Graduate Studies

Graduate Council Minutes - March 31, 2014

3:00 p.m., Horrabin Hall 60/QC Campus 114

Members Present: J. Averbeck, V. Diehl, J. McQuillan, A. Mossman (Chair), J. Myers, W. Polley (Vice Chair), T. Walker

Members Absent: M. Stinnett

Guests Present: Stacy Betz, Leaunda Hemphill, Hoyet Hemphill, Russ Morgan, Sam Thompson, Gordon Pettit

Ex-Officio Present: N. Parsons

Others Present: A. Schulz

I. ANNOUNCEMENTS

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

1. Resolved at instructor level (1)

B. Graduate Council Election Status

Ms. Schulz announced that ballots for the College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Education and Human Services were sent out. The deadline for voting is April 8. The College of Business and Technology only received one petition which was approved by the college dean. No ballot was necessary.

C. Graduate Student Research and Professional Development Award Recipients

Ms. Schulz reported that the sub-committee had met and were able to fund 16 out of the 23 applications that were received for the Spring 2014 semester. A full list of the recipients can be found at wiu.edu/grad.

II. GRADUATE CURRICULUM

A. Communication Sciences and Disorders

1. Request to Change Graduate Program Requirements

Motion: To approve the request. (Mossman/Myers) MOTION CARRIED 6 YES – 0 NO – 0 AB

B. Geography

1. Request to Change Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Program Requirements

Dr. Mossman asked for clarification that the internships were 3 semester hours and that the alternative courses could be taken in any combination. Dr. Thompson responded yes to both.

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

C. Instructional Design and Technology

1. Request to Change Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Program Requirements

Dr. Diehl asked for clarification on the rationale for the change. Dr. Hemphill responded that the change provided another elective option.

Motion: To approve the request. (Mossman/Polley) MOTION CARRIED 6 YES – 0 NO – 0 AB

D. Liberal Arts and Sciences

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

 a. LAS 505, Research Methods, 3 s.h.

Professor Myers stated that the College of Education and Human Services was not approving any more research methods courses at this time and questioned what made this course different from other ones in the College of Arts and Sciences. Dr. Mossman responded that the research courses throughout the college were focused on the discipline that they were offered in and did not meet the needs of MLAS students. Dr. Morgan provided a brief history about the beginning of the MLAS program and that the idea was to have the students take the research course from their area of undergraduate study. The program is growing and this is no longer beneficial to the students in the program. Dr. Averbeck questioned where the students were taking the research course now. Dr. Mossman responded that they were not taking it at all and it is reflected in their exit option. The plan is to make the course a requirement in the future.

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

E. Philosophy and Religious Studies

 1. Request for a 400-G Level Course

 a. PHIL 420G, Philosophy of Law, 3 s.h.

Dr. Parsons noted that the prerequisite for this course was one 100-200 level course and expressed some concern. Dr. Pettit stated that the department’s 100-200 level courses are similar in degree of difficulty and the same is true for the 300-400 level courses. There is no sequence within the department that would prevent a student from successfully completing a 400 level course with the 100 level prerequisite.

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

 b. PHIL 425G, Philosophy of Mind, 3 s.h.

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

 III. OTHER BUSINESS

No other business reported.

V. STUDENT APPEAL

 A. Sociology

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

Student was not present. Discussion was held by Council.

Motion: To deny the request. (Mossman/Polley) MOTION CARRIED 7 YES – 0 NO – 0 AB

Meeting adjourned: 3:35 p.m.