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<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>GRADUATE COUNCIL MINUTES<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>December 11, 2007<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><o:p> </o:p></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>The Graduate Council met Tuesday, December 11, 2007, in the MSC
Boardroom at 3:00 p.m. with Dean Allan D. Headley presiding. Members
present were: Dr. <st1:PersonName w:st="on">Ken Alford</st1:PersonName>,
Dr. Harry Fullwood, Dr. John Hanners, Dr. Ben Jang, Dr. Jeff Kopachena, Ms. <st1:PersonName
w:st="on">Elaine Lin</st1:PersonName>, Mr. <st1:PersonName w:st="on">Gideon
Mazambani</st1:PersonName>, Dr. <st1:PersonName w:st="on">Linda Openshaw</st1:PersonName>,
Dr. Derek Royal, Dr. Mary Beth Sampson, and Dr. Janet Walker. Members
absent were: Dr. <st1:PersonName w:st="on">Hasan Coskun</st1:PersonName>,
Dr. Chris Myers, Dr. <st1:PersonName w:st="on">Chester Robinson</st1:PersonName>,
Dr. Steven Shwiff, and Dr. Dayle Yeager. Dr. <st1:PersonName w:st="on">Jon
Travis</st1:PersonName>, Assistant Dean of Graduate Studies and Research was
also in attendance.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><o:p> </o:p></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'>Action Items<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>The minutes from the last Graduate Council, November
13, 2007, were approved. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><o:p> </o:p></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>Dean Headley presented a request from Dr. <st1:PersonName
w:st="on">Paul Zelhart</st1:PersonName>, Department of Psychology and Special
Education to award a PhD in Psychology (posthumously) to John Weber at the May
2008 Commencement. Mr. Weber has completed all coursework and was
scheduled to defend his dissertation in November 2007. The Council
unanimously approved the request which will now be forwarded to the Provost.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><o:p> </o:p></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><b><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'>Committee
on Faculty, Research & Administration<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>Dr. Derek Royal presented the committee report
recommending associate graduate membership for Dr. <st1:PersonName w:st="on">Arun
Goyal</st1:PersonName>. The Council unanimously approved the
recommendation. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><o:p> </o:p></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'>Discussion Items<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;letter-spacing:.5pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;letter-spacing:.5pt'>Dr. Hanners presented a follow-up
report that was requested by the Council at the November meeting. The
Council asked if other institutions accepted transfer credit from foreign
institutions for a second master’s degree. Most of the 15 <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">Texas</st1:State></st1:place> institutions
surveyed did not accept transfer from foreign institutions. The Council
discussed the issue further, but no follow-up study or change in procedure was
requested.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;letter-spacing:.5pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>Dr. Royal led a discussion on the associate 3-year
membership. He mentioned that his Committee feels that the 3-year
associate membership is confusing to new faculty and have discussed several
options to clarify what the Council expects. It was suggested that the
Council remove the 3-year membership option and return to the format that was
previously used—new faculty can apply for temporary status until they are
eligible for associate membership. It was also suggested that criteria
for associate graduate faculty membership be strengthened. Further discussion
by the Council concerned the qualifications and expectations of new associate
members:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.5in;text-indent:-.5in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><font
size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><span
style='mso-list:Ignore'>a.<font size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>
</span></font></span></span></font><![endif]>Associate membership should be an
earned status.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.5in;text-indent:-.5in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><font
size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><span
style='mso-list:Ignore'>b.<font size=1 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>
</span></font></span></span></font><![endif]>Associate members should be
encouraged to establish a research agenda and submit evidence of progress
toward that agenda, instead of just demonstrating an interest in research.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>The Council concluded that they were not opposed to
revisiting the procedure and Dr. Royal will continue discussions with his
committee.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold'>Information Items<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in;text-indent:-.5in'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Dean Headley updated the
Council on the Graduate Program Reviews. Chemistry recently completed a
review with plans for program reviews of Math, History, and Physics departments
in early spring. These reviews will include external reviewers and site visits.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:1.0in;text-indent:-.5in'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Dean Headley focused on
some highlights of the report of the recent “Graduate Education Advisory
Council” meeting. The full report was sent to each Council member the
prior week.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-left:1.0in;text-indent:
-.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Dr.
Travis announced that the Provost Office has approved Graduate Recruitment
Matching Funds for 2007-08. The <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Graduate</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">School</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>
has requested proposals for department funding; however the Council asked that
the request be distributed to faculty on the VPAA listserv.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-left:1.0in;text-indent:
-.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Dr.
Travis presented the latest graduate enrollment figures and thanked Council
members and all graduate faculty for all their hard work to recruit and retain
graduate students.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-left:1.0in;text-indent:
-.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Dean
Headley announced that graduate student travel funds were available for
2007-08.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-left:1.0in;text-indent:
-.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>A
Report on temporary graduate faculty teaching fall 2007 was submitted.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-left:1.0in;text-indent:
-.5in'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>The
current competition for the Lafferty Doctoral Scholarships is complete and the
Graduate Dean will announce the winners soon. There will be another
competition in the spring 2008 semester for scholarships for the 2008-09
academic year.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><o:p> </o:p></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><u><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>ADJOURNMENT</span></font></u><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>The Council adjourned at 4:05. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><o:p> </o:p></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:PersonName w:st="on"><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>Louise Skinner</span></font></st1:PersonName><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Secretary to the Graduate Council<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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