Graduate Studies

Graduate Council Minutes - November 9, 2015

3:00 – 5:10 p.m., Horrabin Hall 60

Members Present: J. Averbeck (Vice Chair), V. Diehl, J. Ehrlich, K. Pawelko (Chair), S. Sanders, M. Stinnett, M. Stryker

Guests Present: H. Hemphill, L. Hemphill, K. Boeckelman, G. Delany-Barmann, K. Daytner, S. Simonson, L. Wolff, R. McConnell, A. Shouse, H. Stovall,  C. Lydeard, S. Jenkins, J. Lamer, S. Martinelli-Fernandez; P. McGinty

Ex-Officio Present: N. Parsons

Others Present: C. Dodson

I. STUDENT APPEALS

A. Instructional Design and Technology

1. Request for late withdrawal from Spring 2015

Student was present to answer questions from the Graduate Council.

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

B.  Political Science

1. Request for a late withdrawal from Fall 2013

Student was present to answer questions from the Graduate Council.  Student originally asked to be late withdrawn from 2 courses, and be allowed to remain in 1 course.  Dr. Parsons provided information that students requesting late withdrawal from a previous semester must be late withdrawn from all courses.  Student agreed to Total University Withdrawal if necessary.

Motion: To approve the request for withdrawal from all courses FL 13. (Stryker/Erhlich) MOTION CARRIED 7 YES   0 - NO   0 - AB

II. ANNOUNCEMENTS

A. Academic integrity incident reports filed in the School of Graduate Studies, October 2015 (0)

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

C. Graduate Student Research and Professional Development Fund Recipients – Ms. Dodson reported that the sub-committee decided to award each selected individual $250 so that more students could benefit from the funding.  The twelve recipients received awards for  Fall 2015, and the list is available on the Graduate Studies website.

III. GRADUATE CURRICULUM              

A. Computer Sciences

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

a. CS 505, Computer and Information Security, 3 s.h.

Dr. Erhlich spoke about the course which will cover secure code writing, and the need for the course.  Dr. Stryker asked if the course will be a required course or an elective. Dr. Erhlich said the course will not be a requirement and there has been no discussion to make it a required course.  It was asked if this will overlap LEJA 509 Security: Theory and Practice.  Dr. Erhlich said there will be no overlap as the CS 505 is different due to the technical level of the course dealing with software codes.  Dr. Diehl pointed out there was no letter of support from LEJA.

Motion: To approve pending letter of support from LEJA. (Averbeck/Stinnett) MOTION CARRIED 6 YES – 0 NO – 1 AB (Dr. Erhlich abstained)

B. Educational Studies

1. Request to Change Graduate Program Requirements

a. Ed.S. Educational Leadership

b. Ed.D Educational Leadership

c. Superintendent Licensure

Dr. Wolff stated the need for all of these changes to the program is based on legislation passed by the State of Illinois, rules developed by the Illinois State Board of Education, and 2011 ISLCC standards.  Without these changes, Educational Leadership will not be able to accept students after the Summer 2016 semester.  The change to lower Ed.S. from 35 s.h. to 30 s.h. will also make the program more competitive as the current 35 s.h. Ed.S. degree makes WIU non-competitive for students on the edges of our catchment region. 

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

The current 40 s.h. Superintendent Licensure program (36 s.h. of coursework plus 4 s. h. of internship) is also non-competitive, and the change to 30 s.h. (26 s.h. coursework plus 4 s.h. of internship) will allow new program student to complete the program in 5-6 semesters.

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

Dr. Wolff stated there will be two options in the redesigned doctorate in Educational Leadership, Pre-K-2 option, and the Higher Education option, which opens options for more students from other educational fields. The program hours increased from 43 s.h. to 60 s.h. This also makes the doctoral program more competitive.  Dr. Parsons stated the feasibility study regarding Ed.D has been tentatively approved, but it has not been officially approved.

 Motion: To approve pending official approval. (Stinnett/Erhlich) MOTION CARRIED 7 YES 0 - NO 0 - AB

C. Women’s Studies

1. Request for a 400-GA Level Course

a. WS 415G (Cross-listed with POLS 415), The Politics of Reproduction, 3 s.h.

Dr. Shouse was available to answer questions from the Graduate Council.  Support from Political Science was emailed.

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

 b. WS 455G, Feminist Theory and Practice, 3 s.h.

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

IV. GRADUATE FACULTY – FULL MEMBERSHIP

A. Mette Soendergaard, Assistant Professor, Chemistry

Dr. Rose McConnell attended on behalf of Dr. Soendergaard. Council members asked few questions but it was noted that although the letter of support noted 6 publications, only 4 were listed.  It was asked if the publications were refereed, and Dr. McConnell said all were refereed.

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

B. Liquo Song,  Assistant Professor, Chemistry

Dr. McConnell was present to answer any questions from the Council. No questions were presented.

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

V. OTHER BUSINESS

Patrick McGinty was present to discuss the changes in GPA requirements for the Integrated programs.  Discussion followed regarding limiting number of students who could apply.  Dr. Parsons reminded all present that the program is designed for higher achieving students.  If requirements cannot be met for integrated programs, students may apply for admission to a graduate program in the usual manner.

Meeting adjourned: 4:41 p.m.