September Agenda

Thursday, September 18, 2014

2:00 p.m.

Upchurch Conference Room, Bell Engineering

Please note that we have moved back to Upchurch.

  1. Minutes for the August 21st, 2014, Graduate Council meeting will stand approved if no corrections are received. (Please review the Graduate Council Minutes).
  2. Announcements
  3. Committee Selections
  4. Report from the Academic Appeals Committee and the Teaching Effectiveness Advisory Committee.
  5. Old Business: Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences
    1. Program in Comparative Literature and Cultural Studies, proposal to modify the Ph.D. degree (CLCS) in the ways described in Section V of Attachment A.
    2. Department of Mathematical Sciences, proposal to modify the M.A. degree in Secondary Mathematics (SMTHMA) in the ways described in Attachment B and Attachment C.
    3. Department of Music, proposal to change the name of the Graduate Certificate in Advanced Instrumental Performance (MUSCGC) to a Graduate Certificate in Advanced Performance (Attachments D and Attachment E).
  6. New Business, Program Changes, College of Engineering, Department of Electrical Engineering: Proposal to modify the Master of Science degree in Electrical Engineering (ELEGMS) by eliminating the requirement to take ELEG 5801, Written and Oral Communication. This will not change the total number of hours required for the degree (Attachment F).
  7. New Business, Policy Change: Proposed changes to the Spoken English Language Proficiency requirement for non-native speakers of English who wish to hold a graduate assistantship that requires direct contact with students in a teaching or tutorial role. Proposed changes would allow performance in ELAC 5050 (International Graduate Teaching Assistant Training) equivalent to a grade of B, to be one method by which a student could demonstrate English language proficiency (Attachments G, Attachment H). The new policy would read:
    • Non-native speakers of English, regardless of citizenship, even if eligible for a TOEFL waiver, must demonstrate competency in spoken English by submitting a test score of at least 7 on the IELTS (speaking) sub-test, 26 on the Internet-based TOEFL (speaking) sub-test, 71 on the PTE-A (speaking) sub-test, a “pass” on the Spoken Language Proficiency Test (SLPT), or performance in ELAC 5050 (International Graduate Teaching Assistant Training) equivalent to a grade of B, to be eligible for a graduate assistantship that requires direct contact with students in a teaching or tutorial role.
  8. Discussion: Should the Graduate School have a policy that prohibits students from providing refreshments for their committee members during oral defenses (of the candidacy exam, dissertation proposal, thesis or dissertation, etc.)?
  9. Graduate faculty recommendations for faculty: A preliminary list is attached (Attachment I). A complete list will be distributed at the meeting.
  10. Other Business: None