August Minutes

August 21, 2014

MEMBERS PRESENT

Voting: Professors K. Collins, T. P. Cronan, V.H. Hunt, K.L. Needy, P.R. Selvam, J.T. Scott, F. Spiegel, R. Warren, J.D. Wiersma; Ms. Mary Margaret Hui

Non-Voting: Professors J. Ganson, P.R. Koski, M.T. Miller, Y. Murphy-Erby, A. O’Leary-Kelly, L.J. Robertson

MEMBERS ABSENT

Voting: Professors V. Anand, N.D. Dennis, A.J. Dowdle, K.S. Grover, P.R. Selvam; one representative from the GDSAB

Non-Voting: Ms. M. Harwood-Rom

GUESTS: None

SECRETARY: Ms. T. M. Fisher

The meeting was called to order at 2:00 p.m. by Chair Patricia Koski

  1. Minutes for the May 15, 2014, Graduate Council meeting stand approved, as no changes were suggested. (Please review the Graduate Council Minutes).
  2. The Council welcomed Ron Warren, our new representative from Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences.
  3. Professor Koski announced:
    • The Graduate School hosted a successful new graduate student orientation the day before and a successful Teaching Assistant Orientation on Monday and Tuesday of this week.
    • We will need committee members for the Library Committee, Calendar Committee, University Program Review Committee and University Course & Programs Committee. We will select these members at the September meeting.
    • The Academic Appeals Committee of the Graduate Council consists of: Kathleen Collins, Paul Cronan, Andrew Dowdle, Valerie Hunt, Panneer Selvam, Jacquelyn Wiersma and two student representatives from the Graduate Dean’s Student Advisory Board.
    • The graduate faculty representatives from each college are as follows; these are the only ones allowed to sign graduate faculty requests: Paul Cronan (WCOB), Kenda Grover (EDUC), Valerie Hunt (INTD), Andrew Dowdle (ARSC), Panneer Selvam (ENGR), Jacquelyn Wiersma (ALS)
    • The Academic Appeals Committee met the day before and heard one case.
    • The Teaching Assistant Effectiveness Advisory Committee (TAEAC) assisted with the TA orientation. With a new GSIE staff member hired, the TAEAC will begin meeting again.
    • That she would attach a list of committee members to the minutes (Attachment A).
  4. Dean Needy also mentioned that we hosted two successful orientations for new international students (graduate and undergraduate).
  5. Judy Ganson asked the Council members to remind their students that a quiet study lounge reserved for graduate students has been opened in Mullins Library.
  6. Professor Koski reminded the Council members to poll their constituencies about the proposed changes to the Spoken English Language Proficiency requirement for non-native speakers of English which was first heard at the May Council meeting. We will vote on this in September.
  7. The items listed on the agenda as Old Business were tabled as no representatives from the programs were in attendance.
  8. New Business: The Council unanimously approved a change to the Teaching Assistant Effectiveness Advisory Committee to add a representative from the Teaching and Faculty Support Center. This requires no further approval and will be implemented immediately.
  9. The course change report contained in Attachment B was approved and will go next to the Faculty Senate.
  10. The graduate faculty recommendations contained in Attachment C were approved.

There being no other business, the Council adjourned at 2:22 p.m. The Council will meet next on Thursday, September 18th at 2:00 in Upchurch Conference Room of Bell Engineering.

Submitted by: Patricia R. Koski, Chair

Approved by: Kim Needy, Dean