Graduate Studies

Graduate Council Minutes - April 3, 2023

3:00 p.m., Virtual

Members Present: J. Jobu, Babin, P.K. Babu, Roberta Di Carmine, Hoyet Hemphill (Chair), Steven House (Vice Chair), Andrea Hyde, Todd Lough, Danyang Zhao

Guests Present: Anita Hardeman, Carrie Alexander-Albritton, Dave Hunter, Dennis DeVolder, Leaunda Hemphill, Renee Polubinsky, Tara Feld, Jessica Lin

Ex-officio Present: Mark Mossman

Others Present: Amanda Schulz

 

I. STUDENT APPEALS

A. Music

1. Request to hold an assistantship as a probationary student

Student unable to attend. Dr. Hardeman presented the request. Dr. Hemphill asked about the entrance GPA and if the position required a specific skillset. Dr. Hardeman provided the GPA and noted that yes, this specific position requires a skillset that this student possesses and which the program has a need to fill.

Motion: To approve the request. (House/Hyde)
MOTION CARRIED 8 YES – 0 NO – 0 AB

II. ANNOUNCEMENTS

A. Academic integrity incident reports filed in the School of Graduate Studies, March (0)

B. Graduate Council Nomination and Election Update

Ms. Schulz reported that the nomination petitions had been sent out and the deadline is Wednesday, April 5 for submissions. If ballots are needed in any of the colleges, they will be sent out by the end of this week. New members will be invited to the next meeting for introductions and elections of the chair and vice chair positions.

III. GRADUATE CURRICULUM

A. Accounting, Finance, Economics and Decision Sciences

1. Request for a 400-G level course

a. ECON 489, Behavioral Economics, 3 s.h.

Dr. Babin provided information on the course stating that it was just created at the undergraduate level and they expect a high level of demand from both undergraduate and graduate students. Dr. Babu asked about the type of training that is mentioned within the course request. Dr. Babin responded that it a credential of how to collect this specific data.

Motion: To approve the request. (Hyde/Di Carmine)
MOTION CARRIED 7 YES – 0 NO – 1 AB

2. Request for a cross-listed course

a. ECON 602, Department Research Seminar – request to cross-list with DS 602

Dr. Babin noted that these courses are currently listed separately but often taught within the same classroom with the same instructor. Cross-listing it makes sense to condense the listing and lessen any confusion for students when registering.

Motion: To approve the request. (House/Lough)
MOTION CARRIED 8 YES – 0 NO – 0 AB

3. Request to change graduate program requirements

a. Master of Science in Quantitative Economics

Dr. Babin explained that students coming into the program, specifically international students, often don’t have the background needed and adding this course to the core will make sure any deficiencies are met. He noted that this will increase the program to 33 semester hours but still is in line with competing programs.

Motion: To approve the request. (Hyde/Zhao)
MOTION CARRIED 8 YES – 0 NO – 0 AB

B. Counselor Education and College Student Personnel

1. Request for a new graduate (500 or 600-level) course

a. CN 594, Internship Orientation, 1 s.h.

Dr. Alexander-Albritton explained that the course is currently offered as a general course but the department wants to make it specific to Community Mental Health students so they can continue their hours and see clients into the summer as an elective course. Students in School Counseling could also take it but likely will not. Dr. Babu asked about the course objectives and that they need to be reworded. Dr. Alexander-Albritton noted that she will reword them and submit to the Graduate School.

Motion: To approve the request with amendments. (Hyde/Babin)
MOTION CARRIED 8 YES – 0 NO – 0 AB

C. Engineering Technology

1. Request for a 400-G level course

a. ET 448, Industrial Safety, 3 s.h.

Dr. Hunter stated that there is a need to have this course available to the international graduate student population that do not have the background in the safety requirements here. The course is taught by an instructor that is properly certified.

Motion: To approve the request. (Hyde/Lough)
MOTION CARRIED 8 YES – 0 NO – 0 AB

b. ET 481, Robotic Systems, 3 s.h.

Dr. Hunter noted that this is another course that the program wants to make available to graduate students because of the benefit to their future career paths.

Motion: To approve the request. (House/Zhao)
MOTION CARRIED 8 YES – 0 NO – 0 AB

2. Request to change graduate program requirements

a. Master of Science in Engineering Technology

Dr. Hunter explained that there are a number of students that take Instructional Design and Technology courses as electives and this would allow them to have an emphasis in IDT while still earning their Engineering Technology degree. Dr. Leaunda Hemphill added that it allows students to formally take what they are already doing and the request does not require additional faculty or resources.

Motion: To approve the request. (Lough/Di Carmine)
MOTION CARRIED 8 YES – 0 NO – 0 AB

b. Master of Science in Instructional Design and Technology

Dr. Leaunda Hemphill stated that this request adds a third emphasis to their degree. A lot of students are heading into management and training positions that the courses in Engineering Technology would really benefit the students. This would give students the necessary background they need to be successful.

Motion: To approve the request. (Hyde/House)
MOTION CARRIED 8 YES – 0 NO – 0 AB

IV. NEW BUSINESS

A. Discussion of proposed policy changes from the College of Business and Technology

1. Proposed integrated program admission requirements

Council members reviewed a request from the College of Business and Technology to change the integrated program admission requirements to only look at the WIU GPA instead of all prior coursework taken. Dr. Hemphill discussed the changes and that additional input is needed from the other colleges before a vote can be taken. Dr. Babin wants to continue to retain really good students and thinks this is a step in the right direction. Dr. Lough noted that he has had students that would benefit from this change that didn’t meet the admission requirements previously but would now.

2. Proposed removal of D from grading options for graduate students

Council members began discussions on a proposal from the College of Business and Technology to remove the D from grading options for graduate students. Dr. Babin noted that the D is a meaningless grade at the graduate level and he has been at institutions that do not use them. Dr. Lin added that the D grade is very confusing for students and faculty because a D is considered passing but does not count towards a graduate degree. Dr. Hemphill asked about comparisons to other schools. Dr. Hyde stated that NIU has a similar policy to WIU. Mr. House added that he has looked at some other schools and a few do not have D grades. Discussion was held over perspective from the student side. Dr. Polubinsky asked about the impact on financial aid for students. Dr. Hemphill noted that this is another item that will require additional input from all colleges and from financial aid before action can be taken.

3. Requested adjustment to required signatures on bridge course form

Council members reviewed this request from the College of Business and Technology to hopefully simplify the request to take bridge courses form and remove the department chair as a required signature. Dr. Lin noted that she does not always know which courses the student should be taking so it doesn’t make sense that the department chair sign off on it. Dr. Hemphill asked for input from the other colleges and the Office of the Registrar before action is taken.

V. OTHER BUSINESS

None reported.

 

Meeting adjourned: 4:05 p.m.