Periodic meetings of the DOGEs are scheduled during the academic year for announcements and to exchange information about graduate education and research. Recruitment of graduate students, sources of support, and academic policies are also reviewed at DOGE meetings. The Graduate Council is a representative body consisting of fifteen elected members of the graduate faculty and four elected graduate student members. The Graduate Council serves as the executive committee of the graduate faculty and sets policy that concerns the direction and process of graduate education at Iowa State University. Meeting at least monthly during the academic year, the council provides a mechanism for interaction among graduate students, graduate faculty members, and the administration of the Graduate College.
Meetings are open to any interested members of the graduate faculty, staff, or student body.
The Graduate Council submits recommendations to the Faculty Senate regarding graduate curricula issues. Suggestions for new policies and policy revisions may be submitted to the Graduate Council by members of any of its constituent bodies, the graduate faculty and the Graduate Student Senate, or by the Graduate College administration. The Graduate Council issues a formal report at the end of every academic year, with a copy published in the Graduate college newsletter, Research and Graduate Education . The Graduate Council is responsible for revising and updating the Graduate College Handbook to keep it in accord with policy changes approved by the graduate faculty and changes in Graduate College administrative procedures. The Council also recommends graduate faculty members for openings that occur on the standing committees of the Graduate College.