December Minutes

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December 13, 2018

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

1. Minutes for the October 18th, 2018, Graduate Council meeting stand approved, as no changes were suggested.( Graduate Council Minutes.)
2. Professor Koski modified the agenda to add a new item under Discussion, academic dishonesty as a condition for denying admission to the Graduate School.
3. Professor Koski confirmed with the Council that they approved the following catalog (and policy) change by email: “A mark of ‘CR’ (credit) is given for a course in which the university allows credit toward a degree, but for which no grade points are earned. The mark ‘CR’ is not normally awarded for graduate-level courses but may be granted for independent academic activities. For a master’s degree, a maximum of six semester hours may be accepted toward the degree. With departmental (or program area) approval and in special circumstances, up to a maximum of six semester hours of ‘CR’ may be accepted toward the requirements for a graduate degree.”
4. Professor K. Needy told the Council about the recent visit of the GSIE deans to the Council of Graduate Schools’ annual meeting in Washington DC. Professor Needy made a presentation at that meeting on the mental health needs of international students. She noted that the video, “You are Welcome Here,” was particularly well-received
5. The following items were approved and will go next to the Faculty Senate. The presenters are noted in parentheses.

   Old Buisiness

   • Proposal to modify the Master of Science degree in Agricultural Education (AEEDMS) by making several curricular changes to more clearly differentiate the thesis and non-thesis tracks (Professor D. Graham).
   • Proposal to modify the Master of Science degree in Crop, Soil, and Environmental Sciences (CSESMS) by deleting the non-thesis option (Professor J. Miller)
   • Proposal to modify the Master of Public Administration degree (PADMMP) by reducing the total hours required from 42 to 39 for those who are admitted as pre-career students and to 36 hours for those who are admitted as in-career students. There are also curricular changes being proposed (Professor P. Conge).

   New Business

   • Proposal to modify the Master of Science degree in Entomology (ENTOMS) by removing ENTO 3013 and ENTO 5013 from core course requirements and changing course numbers for formerly dual-level courses with 4000-level numbers only (Professor A.G.P. Dowling).
   • Proposal to add a concentration in Integrated Wood Design to the Master of Design Studies degree (DSGNMDS) (Professor J. Webb).
   • Proposal to modify the Ph.D. degree in Psychology (PSYCPH) by making it possible to fulfill the requirement for PSYC 5853 Advanced History and Systems of Psychology with a course taken as an undergraduate and to remove it from the list of required courses (Professor L. Ham).
   • Proposal to modify the graduate certificate in Enterprise Systems (ENTSGC) by changing the name of the Enterprise Systems track to Blockchain Enterprise Systems and changing some curriculum requirements to reflect that change (Professor P. Cronan).
   • Proposal to modify the Ph.D. degree in Public Policy (PUBPPH) by adding the phrase “or equivalent” after the requirement of a master’s degree for admission to the program (Professor B. Kerr)

   Program change proposals and new program proposals may be viewed at Office of the Registrar Program and Unit Changes or in Attachment A.

6. Discussion: Currently, Graduate School rules do not allow deficiencies to be required for admission to doctoral programs. Do we wish to modify this policy? Following discussion, a proposal was made and seconded to eliminate this rule; the motion passed unanimously. It will go into effect immediately.
7. Discussion: Should evidence of academic integrity violations be a factor in denying admission to the Graduate School? Following discussion, the Council members agreed to poll their constituencies.
8. The course change report from the University Course and Programs Committee was unanimously approved (Attachment B.)
9. The graduate faculty recommendations contained in Attachment C were unanimously approved
10. Professor A. Ellstrand announced that Professor R. Kali would be leaving the Council. We thanked Professor Kali for his service.

There being no other business, the Council adjourned at 3:07 p.m. The Council will meet next on Thursday, January 17th at 2:00 p.m., in the Upchurch Conference Room of Bell Engineering.