Graduate Studies

Graduate Council Minutes - November 5, 2018

3:00 – 5:00 p.m., Horrabin Hall 60/QC 2127

Members Present: C. Harbke, A. Hyde, J. Laurent, B. Locke (Vice Chair), J. McQuillan, S. Szyjka

Members Absent: C. Blackinton, H. Hemphill (Chair)

Guests Present: L. Oden, M. Bezold, K. Pawelko, J. Averbeck, A. Silberer, D. Alexander, T. Lough

Ex-Officio Present: M. Mossman

Others Present: A. Schulz

I. STUDENT APPEALS

A. Request to waive the 6-hour C rule

1. Health Sciences

Student was not present. Drs. Bezold and Oden were in support. Dr. Bezold noted that the student has shared numerous family health issues but has continued to work hard on the degree. She is very dedicated and engaged in class but is also very involved in the care of her family members. Dr. Bezold also added that the student plans to retake the courses that she received low grades. Dr. Harbke questioned the numerous undergraduate courses listed on the transcript. Dr. Bezold stated that the student takes classes that she finds interesting in addition to the required courses and is not trying to quickly finish her degree.

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

B. Request for a late withdrawal

1. Recreation, Park and Tourism Administration

Student was in attendance with Dr. Pawelko. The student explained that he came to WIU after living in another country for a significant period of time and had a hard time adjusting. He also dealt with several family issues during that first semester. Dr. Pawelko added the department’s support for the petition due to the significant personal issues that the student endured.

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


II. ANNOUNCEMENTS

A. Academic integrity incident reports filed in the School of Graduate Studies, October 2018 (1)

1. Resolved at instructor level (1)

B. Requests to serve as a reader on exit option committee,  October 2018 (1)

1. Biological Sciences (1) - Approved

C. Graduate Student Research and Professional Development Fund Recipients – Fall 2018

Ms. Schulz announced that the subcommittee reviewed 17 applications and were able to fund 9 of those. The full list of recipients is available on the School of Graduate Studies website.


III. GRADUATE CURRICULUM

A. Communication

1. Request for a 400-G level course

Motion: To consider all requests for a 400-G level course together. (Laurent/Hyde)
MOTION CARRIED 6 YES – 0 NO – 0 AB

a. COMM 428, Family Communication, 3 s.h.

b. COMM 430, Communication Training and Development, 3 s.h.

c. COMM 445, Advanced Computer-Mediated Communication, 3 s.h.

d. COMM 457, Social Influence, 3 s.h.

Dr. Locke noted the need to specify the difference between the graduate and undergraduate requirements. Dr. Averbeck responded that projects are done solo at the graduate level and are longer requiring more research and journal readings. Dr. Laurent asked if graduate students were expected to lead class at any point. Dr. Averbeck stated that yes, they are during seminars. Dr. McQuillan asked for clarification on COMM 445 and if the content is related to Computer Science at all. Dr. Averbeck responded that the content is about sending and receiving messages via social media and nothing with programming.

Motion: To approve the requests. (Laurent/Harbke)
MOTION CARRIED 6 YES – 0 NO – 0 AB

2. Request for a New Graduate (500 or 600-Level) Course

a. COMM 511, Health Communication, 3 s.h.

Council members noted that the prefix on the request form needed an additional “M”. Dr. Laurent asked about the reasoning for the course creation. Dr. Averbeck noted that a lot of students are interested in health communication and the department has the resources to offer the course.

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

b. COMM 512, Risk and Crisis Communication, 3 s.h.

Dr. Averbeck stated that the department is adding a 300-level course and this is the matching course at the graduate level. Dr. Laurent asked about projected enrollment. Dr. Averbeck responded that the course will be offered in a four semester rotation and they expect 10-15 students each time.

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

c. COMM 604, Internship Presentation, 1 s.h.

Dr. Averbeck explained that this is part of the new exit option that is being requested and that students have asked for this option. The internship has to be approved by the department prior to enrolling in this exit option. Dr. Harbke asked about locations that have been used previously for internships. Dr. Averbeck responded that different human resource offices, marketing firms, and select option on the WIU campus have been used.

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

3. Request to Change Graduate Program Requirements

Dr. Averbeck stated that the change reflects the internship option that was discussed. Dr. Locke asked about the different credit hours in the program requirements and Dr. Laurent questioned the electives listed versus the newly approved 400-G level courses. Dr. Averbeck noted that the differing credit hours depends on which exit option is chosen and the new courses will be available as electives but not listed specifically as required courses.

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

B. Law Enforcement and Justice Administration

1. Request for a 400-G level course

Motion: To consider all requests for a 400-G level course together. (McQuillan/Hyde)
MOTION CARRIED 6 YES – 0 NO – 0 AB

a. LEJA 414, Legal Aspects of Homeland Security and Terrorism, 3 s.h.

b. LEJA 416, Terrorism and Law Enforcement, 3 s.h.

Drs. Alexander and Lough presented the courses and stated that they provide the students with additional exposure to these areas. Dr. Lough added that it fills a need within the department as they do not currently have any 400-G level courses. Dr. Laurent asked about the difference between the two courses. Dr. Alexander stated that one is legal and one is investigative. Dr. Harbke questioned the requirement of earning a grade of “B” or better. Discussion was held and it was determined to remove the requirement from the requests.

Motion: To approve the requests with amendment. (McQuillan/Harbke)
MOTION CARRIED 6 YES – 0 NO – 0 AB

C. Speech Pathology

1. Request for a New Graduate (500 or 600-Level) Course

a. SPA 515, Autism and Special Populations, 2 s.h.

Dr. Silberer explained that this course replaces a seminar course that is currently being offered. This new course is needed as a mandatory course moving forward. Dr. McQuillan noted that a Computer Science professor, Dr. Ehrlich, has received a grant recently to develop apps to work with this population. Discussion was held regarding prerequisite language.

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

2. Request to Change Graduate Program Requirements

Dr. Silberer noted that this changes removes the seminar and replaces it with the newly approved course. The course being removed is being integrated into another course so the material is not being removed from the program.

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


IV. OTHER BUSINESS

None reported.

 

Meeting adjourned: 3:57 p.m.