requirements, Progress and Milestones
Academic Grievances
A Stanford graduate student who believes they have been subject to an improper decision on an academic matter may file a grievance pursuant to the Student Academic Grievance Procedure. General information about Stanford’s grievance procedures may be found in Student Grievances.