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The regular meeting of the
Graduate Council was held at 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 23, 2002 in the Forum
Room of the Ferguson Center.
MEMBERS PRESENT:
- Dr.
Bruce E. Barrett,
Dr. Carol Cassel,
- Dr. Barbara Fischer, Dr. Susan C. Fleming,
- Dr. L. Michael Freeman, Dr. Marsha L. Houston,
- Dr.
Ida M. Johnson, Dr. Richard G. Lomax,
- Dr. Michael D. Murphy, Dr. Yorgo Pasadeous,
- Dr. Martha J. Powell, Dr. David R. Roskos-Ewoldsen,
- 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. Harold J. Weber,
- Dr. John M. Wiest
MEMBERS ABSENT:
- Dr.
Martin G. Bakker, Dr.
Michael T. Dugan,
- Dr. D. Jeff Jackson, Dr. Carol L. Tieso,
- Dr. S. Allen Wilcoxon
MEMBERS ON SABBATICAL:
- Dr.
Laura G. Klinger
- Dr. Sharon O’Dair
- Dr. Paul H. Stuart
EX-OFFICIO
MEMBERS PRESENT:
Dean Ronald Rogers
STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES
PRESENT:
Ms. Samantha Briggs
GRADUATE SCHOOL REPRESENTATIVES
PRESENT:
- Dr.
John F. Schmitt, Associate Dean
- Ms. Louise Labosier, Admissions Officer
Dean Rogers opened the meeting by asking if there were corrections to the
February 26, 2002 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. Financial Aid
Dr. David
Roskos-Ewoldsen, Chairman of the Committee on Financial Aid, called attention to
the report, which highlighted the committee’s activities this spring. The
committee reviewed nominations and announced awards for 2002-2003 Graduate
Council Thesis and Dissertation Fellowships, Graduate Council Fellowships, and
Graduate Council Research Fellowships. Dr. Roskos-Ewoldsen reported that the
committee continues to develop a proposal for next year’s committee to
increase research fellowships for the humanities. Dean Rogers encouraged Council
members to forward suggestions for this proposal to Dr. Roskos-Ewoldsen.
B. Program and Degree Requirement
Dr. Steve
Thoma reported that, as requested by Dr. Rogers at the last meeting, the
committee and volunteers had studied the graduate student surveys initiated by
the Career Center and the Office of Institutional Research. Review of the
surveys raised questions for the committee, and the committee determined a more
thorough examination of the survey and the data collected was warranted. The
review will continue in the fall of 2002.
C. Admissions and Recruitment
Dr.
Edward Schnee reported that the Admissions and Recruitment Committee had met
with representatives from the Department of Modern Languages and Classics to
review the department’s request to cease requiring the GRE or the MAT for
admission to their graduate programs. Dr. Schnee indicated that the
committee’s discussion resulted in a request for the Graduate Council to
consider removing the university-wide requirement for applicants to submit an
acceptable test score and allow each department to determine the best test or
other best evidence as admission criteria. Dr. Rogers felt that such a major
change in admission standards should be discussed again in September allowing
sufficient time for discussion and study. Dr. Schnee indicated that the
Admissions and Recruitment Committee made no recommendation on the proposal
presented by Modern Languages and Classics. A motion was made and seconded to
accept the proposal as presented. Dr. Barbara Fischer presented the
department’s concern that they were unable to attract the most qualified
applicants due to the test requirement. She indicated that applicants would be
required to submit a significant writing sample in the target language, in lieu
of the GRE or MAT. Discussion
revolved around test scores as true predictors of success in graduate study,
other measures that might be considered appropriate predictors of success, and
the importance of maintaining scholastic standards. Dean Rogers called for a
vote on the motion to approve the MLC request. The motion passed with 14 votes
in favor, 7 votes against and 1 vote in abstention.
II. Reports from the Dean’s
Office and Academic Affairs
Dr. John
Schmitt announced that the Workshop for New GTAs would be August 15-16, 2002. He
asked that faculty communicate to their new GTAs that the workshop is required.
The workshop schedule will soon be on the Graduate School website. The optional
Graduate Student Services orientation and departmental orientations should be
scheduled so as not to conflict with the GTA workshop.
Dean Rogers
announced that graduate enrollment has been maintained at its current level.
Over the last five years, admission to doctoral programs has increased by 15%,
due in large part to the College of Engineering.
Dean Rogers
announced that Dr. David Roskos-Ewoldsen and Dr. Carol Cassel had been promoted
to professor and Dr. Barbara Fischer had been awarded tenure and promoted to
associate professor.
III. Reports from Standing University Committees
Dr. Yorgo
Pasadeos, Chairman of the Committee on Committees, reported that positions for
graduate student representatives have been added to three standing university
committees, Resources & Priorities Committee, Faculty & Staff Benefits
Committee, and Student Health Committee.
IV. Old Business
There was no old business
discussed.
V. New Business
No new business was introduced.
Dr. Rogers adjourned the
meeting at 4:05 p.m.
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