Graduate Council Minutes

May 15, 2014

MEMBERS PRESENT

Voting: Professors K. Collins, T. P. Cronan, A. J. Dowdle, V.H. Hunt, K.L. Needy, P.R. Selvam, J.T. Scott, J.D. Wiersma; Ms. Jocelyn Bailey, Ms. Mary Margaret Hui

Non-Voting: Professors J. Ganson, P.R. Koski, M.T. Miller, Y. Murphy-Erby

MEMBERS ABSENT

Voting: Professors V. Anand, M.S. Bradley, T. Martin, P.R. Selvam, F. Spiegel

Non-Voting: Professors A. O’Leary-Kelly, L.J. Robertson; Ms. M. Harwood-Rom

GUESTS: Professor D. Gorman; Ms. R. Keogh, Ms. L. Mosesso

SECRETARY: Ms. T. M. Fisher

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

  1. Minutes for the April 17th, 2014, Graduate Council meeting stand approved, as no changes were suggested. (The Graduate Council Minutes).
  2. Professor Koski introduced Dr. Kim Needy, the interim Dean of the Graduate School and International Education, to those who were not at the meeting in April.
  3. Professor Koski reported that the Academic Appeals Committee will meet next week.
  4. There was no old business.
  5. New Business
    1. Professor Thad Scott presented a proposal to modify the M.S. degree in Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences (CSESMS) by eliminating the non-thesis option (Attachment A). The Council unanimously approved this proposal and it will be forwarded to the Faculty Senate.
    2. Since there were no representatives present for the program proposals in Comparative Literature and Cultural Studies, Mathematical Sciences or Music, these proposals were tabled for the June meeting.
    3. Professor Dean Gorman presented a proposal to modify the Master of Athletic Training (ATTRMA) degree in the ways described in Section V of Attachment B. Following discussion, the proposal was approved and will be sent next to the Faculty Senate.
    4. Professor Dean Gorman presented a proposal to modify the M.S. degree in Community Health Promotion (CHLPMS) in the ways described in Section V of Attachment C. Following discussion, the proposal was approved and will be sent next to the Faculty Senate.
    5. Professor Dean Gorman presented a proposal to modify the Ph.D. degree in Kinesiology (KINSPH) in the ways described in Section V of Attachment D. Following discussion, the proposal was approved and will be sent next to the Faculty Senate. [Please note that Attachments B, C, D contain editorial changes suggested by the Council.]
  6. Ms. Lynn Mosesso and Ms. Rochelle Keogh presented a proposal from the English as a Second Language (EASL) Committee to allow performance in ELAC 5050 (International Graduate Teaching Assistant Training) to be accepted as an option for satisfying the Spoken Language Proficiency requirement for non-native speakers of English to hold a graduate assistantship that requires direct contact with students in a teaching or tutorial role. The modified 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 (Attachment E and Attachment F).

    Professor Koski asked the Council members to poll their constituencies. Since many faculty will be out of town over the summer, the Council asked that the proposal be brought back for discussion at the September Graduate Council meeting. If approved, this proposal will not require Faculty Senate endorsement.
  7. The course change report contained in Attachment G was approved and will go next to the Faculty Senate.
  8. The graduate faculty recommendations contained in Attachment H were approved.

There being no other business, the Council adjourned at 2:35 p.m.

Submitted by: Patricia R. Koski, Chair

Approved by: Kim Needy, Dean