[VPAAEtal] Graduate Council Minutes

[Academic Affairs]

GRADUATE COUNCIL MINUTES

October 12, 2010

 

The Graduate Council met Tuesday, October 12, 2010, in the Alumni Center
Conference Room at 3:00 p.m.  In Dean Allan Headley's absence, Assistant
Dean Mary Beth Sampson presided.  Present were: Dr. Linda Ball,  Dr.
Donna Dunbar-Odom,  Mr. Luis Franco, Dr. Kishor Guru-Gharana, Ms. Leslie
Haas, Dr. John Humphreys, Dr. Ben Jang,  Dr. Jeff Kopachena, Dr. Sharon
Kowalsky, Dr. Joyce Miller,  Mr. Michael Miller, Dr. Stephen Reysen for
Dr. Jennifer Schroeder, Dr. Steven Shwiff,  Dr. Tara Tietjen-Smith and
Dr. Jon Travis.

 

Dr. Ben Cranor was absent.  

 

Action Items

The minutes from the last Graduate Council, September 14, 2010, were
approved.

 

Dr. Sampson presented the charges for the Graduate Council committees.

 

President Dan Jones attended the Graduate Council.  He was asked to
address the following:

 

1.                  Focus or foci and priorities of A&M-Commerce as they
relate to graduate education

 

2.         Adequacy of faculty lines to meet growth of the university
and continue the tradition of quality teaching along with research and
service, and to meet accountability measures such as SACS, 18
Characteristics, and external program accreditations

 

3.                  The status of the agreement with Academic
Partnerships along with plans for implementation and the impact on
graduate education 

 

4.                  Future of graduate programs at this university in
general; possible expansions and/or reductions in programs

 

Dr. Jones indicated that we are keeping graduate education- it is a huge
piece of what we do-42-43% of credit hours.  He mentioned that graduate
recruitment is different and that it will require a higher level of
involvement by the faculty.  We have high quality programs that have the
potential to reach national prominence.  He encouraged council members
to let him know what is needed to get our programs to the next level.

 

Comments and suggestions from Council members were:

1.	need more faculty
2.	need lab space
3.	need to know how many assistantships and remissions can be
offered to prospective students
4.	need to be able to offer a package to prospective students to
encourage them to choose A&M-Commerce
5.	need programs to be more pronounced on the webpage and students
need to get a sense of the programs before they get to the departmental
webpages

 

Council members expressed concern about the proposed relationship with
Academic Partnerships.  Dr. Jones indicated that they will offer support
in marketing our programs and retention.  We will control 100% of our
programs-who teaches the course, and faculty will have complete control
of what is taught in their courses.

 

Dr. Jones addressed the issue of adequacy of faculty lines.  He stated
that we are facing a flat or reduced state appropriation.  Any new
monies will come from enrollment growth and that money will be put back
into programs that have potential for growth.

 

Committee Reports

 

Committee on Faculty, Research & Instruction 

Dr. Dunbar-Odom presented an update on graduate faculty membership and
the new form to be used for review of all graduate faculty members.  All
members will be reviewed every six years.

 

Committee on Curriculum

            Dr. Jang gave an update on the status of curriculum changes.

 

Ms. Mona Gilley, Sponsored Program Coordinator, presented the research
compliance requirements for doctoral students in the dissertation phase
of their program.  She discussed the process, training and forms
required before the dissertation proposal defense can be scheduled.

 

Ms. Gilley also discussed the Collaborative Institutional Training
Initiative (CITI) which is required of all faculty conducting research.
A calendar including other workshops and face-to-face training was
available for Council members.

 

 

Announcements/Updates

Update on Academic Suspension/Grades below B changes

Update on Graduate Council Elections for College of Business &
Technology representative

                Dr. Kishor Guru-Gharani

Update on Graduate Student Representative Elections

                Doctoral - Leslie Haas, Curriculum & Instruction

                Master's - Luis Franco, Educational Leadership

                Report on Pathways Symposium

                GAR Research Symposium 

                  April 25, 2011

                Update on Joint Doctoral Program with A&M-Texarkana
(Educational Administration)

                  

 

 

ADJOURNMENT

The Council adjourned at 4:25 p.m.

 

Louise Skinner

Secretary to the Graduate Council

 

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