Graduate Studies

Graduate Council Minutes - August 24, 2020 - Special Appeals Meeting

3:00 p.m., Virtual

Members Present: S. Ghimire, J. Hammersley, A. Hyde, B. Locke (Chair), J. McQuillan (Vice Chair), T. Roberts

Members Absent: C. Anderson, C. Blackinton

Guests Present: T. Feld, N. Miczo, M. Williamson, J. Lin, E. Sheffield, L. Wolff, M. Bezold, L. Oden, J. Laurent, J. Robinett

Ex-officio Absent: Mark Mossman

Others Present: A. Schulz

 

I. Graduate Council Member Responsibilities Overview

Dr. Locke welcomed all Council members. Reminders were given regarding the procedures for student appeals and that the Council’s role is to act on the information provided to them for the specific request. The Council is not an advisory body for these appeals.


II. STUDENT APPEALS

A. Business Administration

1. Request for a late withdrawal

Student and Dr. Feld were in attendance. Student explained that her mental health suffered during this time period and a break was needed but she didn’t withdraw in the right time frame. Dr. Feld added that the student only needs an elective to complete the degree and does plan to finish.

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

B. Communication

1. Request to hold an assistantship as a probationary student

Student, Dr. Miczo, and Ms. Williamson were present. The student explained that a combination of living out of state, off campus, and personal obstacles during his undergraduate experience led to the low GPA. He acknowledged that he did not transition well. Dr. Roberts asked about support from the department. Dr. Miczo stated that the department concurs that the student today is different from the student as an undergraduate. Ms. Williamson added that as the position supervisor, they are excited about the possibilities that he brings to the position. He was honest and forthright about his academic struggles from the beginning.

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

2. Request to waive the 6-hour C rule

Student and Dr. Miczo attended. Student explained that after encountering numerous personal issues, he left college for the military and now wants to come back to finish degree. Dr. Miczo noted that the department is very supportive of this. Dr. Locke asked if courses would have to be retaken. Yes, some will but the electives will not. Discussion held about grade replacement options.

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

C. Computer Science

1. Request to hold an assistantship with less than 3.0 graduate GPA

Student was in attendance. He explained that he did not have the background in Computer Science courses plus has not taken very many courses to increase his GPA above the 3.0. Dr. Locke asked about his course schedule for fall and managing a heavy workload again. Dr. Ghimire asked if all prerequisites had been met because all fall courses are at the graduate level. Student responded that yes and he is positive he can handle the workload.

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

D. Economics

1. Request to hold an assistantship as a probationary student

Student and Dr. Lin were present. Student registered for enough hours to be removed from probationary status in the spring but because of COVID-19, was unable to complete them all so has an incomplete in one. Would like the position because it will give practical experience to coincide with the degree. Dr. Locke asked about the likelihood of being removed from probation. Dr. Lin stated that the program was confident that he would complete all courses plus the incomplete from the spring.

Motion: To approve the request. (McQuillan/Hyde)
MOTION CARRIED 5 YES – 0 NO – 1 AB

E. Educational Leadership

1. Request to transfer more than 12 s.h. into a doctoral program

Dr. Wolff noted that the program is seeing an increase in the number of transfer students because the other institutions are not as responsive to students and word of mouth is bringing in more students to our program.

a. Student A

Dr. Wolff noted that this student is employed at a school district that is part of a cohort. Dr. Locke asked about the courses and their equivalents, specifically if they are electives. Dr. Wolff responded that courses do not always match up so those are transferred in as electives. A new proposal may be coming forth to Council so that only a limited amount of these petitions come forward as the amount of transfers increase.

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

b. Student B

Dr. Wolff noted that this student already has a dissertation topic approved. Discussion was held regarding the transfer evaluation process for this program.

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

F. Health Sciences

1. Request to hold an assistantship as a probationary student

Student, Dr. Bezold, and Dr. Oden were in attendance. Student explained that they struggled during the spring semester with technology issues but was able to adapt over the summer and feels confident in abilities for the assistantship. Dr. Locke asked about previous semesters. Student responded that they were in a field that wasn’t a long-term passion for them. Dr. Bezold added that the program supports the student and confirmed that the undergraduate degree was not closely related to the graduate program so is not a good indicator of the student’s potential success.

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

2. Request to waive the 6-hour C rule

Drs. Bezold and Oden were in attendance. Student was unable to attend because of work obligations. Student is an administrator in a health care facility where Covid-19 has made the spring semester extremely challenging. Dr. Bezold noted that the student is close to being done with the program. Dr. Locke asked if any courses will need to be retaken.  Dr. Oden responded that yes, the student will need to retake and pass a core course still. Discussion was held about the remaining courses.

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

G. Psychology

1. Request to hold an assistantship as a probationary student

a. Student A

Student and Dr. Laurent attended to answer questions. Student explained that they made the mistake of not being organized during their undergraduate career. Dr. Locke asked about the plan to balance academics and work. Student stated that the assistantship would help keep them focused because of the hands-on work that coincides with the coursework. Dr. Laurent noted that the position works directly with department faculty and students get a lot of hands-on experiences. The department also took other factors into consideration beyond the GPA when making the assistantship offer.

Motion: To approve the request. (Ghimire/McQuillan)
MOTION CARRIED 5 YES – 0 NO – 1 AB

b. Student B

Student and Dr. Laurent were present. Student stated that they were not focused as an undergraduate student and has had a lot of experience since graduating. Dr. Locke asked about time management and a plan to stay focused. Student responded that they are making a schedule and immersing themselves into the program. Dr. Laurent added that the student has some unique experiences that will be a benefit to the position and program and thinks that he will do well in both. Dr. Roberts inquired about GRE scores. Dr. Laurent replied that the GRE was taken more recently and they feel is a better indicator for the student’s success than the undergraduate GPA from several years ago.

Motion: To approve the request. (Hyde/Ghimire)
MOTION CARRIED 5 YES – 0 NO – 1 AB

H. Recreation, Park and Tourism Administration   

1. Request for a late withdrawal

Student and Dr. Robinett attended. Student was unaware of how incompletes were handled at WIU so didn’t realize that they would change to F. Student was unable to come back to finish master’s degree at WIU and is now moving forward to a Ph.D. program.

Motion: To approve the request. (Hyde/Hammersley)
MOTION CARRIED 5 YES – 0 NO – 0 AB

2. Request to waive the 6-hour C rule

Student and Dr. Robinett were present. Student wants to finish degree and only needs one additional course. Student took a course that they didn’t really need and ended up receiving a low grade. Dr. Ghimire asked if the student needed to retake any courses. Dr. Robinett replied that the student only needs to complete an independent study to be done.

Motion: To approve the request. (McQuillan/Hammersley)
MOTION CARRIED 5 YES – 0 NO – 0 AB

I. Special Education

1. Request for a late withdrawal

Student was present. There was confusion of withdrawal dates and did not realize that they were registered for a summer course as well. Student explained that Covid-19 took a toll on their personal life and they missed the deadlines for dropping because it was not at the forefront of their mind. Dr. Locke asked if the student planned to continue with the program. Student replied that no, not at this time but hopes to rejoin WIU in a future semester.

Motion: To approve the request. (Hammersley/McQuillan)
MOTION CARRIED 5 YES – 0 NO – 0 AB

J. Sport Management

1. Request to waive the 6-hour C rule

Student and department not present. Council member discussed grades earned and rationale provided by student.

Motion: To approve the request. (Hyde/Hammersley)
MOTION CARRIED 5 YES – 0 NO – 0 AB


Meeting adjourned: 5:26 p.m.