Graduate Studies

Graduate Council Minutes - November 6, 2017

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

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

Guests Present: L. Oden, J. Johnson, K. Mayborn, C. Merrett

Ex-Officio Present: N. Parsons

Others Present: A. Schulz

I. STUDENT APPEALS

A. Health Sciences

1. Request for a late withdrawal

Student was in attendance. Drs. Johnson and Oden were also present. Student explained that a close family member had health issues and passed away during the fall semester. The student didn’t know how to handle this and internalized it. The spring semester is when everything surfaced and coursework suffered. Dr. Oden noted that the department fully supported the student based on previous academic performance.

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

II. ANNOUNCEMENTS

A. Academic integrity incident reports filed in the School of Graduate Studies, October 2017 (0)

B. Requests to serve as a reader on exit option committee, October 2017 (0)

C. Graduate Student Research and Professional Development Fund Recipients – Fall 2017

Ms. Schulz announced that seven students had been selected by the sub-committee to receive funding out of fourteen applicants. The sub-committee utilized the entire $3,000 allocated for the fall and there will be $3,000 available for the spring sub-committee to award. Spring applications are due to departments by February 15 and then to the Graduate School by March 1. The recipients are posted on the Graduate School website and all applicants have been notified via email.


III. GRADUATE CURRICULUM

A. Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs

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

a. IIRA 512, Sustainability and Community Economic Development, 3 s.h.

Dr. Merrett was in attendance. The program currently has approximately sixteen to seventeen students enrolled and is in its third year. The program had originally proposed this course with the program request but withdrew it because of potential overlap with a course in the Marketing and Management Department. The course was offered over the summer and did not offer as much overlap as initially thought. The current Management course focuses more on small business development while the proposed course focuses on community development. Documentation is included that shows support for the new course from the Marketing and Management Department. The Management course will still be offered as an elective to students within this program. Dr. Hyde asked if students from other programs are able to take this course. Dr. Merrett responded that yes, other students are not restricted from this course.

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

2. Request for Multiple-Title Approval

a. IIRA 595, Special Topics in Community and Economic Development, 3 s.h.

Dr. Merrett explained that the title of the course lends itself to multiple areas of topic. He would like to have the sub-title transcripted so that specific topics can be reflected for each semester. Dr. Laurent asked about the credit hours. Dr. Merrett responded that it is 3 s.h. each offering. Discussion was held regarding multiple titles being helpful to graduate advisors and future employers.

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

3. Request to Change Graduate Program Requirements

a. M.A. in Community and Economic Development      

Dr. Merrett stated that the program is now in its third year and they have had time to figure out what is working and what is not. The proposed changes to the program requirements reflect that. Dr. Merrett added that the changes also accommodate budget constraints and faculty changes by giving the program more predictability in course offerings. Dr. Kapale asked about a course that is listed within two groups of requirements. Dr. Merrett confirmed that it can be used for both areas as it is a repeatable course.

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


IV. NEW BUSINESS

A. Graduate Degree Options proposal

Dr. Ehrlich provided the background on the proposal. The subcommittee, consisting of Drs. Ehrlich, Hemphill, and Kapale, looked at the current undergraduate policy. The proposal will be applicable to future programs with current options grandfathered in. Dr. Parsons shared a few minor revisions. The term “transcribable” should be “transcriptable” at the beginning of the policy. The terms “unique” and “invariant” should be removed from all subsets of item 4. The phrase “only if additional resources are required” should be removed from item 9.  Dr. Ehrlich asked the Council if the proposal should state three courses or nine credit hours for the core requirement. The Council determined that the intention is for three courses for programs with 40 hours or less and four courses for programs above 40 hours. Discussion was held regarding the purpose of creating an options definition. The subcommittee will make the previously stated revisions to the policy and bring a final copy to Council at the next meeting.


V. OTHER BUSINESS

None reported.


Meeting adjourned: 3:47 p.m.