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The regular meeting of the Graduate
Council was held at 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 22, 2011 in 110 AIME
Building.
MEMBERS PRESENT:
Dr. Marsha Adams, Dr. Rebecca Allen,
Dr. Kim Bissell, Dr. Mary Curtner-Smith,
Dr. F. Todd DeZoort, Dr. Lisa Dorr,
Dr. Marysia Galbraith, Dr. Susan Gaskins,
Dr. Timothy Haskew, Dr. Diane Johnson,
Dr. Margo Lamme, Dr. Steve Miller,
Dr. Gordon MacNeil for Debra Nelson-Gardell,
Dr. John Petrovic, Dr. Michael Picone,
Dr. Leslie Rissler, Dr. Jamie Satcher,
Dr. Edward Schnee, Dr. Wayne J. Urban,
Dr. Derek Williamson, Dr. Vivian Wright
MEMBERS ABSENT:
Dr. Martin Bakker, Dr. Kim Caldwell,
Dr. Yuebin Guo, Dr. Stevan Marcus,
Dr. Wendy Rawlings, Dr. Kristy Reynolds,
Dr. Nancy J. Rubin, Dr. Steve Thoma,
Dr. Lori Turner
EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS: Dr. Louis A. Pitschmann
ABSENT: Dr. Harold Stowell
GRADUATE SCHOOL REPRESENTATIVES PRESENT:
Dr. John Schmitt, Associate Dean
Dr. Natalie Adams, Assistant Dean
Ms. Beth Yarbrough, Registrar
STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE(S):
Ms. Anita Mixon
Mr. Robert Harris
Dean Francko welcomed everyone and
introductions were made. Dr. Francko asked if there were corrections to
the November 16, 2010 minutes. A motion was made that the minutes be
accepted as written. The motion was seconded and the minutes were
accepted.
I. Reports from Graduate Council Committees
A. Financial Aid Committee – Diane
Johnson reported. To date, Round 1 offered 28 Graduate Council
Fellowships in 21 departments – 5 had accepted. The Research/Creative
Activity Round offered 22 Graduate Council Fellowships in 18 departments
– 4 had accepted. Round 2 nominations are due March 3rd and Round 3
nominations are due March 31st.
The Graduate Council Fellowship nominations are spread out over several
months to accommodate departments with different recruiting schedules.
Even though there seems to be a perception from several departments that
they never win, the Graduate Council Fellowships are spread out over
most departments.
B. Teaching, Research & Service Awards –
Jamie Satcher reported on the committee’s selection of winners of the 5
UA-wide awards for outstanding teaching, research and service. All
college level winners who did not win a University award received a
certificate of merit and letter of recognition. The UA winners receive a
framed certificate and check for $500 during the Honors Week ceremonies.
(SEE ATTACHMENT #1 for a complete list of award winners).
II. Reports from the Dean’s Office and Academic Affairs
Dean David Francko reported on the new GRE test scores. The Graduate
School website has been updated to include the information about changes
in the GRE scoring and testing. (SEE ATTACHEMENT #2).
Bill Merriman and Bill Wallace will be at the April meeting to answer
any questions from Council members concerning the ELI and ITAP.
Our new Facebook page has over 600 friends, and that is ahead of Auburn
University. The Graduate School is publishing events, deadlines, and so
forth on Facebook.
Almost 300 applications for Research and Travel Funds have been
received, with approximately 60 late applications. In late April will be
the round for summer research and travel. It is projected that
approximately 700 students will be funded this year. With support
between $425,000 and $450,000, this is almost 6 times the amount awarded
5 years ago.
Funding for graduate students comes from several sources:
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Fellowships - The Graduate Council
Financial Aid Committee will offer approximately 80 Graduate Council
Fellowships, and approximately 25 of those offers will be enhanced
by the departments and Graduate School. The National Alumni License
Tag Fellowships will offer approximately 35, and nominations are due
around April 1st.
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Grants
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Graduate Assistantships
There will be an increase in Graduate Assistantships as long as the
grants are increasing. As we continue to grow, approximately 1700
graduate students will be funded among all types of funding
(Fellowships, Grants and Graduate Assistantships.) This number has grown
by about 200 this year.
There are more than 900 candidates for graduation this May. For the
year, it is projected that a total of 1700 degrees will be awarded
according to the ACHE calendar. This number includes 225-250 doctoral
degrees.
Dr. Natalie Adams announced that the McNair Fellowship applications will
be due February 25, 2011, and the decisions will be made by Spring
Break.
Dr. John Schmitt noted that the Workshop for New GTAs will be the 25th
such two-day workshop. It will be held August 18-19, which is a change
of date necessitated by the University’s changing the date that classes
start in Fall 2011.
Dr. Schmitt also announced the winners of the awards for outstanding
thesis and outstanding dissertation, whose names are included in
ATTACHMENT
#1. Two committees of emeritus faculty selected the thesis and
dissertation winners.
III. Reports from Standing University Committees
There were no standing committee reports.
IV. Old Business
There was no old business.
V. New Business
The issue of cancelled classes due to weather was discussed. If a class
is cancelled, and the course is taught one night a week, that represents
~7% of the semester’s class time. Most Council members said they have on
their own determined how best to make up the missed class time and have
adjusted their courses accordingly. Guidance from central administration
would be useful, however, on the necessity to make up missed class time
and possibly on suggested methods for doing so.
Dean Francko adjourned the meeting at 3:50 p.m.
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