Graduate Studies

Graduate Council Minutes - April 3, 2017

3:00 – 5:00 p.m., Horrabin Hall 60/QC Complex 1420

Members Present: P.K. Babu (Vice Chair), J. Ehrlich, H. Hemphill, A. Hyde, J. Laurent, K. Pawelko (Chair), J. Stegall

Members Absent: M. Stryker

Guests Present: D. Yoder, R. Williams, W. Polley, D. DeVolder, A. Shouse, B. Perabo, L. Hemphill

Ex-Officio Present: N. Parsons

Others Present: A. Schulz

I. STUDENT APPEALS

A. Recreation, Park and Tourism Administration

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

Student, Dr. Williams, and Dr. Yoder were all in attendance. The student explained the situation and that an incomplete from the Fall 2016 semester had changed to a low grade which brought the overall GPA below a 3.0 after the spring semester had started. The student addressed medical issues that have been ongoing. Dr. Hemphill asked about current courses. The student responded that he is focusing on the coursework and trying to maintain contact with faculty members. Dr. Williams provided a statement on the student’s behalf and confirmed that campus resources are being utilized by the student. Dr. Yoder provided a statement concerning the department’s recommendation of the student not holding an assistantship in order to focus on coursework. Discussion was held regarding assistantship responsibilities.

Motion: To deny the request. (Ehrlich/Babu)
MOTION CARRIED: 4 YES - 2 NO - 1 AB

II. ANNOUNCEMENTS

A. Academic integrity incident reports filed in the School of Graduate Studies, February 2017 (0)

B. Requests to serve as a reader on exit option committee, February 2017 (0)

C. Graduate Council Election Status

Ms. Schulz announced that ballots for the election would be sent out in the next few days. The elected representatives would be notified via email and invited to the Graduate Council meeting on April 24.

D. Graduate Student Research and Professional Development Fund Recipients

Ms. Schulz reported that the sub-committee had met and were able to fund 9 out of the 19 applications that were received for the Spring 2017 semester. A full list of the recipients can be found at wiu.edu/grad.

E. Graduate Committee Chairs Meeting

Ms. Schulz announced that the second meeting of Graduate Committee Chairs for the Spring 2017 semester will be held on Wednesday, April 12 in Horrabin Hall 1 with a CODEC connection to Quad Cities Complex 1420. The meeting will begin at 3 p.m. and conclude by 4:30 p.m. Dr. Parsons added that she has requested a report from each program identifying their steps in response to the 10-point recruitment plan discussed in the fall.

III. GRADUATE CURRICULUM

A. Engineering Technology

1. Request to Increase Credit Hours

a. IDT 603, Graduate Portfolio, 0 s.h. to 3 s.h.

Dr. L. Hemphill was present and stated that the request to increase the hours reflects that amount of work that is required to complete the portfolio.

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

IV. OLD BUSINESS

A. Integrated program continuous enrollment

Dr. Parsons noted that historical information shows that integrated students have taken time off between completing their undergraduate degree and beginning their graduate program. Dr. Laurent asked if departments have a mechanism to identify why students do not continue on immediately. Dr. Parsons responded that the Graduate Office receives a report of students not enrolled and shares that with the programs. Students have six years from the time that they took the first “B” course to complete their degree. A student in 2011 set the precedence for taking time off and Dr. Angela Lynn was able to provide this information. The School of Graduate Studies withdraws its request for Graduate Council action.

V. NEW BUSINESS

A. Graduate Degree Options

Dr. Parsons provided information that Dr. Maskarinec has asked about creating options at the graduate level. Options are transcripted but they are not defined at the graduate level. Dr. Ehrlich noted that students in the Computer Science program would benefit from options within the program. A sub-committee could be formed to explore and possibly create the definitions that would be similar to the ones for undergraduates.

Motion: To create a sub-committee in the fall. (Ehrlich/Stegall)
MOTION CARRIED: 4 YES - 0 NO - 1 AB

VI. GRADUATE FACULTY – SERVE AS A CHAIR ON A GRADUATE EXIT OPTION COMMITTEE

A. James Lamer, Field Station Manager, Biological Sciences

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

VII. GRADUATE FACULTY – FULL MEMBERSHIP

A. Betsy Perabo, Associate Professor, Liberal Arts and Sciences

Drs. Perabo and Shouse were in attendance. Dr. Parsons asked about authorship. Dr. Perabo noted that she is the sole author and it is common practice in her discipline to not list the name. Dr. Shouse provided additional information and stated that this was overlooked during the transitional period of the MLAS program.

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

VIII. OTHER BUSINESS

None reported.

Meeting adjourned: 4:18 p.m.