The Student Services Building (SSB) houses the Office of the Dean of Students, which offers many services for students. Below are some of the services offered:
The University ITS Help and Service Desk provides students, faculty, and staff at UT Austin with a central point of contact for computer help and questions.
The College of Education Information Technology Office offers a wide range of computer facilities and tech support services for College of Education students, faculty, and staff. ITO services include computer facilities, equipment checkout and delivery to classrooms (including video camera checkout to use for interview/assessment recordings), computer/technical support, laptop and software assistance, a student study/collaboration area, printing, videoconferencing, and technical tutorials.
The Flawn Academic Center (FAC) houses the Campus Computer Store. This store offers reduced student pricing on a wide variety of software, as well as new computers and other technology.
Some Educational Psychology classes require students to use specific statistical software. Check with your program Area Chair and your instructor to see if there are licenses available for students to utilize. If purchase is required, be sure to check the Campus Computer Store for software discounts.
Graduate student instructors and teaching assistants (AIs and TAs) contribute greatly to the level of teaching excellence at UT Austin. The Center for Teaching and Learning's Graduate Student Instructor Program provides opportunities to advance your pedagogical, professional, and personal development. The program also provides assistance to graduate students with of writing teaching philosophies, syllabi, course goals, assessments, and teaching portfolios.
Graduate students have the right to seek redress of any grievance related to their academic affairs. Students may seek to to resolve grievances informally between the student and the faculty member most directly involved or, such efforts failing, with the Graduate Adviser, the Chair of the Graduate Studies Committee, and/or the Department Chair. Formal grievance policies are detailed below.
A student in the Department of Educational Psychology has the right to petition the GSC, through the GSC Executive Committee, on matters relating to their academic progress, including requests for a leave of absence, waiver of degree requirements, etc. To file a petition, you should first work with your program Area Chair, who will need to obtain support of your request from the Graduate Adviser, who will then petition the GSC Executive Committee if the request is supported.
Students may also petition the Graduate Dean, through the EDP Graduate Adviser, on matters related to Graduate School rules and policies. To file a petition, first work with your program Area Chair, who will need to obtain support of your request from the Graduate Adviser, who may then petition the Dean of Graduate Studies on your behalf, or may suggest an alternative resolution.
When serious issues cannot be resolved informally, the graduate student will have recourse to further formal grievance procedures.
The University has numerous policies protecting the rights of students, all covered in the General Information Catalog.
Relevant policy statements include:
Complaints related to non-academic issues (such as sexual or racial harassment or sexual assault) are handled by the Office of the Dean of Students.
Student employees (TAs, AIs, etc.) who have grievances should refer to the policies in the Handbook of Operating Procedures.
The Student Ombuds Services office serves as a neutral third party providing assistance to students who have University-related complaints of a non-legal nature. The Ombuds office is authorized to investigate grievances involving both academic and nonacademic concerns and recommend corrective measures. Any case considered inappropriate may be declined by the Ombudsperson. Seeking assistance from the Student Ombuds Services office is most appropriate if remedies within the student’s area/program, Department, and Graduate School have been unsatisfactory.
The University, in accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, states that no otherwise qualified student shall be excluded solely on the basis of the disability from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or otherwise be subjected to discrimination under any academic program or activity. A student with a disability may be protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and be eligible for a reasonable accommodation that will provide an equal opportunity to meet the academic criteria related to professional behavior and scholastic performance.
Any otherwise qualified student with a protected disability who wishes to request a reasonable accommodation must notify the Services for Students with Disabilities office and provide documentation as needed. Services for Students with Disabilities makes recommendations for accommodations and sends official verifications to appropriate parties so that accommodations can be made.
Areas and programs in Educational Psychology will review academic performance criteria in light of individual student circumstances to explore issues of appropriateness and accommodation. An initial assessment, subsequent plan, use of outside experts (including the Office of Students with Disabilities), and periodic checks between the area faculty and the student are appropriate courses of action in making accommodations.
When serious issues cannot be resolved informally, graduate students have recourse to a formal grievance procedure conducted as outlined below. It should be noted that the precise procedure to be followed in adjudicating a given grievance will depend on the particular circumstances surrounding the case. Each graduate student may express a grievance through the following procedures with the assurance of timely and thorough consideration. Grievants are assured freedom from reprisals for the filing of their grievances. A student must initiate the complaint within six months of the acquisition of knowledge of the grievance. All complaints must be submitted in writing.
First Level of Adjudication (if attempts described above do not bring resolution): Graduate Studies Committee
Second Level of Adjudication: Office of the Vice President and Dean of Graduate Studies
Third Level of Adjudication: Office of the President
In addition, complaints alleging sexual or racial harassment or sexual assault should be addressed in accordance with the policies and procedures published in the General Information Catalog.