skip to main content ISU bar University Faculty Senate INDIANA STATE UNIVERSITY FACULTY SENATE ANNUAL REPORT OF THE GRADUATE COUNCIL Submitted by Michele Boyer, Chairperson The Graduate Council met 24 times this academic year and has two more meeting scheduled for April 29 and May 6. This year, we do not anticipate meeting during the summer. Attendance Record – as of April 22, 2004 Members Attended Absent Comments Veanne Anderson - 24 0 Shannon Barton - 22 2 Lisa Bischoff - 20 4 Michele Boyer - 23 1 Eurico Ferreira 9 3 (on sabbatical in spring; out of 12 meetings) Betsy Frank - 24 0 David Gilman 10 10 (resigned April 1; out of 20 meetings) Mike Hayden 13 7 (on sabbatical; out of 20 meetings) Charles Mayer - 23 1 Mahfuzul Haque 10 2 (started on Dec. 9; out of 12 meetings) The work of the Graduate Council (GC) is facilitated by the Assistantship/Fellowship Committee, the Graduate Faculty Committee, the Graduate Student Appeals Committee, the Program Development Committee, and several ad hoc committees. This year, 28 graduate faculty members served on Council committees and assisted with the work of the Council. Eight additional graduate faculty members agreed to be available as alternate committee members, if necessary Charges The Council received three charges from the Faculty Senate this year: 1. “Select one representative for the Theodore Dreiser Distinguished Research and Creativity Awards Committee early in the fall semester.” GC member David Gilman was nominated to serve. 2. “As per the President’s initiative, recommend policies for automatic admission of qualified ISU undergraduates meeting department criteria to ISU graduate programs. A task group was formed to gather information about facilitating or expediting admission of qualified ISU undergraduates to ISU graduate programs. Information was examined on current admission requirements, procedures, and application practices. Application fee requirements and practices were also examined. The Controllers Office, University Council, the School of Graduate Studies and Department Chairpersons were consulted. A recommendation including 5 actions to facilitate/expedite admission of ISU undergraduates into graduate programs was made. 3. “Make recommendations as necessary for implementation of experiential learning in graduate curriculum, assuring academic standards and the primary authority of departmental faculty for curriculum in their disciplines.” The Program Development Committee of Graduate Council was asked to attend to experiential learning aspects and activities in the course of its regular review of program proposals and revisions. The PDC can serve a consultative function for programs in the area of implementing experiential learning; however, it is noted that a majority of our graduate programs include applied practice in their core curricula and/or culminating requirements. Graduate Council affirms the primary authority of departmental faculty in designing experiential learning activities appropriate to each discipline. Graduate Council Standing Committee activities: 1. Assistantship/Fellowship Committee – no specific charge was identified for this committee this year. 2. Graduate Faculty Committee – Met 6 times this year and has a 7th meeting scheduled. To date the committee has considered and acted upon Regular Graduate Faculty (38), Associate Graduate Faculty (34), Emeritus Graduate Faculty (1), and Special Purpose Graduate Faculty (47) applications. 3. Graduate Student Appeals Committee – Since April 2003, the committee has met 12 times with a 13th meeting planned. Thirty-three petitions were considered, 25 were approved, and 8 were denied. 4. Program Development Committee – Met 3 times this year and the committee chair met two additional times with departmental representatives who are preparing additional curriculum revisions/proposals. Considered 19 program/course proposals/revisions. Reviewed “Indiana’s Education Roundtable: Indiana’s P-16 Plan for Improving Student Achievement” and “Indiana Commission for Higher Education: Indiana’s Framework for Policy and Planning Development in Higher Education” and contributed comments to Graduate Council’s discussion with representatives of the Provost’s office on these initiatives. Selected Additional Activities · Graduate Council held a formal meeting with Interim Provost Maynard to discuss issues related to graduate education (e.g., assistantship/scholarship fund availability and timeliness of notifications, continued availability of Graduate Student Research Funds, overall amount of funding available for graduate studies, graduate program in/exclusion (?) in the marketing plan, International Affairs Center concerns, graduate enrollment increase acknowledgement). · Graduate Council acted on (approved) 19 program/course proposals and/or modifications. · Graduate Council reviewed and provided comments in support of improvements to the Program Review process that was piloted last year. · Graduate Council and the School of Graduate Studies hosted two Department Chair and Program Director meetings, one each in fall and spring to review updates in procedures and general policies. Approximately 25-30 chairs and program faculty attended each meeting. · Graduate Council provided a response regarding the graduate education’s ongoing involvement in the strategic initiatives of community engagement, experiential learning, and eminent programs. · Graduate Council provided consultation to several departments regarding collaborative and innovative graduate programming efforts (e.g., Nursing’s involvement with The Learning Network, Criminology’s collaboration with the National Career Development Association, Recreation and Sport Management’s international collaborations in Cyprus) · Graduate Council representatives participated in discussions among graduate student representatives, the Dean of Graduate Studies, and the Interim Senior Associate VP of Academic Affairs to facilitate ongoing resolution of international student concerns brought to the attention of GC. · Graduate Council provided consultation to the Dean on curricular and procedural matters as requested (e.g., thesis editing, graduate catalog format, active degree program listings, percentage of degree program courses at the 600-level, revision of various non-policy related forms, etc.). · Ongoing consideration of a Course Repetition and Grade Substitution policy for graduate students resulted in a recommended policy regarding course repetition at the graduate level. · A revised policy describing doctoral student residency was proposed. The policy specifies that programs, rather than the School of Graduate studies, will define any required period of full-time or on-campus study/immersion in an academic field. · After considerable discussion and consultation, a Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policy for Graduate Students receiving financial aid was proposed. The policy was developed to meet the federal reporting and planning guidelines. · Graduate Council was represented at each of the PPARC meetings throughout the year. · Graduate Council members heard the concerns of the Chair and Vice Chair of the IRB regarding the conduct of student research with human subjects and shared the stated concerns with program directors, department chairs, and members of the graduate faculty during the spring campus meeting with graduate program directors and chairs. · Members of the Graduate Council participated in searches for the Assistant Dean of Graduate Studies, the Assistant to the Dean of Graduate Studies, and the Faculty Administrative Fellow – Interim Assistant Dean position in the School of Graduate Studies. · Graduate Council members served on the Paul A. Witty Scholarship selection committee. · Graduate Council consulted with the Registrar’s office regarding incomplete grade posting procedures and capabilities for graduate students and on course repeat policy procedures and capabilities. · Graduate Council agreed to develop a website with a secure area to ease the work of the committee. That project is in process. · Action is pending on a clearer articulation of a general policy statement regarding probation/suspension/dismissal of graduate students. Attachment A* Motions/Actions Passed in Graduate Council Meetings of September 9, 2003 to April 29, 2004 Date in parentheses is the date of the meeting during which the motion was passed. Curriculum Motions 1. V. Anderson moved and E. Ferreira seconded a motion to approve the proposal to change admissions standards for the M.S. Program in Nursing. The motion passed, 5-0-1. (November 11, 2003) 2. B. Frank moved and V. Anderson seconded a motion to approve the proposals for program and course revisions for the M.S. in Student Affairs Administration. The motion passed, 7-0-0. (November 11, 2003) 3. B. Frank moved and V. Anderson seconded a motion to approve the proposal on a course revision in the Athletic Training Department. The motion passed, 7-0-0. (November 11, 2003) 4. B. Frank moved and L. Bischoff seconded a motion to approve the proposal from the School of Education to realign Special Education with Elementary and Early Childhood Education. The motion passed, 6-0-6. (November 11, 2003) 5. V. Anderson moved and L. Bischoff seconded a motion to approve the proposal from the Department of Criminology to award graduate credit in CRIM 602 or CRIM 516 for participation in the Offender Workforce Development Specialist Training Program. The motion passed, 6-0-0. (November 11, 2003) 6. V. Anderson moved and B. Frank seconded a motion to approve the proposal to revise the M.S. in Counseling Psychology with a Specialization in Mental Health Counseling. The motion passed, 7-0-1. (December 9, 2003) 7. All of the following proposals were recommended for approval on March 4, 2004: Modification to Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy, 5-0-2. New course, ENG 698, 5-0-2. New course, LLL 709, 5-0-2. Reactivation of HIST 534 and HIST 535, 7-0-0. 8. Recommendation of approval for the realignment of the Master’s in Theater, 7-0-0. (March 18, 2004) 9. All of the following proposals were recommended for approval on April 22, 2004: New course, CIMT 687, 7-0-0. Program revision, CIMT Ph.D., 7-0-0. New course, CIMT 720, 6-0-1. New course, SOT 709, 7-0-0. Course modification, PE 583, 7-0-0. Course modification, IMT 505, 7-0-0. Curriculum for new international program, Recreation and Sport Management, 6-0-1. 10. B. Frank moved and V. Anderson seconded approval of the following Probation Policy. “A student whose grade point average drops below a 3.0 (3.25 or 3.5 in certain programs) will be placed on probation for 9 credit hours. If at the end of the 9 credit hours of probation, the student’s grade point average is still below the required level, the student will be dismissed from the academic program. A student who is placed on academic probation or dismissed from their academic program may request a review of the case by the Graduate Student Appeals Committee of the Graduate Council.” The motion carried, 7-0-0. (April 29, 2004) Policy Motions 1. M. Boyer distributed the list of committee appointments rec9ommended by the Executive Committee. B. Frank moved and E. Ferriera seconded approval of the committee membership. The motion carried, 6-0-1. (September 23, 2003) 2. S. Barton moved and E. Ferriera seconded approval of the following Course Repeat Policy: “Graduate students receiving a grade of C or lower may retake a non-repeatable course a maximum of one time. Once repeated, both the original and new grade will be included in the student’s GPA. Both grades will remain on the student’s transcript.” The motion passed, 9-0-0. (October 21, 2003) 3. E. Ferreira moved and L. Bischoff seconded a motion to approve the draft of the Program Review Policy and Procedure Revisions as a work in progress. The motion passed, 6-0-0. (November 11, 2003) 4. D. Gilman moved and B. Frank seconded to approve the amended Graduate Student Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy and that the policy be reviewed no later than two years af6er implementation. The motion passed, 7-0-0. (November 25, 2003) 5. L. Bischoff moved and B. Frank seconded to approve the amended 7th draft of the Graduate Student Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy. The motion passed, 8-0-0. (December 9, 2003) 6. C. Mayer moved and D. Gilman seconded the following statement on the development and extension of graduate programs: “The Graduate Council reaffirms, consistent with curricular policy (University Handbook, Section II – 10 & 11), that the development and extension of graduate programs (in local, regional, national, and international settings) include the academic program involved, the Graduate Council, the School of Graduate Studies, and the appropriate administrative units in the planning aspects of curriculum development, modification, and delivery prior to engaging in contractual agreements regarding such programs. To this end, the Graduate Council supports the Provost’s establishment of a campus committee to examine these issues. Specifically, we encourage the development of policy and practice that includes the appropriate curriculum committees and the School of Graduate Studies in the initial phases of international agreements involving graduate programs.” The motion passed, 9-0-0. (February 5, 2004) 7. C. Mayer moved and D. Gilman second approval of the recommendations put forth by the Facilitated Admission Committee. The motion passed, 7-0-0. (February 5, 2004) 8. M. Boyer moved and B. Frank seconded approval of the following statement on a residency policy for doctoral programs: “Doctoral study requires an immersion in an academic field and its intellectual community. Doctoral degree-granting units may require a period of full-time and/or on-site study. Requirements will be established by programs and reported to the Graduate Council.” The motion passed, 4-2-0. (February 12, 2004) 9. B. Frank moved and L. Bischoff seconded approval of the following policy on editing of theses and dissertations: “Editing is the responsibility of the dissertation or thesis committee with final editing oversight of the dissertation chair. Final approval of format requirements is by the School of Graduate Studies.” The motion passed, 5-0-0. (February 19, 2004) 10. V. Anderson moved and S. Barton seconded approval of the following recommendation on minimum course enrollment: “A policy on minimum enrollment must be constructed to allow for maximum program flexibility. Every effort must be made to prevent compromising the academic integrity of programs, affecting a department’s ability to offer diverse multiple programs, or negatively impacting on a student‘s capability to complete his/her course of study in a timely manner. To that end, the Graduate Council recommends the following changes to the Draft issued by the Office of Academic Affairs, dated January 2004. Minimum enrollment for the academic year and summer terms is, in most cases, to be considered 15 undergraduate students for 100- through 300-level courses. For 400/500 level courses, graduate students count as 2 toward the needed 15 students. For 500- and higher level courses, which are exclusively graduate courses, 8 graduate students constitute the minimum. These numbers would apply to courses offered on an annual basis. For those graduate courses offered every other year or every third year, a minimum enrollment of 5 graduate students is required. In those circumstances where courses are offered every other year or every third year, allowances must be made to insure academic integrity, the ability to continue offering diverse multiple programs, and to prevent negatively impacting student graduation. Combined courses (cross-listed, 400/500 level and/or multiple courses with the same day/time/instructor) are counted as one course. The minimum enrollment for the delivery of the same course by multiple modalities (e.g., the Web and classroom), should be determined at the department level in consultation with the office of the Dean, where appropriate. The following courses are excluded from the conditions described above: Arranged Courses, College Challenge, Correctional Training Institute (CTI), Indiana Partnership for Statewide Education (IPSE), and year-based courses. A department may request at the Dean’s level a continuing or temporary exception to the enrollment minimums. Continuing exceptions, the need for which must be documented, may be due to accreditation standards, similar external requirements, or other extenuating circumstances. Additional temporary exceptions may be allowed, based upon a unique or short-term situation. All exceptions to the general conditions for minimum enrollment need to be negotiated between the department and the Dean of the respective College.” The motion passed, 6-1-0. (March 4, 2004) * Revised to include action taken in the meeting following the April 27, 2004 Faculty Meeting. Last modified: March 03, 2009  Copyright © 2009 by Indiana State University.