Graduate Council Meeting
Minutes
March 1, 2002

Attendance:  Joseph Bernt, Harvey Ballard, Mehmet Celenk, Eddith Dashiell, Howard Dewald,  Averell Overby, Paula Popovich, Marilyn Poeppelmeyer, Edwin Rowland, Arvind Singhal, Edward Yost, Leona Cibrowski, Judith Edinger, Glenn Doston, Daniel Innis, Charles McWeeney, Maureen Weissenrieder, Derek Bleyle.

Staff:  Raymie McKerrow, Katherine Tadlock, Jennifer Francone, Anne Walker

Excused:  Scott Sparks, Josep Rota

Absent:  Walter Dekeseredy, Katherine Jellison, Bhavin Mehta, Roger Radcliff, Julia Zimmerman, Danielle Johnson, Holly Rivers

Guests:  Matthew Adeyanju:  Professor/Director of Health Services, Health Science Curriculum

   Sharon Mullen: Asst. Professor, Nursing

             Sharon Denham: Assoc. Professor, Nursing

             Charles Parks: Prof. Chair, Industrial & Mechanical                             Engineering

Convened:  2:15 P.M.

Chairs Report:  Derek Bleyle moved to pass the February minutes.  The motion was seconded.  February minutes were passed.

Associate Provost for Graduate Studies Report:  Several policies are being introduced by the Policies and Procedures committee for consideration.  They are as follows:

a.      Catalog copy changes:  45/50 credit hour policy; MA level transfer policy   
b.      Procedure # 20.109 Graduate Employment
c.      Procedure # 17.500 Graduate Council
d.      Procedure # 28.102 Contract Grievance Board
e.      Procedure # 20.103 Dress and Appearance Rights

The committee is continuing to deliberate on catalog copy changes with respect to second doctoral degrees, minimum hours for doctoral degree, and the graduate certificate guidelines.  Once policy is determined, the Office of Graduate Studies will notify the Registrar’s office.

OPIE:  Dr. McKerrow encouraged discussion regarding the change proposal handed out at the last meeting.  He needs to report back to OPIE.

Dr. McKerrow included as well, a new guidelines document and two new policies for consideration.  They were:

a.     The International Graduate Admission Guidelines for Degree Equivalency Policy/Procedure Draft:  The Associate Provost will make final decisions regarding degree equivalency.   It is not certain that it is necessary for Graduate Council approval, but council needs to be aware of the proposed policy and Dr. McKerrow would like their reaction as well.

           b.  Procedure # 18.004 (Last revised    2/28/02) – Graduate Faculty:  This is a work in progress and has received varied response from the Colleges.  Some colleges oppose information on the web. There is no intent here to re-create a Graduate Faculty. That should be very clear.  The goal is to again, clarify what OU, as an institution, should have (or not) on its website. We need to verify what our actual                      policy is—in light of the fact that the web site contains an outdated policy [procedure #18.004]. 

               c.   POSTHUMOUS GRADUATE DEGREE:  (Last revised 2/28/02) This has been considered by the Registrar’s office, GSS, and Dr. McKerrow.  He is asking that the appropriate committee evaluate as one paralleling the existing undergraduate policy.

STIPEND:  The minimum stipend level for the 2002-2003 academic year will be $2100 per quarter.

GENERAL FEE:  Dr. McKerrow believes  the Provost is committed to the General Fee reduction plan.  This should not be put off a year, there is no question the cost will be higher.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS COMMITTEE:  The Admission Requirement Committee, (Ballard, Dashiell, Rowland) reviewed the cases of four employees who desired to enroll in graduate programs.  The committee agreed there was no conflict of interest for the following individuals: Tim Creamer, Vicky Foster, Monica Jones, and Terence Oliver.  There was a motion to accept “Conflict of Interest Reviews” and it was passed.

CURRICULUM COMMITTEE REPORT:

a.     The Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering Program at OUEastern was proposed.  The committee had no dissent regarding this proposal and this was approved.  Health Care Service Administration. 

b.     There was a motion to approve the Master of Science in Nursing.  The committee had no dissent regarding this proposal and this was approved.  

          c.   Health Care:  The committee had a positive   majority vote on this program but there were a number of concerns. There was much discussion regarding the guidelines for implementing and the maintenance of the web programs, as well as concerns regarding thequality and integrity. It was mentioned that we do not want to compromise the learning process of the student. It was suggested perhaps we begin in the local areas of S.E and Central Ohio before we roll out Internationally. The general consensus was, in the end, web programs are going to be developed. OU may as well be a  leader in this. Mistakes may be made but if the Integrity were not compromised, it  would be best to proceed and entertain the idea, rather than say we did nothing.  It is anticipated that there will be about twenty-five students. It was agreed that it would be approved on a trial basis with the condition to report back in April and to review in two years.

POLICIES AND REGULATIONS COMMITTEE:

CATALOG COPY CHANGES:    This policy, regarding the 50 credit rule policy issue, was read. It was suggested we need to re-affirm what our policy is regarding the current graduate requirements and inform the Registrars office. This was voted on and approved.

TRANSFER OF CREDIT:  The most significant change was item number four, in that no more than 25% of the total graded credit requirements may be transferred to the degree program. The change was made due to a concern that a student should not be treated differently because of a transfer of credit.  The question was raised in reference to number three (transfer credits), and whether this was being checked.  Katie Tadlock confirmed that Graduate Student Services confirms that the person who taught the class was indeed graduate faculty.  The question was raised as to why we would restrict the amount of transfer hours for graduate students only.  It was mentioned that this policy is going on the premise of “actual course work” that was completed at the graduate level. Since this does not go to print for two years, it was suggested and supported that there is ample time for further consideration.

Due to time constraints, the following were distributed and will be reviewed in the April meeting.

Procedure #18.004 – Graduate Faculty

Procedure #28.102 – Graduate Contract Grievance Board

Procedure #20-103 – Dress and Appearance Rights for Graduate Assistants

Procedure #17-500 – Scope and Function

Procedure #20-109 – Employment of Graduate Students on Graduate Contracts

OPIE TOEFL EXAM:  Graduate Student Senate President, Derek Bleyle has been collecting information from international student colleagues on a proposal for revising this.  There was a fair amount of feedback, which was submitted to graduate council.  There was some discussion about when the exam should be administered and the question of OPIE courses that would be paid for by scholarships. 

Meeting was adjourned at 3:58 P.M.