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The regular meeting of the
Graduate Council was held at 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 26, 2002 in the
Forum Room of the Ferguson Center.
MEMBERS PRESENT:
- Dr. Carol Cassel,
Dr. Susan C. Fleming,
- Dr. Michael L. Freeman, Dr. Marsha L. Houston,
- Dr. D. Jeff Jackson, Dr. Ida M. Johnson,
- Dr. Michael D. Murphy, Dr. Martha J. Powell,
- Dr. Nancy J. Rubin, Dr. Edward J. Schnee,
- Dr. Marietta P. Stanton, Dr. Min Sun,
- Dr. Cynthia S. Sunal, Dr. Stephen J. Thoma,
- Dr. Joseph S. Thrasher, Dr. Carol L. Tieso,
- Dr. Harold J. Weber, Dr. John M. Wiest
MEMBERS ABSENT:
- Dr.
Martin G. Bakker, Dr. Bruce E. Barrett,
- Dr. Michael T. Dugan, Dr. Barbara Fischer,
- Dr. Laura G. Klinger, Dr. Richard G. Lomax,
- Dr. Sharon O’Dair, Dr. Yorgo Pasadeous,
- Dr. David R. Roskos-Ewoldsen, Dr. Paul H. Stuart,
- Dr. S. Allen Wilcoxon
EX-OFFICIO
MEMBERS PRESENT:
Dean Louis A. Pitschmann, Dean Ronald Rogers
STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES
PRESENT:
Ms. Samantha Briggs, Mr. Frederick Mackey
GRADUATE SCHOOL REPRESENTATIVES
PRESENT:
- Dr.
John F. Schmitt, Associate Dean,
- Ms. Louise Labosier, Admissions Officer
GUEST:
Dr. John R. Dew
Dean Rogers
opened the meeting by asking if there were corrections to the November 27, 2001 Graduate
Council minutes.
No
corrections were noted and the minutes were approved as
written.
Dean Rogers
called for the reports from various committees.
I. Reports from Graduate Council Committees
A. Admissions and Recruitment
Dr.
Edward Schnee introduced Dr. John Dew, Chairman of the Distance Education Task
Force. Dr. Dew explained that the purpose of the task force was to identify
means of improving services to distance education students. The task force
recommended that for the purpose of streamlining admission and registration of
distance education students, departments should be given the opportunity to
grant the Graduate School authority to admit nondegree distance education
students.
Dr. Schnee
indicated that the members of the Admissions and Recruitment Committee expressed
reservations about relinquishing departmental authority to make admission
decisions. For more input, the committee conducted a survey of departments
regarding the proposal. Results of the survey indicated that the majority of
departments who responded were not in favor of the proposal and wished to
continue departmental review of nondegree applications. Dr. John Schmitt
reminded Council members that SACS requires institutions to adhere to the same
admission standards and procedures for on-campus and off-campus students.
Discussion revolved around quality service to students, qualifications of
applicants, and future admission of nondegree students to degree programs. Dr.
Rogers called for a vote and based on a show of hands, the motion failed.
Dr. Schnee
reminded members, on behalf of Dr. Pat Harrison, that the “analytical”
section of the GRE will become “analytical writing” in October, and will be
scored differently. Departments will need to begin to rethink how they might
modify their evaluation processes. Wording changes will be made to Graduate
School publications when the changes occur. For a number of years, the Graduate
School and departments will operate with two valid scoring methods.
B. Financial Aid
Dr. Rogers
reported that Graduate Council Fellowship stipends have increased to $14,000.
Dr. Rogers also informed the Council of The National Alumni Heritage
Scholarships, which will provide scholarships equal to ten percent of in-state
tuition for Alabama residents whose parents or grandparents are University of
Alabama alumni.
C.
Teaching and Research Awards Committee
Chairman, Dr. Carol Cassel
announced the following 2001-2002 awards:
Teaching-Master’s
Geoffrey Trumbo English/Creative
Writing
Teaching-Doctoral
Clare Clifford English
Research-Master’s
David Gamble Rehabilitation
Counseling
Research-Doctoral
Marcus Boccaccini Psychology
II. Reports from the Dean’s Office and Academic Affairs
Dean Louis
Pitschmann announced the University’s plans for construction of a library
annex for storage purposes. He encouraged those with questions to contact him or
their divisional librarian. Dr. Pitschmann requested suggestions for improving
library services to graduate students. Discussion revolved around the fees for
printing services and the need for extended library hours.
Dean Rogers
announced that two non-academic units on campus wish to survey existing graduate
students and requested volunteers to assist the groups. Dr. Joe Thrasher and Ms.
Samantha Briggs volunteered their time and will assist the Program and Degree
Requirements Committee in drafting a survey.
Dean Rogers
reported that ACHE did not approve the University’s proposal for a Ph.D.
program in Anthropology. He intends to have the proposal reintroduced at a later
date.
Dr. John
Schmitt announced the 2001-2002 Outstanding Thesis and Dissertation Award
winners. They are:
Thesis
Brent Boudreaux Chemistry
Dissertation
Karen Boykin Civil &
Environmental Engineering
Dr. Schmitt elaborated on the
SACS requirements for Distance Education programs, noting that institutions are
required to notify SACS six months in advance of new distance education programs
or of an existing program’s delivering fifty percent or more of the degree
requirements via distance education methods. While the notification process is
not difficult, it is important that it be done in a timely manner.
Ms. Samantha
Briggs reported that the Annual Graduate Student Research Conference would be
held on March 13, 2002. Publication of the papers and presentations is planned.
Dr. Rogers encouraged every department to have a graduate student participate in
this important event.
III. Reports from Standing University Committees
There were no reports from
standing university committees.
IV. Old Business
There was no old business
discussed.
V. New Business
No new business was introduced.
Dr. Rogers requested members of
the Program and Degree Requirements Committee meet with him following the
regular Council meeting. The meeting was adjourned at 4:05 p.m.
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