Council of Graduate School Programs
Regular Meeting
March 21, 2003
Rubloff Reception Room, 25 East Pearson,
Water Tower Campus
MINUTES
[Approved on September 26, 2003]
Members Present: Gad Bensinger, Barney Berlin, Pamela Caughie (chair), Susan Cavallo, Andrew Cutrofello, Denise Davidson (for Grayson Holmbeck), Adam Driks, Lewis Erenberg (for Patricia Mooney-Melvin), Allen Frantzen, Maureen Hellwig, James Keenan, Fred Kniss, James Krueger, Randolph Lucente, Michael Maher, Marcia Maurer, Ruben Mestril, Duarte Mota de Freitas, E.J. Neafsey, David Ozar, Kayhan Parsi, F. Bryan Pickett (for Diane Suter), Rebecca Sedam (for Yolande Wersching), Elizabeth Vera, Alan Wolfe.
Members Excused: Jawed Fareed, Thackery Gray, Grayson Holmbeck, Juliet Johnson, Maya Kelly, Mary Manteuffel, Joan McLane, Patricia Mooney-Melvin, Jon Nilson, Diane Suter, Yolande Wersching.
Members Not Present: Robin Arnsperger, Anthony Giaquinto, Jeanine Seitz-Partridge, Pauline Viviano.
Graduate School Deans: Max Caproni, Douglas Davis, Marianne Gramza, Frederick Wezeman, William Yost.
Call to Order
Pamela Caughie, chair of the Council, called the meeting to order at 1:10 p.m.
Approval of the Minutes of the Past Meeting
Dr. Caughie asked if there were any revisions to the draft of the minutes of the February 7, 2003 regular meeting. Hearing none, she asked if there were any objections to approving the draft of the minutes. Hearing none, she announced that the minutes were approved as drafted.
Dean's Report
William Yost referred to his written report and discussed the university's new faculty-administrative governance structure.
Chair's Report
Dr. Caughie summarized the Executive Committee's February 28, 2003 meeting with Bren Murphy, chair of the university's Faculty Council.
Dr. Caughie noted that, per the Council's motion at its February 7, 2003 meeting, she sent a letter to Isiaah Crawford, interim dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, regarding funding of graduate assistantships.
Dr. Caughie discussed an e-mail message she received from Thomas Kaminski, director of the Teaching Fellows Program, regarding the future of the program. Dean Yost noted that he and Dean Crawford plan to meet to discuss future funding of the program.
Dr. Caughie reported on the College of Arts and Sciences plan for compensating directors of interdisciplinary programs and noted that compensation for graduate program directors may be an issue for the Council to consider during 2003-04.
Dr. Caughie reported on the College of Arts and Sciences plans for raising the prominence of two departments and for hiring faculty members in light of the revision of the core curriculum. She noted that these plans will likely affect graduate education.
Discussion followed.
Curriculum Committee Report
Marcia Maurer, chair of the Curriculum Committee, introduced a proposal for a new course, Social Science and Bioethics, and reported that the committee recommends approval of the course (the committee's report was distributed to Council members prior to the meeting). The Council recommended approval of the proposed course by a unanimous vote.
Dr. Maurer introduced a proposal for a new course, Special Topics in Conservation Medicine, and reported that the committee recommends approval of the course. The Council recommended approval of the proposed course by a unanimous vote.
Dr. Maurer introduced a proposal for a new course, Women's Studies 450: Global Feminisms, and reported that the committee recommends approval of the course. The Council recommended approval of the proposed course by a unanimous vote.
Dr. Maurer introduced a proposal to revise the requirements of the M.A. Program in Curriculum and Instruction so that students may complete either a thesis or a project, and reported that the committee recommends approval of the revision. Discussion followed. The Council recommended approval of the proposed revision by a unanimous vote.
Dr. Maurer noted that, based on comments from committee members she received following the drafting of the committee's report, she is not introducing the proposed motion regarding learning objectives. Discussion followed.
Report of the Committee on Program Review
James Keenan, member of the Committee on Program Review, summarized the committee's report on the review and evaluation of the graduate programs in the Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology, and Anatomy (the report was distributed prior to the meeting). The committee recommended that the department address the issues raised in the evaluation and submit its response to the committee by April 15, 2003; the committee stated that it will review the additional material and present its recommendation at the first meeting of the Council of Graduate School Programs in academic year 2003-2004. Discussion followed.
By a unanimous vote, the Council approved the committee's recommendation and extended the deadline for the department's response until September 1, 2003.
Nominations
Fred Kniss, chair of the Nominations Committee, announced the following slate of candidates for officer positions for the 2003-2004 academic year:
Chair: Fred Kniss
Past-Chair: Pamela Caughie
Chair-Elect: Allen Frantzen
Chair of the Committee on Program Review: Patricia Mooney-Melvin
At-large member of the Executive Committee: Barney Berlin
At-large member of the Executive Committee: Michael Maher
Dr. Kniss announced that Dr. Berlin will be chairing an ad hoc committee on revision of the Council's by laws. Dr. Kniss called for volunteers for the position of chair of the Curriculum Committee; there were none.
The Council approved the above slate by a unanimous vote.
Graduate Faculty Member of the Year Report
Dr. Kniss provided a progress report on the selection of the 2003 Graduate School Faculty Member of the Year. Susan Cavallo suggested a change in the selection process so that the selection committee would invite nominees or their department chairs to provide a statement on teaching, research, and service. Following discussion of the suggested change, Dr. Kniss stated that he and Dr. Frantzen would discuss a reconsideration of the selection process.
New Business
Dr. Maurer raised the issue of the impact of the Health Information Privacy and Accountability Act (HIPAA) on graduate students' interactions with patients in clinical settings. Discussion followed. Dr. Kniss said the Council may consider this issue during 2003-04.
The Council expressed its thanks to Dr. Caughie for her years of service as a leader of the Council.
Adjournment
Dr. Caughie adjourned the meeting at 2:40 p.m.