[Vpaaetal] Graduate Council Minutes

Mon Apr 4 11:38:48 CDT 2005

Graduate Council Minutes
March 8, 2005

The Graduate Council met Tuesday, March 8, 2005, in the MSC Boardroom at
3:00 p.m. with Dean Allan D. Headley presiding.  Members present were:  Dr.
Amir Abbassi for Dr. R. N. Singh, Dr. Dick Fulkerson, Ms. Karyn Gomez, Dr.
Ray Green, Dr. John Hanners, Dr. Cynthia Harr, Dr. Jeff Kopachena, Dr.
Chester Robinson, Dr. Mary Beth Sampson, and Dr. Jon Travis.  Members absent
were:  Ms. Donna Anderson, Dr. Wendell Edwards, Dr. Dale Funderburk, Mr.
Michael Miller, Dr. Chris Myers, Dr. Janet Walker, and Dr. Dayle Yeager. 

Dean Headley called the meeting to order. 

Action Items

The minutes from the last Graduate Council, February 8, 2005, were approved.

Report from Committee on Curriculum

Dr. Robinson presented the report on additional Curriculum Changes for
2005-06. His motion to accept the report was approved by the Council.  The
following requests were approved:

Dept.
Course #
Title
Request

Agricultural Sciences
AG 506
Laboratory in Statistical Analysis System
New Course

Agricultural Sciences
AEC 540
Advanced Theory of Demand and Price Analysis
New Course

Agricultural Sciences
AEC 550
Market Organization and Structure
New Course

Computer Science
CSCI 581
Computer and Network Security
New Course

Report from Committee on Faculty, Research & Instruction

Dr. Travis presented the committee report on Graduate Faculty applications.
Dr. Jason Davis (Secondary & Higher Education) and Dr. John Howard Smith
(History) were awarded associate membership.  Senior membership was awarded
to Dr. Sharon Chambers (Secondary & Higher Education), Dr. Sue Espinoza
(Secondary & Higher Education), Dr. Allan Headley (Chemistry), and Dr.
Madeline Justice (Secondary & Higher Education).  Dr. Steven Hart (Langston
University) and Dr. Marie Martin (Texas A&M University Engineering Extension
Service) were approved as Visiting Associate Scholars and Dr. Joseph Bouton
(University of Georgia), and Dr. Arthur Goetsch (Langston University) as
Visiting Senior Scholars.  The motion to accept the committee report was
made by Dr. Travis, seconded by Dr. Green and unanimously approved by the
Council.

Discussion Item

Dr. Robinson led a discussion on Graduate Certificate Programs.  There is a
growing trend among universities to offer certificates of advanced study.
While individual departments are currently offering or have offered graduate
certificates, there appears to be a need to formalize the process and the
documentation of the completion of such programs.  Benefits to offering the
programs are:  will attract students to graduate education, can present a
certificate as a credential for 18-hour rule needed to teach a specific
discipline at junior and community colleges and will allow the university to
better serve students.  Concerns were:  may divert students from degree
programs, admissions criteria, and minimum hours needed.  Council members
felt that the completion of a graduate certificate program should be noted
on the student's official transcript.

Dr. Green presented suggestions from the Committee on Administration on how
to apply/revise the 12-hour rule for students in alternative certification
programs.   The Council discussed issues related to these suggestions.  The
committee will use their comments and suggestions in completing their final
report. 

Information Items

1.       Dr. Headley reported on the recent Thesis/Dissertation Workshop.
Many positive comments were given.  The Graduate School intends to offer the
workshop on a regular basis.

2.       Report on Faculty Approved to Teach Graduate Courses on an
Individual Basis was presented. 

3.       Dean Headley presented a report on the Council of Graduate School
Conference that he recently attended. 

4.       Information was presented about the new TOEFL test that will start
Fall 2006.  The test will include sections on reading, writing, listening
and speaking.  

5.       Dates to remember:
March 23, 2005                         10:00 - 2:00           Research Day:
Mike Cronan & Lucy Decker from Office of VP for Research at Texas A&M
March 28, 2005                         10:30                     Workshop on
New GRE and Appropriate Test Score Use in Graduate Admission Decisions (Dr.
Sandy Terrell, UNT)
April 14, 2005                           9:00 - 12:00           Grant
Resource Center Workshop

6.                 The next meeting is April 12, 2005.

ADJOURNMENT

The meeting adjourned at 4:08 p.m.

Louise Skinner
Secretary to the Graduate Council

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