Graduate Studies

Graduate Council Minutes - August 21, 2023 - Special Appeals Meeting

3:00 p.m., Virtual

Members Present: P.K. Babu, Roberta Di Carmine, Niyazi Ekici, Hoyet Hemphill (Chair), Steven House (Vice Chair), Todd Lough, Jim McQuillan, Danyang Zhao

Guests Present: Tara Feld, Pete Jorgensen, Dennis DeVolder, Jessica Lin, Tawnya Adkins Covert

Ex-officio Present: Mark Mossman

Others Present: Amanda Schulz

 

I. Graduate Council Member Responsibilities Overview

Dr. Hemphill welcomed all Council members back for the 2023-2024 academic year. He stated that the role of Council is to act on appeals based on the information provided in the petition and not to take on an advisory role.

II. STUDENT APPEALS

Motion: To add a late petition from the Applied Statistics and Decision Analytics program to the end of the agenda. (Babu/House)
MOTION CARRIED 8 YES – 0 NO – 0 AB

A. Alternative Teacher Licensure

1. Request to waive the 6-hour C rule

Student present and noted that they are done with courses and only need have the appeal approved to complete the program.

Motion: To approve the request. (Babu/Ekici)
MOTION CARRIED 8 YES – 0 NO – 0 AB

B. Business Administration

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

Dr. Babu asked for clarification on a grade appeal. Dr. Feld provided additional information regarding the student’s status.

Motion: To approve the request. (House/McQuillan)
MOTION CARRIED 8 YES – 0 NO – 0 AB

2. Request to hold an assistantship as a probationary student

a. Student A

Motion: To approve the request. (Lough/Ekici)
MOTION CARRIED 8 YES – 0 NO – 0 AB

b. Student B

Dr. Hemphill asked about the need in the department for the student. Dr. Feld noted that the student has a specialized skillset that the department needs for the person in the position to possess.

Motion: To approve the request. (McQuillan/Ekici)
MOTION CARRIED 8 YES – 0 NO – 0 AB

3. Request for a late withdrawal

Dr. Feld explained that this is a working professional that didn’t let her know until well beyond the withdrawal date that they were struggling with work/school balance. The student did provide significant medical documentation to support the issues.

Motion: To approve the request. (Ekici/Di Carmine)
MOTION CARRIED 8 YES – 0 NO – 0 AB

4. Request to waive the 6-hour C rule

a. Student C

Motion: To approve the request. (Babu/House)
MOTION CARRIED 8 YES – 0 NO – 0 AB

b. Student D

Discussion held over grades and if there are any requirements left to complete for the degree.

Motion: To approve the request. (House/Lough)
MOTION CARRIED 8 YES – 0 NO – 0 AB

c. Student E

Student in attendance and provided medical documents for support. Dr. Feld fully supports the petition and stated that the student has been very open with their struggles and regularly communicates with faculty.

Motion: To approve the request. (McQuillan/House)
MOTION CARRIED 8 YES – 0 NO – 0 AB

d. Student F

Discussion held over previous performance in courses, potential for future success, and grades needed to complete the degree.

Motion: To approve the request. (House/Lough)
MOTION CARRIED 5 YES – 1 NO – 2 AB

e. Student G

Dr. Feld noted that the student has met all other degree requirements and has communicated well with faculty.

Motion: To approve the request. (Ekici/House)
MOTION CARRIED 8 YES – 0 NO – 0 AB

C. Chemistry

1. Request to hold an assistantship as a probationary student

Motion: To approve the request. (Babu/House)
MOTION CARRIED 8 YES – 0 NO – 0 AB

D. Communication

1. Request to hold an assistantship as a probationary student

Student was in attendance. Dr. Hemphill asked about GPA and how it transitioned throughout the years of undergraduate coursework. Dr. Jorgensen responded that the department has worked with him and feel confident in his capabilities to be successful.

Motion: To approve the request. (Ekici/McQuillan)
MOTION CARRIED 8 YES – 0 NO – 0 AB

E. Computer Science

1. Request to waive the 6-hour C rule

a. Student A

Student in attendance. Dr. Hemphill clarified that this is a second request for the same thing. Dr. DeVolder confirmed that was the case.

Motion: To deny the request. (Babu/House)
MOTION CARRIED 8 YES – 0 NO – 0 AB

b. Student B

Student was present. Dr. Babu asked about the submission of the petition. Student clarified that there were significant medical issues. Dr. DeVolder noted that the department supports the request.

Motion: To approve the request. (Ekici/Zhao)
MOTION CARRIED 8 YES – 0 NO – 0 AB

F. English

1. Request to hold an assistantship as a probationary student

Motion: To approve the request. (McQuillan/House)
MOTION CARRIED 8 YES – 0 NO – 0 AB

G. Public Health

1. Request to waive the 6-hour C rule

Dr. Bezold explained that the student is close to being done and only has one semester remaining.

Motion: To approve the request. (Lough/Ekici)
MOTION CARRIED 8 YES – 0 NO – 0 AB

H. Public Safety Administration

1. Request to hold an assistantship as a probationary student

Student in attendance. Dr. Lough provided clarification on the assistantship position.

Motion: To approve the request. (McQuillan/Ekici)
MOTION CARRIED 8 YES – 0 NO – 0 AB

I. Quantitative Economics

1. Request to waive the 6-hour C rule

a. Student A

Dr. Lin explained that the student is close to being done. Dr. Hemphill asked about the plan moving forward. Dr. Lin noted that the student only needs three hours of A to graduate.

Motion: To approve the request. (Lough/McQuillan)
MOTION CARRIED 8 YES – 0 NO – 0 AB

b. Student B

Dr. Lin and Dr. Adkins Covert explained that the student is asking to switch programs and they agree that the current program is not the best fit. Dr. Lin stated that they are supporting the petition on the understanding that the student switches to the Sociology program.

Motion: To approve the request. (House/Lough)
MOTION CARRIED 8 YES – 0 NO – 0 AB

J. Sociology

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

Dr. Adkins Covert noted that there are GPA concerns for the student but the program is willing to give the student a chance and is hoping that the change in program will be the right fit.

Motion: To approve the request. (House/Di Carmine)
MOTION CARRIED 7 YES – 0 NO – 1 AB

2. Request to hold an assistantship as a probationary student

Student in attendance and provided clarification on where the assistantship position is located.

Motion: To approve the request. (Ekici/House)
MOTION CARRIED 8 YES – 0 NO – 0 AB

K. Applied Statistics and Decision Analytics

1. Request to waive the 6-hour C rule

Student in attendance. Dr. Babu asked about the pending academic integrity report. Dr. Lin clarified the reports and outcomes of appeals.

Motion: To deny the request. (Ekici/House)
MOTION CARRIED 8 YES – 0 NO – 0 AB

 

Meeting adjourned: 4:35 p.m.