Graduate Council
Minutes of
May 6, 2011
MEMBERS PRESENT: Marcus Agustin, Sarah Bailey, Kathy Behm for Linda Carlisle, Scott Belobrajdic, Rakesh Bharati, Chair, David Duvernell, Carole Frick, Roberta Harrison, Poonam Jain, Gertrude Pannirselvam, Joe Schober, Michael Shaw, Mariana Solares, Jerry Weinberg, Terry Yan
MEMBERS EXCUSED: Steffany Chleboun
MEMBERS ABSENT: Shan Lu
GUESTS: Christa Johnson, Associate Dean, The Graduate School
Lynn Maurer, Associate Dean, The Graduate School
Ron Schaefer, Director, International Programs
I. Announcements
A. Final Report of the 2010-11 Course Review Committee
The report was distributed.
B. Graduate School Annual Review
Acting Provost for Research and Dean of the Graduate School, Jerry Weinberg, gave a brief overview of the Graduate Council’s accomplishments during the 2010 – 2011 academic year.
C. Other Announcements
Christa Johnson announced that Kristine Hildebrandt, English Language and Literature, and Jason Williams, Biological Sciences won the Vaughnie Lindsay Research Awards. Johnson is working on two websites, including the SIUE Researcher, which will replace the Research Highlights website. She is also working on the Distinguished Scholar’s Council. The Council met and discussed ideas to raise visibility of research on campus.
Jerry Weinberg announced that the IRS informed the university that it will begin taxing tuition waivers on assistantships that fall into the “general” category, but the student may earn up to $5,250 before the waiver becomes taxable. Those graduate assistants who have 50% assistantships in research or teaching will be exempt. The IRS is holding the University responsible for taxes on the waivers that have been distributed during the past two years. The Graduate School is changing the appointment forms to reflect the new law. Weinberg also submitted a proposal to Council of Graduate Schools regarding the STEM programs on campus. He announced that his appointment has been extended through the Spring term.
II. Approval of Minutes of April 15, 2011
The minutes were amended to reflect that Marcus Agustin was standing in for Chair, Rakesh Bharati. The minutes were unanimously approved as amended.
III. Report of the Executive Committee
Rakesh Bharati reported that the Council did not conduct an annual evaluation of the Graduate Dean this year because the Provost’s office did not request it. For the record, Bharati felt that Weinberg did an outstanding job in his role as Acting Provost for Research and Dean of the Graduate School.
IV. Report of the Programs Committee
A. Final Report of the 2010-11 Programs Committee
The final report is on BlackBoard. The Council approved the report unanimously.
V. Report of the Educational and Research Policies Committee
A. Final Report of the 2010-11 ERP Committee
The final report is on BlackBoard. The Council approved the report unanimously.
B. Policy on Professional Development Sequences
The Committee recommended a minor change, clarifying that there may be no substitutions for courses taken “toward” a PDS.
Carole Frick made a motion to approve, Mike Shaw seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
C. ICR Distribution Policy
The current practice is that ICR goes to the unit where the PI is located. The collaborators do not receive a share. The proposed policy would ask proposal writers to submit a statement explicitly detailing how the funds would be split. In the absence of such a statement, the default is to split the ICR equally between units. This practice may help to break down barriers to interdisciplinary collaboration.
The Council approved this proposal unanimously.
D. Graduate Council Operating Papers
The Operating Papers were amended to clarify the choice of alternates and proxies, and to change the Dean’s role from acting as Secretary of the Graduate Council to “provid[ing] administrative support for” it.
The Council approved the amendments unanimously.
VI. Research and Projects Advisory Board (RPAB) Election
Andrew Neath, of Mathematics and Statistics, and Poonam Jain, of Growth, Development and Structure, were elected to three year terms.
VII. Research and Development (R & D) Committee Election
The following faculty members were elected to the R&D Committee:
Life Sciences, Nursing, Pharmacy, Dental Medicine
Richard Brugam, Biological Sciences, term expires 2013
Z. Q. Lin, Biological Sciences, term expires 2012*
Physical Sciences and Engineering
Mike Shaw, Chemistry, term expires 2013
Urzsula Ledzewicz, Mathematics and Statistics, term expires 2012**
Social Sciences, Business and Education
Christopher Rosnick, Psychology, term expires 2014
Jeremy Jewell, Psychology, term expires 2012
Arts and Humanities
Jennifer Miller, Historical Studies, term expires 2014***
Sorin Nastasia, Speech Communication, term expires 2012
* Replaced by Melodie Rowbotham, Family Health & Community Health Nursing
** Replaced by Song Foh Chew, Mathematics and Statistics
***Replaced by Olga Bezhanova, Foreign Languages and Literature
Three of those elected resigned from the committee in August, 2011 and were replaced by those faculty who received the next highest number of votes in their categories.
VIII. Next Year’s Executive Committee
Mike Shaw nominated David Duvernell to chair the ERP; Agustin seconded. Agustin made a motion to close the nominations; Shaw seconded. Duvernell was unanimously elected. Carole Frick nominated Gertrude Pannirselvam to serve as the chair of the Programs Committee; Shaw seconded. Agustin made a motion to close the nominations; Shaw seconded. Pannirselvam was unanimously elected. The Council decided to wait until next year’s first meeting to hold an election for the Vice Chair/Chair-elect.
IX. Next Year’s Committees: Volunteers for the Programs Committee and the Educational and Research Policies (ERP) Committee
Those present who are returning next year wished to remain on the committees on which they are currently serving.
X. Continuing Business
There was no continuing business.
XI. New Business
Agustin thanked Jerry Weinberg for all his work this year, and thanked Chris Kessler for her support.
XII. Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 10:12 AM.
Respectfully submitted by
J
Jerry B. Weinberg
Acting Associate Provost for Research and
Dean, The Graduate School
