Graduate Studies

Graduate Council Minutes - March 7, 2022

3:00 p.m., Virtual

Members Present: C. Anderson, D. Barr, S. Ghimire, J. Hammersley, H. Hemphill (Chair), K. Keefe

Members Absent: C. Blackinton (Vice Chair), S. House

Guests Present:  T. Feld, J. Babin, J. Plos, J. Robinett, K. Daytner, R. Polubinsky, T. Davis, S. Sutton, R. Georges

Ex-officio Present: M. Mossman

Others Present: A. Schulz

 

I. ANNOUNCEMENTS

A. Academic integrity incident reports filed in the School of Graduate Studies, February 2022 (1)

1. Resolved at instructor or department level – 1

B. Graduate Council Nomination and Election Procedures

Ms. Schulz announced that petitions would be emailed to full members of the graduate faculty in the near future. Vacant seats will be from the College of Arts and Sciences; the College of Education and Human Services; and the College of Fine Arts and Communication. New members will be invited to the April 25, 2022 meeting.

II. GRADUATE CURRICULUM

Motion: To add a late curriculum request to the end of section II. Graduate Curriculum of the agenda. (Ghimire/Barr)
MOTION CARRIED 6 YES – 0 NO – 0 AB

A. Counselor Education & College Student Personnel

1. Request to change graduate program requirements

a. Master of Science in College Student Personnel – Higher Education Leadership Option

Dr. Davis presented the requested changes to the Higher Education Leadership option of the program. They are eliminating some courses and reducing the total hours for the option because this option is focused on students that have already working in the field. Dr. Davis noted that their accrediting body has changed the way that credit hours are accounted so these changes align the program with that.

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

B. Education

1. Request to change graduate program requirements

a. Master of Arts in Teaching – Alternative Teacher Licensure

Dr. Daytner explained that this additional track is for those with a background in history that have the desire to become a high school history teacher. It is similar to the already established tracks in math and science.

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

C. Kinesiology

1. Request for a 400-G level course

a. KIN 466, Organization and Administration of Athletic Teams, 3 s.h.

Dr. Plos and Dr. Polubinsky were in attendance. Dr. Plos stated that after receiving feedback from alumni, internship supervisors, and current students, they determined that this course was needed at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. It is designed to provide students with a hands-on approach with a bid process and appropriate inventory techniques. The students will work with WIU coaches and equipment managers.

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

D. Recreation, Park and Tourism Administration

1. Request to change graduate program requirements

a. Master of Science in Recreation, Park and Tourism Administration

Dr. Robinett explained that the department worked with advisory boards and alumni to see what was working well with the program and what was not. They identified the statistics course as something that was not necessary as a core course but still needed to be available for some students plus they can take a stats course within another program if it fits their interests better. They are also removing a seminar course from the department because it is redundant information. These changes will reduce the program to 30 semester hours. Dr. Hammersley asked which other departments would they encourage students to take statistics. Dr. Robinett answered that initially they would look within their own college but were open to any course that fits the type of research project that the student is doing. Dr. Ghimire questioned the change in some course titles. Dr. Robinett noted that the requests for those changes were already submitted and they are adapting to industry standards. Discussion was held over the changes and the preparation of students.

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

2. Request to change post-baccalaureate certificate program requirements

a. Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Event Planning and Management

Dr. Robinett stated that this program did not grow as expected when it was initially offered so it is currently under a temporary suspension. They have conducted surveys and found that offering it at both campuses plus online would significantly increase the numbers. The changes requested here are adding courses that appeal to current practitioners in anticipation of the program being reinstated.

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

E. Accounting, Finance, Economics and Decision Sciences

1. Request to increase credit hours

a. DS 500, Introduction to Business Analytics, 1 s.h. to 3 s.h.

Dr. Babin explained that the course originally designed to be taken with a two-hour course to get students ready for the workforce. This is no longer the case and the department is trying to add a three-hour course that meets the course objectives that are already listed for DS 500. It didn’t make sense to create a new course when they could add the rest of the content to this existing course.

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


III. NEW BUSINESS

A. International tuition rate

Ms. Sutton and Ms. Georges were in attendance to answer questions. Dr. Mossman explained that there is a proposal to increase the international tuition rate and they are bringing it to the Graduate Council before it goes before the Board of Trustees. The research shows that WIU has the lowest multiplier for international tuition among peer and other state institutions. The initial increase would 1.65% which is up from the current 1.5%. Dr. Ghimire stated that he feels like the low tuition rate is one of the factors that brings students in to WIU from other countries. Discussion was held over the timing of the increase. Ms. Sutton confirmed that it will be presented at the March meeting of the Board of Trustees to take effect for FY23*.

*An email update to Council members on 3/9/22 indicated that this proposed increase was no longer being presented to the BOT for FY23.


IV. OTHER BUSINESS

None reported.

 

Meeting adjourned: 3:47 p.m.