Graduate Studies

Graduate Council Minutes - December 7, 2015

3:00 – 5:00 p.m., Horrabin Hall 60/QC 2108

Members Present: J. Averbeck (Vice Chair), P.K. Babu, V. Diehl, J. Ehrlich, K. Pawelko (Chair), S. Sanders, M. Stinnett, M. Stryker

Guests Present: P. White, K. Mayborn, S. Evans, K. Keefe, T. Kaul, J. Lin, M. Romano, C. Harbke, R. McConnell, K. Kapale, G. Pettit, S. Haynes

Ex-Officio Present: N. Parsons

Others Present: A. Schulz

I. ANNOUNCEMENTS

A. Academic integrity incident reports filed in the School of Graduate Studies, November 2015 (0)

B. Requests to serve as a reader on exit option committee, November 2015 (3)

1. Biological Sciences (3)  - all approved

II. GRADUATE CURRICULUM

A. Economics and Decision Sciences

Motion: To consider all requests together. (Diehl/Babu)

MOTION CARRIED 8 YES   0 - NO   0 - AB

1. Request to Increase Credit Hours

a. DS 540, Applied Stochastic Models in Business Analytics, 2 s.h. to 3 s.h.

2. Request for a New Graduate (500 or 600-Level) Course

a. DS 521, Data Visualization, variable 2-3 s.h.

3. Request to Change Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Program Requirements

a. Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Business Analytics

Drs. Lin and Kaul were present to answer questions from the Council. Dr. Diehl asked about the proposed minor changes indicated on the change in program requirements request form. Dr. Kaul indicated that they have all been approved. Dr. Averbeck questioned the addition of language to the capstone experience requirement. Dr. Lin noted that it was sentence that was left out of the copy for this year’s catalog and this request puts it back into the requirements. Dr. Kaul added that the language covers all possible courses that are allowable for the PBC because there are no substitutions allowed. Dr. Averbeck asked if all specific courses could be listed instead of the general statement. Dr. Lin responded that the ones that are listed are the most commonly used. Dr. Kaul noted that courses from several departments could be appropriate to satisfy the requirement. Dr. Averbeck questioned the variable credit request for the new graduate course. Dr. Kaul stated that the variation was needed for the course to be used in both the PBC and Master’s programs.

Motion: To approve all requests. (Ehrlich/Stinnett)

MOTION CARRIED 8 YES   0 - NO   0 - AB

B. Museum Studies

1. Request for Integrated Baccalaureate and Master’s Degree Program

a. Wartburg College Bachelor of Arts in History/WIU Master of Arts in Museum Studies

Drs. White and Evans were in attendance. Dr. Evans gave a brief overview of the background of the program and the methods used for recruiting. She also provided information on the history of this request and noted that it was based on a model presented by Dr. John Drea for integrated programs with other institutions to be used as a recruitment tool. Wartburg College was the first institution to reach out to the Museum Studies program. Dr. White added information regarding the proposal indicating that the hours that would be taken at Wartburg would count as elective hours towards the degree. Dr. Babu asked how many students were expected to enter Museum Studies via this integrated program. Dr. White stated that currently around two students come from Wartburg College each year and the hope is that another two to four will come via the integrated program. Dr. White also noted that other schools have started inquiring about this opportunity. Dr. Stinnett asked how long it would take to complete the degree. Dr. Evans responded that it will be no different than other integrated programs, noting that the students must be accepted into the School of Graduate Studies and follow the same guidelines as the WIU undergraduates that apply to an integrated program. Dr. Diehl questioned the bridge courses and the additional requirements. Dr. Stryker noted that he would like to see more specific language in regards to the requirements. Dr. Evans responded that they could submit an amendment to the proposal with specific requirements.

Motion: To approve the request pending submission and approval of specific additional requirements for the bridge courses. (Diehl/Stryker)

MOTION CARRIED 8 YES   0 - NO   0 - AB

C. Philosophy and Religious Studies

1. Request for a 400-G Level Course

a. REL 454G, Contemporary Spiritual Movements, 3 s.h.

Drs. Haynes and Pettit were in attendance. Dr. Pettit stated that this is the last course that his department offers at the 400-level to be offered for graduate credit. Dr. Haynes added that she is the instructor of the course and that it is a writing intensive course where graduate students would be expected to complete double the amount of writing and be able to apply theoretical material.

Motion: To approve the request. (Averbeck/Stinnett)

MOTION CARRIED 8 YES   0 - NO   0 - AB

III. GRADUATE FACULTY – FULL MEMBERSHIP

A. Jessica Lin, Assistant Professor, Economics and Decision Sciences

Drs. Lin and Kaul were in attendance to answer questions. Dr. Sanders also added information regarding the journals listed stating that they are strong publications in the field. Dr. Parsons questioned the authors listed. Dr. Lin will submit a revised copy for the records.

Motion: To approve the request. (Babu/Ehrlich)

MOTION CARRIED 8 YES   0 - NO   0 - AB

B. Kristy Keefe, Assistant Professor, Psychology

Drs. Keefe and Harbke were present to answer questions. Dr. Averbeck questioned the committees served on at Dr. Keefe’s previous institution. Dr. Keefe responded that she agreed to continue serving on the committees to provide continuity for the students. Dr. Harbke added that the Psychology Department has two distinct areas, practitioner and research, and Dr. Keefe works with students in both areas. Dr. Keefe noted that peer review is normal for licensure.

Motion: To approve the request. (Stryker/Stinnett)

MOTION CARRIED 8 YES   0 - NO   0 - AB

IV. OLD BUSINESS

A. Incomplete Grades – Automatic Extension Limit

Dr. Parsons brought this item forth to the Council earlier in the semester. After receiving feedback from some departments, Dr. Parsons proposed a change to the previously approved policy that will give incompletes in capstone experiences two years before converting to a grade of F with the same option to extend it. Dr. Kapale noted that this would be acceptable for the Physics students. Dr. Romano stated that he feels that UNIV 695 is a better incentive for students to finish their degree than changing the amount of time that an incomplete is valid. He also questioned the need for the policy and the additional petitions that it will create. Dr. Parsons asked how many students are completing their degrees on time. She also added that UNIV 695 was put into place for liability reasons plus some students were falling by the wayside. Dr. McConnell stated that a large majority of students in Chemistry are completing on time. There are some that have different situations and it does take them longer to complete. Dr. Pawelko asked Dr. Romano for his recommendation. Dr. Romano responded that he would rather keep the old policy that had been in place since 2009. Discussion was held regarding various options for the policy. Dr. Kapale stated that he did not feel that UNIV 695 has been in place long enough to know if it cleans up the incompletes. Dr. Parsons proposed sending the information out to the departments again, which was done with the original passing of the policy, and giving an option to the departments of a maximum of four years for the automatic extension. Any request for more than the standard one year would require a justification.

Motion: To rescind the policy change approved on October 12, 2015 and retain the current policy with a modification of a maximum automatic extension of four years. (Stinnett/Stryker)

MOTION CARRIED 8 YES   0 - NO   0 – AB

V. OTHER BUSINESS

Dr. Parsons thanked Dr. Stinnett for her service to the Graduate Council. Dr. Stinnett will be on sabbatical for the Spring 2016 semester and her three-year term on the Council also ends at that time.

Dr. Parsons announced that post-baccalaureate certificates that are less than 18 s.h. can no longer be included on a transcript nor can the students only enrolled in the certificate receive financial aid. She added that a meeting was held with those programs that offer PBCs less than 18 s.h. and the Graduate Council may see some changes come forward. IBHE has modified their meeting schedule beginning next year so that any PBC wanting to increase their hours will need to be on the IBHE March meeting agenda. This will require the proposed changes to be reviewed by Graduate Council prior to February 1. Dr. Parsons has given the affected programs the option of submitting their proposed changes to the January meeting of the Graduate Council that is normally reserved for student special appeals only.

Dr. Parsons provided information to the Council regarding low enrolled programs. IBHE has proposed but not finalized new metrics that will be used to determine which programs fall into this category. Dr. Sanders questioned if looking at the University’s cost per student for programs would be a better idea of where cuts need to be made. Dr. Parsons responded that this may be in the next round of what will be examined. Discussion was held regarding offering doctoral degrees. Dr. Parsons noted that IBHE does not eliminate programs but does provide a report to the legislature identifying low enrolled programs. It is the University’s responsibility to justify those programs being offered.

Meeting adjourned: 4:31 p.m.