Graduate Council Meeting
Minutes
November  9, 2001

Attendance:  Joseph Bernt, Harvey Ballard, Mehmet Celenk, Howard Dewald, Averell Overby, Paula Popovich, Marilyn Poeppelmeyer, Edwin Rowland, Scott Sparks, Edward Yost, Leona Cibrowski, Bobbi Conliffe, Daniel Innis, Charles McWeeney, Josep Rota, Julia Zimmerman, Derek Bleyle, Danielle Johnson

Staff:  Raymie McKerrow, Katherine Tadlock, Jennifer Francone

Excused:  Katherine Jellison, Arvind Singhal

Absent:  Bhavin Mehta, Glenn Doston, Roger Radcliff, Maureen Weissenrieder, Holly Rivers

Convened:  2:10 P.M.

Chairs Report:  Minutes were moved for approval and passed.  Chair Bernt passed out final Graduate Council members list and committee assignments.

Interim Associate Provost for Graduate Studies Report:  The latest figures put us at 575 doctoral students (a loss of one from last year) and 1952 masters students (a loss of 106 from last year).  Of these, 898 are international students (as compared to 930 last year; the proportion remains the same [35% international]).  Dr. Rota stated that no major university has lost a majority of its graduate students for this year.  Next year is the primary concern.  It is estimated that could be a loss of 10-30% in international enrollment which may affect subsidy.  This will impact some departments harder than others (e.g., physics, engineering, international studies).  Dr. Rota stated that departments should try to increase United States recruitment efforts, understand that most international late admits will not come, and target students from countries that are less affected by current international situation.  Drs. McKerrow and Rota will send out a memo to departments stating the implication of a decrease in international enrollment.  Dr. Rota also stated the U.S. Department of Education has more money for international students, however, the State Department has implemented more barriers for international students to come to this country to study.  Dr. Tadlock stated that international students are aware that visas are more difficult to get now.  Dr. Rota also stated that I-20s have to be sent to embassies and they are asking to meet with the student.  This requires more time because the embassy also does a background check before meeting with the student.

Decisions have been made and monies distributed for the recruitment and program development award.

Proposals for the graduate stipend grant totaling over $500,000 have been received and will be reviewed.  Decisions will be made, if at all possible, by the end of the month.  There is a committee to review the proposals with each college represented.

At the moment it is still too early to indicate implications for next year regarding tuition scholarship support. Dr. McKerrow will have a better sense of the budget, both for this year and next, at the February meeting.

A proposal for general fee reduction plan will be going forward to the Provost to initiate a phased reduction in the current $430 per quarter fee not covered by tuition scholarship.  There is an ad hoc committee reviewing the proposal.  The committee is looking at a gradual 50% reduction over the next five years which will be a cost of $1.2 million for the university.  Dr. McKerrow is hoping to get the proposal into this year?s budget consideration.  Approximately 25% of institutions do not charge a general fee.  Ohio University charges a higher rate than most other institutions.

Dr. McKerrow suggested a priority list of the issues from the previous meeting.  He broke them into two lists.  The first is:

1. 50 credit hour rule
2. continuous enrollment
3. posthumous degree. Chair Bernt inquired as to why it was important to have such a policy.  Dr. McKerrow explained that there was one at the undergraduate level and it would make awarding one easier.  Dr. McKerrow offered to help draft an initial policy.
4. second doctoral degree
5. TOEFL requirements/catalog language
6. 135 PhD rule and transfer rules at doctoral level
7. readmission policy clarification on time to degree  This policy deals with how to handle students who have not completed their degree in the appropriate amount of time (six years for masters and seven for doctoral).  Dr. Sparks inquired about how this applies to the 260 hour rule.  Dr. McKerrow responded that it has no direct affect, however, if a student receives an extension to complete their degree, the hours continue to accumulate.  Currently the policy is unclear about whether the clock starts over or if it is just an extension.  Dr. McKerrow would like for the language to be clearer, possibly suggesting the department and student having a contract for completion time.  Chair Bernt believes that it is important that students complete their degree and not to have a policy that discourages that.

The second list is:

a.  graduate faculty status

b.     bridge courses

c.      part-time/non-degree enrollment

d.     compensation for off-campus programs

e.     program reviews

Graduate Certificate Program Review:  Certificate programs are non-degree programs.  The following is an attempt to provide an overview of the central issues involved in considering new certificate proposals that will come before the Graduate Council.  Some of the information reported here is from a recent national study of certificate programs (1998).  An increasing number of online certificate programs are being offered by Ohio University?s Regional Higher Education and Lifelong Learning.  The benefit to these programs is that they bring back dollars to the university since most participants are fee-payers and it could increase enrollment.  Dr. Sparks inquired about who grants permission to offer a program and Dr. Cibrowski stated that the college grants permission.  It is easier for interdisciplinary programs to be offered at the certificate level versus the degree level.

1. Types:  Some are linked to an existing degree program, some are stand-alone and some are both.  76% of universities surveyed report ?both? as common in their programs. For example, Ohio University?s Gerontology Certificate program admits both types of students.
2. Degree level required:  Some require only a bachelor?s degree, while others require a master?s degree.  Approximately 70% of institutions offer both varieties.
3. Single or multi-disciplinary orientation:  Approximately 65% offer both varieties
4. State requirements for review of certificate programs (and RACGS policy permits both ?linked? and ?stand-alone? programs) are as follows:
1. Certificates awarded with an existing degree do NOT require further review at the state level.
2. Certificates requiring less than 31 quarter hours, where all courses have gone through normal institutional review do NOT require further review at the state level.
3. Certificates requiring more than 31 quarter hours MUST submit proposals to RACGS for review/approval. Criteria for review are provided in the RACGS policy/procedures guidelines.
5. Credits required:  This varies considerably across programs.  Ohio University?s gerontology program requires 23 credits, health policy requires 21 credits, music requires 30 credits, and women?s studies is `linked? only and requires 17 credits. This is consistent with other institutions requirements nationally, the average minimum/maximum is 14-22 semester hours.
6. Admission requirements:  This is consistent with normal institutional non-degree? practices.  For example, a program may require GREs and recommendation letters, essay, resume for non-degree applicant or not per their usual practices for other degree and/or non-degree students entering their graduate programs. The minimum Graduate Student Services requirements: for post-bacc., official transcript from institute granting bachelors degree. Nationally, some programs may permit credit prior to admission (75% allow inclusion of courses prior to admission?up to one-third of total certificate can be earned this way).  Dr. Sparks inquired if the number of hours limitation that is imposed on non-degree students affects students in certificate programs.  Dr. Tadlock stated that students in certificate programs are coded differently and are, therefore, not affected by the restriction.  Dr. Cibrowski noted that students cannot take any additional hours after completing a certificate program without being admitted to a degree program.  Chair Bernt inquired about if the certificate program is campus based and whether or not O.U. receives subsidy.  Dr. McKerrow replied that it depends on the delivery of the certificate program.  If the program meets once on the Athens campus, then O.U. receives subsidy.
7. Tuition costs: 96% of institutions charge the same tuition as for other graduate courses.  This may vary in specialized on-line/distance education offerings. 
8. Delivery mode:  At the time of the survey, only 20% indicated using internet for certificate courses and about 12% offered courses via video/cable. 
9. Approval process:  Whether a program needs to go to RACGS or not, it requires institutional approval.  That process includes review by Graduate Council, University Curriculum Council, and finally Trustees approval as a new program.  Nationally, 90% require Graduate Council approval, 70% require academic Vice President approval; interestingly, only 35% require Trustee approval.  Dr. Cibrowski commented that O.U. requires potential new certificate programs to go before the Trustees.
10. Post-Certificate Graduate Admission:  Nationally, in 40% of cases, completion of a certificate may assist in gaining admission to a degree program; in 50% of the cases, it has no effect.  The possession of a certificate becomes one more piece of information in making a decision; how many hours to transfer will vary depending on the program applied to.  Depending of the department offering the certificate program, transfer hours could be an issue.  Students can use a certificate to benefit or augment their degree.

One issue is academic integrity.  Also, the facultys willingness to participate in the offering of a certificate program.  Due to the current economic climate, some universities are seeing a growth in enrollment.  However, due to our geographical location, we are not seeing this trend. 

The tuition revenue from certificate programs may offset any potential subsidy loss.  The Resource Distribution Plan is designed to encourage departments to offer off-campus programs by putting some of the dollars earned back into the department?s budget. 

Admissions Requirement Committee Report:  The committee reviewed Krista Antle, Jodi Black, Karen Deardorff, April Henderson, Heather Humphreys, Christopher Morris, Sharran Parkinson, Amy Young Swatzel, Sergio Ulloa, Sanjeev Gunawardena, Allyson Kozak, Gayle Matheny, and Loyd Mbabu for potential conflict of interested.  It was noted that Loyd is now pursuing a Ph.D. and that Kozak has withdrawn her application.  It was passed that no one had a conflict of interest.

New Business:  Dr. Dewald asked why health insurance was taken out all in the fall quarter for graduate students on contract.  Ms. Francone explained that it was because the student is billed for it in the fall and also that not every department writes a three quarter contract.

Adjourned:  3:03 P.M.