Graduate Council Minutes
Friday, February 14, 2003
Attendance: Harvey Ballard, Joseph Bernt, Leona Cibrowski, John Day, Judith Edinger, Katherine Jellison, Jerrel Mitchell, Marilyn Poeppelmeyer, Josep Rota, Edwin Rowland, Arvind Singhal, Scott Sparks, Maureen Weissenrieder, Michael Willits, Jan Ross for Ed Yost, Julia Zimmerman
Staff: Katherine Tadlock, Anne Walker
Excused: Scott Carson, Eddith Dashiell, Glenn Doston, David Kidder, Andrea McClanahan, Raymie McKerrow, Charles McWeeney, Averell Overby, Paula Popovich
Absent: Bhavin Mehta
Guests: Mathew Adeyanjur, Steve Flahtery, K. Doroodian
Convened: 2:00 p.m.
1) Chair Report: A motion was made and approved unanimously to approve the January 10, 2003 minutes as written.
2) Katie Tadlock: Director of Graduate Student Services: Remarks
a) SEVIS Update: (SEE HANDOUT) The system continues to be very slow due to everyone using the same national system. Maureen asked if we could make ourselves competitive somehow and/or hire more people to enter the data. As Katie mentioned, it is the slowness of the system presenting the problem as well as everyone using the same system. Also, there are only certain people who can enter the information. We are now compliant with SEVIS and once the new batch systems are up and running, then the job of entering the data can actually be turned over to the data entry personnel. This will free up Katie, as she has had to take some of her time away from the International transcript evaluating process. Katie also noted because of the SEVIS reporting requirements, students needing to withdraw or drop below full-time status or students who have changed addresses need to contact ISFS.
b) Active Duty: (SEE HANDOUT) there are various rules concerning students called to active duty. Prior to the last day of classes, a student can cancel current quarter registration. A copy of their orders needs to be sent to the Veterans Certification Clerk in the Office of the Registrar. Students called to active duty after the fifth week of the quarter have the options of arranging for incomplete grades. If final exam week has begun, neither cancellation nor withdrawal is an option. Students may be able to complete final exams. For more information, refer to the Registrar’s Office. If a student is on graduate contract, it will need to be figured out how much work has been done and notify Graduate Appointments so that appropriate prorating of stipend can be done.
c) Language recommendations for admissions letters: (SEE HANDOUT)
Please read the handout regarding concerns and recommendations.
d) CGS- Council of Graduate Schools: (SEE HANDOUT)
There was some discussion again about changing the April 15th deadline to perhaps March 1st. There is concern about the April 15th deadline, as it is beyond the recommended date for issuing I-20s to foreign students for fall enrollment.
Katie isn’t sure yet what Raymie found out at his last meeting, but remembers that this was brought up a year ago and they wouldn’t change the date.
It was asked if all this information is sent to the departments. Per Katie, yes it is sent to the Grad Chairs and the departments as well. Katie encouraged departments looking for specific files or information to either send over a list of missing information or send a staff member to come look through the files. The latter is preferred. Mornings and Fridays are the best; Monday-Thursday 10-3 are not good times.
3) Maureen Weissenrieder: Proposed Policy on Curricular Oversight of International Programs Health Insurance (SEE HANDOUT) The following first reading was done and will be reviewed by council. There was no discussion. This will be brought up again at the March Grad Council meeting.
a) First Reading: It is proposed that a link be forged between the University International Council and Graduate Council so that any new international graduate program proposal or proposal to change the delivery channel or site of an existing graduate program be routed to the Curriculum Committee of the Graduate Council for their review and subsequent recommendation to the full Graduate Council. Currently, the Curriculum Committee of Graduate Council is authorized by the University Curriculum Council to review newly proposed graduate offerings or already existing programs that a unit wishes to offer on a site other than the Athens campus.
4) Scott Sparks – Curriculum Committee report (SEE HANDOUT)
a) Program review of School of Interdisciplinary Arts PhD Program. The Graduate Council Curriculum Committee agreed that the School of Interdisciplinary Arts PhD program is acceptable.
This report was approved by council.
b) MBA Program with China Northern Jiaotong University and the Chinese Academy of Railway Sciences.
This report was approved by council.
c) Executive MBA Program for the Wuhan Iron and Steel Company & Other Participating Chinese State-owned Enterprises (Hubei Provincial Government) There was a question as to whether OU’s program was comparable. Dr. Doroodian was there in the fall of 2001 and said it is definitely comparable.
This report was approved by council.
d) Master of Public Health Consortium Proposal
This report was approved by council.
e) Master of Science at Lancaster/Pickerington Campus of Ohio University
This report was approved by council.
f) Master of Economics – Financial Economic Track at Lancaster/Pickerington Campus of Ohio University
This report was approved by council.
5) Ed Rowland: Admission Requirements Committee (SEE HANDOUT)
a) The committee of Ballard, Dashiell, and Rowland reviewed the cases of 5 employees who desire to enroll in graduate courses. No conflict was found with all five, which was, Terry L. Douds, Robert Harrington, Ayanna Jordan, Greta Oliver, and Douglas Orr. There were no conflicts.
6) New Business:
a) Michael Willits, Graduate Student Senate will be announcing the official results of the Outstanding Graduate Student & Faculty Award at the March meeting. GSS continues to work on HOUK to make the process yet more efficient. Looking for ways to perhaps have 2 grants, 1 for original funding and 1 to fund travel/research. Maureen Weissenrieder suggested, and Joe Bernt agreed, checking with donors regarding endowments might be a good way to find the money for this. Also, Mike also mentioned that much work has been done on their website and suggested checking that out at www.ohio.edu/~gss
b) Anne asked that she be the one to make any copies of things that need to be passed out at the meetings. This way she can be sure to have a copy of everything for the Graduate Study’s files. Just let her know by calling 593-4122 or e-mailing her at walkera1@ohio.edu
c) OU-Office of Institutional Research (SEE HANDOUT) Statistics were discussed briefly in the February meeting and Raymie had the brief statistic report, regarding International Students enrolled for fall 2002, handed out at this meeting. More details can be provided, although they are quite lengthy.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 3:00 pm
Next Meeting: March 14, 2003, Baker Center, 334
