August Minutes

August 22nd, 2019

MEMBERS PRESENT

Voting: Professors P.C. Calleja, T.P. Cronan, N.D. Dennis, A.G.P. Dowling, J. Gigantino, C. Hestekin, V. H. Hunt, J.B. Kerr, J.W. Murry, K.L. Needy, J.C. Rupe

Non-Voting: Professors A.E. Ellstrand, P.R. Koski, L.L. Lennertz, K. Mamiseishvili

MEMBERS ABSENT

Voting: Professors V.P. Anand, A.G.P. Dowling, A. Zajicek; two representatives from the Graduate and Professional Student Congress

Non-Voting: Professor L.J. Robertson; Dr. L. Lander

GUESTS Professors F. Davidson, J. Ridge, R. Wise

SECRETARY: Terri M. Fisher

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

  1. Minutes for the April 18th, 2019, Graduate Council meeting stand approved, as no changes were suggested. (Graduate Council Minutes)
  2. Professor Koski welcomed Paul Calleja to the Council and welcomed Jennifer Webb and the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design to the Council. She also recognized Professor J. Gigantino for receiving the OMNI World Peace and Justice Faculty Award through the Fulbright College.
  3. Professor Koski announced a name change for the Center for Communication and Media Research to the Center for Communication Research; the Mack-Blackwell Rural Transportation Center to the Mack-Blackwell Transportation Center; and the creation of a new department in the Walton College of Business – the Department of Strategy, Entrepreneurship and Venture Innovation.
  4. Dean Needy shared that at the recent deans’ retreat each dean shared an innovative initiative to be examined by their unit in the future. GSIE is exploring creating a culture of access to graduate education for greater inclusivity. In addition, she discussed the latest publication from the Council of Graduate Schools from data on the Ph.D. career pathways project. One major finding from this report is that our PhD alumni change careers numerous times within the first fifteen years after graduation, challenging graduate programs to prepare them for a variety of career pathways.
  5. There was no old business.
  6. The following program changes were approved unanimously and will go next to the Faculty Senate. The presenters are noted in parentheses.
    • Proposal to modify the Master of Science degree in Geography (GEOGMS) by making curricular changes and editing catalog language (Professor F. Davidson)
    • Proposal to modify the Ph.D. degree in Management (MGMTPH) by clarifying catalog language and making curricular changes (Professor J. Ridge)
    • Proposal to modify the Ph.D. degree in Marketing (MKTGPH) by clarifying catalog language and making curricular changes (Professor A. Ellstrand)
    • Proposal to change the Master of Science degree in Microelectronics-Photonics (MEPHMS) to a Master of Science degree in Materials Engineering (MATEMS) and a Master of Science degree in Materials Science (MATSMS), each with six concentrations (Professor R. Wise)
    • Proposal to change the Ph.D. degree in Microelectronics-Photonics (MEPHPH) to Materials Science and Engineering (MSENPH) (Professor R. Wise)
    Program change proposals and new program proposals may be viewed at https://registrar.uark.edu/program-unit-changes/index.php or in Attachment A.
  7. Professor P. Koski presented some changes to the Grade Appeal Process contained in Attachment B. This was approved with a vote of ten in favor and one opposed.
  8. Council members reported from constituencies about this question: “How many hours of transfer credit should we allow for doctoral degrees?” Following these reports, Professor Koski offered to draft a policy to be on the September agenda as a voting item.
  9. Council members reported from constituencies about whether the Graduate School should have a policy about the use of copy editors in theses and dissertations. Following the reports, Professor Koski offered to draft a policy to be on the September agenda as a voting item.
  10. Professor Koski told the Council that there is a Council rule that allows departments to remove graduate faculty status, but there is no process for doing so. Consequently, the Graduate School has not allowed this to happen. Professor Koski asked the Council members to poll their constituencies about what types of situations should result in a removal of graduate faculty status. This will be discussed at our September Council meeting.
  11. The course change reports contained in Attachment C were approved unanimously.
  12. The graduate faculty recommendations contained in Attachment D were approved unanimously.
  13. Professor P. Koski told the Council that we will begin using a separate form for graduate faculty applications where the faculty member must be qualified by experience.

There being no other business, the Council adjourned at 4:00 p.m. The Council will meet next on September 19th, with a slightly modified start time of 2:10 p.m.