GRADUATE COUNCIL
Minutes of
March 2nd, 2007
MEMBERS PRESENT: Seran Aktuna, Scott Belobrajdic, Rakesh Bharati, Mike Crider, Gary Denue for Jay Starratt, Dave Duvernell, Steve Hansen, Jean Harrison, Chair, Stephanie McAndrews, Michael Shaw, Kim White for Rita Arras, William White, S. William Whitson, Duff Wrobbel
MEMBERS EXCUSED: Steve McCommas
GUESTS: Christa Johnson, Assistant Dean, Graduate Studies and Research
Ronald Schaefer, Associate Dean, Graduate Studies and Research
I. Announcements
Steve Hansen announced that the Faculty Senate had met and discussed the issue of partial waivers for part-time graduate assistants. During the meeting, Pug Edmonds reminded the Graduate Council that it did not have the authority to make budget decisions. Duff Wrobbel wondered whether suggesting a way for the university to recover lost tuition money would allow the administration to use those recovered tuition dollars for projects other than raising graduate assistant stipends.
Christa Johnson announced that the Distinguished Research Professor Award Selection Committee had made their decision. She was not able to release the names of the winners until they had been notified.
II. Approval of Minutes of February 2nd, 2007
The minutes were approved as submitted.
III. Report of the Executive Committee
The Executive Committee met regarding the Faculty Senate’s perception of the Graduate Council. The Faculty Senate has reservations about the way in which the Graduate Council conducts its business as a separate entity from the Faculty Senate. Rakesh Bharati stated that the Faculty Senate may be focusing on undergraduate education. Jean Harrison added that the Faculty Senate believes there are too many senators from the School of Pharmacy because they have one on the Faculty Senate and the Graduate Council has one.
IV. Report of the Programs Committee
The Programs Committee did not meet.
V. Report of the Educational and Research Policies Committee
A. Graduate and Professional Schools Council
The ERP has tabled this issue.
VI. Old Business
Dean Hansen announced that the Teacher/Scholar Planning Committee (Hansen, Marge Baier, Sue Thomas, Michael Shaw, and Ellen Lavelle) has been having discussions regarding how the Teacher/Scholar model will be implemented. They are putting together a White Paper which will include a statement of values and a definition of the scholarship of teaching. They have completed a literature review, and found that there are conflicting viewpoints about the terms used in the literature. The Committee is now ready to begin writing, after which they will solicit comments. The definition of the Teacher/Scholar model will impact promotion and tenure decisions.
VII. New Business
There are no students enrolled in the cooperative doctoral program in Engineering between SIUE and SIUC. The Memorandum of Understanding between SIUE and SIUC was revised to include more cooperation between the universities. Students will be able to take more classes in Edwardsville and will be able to ask SIUE professors to chair their dissertation committees.
VIII. Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 2:18 PM
Respectfully submitted,
Stephen L. Hansen
Associate Provost for Research and
Dean, Graduate School
