1 - University Administration

A few key University policies that apply to graduate students are summarized in this section of the Bulletin. For detailed policies, refer to the OU Health Campus Faculty Handbook and 
Student Handbook. In addition to policies, the Student Handbook provides information about academic resources, life on campus, and other resources for students.
 

The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, University of Oklahoma Board of Regents, and University of Oklahoma Leadership provide governance and leadership for the University.

The University of Oklahoma, in compliance with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, genetic information, gender identity/gender expression (consistent with applicable law), age (40 or older), religion, disability, political beliefs, or status as a veteran in any of its policies, practices, or procedures. This includes, but is not limited to: admissions, employment, housing, financial aid, and educational services.

Inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies may be directed to:
Marci Gracey
Associate Vice President of Institutional Equity
Phone: (405) 325-3546
Email: mgracey@ou.edu
Website: ou.edu/eoo.html

The responsibility for academic evaluation rests with the faculty. If a student believes they were wrongfully and unfairly evaluated by an instructor, and if the student is not able to resolve the matter in conference with the instructor or the department chair, an appeal may be made to the appeals board of the college offering the course, according to the Academic Appeals Policy found in the Student Handbook, Section 2.1 and the Faculty Handbook, Appendix C.

All thesis and dissertation appeals are heard by the Graduate College Appeals Board.

The Academic Misconduct Code describes academic misconduct as including cheating, plagiarism, fabrication, fraud, destruction, bribery or intimidation, assisting others in any act proscribed by this Code, or attempting to engage in such acts. This includes the unpermitted and/or unattributed use of artificial intelligence tools.

The code provides that the student's Dean shall be notified of the charge and the Dean shall notify the student. Notification of the Dean shall be in writing with a brief description of the evidence, and shall be made within 10 University business days after discovery of the incident, exclusive of University breaks or academic inter- sessions. The code outlines possible disciplinary actions, the provisions for a conference with the Vice Provost for Educational Services, and the request for a hearing or appeal. A complete copy of the Academic Misconduct Code is in the Faculty Handbook.

Research is a critical mission of University of Oklahoma Health Sciences. It is vital to the growth, health and progress of the state of Oklahoma, region, and nation. Participation in research and creative activity projects is fundamental to a graduate student’s training and development. Research projects that include graduate students are conducted in all graduate programs offered at the OU Health Campus. Prospective graduate students are encouraged to contact the Program Director in their academic program for information on research projects that will match their career goals and for opportunities to join these research teams.

All research at OUHSC is compliant with federal, state and local regulations and guidelines. Details can be found at the OU Office of Compliance.

All research involving human subjects or the use of data generated via human subjects research must be reviewed and approved by the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Institutional Review Board (IRB) prior to subject recruitment and data collection. All human subject research to be performed by faculty, staff, or students of the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences must be reviewed by the IRB. The IRB’s primary roles are to determine if the rights and welfare of human subjects who volunteer to participate in research studies are adequately protected and ensure that adequate informed consent procedures are used. University of Oklahoma Health Sciences policies for the protection of human subjects in research activities and IRB application materials can be accessed at the IRB web site. If you have questions about compliance or the IRB approval process, you may contact the Office of Human Research Participant Protection at (405) 271-2045 e-mail irb@ouhsc.edu.

All research performed on live vertebrate animals or teaching that uses live vertebrates must be described for review and approval by the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences, Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) prior to obtaining animals and data collection. The primary role of the IACUC is to assure compliance with the U.S. Animal Welfare Act and Amendments and to assure that animals receive humane care during procedures in accordance with federal regulations of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare of the Public Health Service (OLAW/PHS). If you have questions on the IACUC policies and procedures, you may contact the IACUC office at (405) 271-7381 or visit the IACUC web site.

The University of Oklahoma Intellectual Property Policy governs the ownership of certain inventions made by University students, staff, and/or faculty members. The policy provides, in part, that all discoveries and/or inventions, patentable or not patentable, which are made or conceived of while the inventor is a student at the university with substantial use of university facilities, or are made with funds provided by or through the university (including research funds), are the property of the University. The policy protects and offers substantial benefits to the inventor, while simultaneously protecting the University’s interests in the invention. Students and faculty members are expected to be familiar with their rights and obligations under the University Intellectual Property Policy and to promptly report any inventions as outlined in the Policy. Please be aware that the University Intellectual Property Policy is subject to revision at any time, and the most current version of the policy will be available online.  The Intellectual Property Policy is found in the Faculty Handbook Section 4.23 and Appendix D. An invention disclosure should be completed when an invention is recognized by the inventor(s). Contact the Office of Technology Commercialization for details.

The Board of Regents created the Institutional Equity Office on January 24, 2012, to promote and foster the University's commitment to creating and maintaining a community where all persons who participate in University programs and activities can work and learn together in an atmosphere free from discrimination and harassment. The Institutional Equity Office reports to the President and Board of Regents and handles discrimination claims, affirmative action plans, claims involving the Sexual Misconduct, Discrimination and Harassment Policy, and gender equity issues related to athletics.

For more information, or to file a report, visit https://www.ou.edu/eoo.  

Per the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), an individual with a disability is defined as a person who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, a person who has a history or record of such an impairment, or a person who is perceived by others as having such an impairment. 

At institutions of higher education, ADA dictates that students must self-disclose their disabilities in order to receive accommodations. For student accommodations on the OU Health Campus, students should contact Student Accommodation Services .

The Conflicts of Interest Policy is available in the Faculty Handbook Appendix E.

The progress and academic standing of students and trainees must never be compromised.  Employees supervising students and trainees must inform them in writing of the source(s) of their funding support, disposition of intellectual property, management of proprietary information, and handling of publication rights prior to assigning the students or trainees to a Research or training project supported by a Company.

A student’s academic program cannot be supported by a Company in which the supervising Employee has Equity, serves on a Board, or serves as an Operating Officer or Scientific Officer, unless specifically approved in writing by the Dean of the Graduate College and the Senior Vice President and Provost. If approved, support (e.g., stipends, tuition, salary, scholarships) for students and trainees provided by Companies must comply with all of the following provisions:

1. The College department, program, or unit approves the recipient;
2. The funds are provided to the University;
3. The recipient is not subject to any implicit or explicit expectation of providing or foregoing something in return for the support; i.e., a “quid pro quo”; and
4. The Company does not withhold or unreasonably limit publication of the student’s research.

University trainees and students may not be employed by any Company to conduct Research that overlaps with their University training or academic program. In addition, Graduate College policy does not allow a faculty member with supervisory responsibility for an Employee to serve as mentor for the same individual as a student; therefore, any proposed employment of a trainee or student by a Company to work on Company Research that does not overlap with their training or academic program in which the mentor has Equity, serves on a Board, or serves as an Operating Officer or Scientific Officer of the Company must be approved in advance by the Dean of the Graduate College and the Senior Vice President and Provost.

Oklahoma Statute 70 O.S.§ 3224 and § 3225 (2001) provide that all instructors, including all graduate teaching assistants, now employed or being considered for employment at institutions within the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education shall be proficient in speaking the English language so that they may adequately instruct students.  The procedure to submit a complaint or grievance about an instructor's English language proficiency is described in the OU Health Campus Student Handbook, Section 3.21 (Teacher English Profiency).

English language proficiency requirements for Graduate Assistants with Teaching Responsibilities are described in the Graduate Assistant Policies.