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The regular meeting of
the Graduate Council was held at 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 23, 2003 in the
Forum Room of the Ferguson Center.
MEMBERS PRESENT:
- Dr.
Natalie Adams,
Dr. Sharon E. Beatty,
- Dr. Sheila R. Black, Dr. David W. Cordes,
- Dr. Martyn R. Dixon, Dr. Barbara Fischer,
- Dr. Marsha L. Houston, Dr. D. Jeff Jackson,
- Dr. Olivia
W. Kendrick, Dr. Harry E. Price,
- Dr. Ginny T.
Raymond for Dr. Jordan I. Kosberg,
- Dr. Edward
J. Schnee, Dr. Forrest R. Scogin,
- Dr. B. Joyce
Stallworth, Dr. Marietta P. Stanton,
- Dr. John M.
Wiest, Dr. S. Allen Wilcoxon.
MEMBERS ABSENT:
- Dr. Bruce E. Barrett, Dr. Timothy A. Haskew,
- Dr. Diane E. Johnson,
Dr. Jordan I. Kosberg,
- Dr. Michael D. Murphy, Dr. Yorgo Pasadeos,
- Dr. Carol J. Pierman, Dr. Eric E. Roden,
- Dr.
David R. Roskos-Ewoldsen, Dr. Nancy J. Rubin,
- Dr.
Pieter B. Visscher, Dr. Elizabeth K. Wilson.
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EX-OFFICIO
MEMBERS PRESENT:
- Dr. Ronald Rogers,
- Dr. Louis A. Pitschmann,
- Dr. Tavan T. Trent
STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES
PRESENT:
Mr. Seth Burgess, Mr. Atokie Boman
GRADUATE SCHOOL REPRESENTATIVES PRESENT:
-
Dr.
Pat Harrison, Associate Dean,
-
Ms. Louise Labosier, Admissions Officer
Dean Ron Rogers asked
if there were corrections to the April 29, 2003 Graduate Council minutes. No
corrections were noted, and the minutes were approved as written.
Dean Rogers opened the
meeting with a presentation he prepared for a dean’s meeting. Dr. Rogers
reported that graduate school applications have increased by 16.7% over the last
five years, resulting in a more selective admission process. On-campus graduate
enrollment has increased by 13% with a 35% overall growth at the doctoral level.
African-American student enrollment has increased by 38% over the last five
years. The University of Alabama continues to rank among the best in receiving
SREB Minority Doctoral Scholars Program awards.
The University has
experienced a 28% increase over the last five years in the area of externally
funded research assistantships. However, externally funded research
assistantships represent only 18% of University of Alabama assistantships, far
less than other SEC institutions. U.S. Department of Education data indicate
that the average University of Alabama stipend ($8,678) is below both national
and NSF averages, which range from $11,000 to $15,000. These dollar amounts
place UA graduate recipients below the U.S. poverty threshold.
Dr. Rogers’ goals for
The Graduate School are first to increase graduate enrollment and subsequently
to increase our research capacity and achieve the profile of a research
university. Fall 2003 graduate enrollment is up by 6.2% with graduate enrollment
representing 19% of total university enrollment. Second, he emphasized the
importance of offering competitive stipends and generating more assistantships
based on research grants. Dr. Rogers envisions an improvement of the National
Research Council ratings, exceeding the national median on objective criteria
such as publications and citations. Dean Rogers stressed the importance of
doctoral programs that meet the experience needs of employers and the career
aspirations of students. “Conducting research at the highest levels of
achievement and at the frontiers of knowledge, which is cited and then funded in
the peer-review process, is what distinguishes prestigious universities from the
rest,” Dr. Rogers concluded.
Excellence can be
achieved by programs which 1) offer the potential to attain national
preeminence, 2) are ripe for significant intellectual or applied development, 3)
contribute to the welfare of our constituents, and 4) offer an academic,
financial, or political return to the University. No-cost opportunities exist
for the University to strengthen graduate education. These include improving the
National Research Council ratings, developing an ethic of nurturing students,
mentoring and socializing graduate students into the profession, more responsive
master’s and doctoral level comprehensives, and strengthening graduate faculty
criteria.
Dean Rogers called for
the reports from various committees.
I.
Reports from Graduate Council Committees
A.
Admissions and Recruitment
Chairman Dr. Ed Schnee
reported that the Admissions and Recruitment Committee had its first fall
meeting. The committee is charged with the responsibility of reviewing those
departments/majors, which have received waivers or modifications of the
admission test score requirement. Programs to be reviewed fall 2003 are MSW,
Criminal Justice, Engineering, Art (studio), Nursing and Theatre. Requests for
data will be sent to these areas in the near future with a January 15, 2004
deadline. The committee would like to develop a standardized approach to the
review process for the benefit of future committees.
The committee reviewed
preliminary data from GRE regarding percentile rankings for the new analytical
writing portion of the GRE. Extensive data are not available from either GRE or
the University; therefore, the committee recommends that the Graduate School and
departments continue to analyze GRE writing score data before determining
specific admission criteria.
Dr. Schnee reported
that all admission applications are available online. Plans for workflow, the
online review of applications by departments, continues but progress has been
slow.
Most of the issues
related to GRE security in Asia and the delay of GRE testing due to SARS have
been resolved. International applicants continue to experience delays due to
immigration and visa issues.
Dr. Schnee expressed
concern regarding a growing problem of losing admitted applicants to
institutions, which provide greater financial incentives to graduate students.
He introduced the idea of waiving the out-of-state portion of tuition to
encourage admitted applicants to select The University of Alabama for their
graduate careers.
B.
Financial Aid
Chairman of the
Financial Aid Committee, Dr. David Roskos-Ewoldsen, was unable to attend, but
provided the Council members with material summarizing the fellowships
administered by the Graduate School. Dr. Pat Harrison called special attention
to the tentative schedule of 2003-2004 deadlines for Graduate Council and other
Graduate School fellowships. Dr.
Harrison reported that the committee had conducted its annual follow-up of
previous fellowships recipients and found that their gpas, graduation rates, and
other accomplishments continue to exceed the University average.
II.
Reports from the Dean’s Office and Academic Affairs
Dr. Pat Harrison
reported, on the behalf of Dr. John Schmitt, that more than 200 new GTAs
attended the 17th annual Workshop for New GTAs, August 14th and 15th.
Topics discussed were syllabus and course preparation, the use of the Internet
and multimedia in college teaching, leading discussion groups, collaborative and
peer learning techniques, and policies and legal issues for GTAs and faculty.
The second day provided opportunities for each GTA to be videotaped while
teaching and to be provided with both written and verbal feedback on teaching
strengths and weaknesses.
The Graduate
Council’s Committee on Teaching and Research Awards will select recipients for
four awards for outstanding teaching and research. Two separate committees of
faculty emeriti will select the thesis and dissertation winners. Award deadlines
and procedures can be found on the Graduate School’s website in the
“Student/Faculty Resources” section, in the area titled, “Additional
Information.” The divisional committee chairs are:
A&S
Joe Benson
C&BA
Dave Miller (teaching & research)
Amelia
Baldwin (thesis & dissertation)
CCIS
Bruce Berger
Education
Liza Wilson
Engineering
A.A. El-Keib
HES
Steve Thoma
SW
Paul Stewart (teaching & research)
Jordan
Kosberg (thesis & dissertation)
Dr. John Schmitt
presented a seminar on Completing a Thesis or Dissertation, September 10th and
11th, 2003, with 60 graduate students attending. The seminar covers a variety of
topics of importance for the successful completion of a thesis or dissertation.
Dr. Schmitt is very
much involved with SACS Reaffirmation of Accreditation. University Leadership
Team members met with SACS officials in Atlanta in June, and the process of
gathering documentation to show whether or not UA is in compliance with each of
the 73 SACS Principles of Accreditation has begun. Dr. Schmitt will provide the
Council with regular updates regarding reaffirmation efforts.
Dr. Louis Pitschmann,
Dean of University Libraries, encouraged those Council members who have not
visited Gorgas Library since the completion of its remodeling to do so. He
believes the newly remodeled library presents a more inviting atmosphere, one
that both students and faculty will appreciate and enjoy.
Dr. Pitschmann
reported that the UA libraries would be involved in a pilot project to secure
certain academic publications electronically. The libraries will work with
certain departments over the next twelve months to review the electronic format
of publications, provide faculty training, and identify specific needs. During
the pilot project, no print subscriptions to these publications will be
discontinued. Dr. Pitschmann indicated that should the project prove successful,
the monetary savings would be reinvested in securing additional research
materials.
Mr. Seth Burgess,
President of the Graduate Student Association, reported to the Council that
graduate students are showing an increased interest in campus involvement. He
requested the assistance of faculty to encourage that interest and to assist
graduate students in identifying areas of involvement. Five seats are available
to graduate students on the Student Government Association and, if members are
aware of interested students, please have them contact him. Mr. Atokie Boman,
President of the African-American Graduate Student Association, reiterated the
importance of nurturing a sense of identity of among graduate students and
having them involved in campus-wide activities.
III.
Reports from Standing University Committees
Dr. Tavan Trent
reported that the Faculty Senate had discussed benefits issues and had rejected
a proposed option to the current health care plan until further study could be
conducted and effects on current coverage assessed.
IV.
Old Business
There was no old business.
V.
New Business
There was no new business.
Dr. Rogers adjourned the meeting at 4:15 p.m.
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