The University Judicial Advisory Board denounced Wednesday the Graduate School dean’s decision to include notations of academic misconduct on graduate students’ transcripts.

Graduate School Dean Jerrold Zar’s decision created a stir among advisory board members when he sent a memo explaining the decision and asking for transcripts from the judicial office. Members of the board questioned Zar’s authority to make such a decision.

However, Bolles said, “(Student Affairs Vice President) Barbara Henley … (and) the provost (Kendall Baker) said the Graduate Council and Dr. Zar have the authority to do this. My understanding is that this is (in fact) a policy for graduate students,” Bolles said.

The memo stated, “I believe the University Judicial Office is the best source of this information, which could either be transmitted to the Graduate School or directly to the Office of Records and Registration.”

Bolles agreed that the information can be transfered to the Graduate School through the judicial office.

Student Association President Rob McCormack said members of the University Council’s steering committee were wondering why the issue didn’t come before the council, since it was a policy change. Bolles said the Graduate Council has the authority to make the decision without their input.

Student Welfare Adviser Curt Stein said he was concerned for students who may not be able to transfer to another school or find a job because the notation would stay on the student’s transcript for life.

Chance Program Director LeRoy Mitchell said, “We have received applications and transcripts from students at other institutions, and when it is marked on there that they have been terminated due to academic misconduct, it does send up a lot of red flags.”