Graduate Studies

Graduate Council Minutes - February 8, 2016

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

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

Members Absent: S. Sanders

Guests Present: H. Hemphill, L. Oden, S. Evans, L. Hemphill, K. Daytner, H. Marchand, P. White, T. Kaul

Ex-Officio Present: N. Parsons

Others Present: A. Schulz

I. STUDENT APPEALS

A. Computer Science

1. Request for a late withdrawal

Motion: To approve the request. (Diehl/Babu)
MOTION CARRIED 6 YES   0 - NO  0 - AB

II. ANNOUNCEMENTS

A. Academic integrity incident reports filed in the School of Graduate Studies,  December 2015 (1)

1. Resolved at the instructor level - 1

B. Requests to serve as a reader on exit option committee, December 2015 (0)

C. Graduate Committee Chair spring semester meetings – February 3 and April 13, 2016

Dr. Parsons provided a brief overview of the discussion points from the meeting on February 3. Topics included an update on background checks that are now required for assistantships, time card issues, recruitment, enrollment numbers, and the Graduate Research Conference.

D. Graduate Research Conference – March 4, 2016

Ms. Schulz announced that this is the third year for the Graduate Research Conference and over 100 submissions have been received. The committee is actively seeking faculty volunteers to judge and/or moderate. There are several opportunities to assist with the event and any interested person should email Ms. Schulz.

E. Temporary Graduate Faculty approvals for 2015-2016

Ms. Schulz provided Council members with a list of all faculty members that have been approved for temporary graduate faculty status for the 2015-2016 academic year.

F. Graduate Student Research and Professional Development sub-committee for Spring 2016

Ms. Schulz provided Council members with a reminder that Drs. Averbeck, Diehl, Ehrlich, and Pawelko are the sub-committee for the Graduate Student Research and Professional Development fund. The committee will meet in early March to determine the award recipients.

III. GRADUATE CURRICULUM

A. Communication

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

a. Bachelor of Arts in Journalism/Master of Arts in Communication

Dr. Averbeck provided information regarding the request. There are some Journalism students that would greatly benefit from an accelerated advanced degree. Dr. Pawelko asked about the anticipated enrollment. Dr. Averbeck responded that there are already four agreements in place with institutions in China but domestic students could benefit as well. Dr. Diehl asked about the 500-level courses that are listed as options and the process for them to gain permission to take them. Dr. Parsons noted that the process is streamlined for them in the integrated program.

Motion: To approve the request. (Babu/Stryker)
MOTION CARRIED 7 YES   0 - NO   0 - AB

B. Economics and Decision Sciences

1. Request to Change Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Program Requirements

a. Business Analytics

Dr. Kaul was in attendance. He noted that a course was left out of the directed electives and a statement was added so that new courses could be used to satisfy the certificate requirements without having to bring a request back to Council each time a new course was approved. He stated that this could streamline the process to add new courses to the certificate. Discussion was held regarding the current list of courses as well as options regarding the timing of approvals and bringing those to Council to add to the certificate. Dr. Averbeck recommended waiting until one of the last Council meetings of the academic year to bring all new additions to the certificate at once.

Motion: To approve the request to add DS 533 but drop the added statement at the end of the directed electives. (Stryker/Averbeck)
MOTION CARRIED 7 YES   0 - NO   0 - AB

C. Instructional Design and Technology

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

a. Bachelor of Arts in General Studies/Master of Science in Instructional Design and Technology

Drs. H. Hemphill and L. Hemphill were in attendance. Dr. L. Hemphill provided information about the program and stated that courses would be offered online and face-to-face. Dr. Babu asked about all the courses listed in #12 on the request. Dr. L. Hemphill noted that all courses were options to take as a bridge course. Dr. Averbeck asked for elaboration on the connection between General Studies and IDT. Dr. H. Hemphill added that a feasibility study had been done at one point, not specifically for this, but there was a high level of interest and overlapping career goals of those in General Studies and IDT. Dr. Averbeck asked about the need for this program. Dr. L. Hemphill stated that the undergraduate advisors also felt that this would be a good fit because of the materials and method of delivery of courses. Dr. Stryker noted that this seemed like a practical solution for students in the General Studies program. Dr. L. Hemphill added that they have worked on this for over a year and sought input from current and former students.

Motion: To approve the request pending submission of letter expressing relation of the two programs. (Averbeck/Stryker)
MOTION CARRIED 7 YES   0 - NO   0 - AB

b. Bachelor of Science in Graphic Communication/Master of Science in Instructional Design and Technology

Dr. L. Hemphill stated that this is a natural fit as a lot of students from Graphic Communication take the same classes as IDT undergraduates and then end up in the IDT Master’s program.

Motion: To approve the request. (Diehl/Babu)
MOTION CARRIED 7 YES   0 - NO   0 - AB

D. Museum Studies

1. Revised language for “G” credit

Dr. White gave the background of the revised language.

Motion: To approve the request. (Stryker/Ehrlich)
MOTION CARRIED 6 YES   0 - NO   1 - AB

IV. GRADUATE FACULTY – FULL MEMBERSHIP

A. Hal Marchand, Associate Professor, Health Sciences and Social Work

Drs. Marchand and Oden were in attendance. Dr. Marchand gave a brief overview of his background and the current research that he is conducting. He continues to work with agencies in New Mexico on public participation methods. Dr. Parsons noted a few amendments that need to be made on the application, specifically the reorganization and separation of some of the categories. Dr. Oden added comments that Dr. Marchand has been very active with graduate students and committees.

Motion: To approve the request pending submission of amendments to application. (Sanders/Ehrlich)
MOTION CARRIED 7 YES   0 - NO   0 - AB


V. OTHER BUSINESS

None reported.

Meeting adjourned: 4:05 p.m.