Graduate Studies

Graduate Council Minutes - December 1, 2014

3:00 – 5:00 p.m., Horrabin Hall 60/Riverfront 205

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

Guests Present: D. Adkins, M. Boley, G. Delany-Barmann, R. Gordon, T. Kaul, A. Lynn, R. Morgan, A. Mossman, J. Myers, G. Pettit, W. Polley, J. Schafer, E. Solymossy, K. Wheeler

Ex-Officio Present: N. Parsons

Others Present: A. Schulz

I. STUDENT APPEALS

A. Business Administration

1. Request for a late withdrawal

Student, faculty member, and advisor were present via CODEC connection. The student presented his timeline of events and explained the provided documentation. The faculty member then provided additional information. Dr. Stinnett asked the faculty member for his recommendation. The faculty member stated that he recommends a retake of the course in Spring 2015. Dr. Polley added that he is supporting the request because it would have been the course of action he would have recommended if he had been involved in the beginning.

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

B. Educational Leadership

1. Request for a late withdrawal

Student was present to answer questions and gave a summary of circumstances. He explained the extenuating circumstances that kept him from fulfilling his obligations to classes. Dr. Pawelko asked about the student’s plan to move forward if approved. Dr. Stinnett asked about the student’s motivation for wanting to continue.

Motion: To approve the request. (McQuillan/Sanders) MOTION CARRIED 7 YES – 0 NO – 1 AB

II. ANNOUNCEMENTS

A. Academic Integrity Incident Reports Filed in the School of Graduate Studies, October 2014 (1)

1.Resolved at instructor level – (1)

B. Requests to serve as a reader on exit option committee, October 2014 (0)

C. Illinois State Academy of Science Annual Meeting Conference

Dr. McQuillan announced that the Illinois State Academy of Science will hold their annual conference at WIU on Friday, April 10 and Saturday, April 11 in 2015. There are divisions in several disciplines. Abstracts can be submitted beginning January 12, 2015 and submissions will close at 11:00 a.m. CST on February 23, 2015. Submissions can be made online at http://ilacadofsci.com.

III. GRADUATE CURRICULUM

A. Economics

1. Request to Change Graduate Program Requirements

Dr. Kaul explained that they would like to drop ECON 501 as an option for a course in the non-thesis exit option. They would also like to limit the number of non-economics coursework from the current 9 s.h. to 6 s.h. as the program is only 30 s.h. total.

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

B. Educational Leadership and Interdisciplinary Studies

1. Request to Change Graduate Program Requirements – College Student Personnel

Dr. Delany-Barmann stated that the request was to change the core courses to allow for a new option within the program at the Quad Cities campus. There would be two separate program options with the traditional program option remaining at the Macomb campus and a new executive-style higher education leadership option at the Quad Cities campus.

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

C. Liberal Arts and Sciences

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

Drs. Mossman and Pettit were in attendance to answer questions. Dr. Pettit stated that Philosophy and Religious Studies do not have masters’ programs and several students go on to the Master of Liberal Arts and Sciences program.

a. B.A. in Philosophy/Master of Liberal Arts and Sciences

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

b. B.A. in Religious Studies/Master of Liberal Arts and Sciences

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

D. Physics

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

a. PHYS 537, Superconductivity and Magnetism, 3 s.h.

Dr. Gordon noted that the course was offered in Spring 2014 as a special topics course and had fourteen students enrolled. Dr. Boley added that the course will only be offered every two years to keep enrollment numbers up while still allowing anyone that wants to take it to have a chance.

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

IV. GRADUATE FACULTY – FULL MEMBERSHIP

A. Alice Alla Melkumian, Professor, Economics and Decision Sciences

Dr. Kaul represented Dr. Melkumian stating that she has been a faculty member for a number of years and was recently promoted to Professor.

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

  1. John R. Schafer, Assistant Professor, Law Enforcement and Justice Administration

Dr. Schafer and Prof. Myers provided the Council will additional background information and explained the need in the department.

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

Dr. McQuillan motioned to reorder the agenda in the interest of time and hear Item VI. New Business before Item V. Old Business.

Motion: To reorder the agenda. MOTION CARRIED 8 YES – 0 NO – 0 AB

VI. NEW BUSINESS

A. Proposal to List Majors on Diplomas

Dr. Lynn provided the Council with samples of diplomas with the proposed listing of the majors. Dr. McQuillan noted that he would like to see the word “in” added before the major. Dr. Lynn explained that the logistical aspect has been figured out and now she is looking for the recommendation of the Council before taking the request to the Provost for approval. Faculty Senate requested and approved this change at the undergraduate level. Dr. Pawelko asked for the reason behind the request. Dr. Kaul added that other institutions already list the major on their diplomas and that international students would greatly benefit from the change especially in cultures where the diploma is more highly regarded than transcripts. Discussion was held regarding programs that have the same degree and major name i.e. Master in Liberals Arts and Sciences and Master in Business Administration.

Motion: To approve for programs that do not have the same degree and major name. (Diehl/Sanders) MOTION CARRIED 6 YES – 1 NO – 1 AB

V. OLD BUSINESS

A. Full Graduate Faculty Status Requirements

Dr. Averbeck explained the document that was provided with suggested changes from the sub-committee. The criteria should show how a faculty member is equipped to lead graduate exit option committees. Ms. Schulz will notify the Council if this proposed language change needs to be approved by the Full Graduate Faculty.

Motion: To approve the proposed language change for full graduate faculty criteria. (Babu/Stinnett) MOTION CARRIED 8 YES – 0 NO – 0 AB

VII. OTHER BUSINESS          

Dr. Parsons thanked Dr. Stegall for his service to the Graduate Council while Dr. Walker was on sabbatical during the fall semester. Dr. Walker will rejoin the Council in January.

Meeting adjourned: 4:50 p.m.