April Minutes

April 16th, 2015

MEMBERS PRESENT

Voting: Professors V. Anand, K. Collins, T.P. Cronan, N.D. Dennis, A.J. Dowdle, K.S. Grover, V.H. Hunt, R. Warren, J.D. Wiersma; Ms. Mary Margaret Hui

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

MEMBERS ABSENT

Voting: Professor K.L. Needy, J.T. Scott, P.R. Selvam, F. Spiegel; second representative from the Graduate Dean’s Student Advisory Board

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

SECRETARY: Ms. T. M. Fisher


The meeting was called to order at 2:00 p.m. by Chair Patricia Koski
  1. Minutes for the March 19th, 2015, Graduate Council meeting stand approved, as no changes were suggested. (Please review the Graduate Council Minutes).
  2. Professor P. Koski asked the Council for feedback with regard to this issue: if a program has been approved for students to “double count” some courses for both the undergraduate and graduate degrees, does the Council wish for both courses (on the undergraduate and graduate transcript) to show a grade, or to show a grade on the undergraduate transcript and a mark of CR on the graduate transcript? A motion was made and seconded to request that the grade show on both transcripts, but was then tabled so that Council members may gather input from those programs who have been approved for this double counting.
  3. Professor P. Koski reported that:
    • The Academic Appeals Committee did not meet in April
    • The Teaching Assistant Effectiveness Advisory Committee hosted a luncheon for outstanding teaching assistant supervisors, as nominated by their departments
  4. On behalf of Professor F. Spiegel, Professor Koski presented the report from the Library Committee:
    • The Library Committee is looking into making the University an open access institution;
    • The capital campaign for the Library has a goal of $50 + million and the start has been slow, but picking up;
    • Relative to other SEC schools and aspirational peer schools, our library budget is in the bottom half, but things have improved in recent years.
  5. There was no old business.
  6. The Council considered a proposal to modify the course review process, Academic Policy Series 1622.11, which was tabled at our last meeting. Following discussion, the proposal was approved with a vote of nine in favor and one opposed. (Attachment A)
  7. At the March meeting, Professor F. Spiegel presented a proposal to eliminate dual credit 4000 level classes (Attachment B). The Council was asked to poll their constituencies about this proposal. Following extensive discussion, a motion was made and seconded to eliminate dual credit classes but was defeated by a vote of three in favor, five opposed and two abstaining.
  8. The course change reports listed in Attachment C were approved unanimously.
  9. The graduate faculty recommendations contained in Attachment D were approved unanimously.

There being no other business, the Council adjourned at 2:55 p.m. The Council will meet next on Thursday, May 21st, 2015 at 2:00 in Upchurch Conference Room of Bell Engineering.