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<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><a name="OLE_LINK2"></a><a
name="OLE_LINK1"><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>GRADUATE COUNCIL MINUTES<o:p></o:p></span></font></a></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>September 9, 2008<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, September 9, 2008, 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. <st1:PersonName w:st="on">John Humphreys</st1:PersonName>, Dr. <st1:PersonName
w:st="on">Ben Jang</st1:PersonName>, Dr. <st1:PersonName w:st="on">Jeff
Kopachena</st1:PersonName>, Dr. Sharon Kowalsky, Dr. Larry Watson for Dr. <st1:PersonName
w:st="on">Linda Openshaw</st1:PersonName>, Dr. <st1:PersonName w:st="on">Chester
Robinson</st1:PersonName>, Dr. Derek Royal, Dr. <st1:PersonName w:st="on">Jon
Travis</st1:PersonName>, Dr. Janet Walker, and Dr. Dayle Yeager. Members
absent were: Dr. John Hanners and Dr. Steven Shwiff. Dr. Mary Beth Sampson, Interim
Vice Chair, was also in attendance. <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Graduate</st1:PlaceName>
<st1:PlaceType w:st="on">School</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> staff members that
joined the Council for refreshments and introductions were: Ms. <st1:PersonName
w:st="on">Natalie Henderson</st1:PersonName>, Ms. Amy Sims, Ms. Vicky Turner,
and Ms. Carley Tucker.<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><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>President Dan Jones addressed the Council. Dr. Jones began by stating
that he was impressed with the number of graduate students and the quality of
our graduate programs; healthy graduate programs are important to a
university. He stated that it is important to make good decisions on hiring
new faculty and that it is critical that we create a supportive environment for
faculty. Discussions between the President and the Council concerned the need
for a facility in the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Dallas</st1:City></st1:place>
area, the need for adequate release time for faculty to be involved in
scholarly activities and that it should be attached to some measurable outcome,
and the need for rigorous mid-tenure reviews with lots of feedback.<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><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Dean Headley thanked Dr. <st1:PersonName w:st="on">Jon Travis</st1:PersonName>
for his service to the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Graduate</st1:PlaceName>
<st1:PlaceType w:st="on">School</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> and as Vice Chair
of the Graduate Council. He announced that Dr. Mary Beth Sampson has accepted
the position of Assistant Dean of Graduate Studies and Research to begin
January 1, 2009. She has been appointed Interim Vice Chair of the Graduate
Council for Fall 2008.<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><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Dr. Headley discussed his philosophy of graduate education and
mentioned that the Office of Graduate Studies should provide a welcoming, and
customer friendly environment for our faculty and students. The professional
development of our students to meet their career goals is important to us and
we have various programs to assist in their professional development.
Assisting the faculty in their recruiting efforts and producing a quality
degree for our students are only a few of the ways that we assist our faculty.<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><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Student travel funds are available for graduate students presenting at
national conferences. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> </span><o:p></o:p></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>The base pay for graduate assistants remains the same; however,
departments are able to offer stipends for master’s graduate assistants from
$8,000-$14,000 and doctoral graduate assistants from $10,000 – $16,000.
The additional amount over the base amount can be supported by departmental
research funds or other departmental funds. An additional $100,000 in funds
has been divided among the colleges to assist in allowing departments to hire
additional GAs or to pay their GAs at a higher rate.<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><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>To assist departments to recruit quality students, the <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Graduate</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">School</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> is again providing matching funds
for department graduate recruitment activities. The Lafferty and Pathways
scholarships are available to help recruit quality graduate students. The
Graduate endowment fund has been vested and Council members were encouraged to
contribute to the fund.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'><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'>Dr. Headley presented information on the Characteristics of Texas
Public Doctoral Programs developed by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
<i><span style='font-style:italic'>Graduate Education Advisory Committee</span></i>.
The characteristics are the number of degrees per year, graduation rates,
average time to degree, employment profile (in field within one year of
graduation), admissions criteria, percentage full-time students (FTS) with
financial support, average financial support provided, student-core faculty
ratio and core faculty publications. Data for each of our doctoral programs
representing these characteristics will need to be easily available to the
public.<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><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>The Federation of North Texas Area Universities is currently being
restructured to provide more money for the programs. There will not be a Fall
Seminar this 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><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Action Items<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'>The minutes from the last Graduate Council, April 29,
2008, 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><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Committee chairs gave a brief report on their respective committee<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'>Committee on Administration (<st1:PersonName w:st="on">Jon
Travis</st1:PersonName>)<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'>Committee on Curriculum (Dayle Yeager for John
Hanners)<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'>Committee on Faculty, Research & Instruction
(Derek Royal)<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><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Information Items<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'>Pathways Student Research
Symposium at A&M-Commerce, November 7-8, 2008. October 19<sup>th</sup> is
the deadline for abstracts and registration for students, faculty, and judges.
For additional information, visit </span></font><a
href="http://www.tamu-commerce.edu/gradschool/Pathways/">http://www.tamu-commerce.edu/gradschool/Pathways/</a>.
Registration will be paid for A&M-Commerce faculty and students participating
in this event.<o:p></o:p></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'>Pathways Junior Faculty
Workshop at A&M-Commerce, November 7, 2008<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><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 4:00. <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</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><o:p> </o:p></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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