September Minutes

September 15th, 2022

The Council met remotely via Teams.

Members Present

Voting

Faculty representatives: Professors A.A.K. Alrubaye, P. Calleja, T.P. Cronan, K. Hall, L. Hinrichsen, J. Lewis, T. Murphy, C.R. Rom, J.C. Rupe, I. Tzanetakis, J.D. Webb, J. Whayne

Student representatives: Mr. J. Cush, Mr. A. Hatch, Ms. D. McGee, Mr. K. Olatunde

Non-Voting

Professors A.E. Ellstrand, M.S. Ganio, J., C. Hestekin, L.J. Robertson, S.R. Schulte, L.M. Yingling, A. Gonzalez
Provost’s Office representative: A. Griffin
Global Campus representative: S. Kenner

Members Absent

Voting

Faculty representative: Professor M.T. Miller Student representatives: Kolade Olatunde

Non-Voting

Professors E. Goodstein-Murphree

Secretary

Mr. D.N. Kalkstein

The meeting was called to order at 2:00 p.m. by Chair Christa Hestekin.

  1. Minutes for the August 18th, 2022, Graduate Council meeting stand approved, as no changes were suggested. (Graduate Council Minutes.)
  2. Announcements: Professor C. Hestekin welcomed the Council to the first hybrid meeting since the Council went virtual on February 20th, 2021. Professor C. Hestekin informed the Council that the Graduate School & International Education would be shifting the Records of Progress documentation method to a fully digitized process.
  3. Dean’s Report: Professor C.R. Rom began by welcoming the Council. Professor C.R. Rom then told the Council that the overall enrollment for Graduate Students was down 3% from the Fall 2021 semester. Professor C.R. Rom went on to inform the Council that while at the Deans of the Southeastern Conference meeting, it was expressed that Graduate Student enrollment has been in decline for the past 5 years, and that the decline in Graduate Student enrollment is being felt across universities nationwide. Professor C.R. Rom then told the Council that lower numbers in undergraduate enrollment were projected for the following semester. Professor C.R. Rom then informed the Council the previous semester saw a large graduating class with over 700 degrees cleared by the Graduate School. Professor C. R. Rom then informed the Council that Dean Patricia Gamboa is leading a task force with the goal of increasing Graduate Student enrollment. Professor C.R. Rom then informed the Council that Mike Malone oversees an economic development tool which is meant to support graduate education. Professor C.R. Rom then went on to address questions about the Graduate Student application process. Professor C.R. Rom told the Council that the Graduate School & International Education’s aim was to work with improve the process for both the student and the department by working with slate and the Graduate School’s admissions unit.
  4. The Graduate Council voted 11 to 1 with 1 abstention in favor of the course changes contained in Attachment A
  5. The Council discussed and unanimously approved the Graduate Faculty recommendations for faculty (Attachment B). Included in this attachment are recommendations and approved remotely via email since the August19th, 2022, Graduate Council meeting.
  6. Other Business: Professor C. Hestekin informed the Council about the new procedures surrounding the submission and approval of Graduate Faculty applications to include a stamp of approval and return of the signed application to the department requester upon approval.

There being no other business, the Council adjourned at 2:43 p.m. The Council will meet next in person on the 5th floor of Old Main and on Teams on October 20th, 2022.