Graduate Studies

Graduate Council Minutes - March 2, 2015

3:00 – 5:00 p.m., Horrabin Hall, Room 60/Quad Cities Complex 2108

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

Guests Present: D. McLean, M. Mhango, D. Adkins, M. Doh, J. Robinett, C. Longley, T. Kaul, B. Walia, C. Wright, L. Barden-Gabbei, C. Lydeard, S. Hum-Musser, D. Yoder, R. Morgan, L. Wolff, G. Pettit

Ex-Officio Present: N. Parsons

Others Present: A. Schulz

I. STUDENT APPEAL

A. Computer Science

1. Request to waive the 6-hour “C” rule

The student was present and explained that this was his first semester in the United States. He stated that he had a hard time adjusting to the differences between cultures. He is doing well with his courses this semester.

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

MOTION CARRIED 8 YES – 0 NO – 0 AB

II. ANNOUNCEMENTS

A. Academic Integrity Incident Reports Filed in the School of Graduate Studies, January 2015 (1)

1. Resolved at instructor level – (1)

Ms. Schulz reported that one academic integrity incident report was filed during the month of January and it was resolved at the instructor level.

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

Ms. Schulz reported that the Graduate School did not receive any requests to serve as a reader on an exit option committee during January 2015.

C. Graduate Council Nomination and Election Procedures

Ms. Schulz announced that petitions would be mailed to full members of the graduate faculty in the near future. Vacant seats will be from the College of Business and Technology and the College of Fine Arts and Communication. New members will be invited to the April 20, 2015 meeting.

D. Sub-committee to Select Graduate Student Research and Professional Development Award Recipients

Ms. Schulz reported that 31 applications had been received. The sub-committee is working to schedule a meeting time prior to Spring Break. Recipients should be notified before the end of March.

III. GRADUATE CURRICULUM

A. Biological Sciences        

1. Request for a 400-G Level Course

a. BIOL 466G, Biotechnology, 3 s.h.

Dr. Hum-Musser presented the course to the Council. She stated that it has already been taught multiple times and the department would like to offer it to graduate students. There would be an increased expectation of the graduate students’ work.

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

MOTION CARRIED 8 YES – 0 NO – 0 AB

b. BIOL 481G, Scientific Techniques and Issues, 3 s.h.

Dr. Barden-Gabbei was in attendance to respond to questions from the Council. The course is regularly taken by graduate students so the course is already structured to accommodate them. Changes to the course were approved at CCPI on February 26, 2015 and included in the request for “G” credit. Dr. Babu asked if the course was restricted. Dr. Barden-Gabbei responded that only teacher certification students could take the course. Dr. Averbeck asked for elaboration on what will be added to differentiate between undergraduate and graduate level students. Dr. Barden-Gabbei stated that the main added requirement for graduate students would be the expectation to lead discussion and provide deeper meaning to the material. Dr. Averbeck questioned how this would be assessed. Dr. Barden-Gabbei responded that she is hesitant to add additional coursework due to the intensity of the course.

Motion: To approve the request. (McQuillan/Walker)

MOTION CARRIED 8 YES – 0 NO – 0 AB

2. Request to Change Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Program Requirements

a. Zoo & Aquarium Studies PBC

Dr. Lydeard presented the changes to the post-baccalaureate certificate. The current requirements include some courses that are no longer offered by departments. The proposed requirements eliminated those courses and added valid courses to the electives.

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

MOTION CARRIED 8 YES – 0 NO – 0 AB

B. Economics and Decision Sciences

1. Request to Change Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Program Requirements

a. Business Analytics PBC

Dr. Walia stated that the proposed changes to the requirements would make the certificate more interdisciplinary. The changes came about after speaking with a few different company recruiters that gave feedback on what they would be looking for in a potential employee with this certificate. Dr. Walia added that the core courses are the same but they added electives from other departments. Dr. Diehl made note that some additional information on the form would be helpful for review. Dr. Averbeck questioned if CS 465 should be listed with a “G”. Dr. Walia responded that yes it should be added and she will make that correction. Dr. Parsons asked about the Computer Science internship as a capstone experience and the required nine hours that must be taken in Computer Science. Dr. Walia responded that only Computer Science students will take that exit option and if others choose to do it, they will have to take all prerequisites and meet all requirements. There are already current students that would like to follow this. Dr. Parsons noted that MATH 601 and 602 are not listed in the graduate catalog. Dr. Walia stated that she will check on those courses. Dr. Diehl asked to see letters of support from the other departments involved.

Motion: To postpone the request until additional information is submitted. (Averbeck/Babu)

MOTION CARRIED 8 YES – 0 NO – 0 AB

C. Educational Studies

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

a. EDL 551, Principal as Instructional Leader II, 1 s.h.

Dr. Wolff provided background on the course series and rationale for the new course. The program wants the students to take a course while on their internship so they have faculty support during that time. Dr. Averbeck noted a typo on the request and asked about the course load. Dr. Diehl questioned the lack of response to the subparts of the request form.

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

MOTION WITHDRAWN (Walker/Stinnett)

Discussion was held regarding the missing items on the request form under the categories “Relation of course to your discipline” and “Justification of course.”

Motion: To postpone the request until additional information is submitted. (Diehl/Babu)

MOTION CARRIED 8 YES – 0 NO – 0 AB

2. Request to  Change Graduate Program Requirements

a. Principal Preparation

Dr. Wolff withdrew this request because it includes the proposed new course request that was postponed.

D. Law Enforcement and Justice Administration

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

a. LEJA 520, Restorative Justice: Principles, Practices, and Implementation, 3 s.h.

Dr. Averbeck noted that the total class hours and part of the course objectives were missing from the request form. Dr. Diehl added that information was missing from another section as well. Ms. Schulz will contact the department and request that they resubmit with the additional sections.

Motion: To postpone the request until additional information is submitted. (Averbeck/Babu)

MOTION CARRIED 8 YES – 0 NO – 0 AB

E. Museum Studies

1. Request to Change Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Program Requirements

Dr. McLean was present via CODEC to the Quad Cities. He stated that the main change was adding MST 516 to the degree requirements. Dr. Pawelko asked about the Art courses that are listed as electives. Dr. McLean responded that the courses are being planned for the master’s program so they should be included with the PBC requirements. Dr. Wright added that the Art courses will be coming to Council for approval at the next meeting.

Motion: To approve pending the approval of “G” credit to the listed Art courses. (Averbeck/Diehl)

MOTION CARRIED 8 YES – 0 NO – 0 AB

2. Request to Change Graduate Program Requirements

Dr. McLean provided additional information on the request. There is currently no data collection or analysis in the core course requirements. Adding MST 516 and removing RPTA 424G solves that problem. The RPTA course will be kept as a directed elective. The program is also proposing to eliminate the portfolio requirement as it is not being used properly. Dr. Parsons asked about MST 600 and 601. Dr. McLean responded that the program would like to see the students attending more conferences. Dr. Parsons asked if this is a graduation requirement. Dr. McLean stated that right now it is based on attendance and does not believe that this was the intention of the course. He is willing to look into this requirement and potentially make a change to the course.

Motion: To approve pending the approval of “G” credit to the listed Art courses. (Stinnett/McQuillan)

MOTION CARRIED 8 YES – 0 NO – 0 AB

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

a. Bachelor of Arts in Art/Master of Arts in Museum Studies

Drs. Wright and McLean presented the proposal. Dr. Wright would like for students to have another option upon graduating with a B.A. and feels like this is a natural fit. Dr. Parsons asked if both the B.F.A. and B.A. could be used. Dr. Wright responded that yes, both would be able to be integrated with the Museum Studies program. Dr. McLean added that this has been in the works and there is a natural connection between the two programs. Dr. Averbeck asked about the bridge courses and which are required. Dr. McLean clarified that MST 500 would have to be taken as a bridge course and then there would be a choice on the other bridge courses.

Motion: To approve pending the approval of “G” credit to the listed Art courses. (Diehl/Babu)

MOTION CARRIED 8 YES – 0 NO – 0 AB

F. Philosophy & Religious Studies

1. Request for a 400-G Level Course

a. PHIL 400G, Social and Political Philosophy, 3 s.h.

Dr. Pettit stated that these courses were part of the integrated program with Liberal Arts and Sciences that had not been approved with G credit yet.

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

MOTION CARRIED 8 YES – 0 NO – 0 AB

b. PHIL 415G, Philosophy of Science, 3 s.h.

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

MOTION CARRIED 8 YES – 0 NO – 0 AB

c. PHIL 440G, Legal Reasoning, 3 s.h.

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

MOTION CARRIED 8 YES – 0 NO – 0 AB

G. Dietetics, Fashion Merchandising, and Hospitality

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

a. HM 500, Fiscal Planning and Management for Events, 3 s.h.

Dr. Longley presented the request. The course will focus on financial management in event planning. Dr. Diehl asked about the relation of the course to the discipline and what makes this a graduate level course. Dr. Longley responded that the course is much more specialized than what is being presented at the undergraduate level. Dr. Robinett added that there will be both theoretical and empirical evidence discussed in the course. Dr. Averbeck asked if this overlapped with FIN 515 and if there was a letter of support for the course. Dr. Longley stated that there are letters of support but they are waiting for one more department. Dr. Averbeck questioned the logistics of the proposed new faculty hire mentioned in the course request. Dr. Yoder clarified that there are current staff that could teach this and the other new courses being proposed but the new staff member would coordinate the proposed new post-baccalaureate certificate as well as teach courses. Dr. Babu asked about the funding for the hire. Dr. Parsons responded that the Provost has already approved the position.

Motion: To approve the request pending letters of support and submission of written elaboration of what makes the course a graduate level course. (Diehl/Walker)

MOTION CARRIED 8 YES – 0 NO – 0 AB

b. HM 501, Risk Management and Safety for Events, 3 s.h.

Dr. Averbeck asked if there was a letter of support from LEJA and for elaboration on the scope of work. Dr. Longley responded that there will be more research involved and it is a more specialized course. Dr. Diehl asked about other letters of support. Dr. Longley provided the copies that she had.

Motion: To approve the request pending submission of written elaboration of what makes the course a graduate level course. (Walker/Sanders)

MOTION CARRIED 8 YES – 0 NO – 0 AB

H. Recreation, Park and Tourism Administration

1. Request for a 400-G Level Course          

a. RPTA 478G, Great Smoky Mountains Outdoor Recreation Consortium, 3 s.h.

Dr. Pawelko presented the course to the Council. Dr. Averbeck asked about the expectations of the graduate students and if the request could be more specific. Dr.  Pawelko added that the graduate students do an additional paper that she approves the topic for. Dr. Stinnett asked about the fee associated with the course.

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

MOTION CARRIED 7 YES – 0 NO – 1 AB

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

a. RPTA 563, Event Protocol and Promotion, 3 s.h.

Dr. Robinett provided information on the course. Dr. Babu asked about the relation to the new DFMH courses that were proposed. Dr. Robinett explained that they are all part of the proposed post-baccalaureate certificate and that the courses are designed to complement each other.

Motion: To approve the request pending submission of written elaboration of what makes the course a graduate level course. (Averbeck/Babu)

MOTION CARRIED 8 YES – 0 NO – 0 AB

b. RPTA 567, Best Practices in Event Planning and Management, 3 s.h.

Dr. Robinett explained that this course focuses on the operations and design of special events. There is currently a RPTA 467G course offered but the plan is to remove the “G” credit from that course once this course is in place.

Motion: To approve the request pending submission of written elaboration of what makes the course a graduate level course. (Diehl/Stinnett)

MOTION CARRIED 8 YES – 0 NO – 0 AB

c. RPTA 604, Comprehensive Examination for Events, 0 s.h.

Dr. Robinett stated that many organizations in the event planning field are moving towards certifications and the RPTA department would like to have this exam as the exit option for the proposed post-baccalaureate certificate. Dr. Babu asked if this would be a required course. Dr. Robinett responded that yes it would be. The proposed certificate would be the only graduate degree certification offered in the area.

Motion: To approve the request pending submission of written elaboration of what makes the course a graduate level course. (Averbeck/Stinnett)

MOTION CARRIED 8 YES – 0 NO – 0 AB

3. Request for Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Program

a. Event Planning and Management PBC

Dr. Yoder provided an overview of the propose certificate program. It will be a joint effort between the RPTA and DFMH departments to give students a look at the many different areas of event planning. There is a growing demand for people to administer special events and this program will provide those people with the skills that are needed. Dr. Yoder added that there is no other program in the area like this one and it is a 12-hour certificate. They have done research on how to deliver the program and will have a variety of options including weekend academies. Dr. Pawelko asked about the location of the program. Dr. Yoder responded that it will be offered at the Quad Cities campus but designed so that Macomb students could participate too.

Motion: To approve the request. (Diehl/Walker)

MOTION CARRIED 8 YES – 0 NO – 0 AB

IV. OTHER BUSINESS

None reported.

Meeting adjourned: 5:15 p.m.