April Minutes

April 19, 2018

MEMBERS PRESENT

Voting: Professors J.R. Chimka, R. Costrell, P.K. Dowe, J. Gigantino, V.H. Hunt, R. Kali, K. Korth, J.W. Murry, K.L. Needy, J.C. Rupe, Mr. M. Christie; Ms. M. Johnson

Non-Voting: Professors J. Hulen, P.R. Koski, K. Mamiseishvili, L. Robertson

MEMBERS ABSENT

Voting: Professors T.P. Cronan, N.D. Dennis, A. Zajicek

Non-Voting: Professors A.E. Ellstrand, L.L. Lander, L.L. Lennertz

GUESTS: Professors S. Dittmore, L. Murray

SECRETARY: Ms. T. M. Fisher

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

  1. Professor Koski amended the agenda to add a new item which is 6b, below.
  2. Minutes for the March 15, 2018, Graduate Council meeting stand approved, as no changes were suggested. (Graduate Council Minutes).
  3. Professor Koski announced that Jim Gigantino was awarded the Outstanding Advisor Award in Fulbright College.
  4. Professor Koski also announced that the University will require all doctoral degree programs to be in compliance with ADHE rules that require a minimum of 42 hours above a master’s degree or 72 hours above a baccalaureate degree.
  5. Professor Koski discussed with the Council the future of the Teaching Assistant Effectiveness Advisory Board, which is a subcommittee of the Council. A motion was passed to eliminate this committee on the grounds that its duties are now being done by other units.
  6. Dean Needy invited Council members to the rededication of the Fulbright historical marker which is being replaced, with funding from the Rotary Club; this will be at 4:50 p.m. today. This sign was damaged during some recent construction work. Dean Needy also updated the Council on the search for the Vice Provost for Research and Innovation. It is anticipated that candidate interviews will take place in June.
  7. Old Business: None
  8. New Business:
    1. Professor S. Dittmore presented a proposal to modify the Adapted Movement Science concentration in the Master of Science degree in Kinesiology (KINSMS-ADMS), by changing the statistics requirement to be ESRM 5393 or ESRM 6403 and changing the electives to 9-12 credits.
    2. Professor L. Murray presented a proposal to delete the Nursing Adult-Geriatric Clinical Nurse Specialist concentration in the Doctor of Nursing Practice degree (NURSDP-CNST).
    Following discussion, all program proposals were approved unanimously and will go next to the Faculty Senate. Program and Unit Changes page by clicking on "Program Management." The proposals are also in Attachment A.
  9. U.S. tax policy mandates that tuition waivers over $5,250/year are taxable, for students who are not performing research or teaching duties for the assistantship. In order to be in compliance, we need a definition of research and teaching. The Council approved the following definitions.
    Teaching: For University tax purposes, teaching activities may include, but are not limited to the following: providing or coordinating classroom and/or creative instruction, including lab or discussion sessions; tutoring students; providing academic coaching or counseling; grading tests and assignments; developing instructional materials; accompanying /coaching musical or vocal performances; proctoring exams.
    Research: For University tax purposes, research activities may include but are not limited to the following examples of applying and mastering research concepts, practices, or methods of scholarship: preparing literature reviews or monographs, conducting experiments; preparing, coding, analyzing or administering surveys or other research instruments; organizing or analyzing data; presenting findings; collaborating with others in preparing publications; conducting institutional research for an academic or administrative unit.
  10. Discussion: The Council of Graduate Schools asks graduate deans to evaluate the April 15th Resolution every five years. In order to complete the questionnaire, Dean Needy requested feedback from Council members about these questions:
    • On balance is the Resolution an effective tool for managing offers of financial support ? (Dean Needy will respond “yes”)
    • Is April 15th the best cut-off date for prospective students to respond to offers of financial support? (Dean Needy will suggest April 1st as a more appropriate date.)
    • In the past 12 months, how many instances did you receive complaints about violations of the April 15th Resolution? (Dean Needy will respond “1 to 5”)
    • In your experience, does the Resolution impact offers to prospective international students differently from prospective domestic students? (Dean Needy will seek more information about how this might affect visa issues)
  11. The course change report from the University Course and Programs Committee was unanimously approved (Attachment B).
  12. The graduate faculty recommendations contained in Attachment C were unanimously approved.

There being no other business, the Council adjourned at 2:37 p.m. The Council will meet next on Thursday, May 17th at 2:00 p.m., in the Upchurch Conference Room of Bell Engineering.

Submitted by: Patricia R. Koski, Chair

Approved by: Kim Needy, Dean