|
The regular meeting of the Graduate Council was held at 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 25, 2014 in 110 AIME Building
MEMBERS PRESENT:
Dr. Phillip Bishop, Dr. Melondie Carter,
Dr. Linda Cummins, Dr. Jason DeCaro,
Dr. Robert Findlay, Dr. Susan Gaskins,
Dr. John Giggie, D r. Jonathon Halbesleben,
Dr. Rick Houser, Dr. Burcu Keskin,
Dr. Linda Knol, Dr. Aaron Kuntz,
Dr. James Leeper, Dr. Mary Meares,
Dr. Debra Nelson-Gardell, Dr. Jeffrey Parker,
Dr. C. Heath Turner, Dr. John Vincent,
Dr. Mark Weaver, Dr. Frederick Whiting,
Dr. Vivian Wright
- MEMBERS ABSENT:
- Dr. Andrew Billings, Dr. Andrew Graettinger,
Dr. Maria Hernandez-Reif, Dr. Allison Hetzel,
Dr. Richard Houston, Dr. Louis Marino,
Dr. Ion Stancu, Dr. Joseph Weber
-
- EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS:
- Prof. Steve Miller
-
- GRADUATE SCHOOL REPRESENTATIVES
PRESENT:
- Dr. John Schmitt, Associate Dean
- Dr. Andrew Goodliffe, Assistant Dean
- Mr. Eric Harris, Registrar
-
- STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE(S):
- Mr. Derrick Stokes
- Mr. Robert Herron
-
- GUEST(S):
- Dr. Charles Sox
Dr. Steve Thoma
Dean David Francko welcomed everyone
I. Approval of the Minutes-
Dr. Francko asked for any
corrections or changes to the minutes from last Graduate Council
meeting. Having heard none, motion was made to approve the minutes from
November 19, 2013. All approved, none opposed, none abstained.
II. Reports from Graduate
Council Committees
A. Admissions & Recruitment
(Dr. Robert Findlay, Chair)
Admissions and Recruitment Committee is
working on a proposal for a new
Conditional Admission with new language. If approved, graduate
students from non-English speaking countries that are being vetted by
their respective home governments but can’t meet the current English
requirement, would be allowed to come for one year. After that year,
they would take the language tests in order to continue in their
studies. The proposal is geared at informing Graduate Council members
and departments so that valuable feedback may be garnered in order to
bring future proposal to fruition.
Dean Francko added that it is important to streamline the international
student funnel to UA. Provost support is there for this sort of thing if
it works. He stressed the need to do it right.
Dr. Andy Goodliffe added that this proposal would address a common
concern. He gave the example of Middle Eastern students that could
potentially benefit from this sort of measure.
The intent is to bring the proposed new conditional admission to the
full council in April. A question was asked about any possible
downsides. One foreseeable problem is that it could leave students
hanging after a year if they were still unable to meet the English
requirement after a year on campus.
B. Fellowship & Scholarship (Dr. Debra Nelson-Gardell, Chair)
Dr. Debra Nelson-Gardell began by commending the automated, online
format for committee review. She thanked Graduate School for their
responsiveness. For Round I there were 48 nominations/23 awarded. The
committee finished the Research & Creative Activity with 56
nominations/19 awarded. The council was made aware of deadlines for
current and future rounds: Thursday 2/27 for Round II and 3/20 for Round
III. The council was urged to remind all departments about submissions
and nominations. In closing, she again stressed the ease of use with the
online system and offered that it feels good to give money to students.
C. Teaching, Research & Service Awards (Dr. Vivian Wright, Chair)
Dr. Vivian Wright concurred with Dr. Nelson-Gardell that the online
system is working well. She made mention of the five
awards for
outstanding teaching, research and service. She also noted that there is
now a $1,000 check given to each, as opposed to the previous $500.
Winners will be presented checks and framed certificates during Honors
Week.
Dr. John Schmitt noted that the nominees are already winners in their
respective departments and colleges, and those that do not win a UA-wide
award receive an “Award of Merit” to recognize their accomplishment. The
thesis and dissertation selection committees work from November through
January to read, evaluate and rank the nominees and select a winner for
each of the two UA awards. He announced the two UA winners for
outstanding thesis and outstanding dissertation. While difficult to
select, it is clear that we have “super students” here in our Graduate
School. Below are the seven winners:
Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation
Henri Jean-Francois Dengah, II
“Finding Success and Health through God – A Study of Cultural Models and
Health among Brazilian Pentecostals”
Department of Anthropology
College of Arts and Sciences
Dissertation Chairperson: Dr. William Dressler
Outstanding Master’s Thesis
Brandee D. Easter
“Data Visualization of Indian Mutiny Causes in Victorian Higher
Journalism”
Department of English
College of Arts and Sciences
Thesis Chairperson: Dr. Albert Pionke
Excellence in Teaching by a Master’s Student
Kirstin Bone
Department of English
College of Arts and Sciences
Excellence in Teaching by a Doctoral Student
Erin Chandler
Doctoral Program in English
College of Arts and Sciences
Excellence in Research by a Master’s Student
Kemar James
Department of Mechanical Engineering
College of Engineering
Excellence in Research by a Doctoral Student
Jaejin Lee
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
College of Engineering
Outstanding Service by a Graduate Student
Lisa Beck
Department of Psychology
College of Arts and Sciences
D. Program and Degree Requirements, Research and New Programs (Dr.
Jason DeCaro, Chair)
Dr. Jason DeCaro introduced four
proposals for specializations: MS Degree in Applied
Statistics—Statistics Option; MS Degree in Applied Statistics—Analytics
Option; MS Degree in Operations Management—Decision Analytics Track; and
PhD Degree in Educational Psychology—Educational Neuroscience
Concentration. All four proposals were recommended for approval by the
committee. Dr. Charles Sox is the original proposer for the three C&BA
proposals; Drs. Rick Houser and Steve Thoma are the original proposers
of the Educational Neuroscience Concentration in the College of
Education.
Dean Francko asked the committee if any clarifications were needed on
any of the proposals. Having heard none, each proposal was moved for a
vote and seconded. All four proposals were passed unanimously.
Dr. DeCaro spoke to the upcoming ADR four-year reviews and mandatory
follow-up reports, and perhaps another proposed specialization for the
April meeting.
III. Reports from the Dean's Office and Academic Affairs
A. Dean David Francko – Dean Francko reported on the “banner” two
weeks that the University of Alabama Graduate School is enjoying. Kudos
were handed out at the Conference of Southern Graduate Schools (CSGS)
regional conference in San Antonio for the work that UA students are
doing. Specifically, UA’s Three-Minute Thesis winner, Will Guin,
received the People’s Choice Award for his presentation. Dr. Cori Perdue
was recognized for the Graduate Parent Support Group (GPS). The GPS was
the 2014 recipient of its State Network Leadership Award for the
Advancement of Women in Higher Education by the American Council on
Education. Dr. Perdue will receive the award at the Women’s Network
Leadership Council at their upcoming meeting in San Diego. Dr. Perdue
recently won the Penny Allen award at UA.
Dean Francko announced that the January 2014 Round of the Research and
Travel grants resulted in a new record, thanks in part to matching
funds. In the most recent round we have seen 430 students funded for a
dollar amount of $275K, compared to 355 students at $225K this time last
year. UA is on track to surpass the goal of assisting 900 students with
more than $600K.
With regard to recruiting, Dean Francko reported that the Graduate
School is currently ahead of last year’s applications by 130
applications or 3%-4%--not too far off the 2012 high point. He urged the
departments to process all last minute applications for Summer and Fall
2014. With cutting time to degree, the need to recruit and admit new
students is great. Efforts must be redoubled.
License Tag Fellowship Scholarship - the call for nominations is already
being asked about and will go out earlier than in past years.
Nominations are due back in early April. The total dollar amount of
awards is unknown at this time, but we should have enough funds for 28
or 29 awards.
B. Associate Dean John Schmitt – Dr. Schmitt updated the council
on the various ongoing Program Reviews. All departments and degrees in
the College of Education had an orientation meeting last week. All
departments and degrees under the College of Human Environmental
Sciences are having an orientation meeting this week. The year-long
reviews of English and History conclude in April.
Dr. Schmitt brought closure to the removal of the Master’s Candidacy
requirement for graduation. Positive input has been received from
faculty and students. The Master’s Candidacy has been deleted from the
A-Z index, our forms for master’s students, and in several department
sections of the Graduate Catalog.
The Thesis and Dissertation Seminar, after being twice-postponed (due to
snow/ice), was presented last week. A total of 74 thesis and
dissertation writers attended.
Assistant Dean Andrew Goodliffe – Dr. Goodliffe spoke to the burgeoning
Brazil graduate scholarship program and stated that UA will be
participating in it. The program is now offered to the STEM students,
and this is something that should be pursued heavily. South America has
potential for large growth.
Dr. Goodliffe reported on the reenergized Graduate Student Association.
The GSA has been very active with the leadership of Cori Perdue. A
recent meeting in 205 Gorgas was very well attended. Student
participation is being encouraged. Another effort being led by Dr.
Purdue is the summer writing workshop. Dr. Luke Niiler from the
Department of English will be assisting. The workshop will run from May
5th to May 22nd. Departments are being asked to support their students
with this beneficial effort.
McNair Nominations are due on February 28th. We would like to see good
nominations.
Finally, Dr. Blake Bedsole will be organizing a new recruitment
information session, and we expect to hear from him soon. Dean Francko
added that he would like to see this rolled out soon so that in the Fall
everything will run smoothly. The aim is to develop a successful model,
an exciting and engaging experience for prospective students.
IV. Reports from Standing University Committees
No reports from Standing University Committees.
V. Old Business
No old business
VI. New Business
No new business
|