The graduate program is governed by the rules and regulations set forth by the Graduate School of the Ohio State University. Policies are enacted by the Council of Research and Graduate Studies, and administered by the Dean of the Graduate School and the departmental Graduate Studies Committee (GSC). The GSC is the liaison between the Graduate School and the students and faculty of the department, as described in Section 2 of the Graduate School Handbook. The GSC publishes and distributes the Horticulture and Crop Science Graduate Student Handbook.

A. Responsibilities of the GSC.
The Horticulture and Crop Science Graduate Studies Committee:

• Appoints faculty members to the graduate faculty.
• Is responsible for graduate student recruitment.
• Reviews and evaluates applications for graduate study.
• Processes admissions.
• Coordinates assignment of students to advisers.
• Monitors course programs of graduate students.
• Recommends to the graduate faculty any changes in requirements or policy.
• Coordinates operations of the Horticulture and Crop Science graduate program with College and University faculty and administrators and with the Graduate School.

B. Committee Membership.
Members of the GSC are appointed by the Department Chair. The GSC is composed of a minimum of six (6) members, including:

• at least four (4) Department of Horticulture and Crop Science graduate faculty,
• one (1) staff member, and
• one (1) graduate student representative.

The staff member serves as secretary to the committee. The term of service on the GSC for faculty members is two years. The GSC Coordinator, who chairs the GSC, is elected by the faculty through a Nomination Committee. The graduate student representative is elected annually by the departmental graduate students. Committee members will represent the junior faculty and senior faculty, from both the Columbus and Wooster campuses.