Graduate Studies

Graduate Council Minutes - April 23, 2018

3:00 – 5:00 p.m., Horrabin Hall 60/QC 2203

Members Present: J. Ehrlich, H. Hemphill, A. Hyde, K. Kapale (Vice Chair), J. Laurent (Chair), J. Stegall, S. Szyjka

Members Absent: M. Stryker

Guests Present: T. Davis, D. Yoder, B. Locke, J. McQuillan, C. Piletic, J. Robinett, L. Baker-Sperry, E. Lauer, H. McIvaine-Newsad, K. Mayborn, R. McConnell, T. Kaul, T. Feld, S. Haynes, D. DeVolder

Ex-Officio Present: N. Parsons

Others Present: A. Schulz

I. STUDENT APPEALS

A. Request for a late withdrawal

1. Biology

Student and department not present. Student wishes to change exit option and needs to withdraw from courses unrelated to the new exit option.

Motion: To approve the request. (Ehrlich/Hemphill)
MOTION CARRIED 6 YES – 0 NO – 0 AB

2. Supply Chain Management PBC

Student and department not present. Student explained confusion regarding registration and department confirmed the error.

Motion: To approve the request. (Hemphill/Kapale)
MOTION CARRIED 6 YES – 0 NO – 0 AB

B. Request to hold an assistantship as a probationary student

1. College Student Personnel

Dr. Davis attended on behalf of the student. He explained that the program requires an assistantship as part of the admissions process. Student has been out of school for a little while and has gained experience. Dr. Davis feels confident in the student’s abilities and did well in the academic interview portion of the admissions process.

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

2. Recreation, Park and Tourism Administration

Student and Dr. Yoder were in attendance. Student explained that he had difficulties concentrating in his undergraduate as he experienced numerous difficulties back home. He had a close friend pass away and it took a bigger toll on his coursework than he expected. Dr. Yoder added his support and acknowledged that other students have done really well starting off with the probationary status and an assistantship.

Motion: To approve the request. (Kapale/Szyjka)
MOTION CARRIED 7 YES – 0 NO – 0 AB


II. ANNOUNCEMENTS

A. Introduction of new Graduate Council members for 2018-2019

1. College of Business and Technology – Dr. James McQuillan, Computer Science

2. College of Fine Arts and Communication – Dr. Brian Locke, Music

Drs. McQuillan and Locke were present for the introduction. The Council welcomed the new members. Dr. Parsons thanked the outgoing members for their service. Dr. Kapale noted that he will be on sabbatical during the Fall 2018 semester and that a substitute would need to be found for that time.

B. Election of Chair and Vice Chair for 2018-2019

Dr. Hemphill and Dr. Locke were nominated and elected by acclamation for the positions of Chair and Vice Chair, respectively.

C. Graduate Council Meeting Dates for 2018-2019

Ms. Schulz announced that the meeting dates for 2018-2019 are posted on the Graduate School’s website, wiu.edu/grad/gcmeetings. Discussion was held regarding the timing of the meetings in relation to the start of the semester.

D. Academic integrity incident reports filed in the School of Graduate Studies, March 2018 (1)

1. Resolved at instructor level (1)

E. Requests to serve as a reader on exit option committee, March 2018 (1)

1. Chemistry (1) - Approved

F. Summary of Assessment of Student Learning for 2016-2017

Drs. Baker-Sperry and Parsons presented the report to the Council. Dr. Parsons provided an overview of how the assessment process works and that it is a requirement for the Higher Learning Commission. She stated that the focus is how programs use the data to improve student learning and that all majors, including post-baccalaureate certificates, are reviewed. Dr. Kapale asked about the programs that do not meet the requirements. Dr. Baker-Sperry noted that if there are issues then follow-up reports are required. Some areas submit addendums. Dr. Parsons stated that it is an ever moving document. Dr. Baker-Sperry added that departments can email her at any time to find out where they are in the process. Dr. Parsons encourages open discussion on a year-round basis.


III. GRADUATE CURRICULUM

A. Accounting and Finance

1. Request for a 400-G level course

a. FIN 445, Financial Modeling and Statement Analysis, 3 s.h.

Request withdrawn by the department.

B. Chemistry

1. Request for a 400-G level course

a. CHEM 425, Biochemistry of Human Disease, 4 s.h.

Dr. McConnell explained that this is a newer course taught by a faculty member in her third year at WIU. The course was developed for the undergraduate level but now wants to include graduate students as the course focuses on biochemistry of human disease and would be beneficial to several students. The graduate students would be required to complete an extra paper and a more in-depth presentation. There would be a separate grading scale for undergraduate and graduate students. Discussion was held regarding lab hours and total class hours.

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

C. Computer Sciences

1. Request for a 400-G level course

a. CS 478, GPU Programming, 3 s.h.

Dr. McQuillan presented the course information explaining GPU versus CPU. Graduate students would need to complete an extra research paper. Dr. Hemphill asked about the outcome of reading research papers for the course. Dr. McQuillan responded that it would lend to more in-depth discussion, presentations, and papers for the graduate students.

Motion: To approve the request. (Ehrlich/Stegall)
MOTION CARRIED 7 YES – 0 NO – 0 AB

b. CS 482, Wireless LANs and Security, 3 s.h.

Dr. McQuillan stated that the graduate students would be required to complete an additional research paper and/or hardware project.

Motion: To approve the request. (Stegall/Kapale)
MOTION CARRIED 7 YES – 0 NO – 0 AB

2. Request to change graduate program requirements

a. Master of Science in Computer Science

Dr. McQuillan noted that there used to be no 400-G courses in the requirements but due to the growth of the program, students need more options of courses to take to complete their degree on time.

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

D. Economics and Decision Sciences

1. Request to change graduate program requirements

a. Master of Science in Applied Statistics and Decision Analytics

Dr. Feld explained that DS 503 was added to the core but the department realized that the population in the course had very different backgrounds and future interests which proved to not be beneficial to the Applied Statistics and Decision Analytics students. The requested change is a short-term solution until a new course can be created and added to the core. Dr. Laurent asked if any current students will be impacted by this. Dr. Feld noted that potentially two students will be but they will be advised individually. Dr. Hemphill asked about the enrollment in DS 503. Dr. Feld responded that there are plenty of students from MBA, ETL, and other areas to continue to fill the class.

Motion: To approve the request. (Ehrlich/Kapale)
MOTION CARRIED 7 YES – 0 NO – 0 AB

E. Kinesiology

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

a. KIN 579, Ethical Issues in Sport Psychology, 3 s.h.

Dr. Lauer presented the courses and stated that the focus is on issues specifically within sport psychology associations. Dr. Hemphill asked about letters of support. Dr. Lauer responded that there was one from Dr. Ruth Kelly from Psychology. This course satisfies a need from other institutions that do not offer the ethics side of sports.

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

2. Request for 675 experimental course

a. KIN 675, Critical Theory and Diversity, 3 s.h.

Drs. Piletic and Robinett presented the course and stated that there is a need to be more aware of this marginalized population and see if there are ways to benefit other students. Dr. Laurent asked about enrollment. Dr. Robinett felt confident that the course will fill. Dr. Hyde asked if the course would be open to other majors. Dr. Piletic responded that yes, it would not be restricted so other majors could enroll.

Motion: To approve the request. (Hemphill/Ehrlich)
MOTION CARRIED 7 YES – 0 NO – 0 AB

3. Request for cross-listed course

a. KIN/RPTA 675, Critical Theory and Diversity, 3 s.h.

Motion: To approve the request. (Hemphill/Kapale)
MOTION CARRIED 7 YES – 0 NO – 0 AB

F. Liberal Arts and Sciences

1. Request for integrated baccalaureate and master’s degree program

a. Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology/Master of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Dr. Haynes presented the request and stated that this gives a student from Anthropology an opportunity to stay at the Macomb campus to continue into a graduate program. Others tend to go to the Museum Studies at the Quad Cities campus. The MLAS program is hoping to be fully online by Spring 2019 which would make it easy for students in the new online Anthropology undergraduate program to continue straight into an online master’s program.

Motion: To approve the request. (Ehrlich/Hemphill)
MOTION CARRIED 7 YES – 0 NO – 0 AB

G. Management and Marketing

1. Request for a 400-G level course

a. HRM 444, International Human Resource Management, 3 s.h.

Motion: To approve the request. (Hemphill/Ehrlich)
MOTION CARRIED 7 YES – 0 NO – 0 AB


IV. OTHER BUSINESS

Dr. Laurent expressed appreciation to all of the Council members that were completing terms or retiring.


Meeting adjourned: 4:11 p.m.