The Graduate Student Catalog provides information about graduate academic policies, degree and certificate programs, and graduate course listings.
The Graduate Honor Code establishes a standard of academic integrity for graduate education at Virginia Tech. The honor code is overseen and enforced by the Graduate Honor System.
The Expectations for Graduate Study outlines expectations for the roles that faculty, graduate students, departments/programs, and the Graduate School should play in graduate education.
The formal appeal/complaint procedures, outlined in the Graduate Catalog, are in place for graduate students who believe that their work has been improperly evaluated or that they have been treated unfairly.
The University Policies for Student Life (UPSL), which is part of the Hokie Handbook, outlines general university policies for student life and behavior. All Virginia Tech students (undergraduate, graduate and professional) and student organizations are required to know and to comply with these policies. Violations are handled by the governing department and/or the Office of Student Conduct, when appropriate.
The Code of Conduct, which is part of the Hokie Handbook, outlines behaviors that are prohibited for all students and student organizations. The conduct system is overseen and enforced by the Office of Student Conduct.
The Principles of Community emphasize the university's commitment to diversity and a climate of civility, sensitivity, and mutual respect.
This policy states the following: "Virginia Tech does not discriminate against employees, students, or applicants on the basis of age, color, disability, gender, genetic information, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation or veteran status." This policy is overseen and enforced by the Office for Compliance and Conflict Resolution.
The Office of Research Compliance provides professional administrative and support staff to oversee university community compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and guidelines associated with research and teaching at Virginia Tech.
The Research Integrity Office is responsible for assessing allegations to determine if they fall within the definition of research misconduct and if the allegation is sufficiently credible and specific to warrant an investigation. The research integrity officer (RIO) also oversees inquiries and investigations, including appointing expert members to inquiry and investigation committees.
Virginia Tech's intellectual property policy establishes ownership criteria and provides a process to determine ownership of intellectual properties created by university employees or with university resources. State law requires all university employees, as a condition of employment, to be bound by this policy. The policy applies to all permanent and visiting faculty, research faculty, classified staff, wage employees, and students.
Access to computer systems and networks owned or operated by Virginia Tech imposes certain responsibilities and obligations and is granted subject to university policies, and local, state, and federal laws. Acceptable use always is ethical, reflects academic honesty, and shows restraint in the consumption of shared resources. It demonstrates respect for intellectual property, ownership of data, system security mechanisms, and individuals' rights to privacy and to freedom from intimidation and harassment.
"It is the student’s responsibility to satisfy all university requirements described in the...Graduate Catalog as well as any additional requirements established by the faculty in the academic program in which the student is enrolled."
"All Virginia Tech students (undergraduate, graduate and professional) and student organizations are required to know and to comply with these policies."
-University Policies for Student Life
"We affirm the right of each person to express thoughts and opinions freely. We encourage open expression within a climate of civility, sensitivity, and mutual respect."