Graduate Studies

Graduate Council Minutes - May 28, 2024 - 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: Anna Valeva, Tara Feld, Julie Brines, Renee Polubinsky, Christopher Merrett, Jim LaPrad, Dennis DeVolder

Ex-officio Present: Kishor Kapale

Others Present: Amanda Schulz

 

Ms. Schulz brought to the Council’s attention a petition that was submitted late to the Graduate School. The student had submitted the petition to their department prior to the deadline but the department had misplaced it. Council members were given the option to add the late petition to the end of the agenda or save it for the first meeting of the fall semester.

Motion: To add the late petition to the end of the agenda for May 28, 2024. (Babu/Zhao)
MOTION CARRIED 7 YES – 0 NO – 0 AB


I. STUDENT APPEALS

A. Applied Statistics & Decision Analytics

1. Request to waive the 6-hour C rule

a. Student A

Student and Dr. Valeva were present. Dr. Babu asked about the confidence level of retaking the course. Student noted that they have worked with their advisor and is utilizing resources such as tutoring.

Motion: To approve the request. (Babu/Zhao)
MOTION CARRIED 7 YES – 0 NO – 0 AB

b. Student B

Student in attendance with Dr. Valeva. Dr. Babu noted an error on the petition citing the incorrect semester. Student stated that they had experienced medical issues that they have since started using available resources to better their situation.

Motion: To deny the request. (Babu/House)
MOTION CARRIED 7 YES – 0 NO – 0 AB

c. Student C

Student present with Dr. Valeva. Student noted personal injuries that led to difficulty with the previous semester. Dr. Valeva pointed out the academic integrity issues present in the case.

Motion: To deny the request. (Babu/Ekici)
MOTION CARRIED 7 YES – 0 NO – 0 AB

d. Student D

Student and Dr. Valeva present. Student explained the struggles they encountered during the quizzes and final for a specific course.

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

e. Student E

Motion: To approve the request. (Ekici/Zhao)
MOTION CARRIED 7 YES – 0 NO – 0 AB

f. Student F

Student in attendance with Dr. Valeva. It was noted that the student has appealed previously. Dr. Valeva added that the program did not support the petition nor feel it was in the best interest of either party for the student to continue in the program.

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

g. Student G

Student present with Dr. Valeva. Student added that their personal issues prevented them from succeeding. Dr. Valeva stated that the department did not feel the student could be successful so were not supportive of the petition.

Motion: To deny the request. (Babu/Di Carmine)
MOTION CARRIED 7 YES – 0 NO – 0 AB

B. Business Administration

1. Request to waive the 6-hour C rule

a. Student A

Dr. Feld stated that the student is one course away from completion and the department fully supports.

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

b. Student B

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

c. Student C

Dr. Feld explained the student’s situation and that they have completed all of the program requirements.

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

d. Student D

Dr. Feld noted that she is supportive for one additional try with this student but has some concerns about the ability to be successful. She has advised the student to take lighter course loads.

Motion: To deny the request. (Babu/Ekici)
MOTION CARRIED 6 YES – 2 NO – 0 AB

e. Student E

Dr. Feld provided support and added that this student has experienced significant personal issues throughout the program

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

f. Student F

Dr. Feld explained that the two low grades were in second 8-week courses that occurred at the same time as the passing of the student’s father.

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

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

Dr. Feld noted that she is confident that the student can raise their GPA above the 3.0.

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

C. College Student Personnel

1. Request to hold an assistantship as a probationary student

Dr. Brines and Dr. Polubinsky were in attendance. Dr. Brines noted that the student showed signs of improvement during their last semester as an undergraduate.

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

D. Community and Economic Development

1. Request to hold an assistantship as a probationary student

Dr. Merrett was present and stated that he is confident in the student’s abilities after experiencing a severe personal injury. Dr. Merrett provided additional information regarding the workload and current employment situation that shows the student’s capabilities.

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

E. Education

1. Request to waive the 6-hour C rule

Student and Dr. LaPrad were in attendance. Student explained that they are a full-time teacher and has documentation that the school district had a very rough year with several things that took away from the time that they would normally have after hours to work on coursework.

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

F. Computer Science

1. Request to waiver the 6-hour C rule

Student and Dr. DeVolder were in attendance. It was noted that there was an academic integrity violation during the student’s academic career.

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


Meeting adjourned: 4:47 p.m.