[VPAAEtal] Graduate Council Minutes

[Academic Affairs]

GRADUATE COUNCIL MINUTES

February 12, 2008

 

The Graduate Council met Tuesday, February 12, 2008, in the MSC Boardroom at
3:00 p.m. with Dean Allan D. Headley presiding.  Members present were:  Dr.
Hasan Coskun, Dr. Harry Fullwood, Dr. John Hanners, Dr. Ben Jang, Ms. Elaine
Lin, Mr. Gideon Mazambani, Dr. Chris Myers, Dr. Chester Robinson, Dr. Mary
Beth Sampson, Dr. Philip Seminet (for Dr. Derek Royal), and Dr. Dayle
Yeager.  Members absent were:  Dr. Ken Alford, Dr. Jeff Kopachena, Dr. Linda
Openshaw, Dr. Steven Shwiff, and Dr. Janet Walker.   Dr. Jon Travis,
Assistant Dean of Graduate Studies and Research was also in attendance.

 

Action Items

The minutes from the last Graduate Council, December 11, 2007, were
approved.  

 

Committee on Faculty, Research & Administration

Dr. Ben Jang presented the committee report recommending changes to
Procedure 12.04.99.R0.02 Graduate Faculty Membership.  A motion to accept
the recommendation was made by Dr. Jang and seconded by Dr. Seminet.  The
Council unanimously approved the recommendation to make the following
changes:

1.                  Remove the Associate 3-year option

2.                  Strengthen the criteria for Associate Membership

 

Discussion Items

Dr. Travis led a discussion on using a successful completion of the
Intensive English program offered at UNT in place of a TOEFL, since UNT is a
member of the Federation of North Texas Area Universities.  TWU, the other
member of the Federation, accepts students from this program.  The Committee
on Administration was charged to review the issue.

Dr. Headley informed the Council that Dean's Council, chaired by Interim
Provost Mary Hendrix, has asked the Graduate Council to review the Faculty
Workload Procedure in regard to released time for theses and dissertations.

            Dr. Travis gave a brief statement on previous Council actions
and asked the members to provide input on what they thought the procedure
should include.  Comments were:

a.                   There needs to be a uniform workload procedure, then
released time can be addressed.

b.                  Time for theses/dissertations should be considered
workload equivalencies and not course reductions.

c.                   There is not adequate compensation for
thesis/dissertation supervision.

d.                  Some institutions give faculty a bonus for
thesis/dissertations instead of released time.

e.                   Should be determined by credit hour production.

Dr. Headley charged the Committee on Graduate Faculty, Research, &
Instruction to study the issue and to bring a proposal before the Council.

 

Information Items

Dr. Headley announced that there is a problem with Graduate Assistants
leaving their position after 12th class day and after receiving an
out-of-state tuition waiver.  To address this problem, GANTs/GARs/GATs will
be informed of their responsibilities when they accept a position.  If they
should leave the position before the end of the semester, they will be
expected to repay the tuition waiver that they received as a result of their
assistantship.

There will be a Graduate Advisers' Roundtable, March 5, 2008, 1:30 to 3:00
p.m.

Dr. Headley informed the Council that the University is looking into the
purchase of a new online catalog program.  Paige Bussell will attend the
March Council meeting to present the program.

Curriculum Changes are ready to be reviewed.  Council members should review
the changes and make comments for the Committee through the online
curriculum change process by February 26, 2008.  The Committee on Curriculum
will present their report at the March meeting.

            A report on Temporary Graduate Faculty for Spring 2008 was
presented.

            Nominations for the Morris Distinguished Student Awards are due
from department heads by February 27, 2008.  Department Distinguished
Students will be recognized at their College Honor's Program and will
receive a framed certificate.  They will also be eligible to compete for the
Morris Scholarships.  The Master's Scholarship will be $1,000 and the
doctoral, $1,500.

Lafferty Doctoral Scholarships applications are due March 31, 2008.
Recipients of the Lafferty Scholarship will be awarded $3,000 per year for
two years.

            Nominations for Pathways Doctoral Scholarships are due April 15,
2008.  Recipients of the Pathways Scholarship(s) will receive $2,000 a year
for two years, paid tuition and fees for two years, and one trip to present
research results at a professional meeting.

            Applications for Summer Research Assistants Support are due
March 3, 2008.  Recipients of these awards will receive $4,000 over the
summer semesters for work on research projects that will contribute to work
on a thesis/dissertation.

 

ADJOURNMENT

The Council adjourned at 4:00.   

 

Louise Skinner

Secretary to the Graduate Council

 

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