Office of the Provost

Graduate Council meetings are held monthly, August through May, in Mason Hall Room D5, from 1:30-3:00. See schedule for exact dates. All meetings are open to the general George Mason University community.

Members attending: Peter Stearns (Chair), Linda Schwartzstein (Provost Office), Peter Becker (SCS), Phillip Buchanan (SOM), Jamie Cooper (CAS), Joan Isenberg (CEHD), Terrence Lyons (ICAR), Daniel Menasce (IT&E), Jeff Offutt (IT&E), Teresa Panniers (CNHS), Cathy Rudder (SPP), Hugh Sockett (CAS), Steve White (CEHD).

Special attendee: Andrew Flagel, Dean of Admissions, Arun Sood, School of Information Technology and Engineering, Wendy Payton, Director of Special Projects, Office of the Provost

I. Call to Order

Peter Stearns called the meeting to order at 1.35 pm.

II. Approval of May Minutes and June Special Meeting Minutes

Minutes of the May 18 and June 9, 2005 meetings were approved as written.

III. Announcements

1.M.S. in Accounting has been re-activated.

2. Andrew Flagel stated that the graduate application was printed and published by deadline this year and was available on August 15. The paper application is out and the chart is no longer a part of the application, and is now entirely online.

IV. Discussion Items

1. After some discussion, Council members agreed to the following schedule of submission deadlines on a trial basis:

MEETING DATES	PROPOSAL SUBMISSION DEADLINES
August 24, 2005	August 9, 2005 NO CHANGE
September 21, 2005	September 6, 2005 NO CHANGE
October 19, 2005	September 27, 2005
November 16, 2005	October 25, 2005
December 14, 2005	November 22, 2005
January 18, 2006	January 3, 2006 NO CHANGE
February 15, 2006	January 24, 2006
March 8, 2006	February 21, 2006 NO CHANGE
April 19, 2006	March 28, 2006
May 17, 2006	April 25, 2006

2. Graduate Funding

Linda Schwartzstein stated that the Council had started last year to explore how effective the High Potential GRA Program is in attracting the caliber students Mason hopes to attract and the university’s needs for additional graduate student funding. At that time the Provost made a commitment to request from the central budget group a commitment of another $500,000 for graduate support starting next year, and an additional $500,000 each year after that, for a total of $2,000,000 over the next four years in additional graduate support.

The Council also considered last year the most effective way to use that additional support and whether Mason should continue the High Potential program as it is. The Council also questioned whether the university should impose minimum standards for that program, which was the policy in the past but had been abolished. A committee was formed and met over the summer. The committee proposed the following three options for enhancing support to graduate students:

Option 1: TWO-TIER SYSTEM Use new money to create a prestigious, high-stipend, named assistantship program. Leave High Potential GRA program in place.

Option 2: DOUBLE HP GRA STIPEND Use all of the new money to increase the stipend for the High Potential GRA award.

Option 3: MORE TUITION WAIVERS Use new money to give out-of-state students who hold a graduate assistantship the difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition. Leave High Potential GRA program in place.

Several Council members expressed interest in Option 3 as a way of attracting more out-of-state students. Cathy Rudder asked if information was available on volume of applications from out-of-state students. Andrew Flagel offered to provide the Council with data on volume by unit and a means to access the unit information.

After further discussion, Linda Schwartzstein commented that the committee did consider the possibility of eliminating the High Potential program altogether and the funds would go into one of these other options. The committee did not feel this was the best option. (Discussion will be continued at the September meeting.)

3. Bridge Program for Three-Year Degrees

Linda Schwartzstein reported to the Council on how some institutions are responding to international students who have completed a three year program and would like to enroll in graduate studies. In a Masters Path program or Bridge program the unit would select a set of courses (30 credits) for the student to complete during what would be a bridge year, after which the student would be allowed to pursue graduate study in that unit. Completing the bridge year would not result in the student receiving an undergraduate degree.

Phillip Buchanan expressed concern that not all degree programs are the same, especially when comparing European institutions. Andrew Flagel pointed out that because of accreditation issues, the university would have to have an institution policy on some programs being equivalent to a US bachelor’s.

4. Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Computer Science

Arun Sood stated that the certificate is intended for two groups of individuals: The first group would be for students applying for a graduate program who need prerequisite courses, or individuals who would like to change their discipline and obtain a masters degree. The second group is made up of students who want to get an equivalent of a bachelor’s degree in computer science. Track one is made up of undergraduate courses, while track two includes graduate courses that can be counted toward a masters program.

5. Continuous Registration Interpretation

Linda Schwartzstein, responding to an email request from Jim Finkelstein, School of Public Policy, stated that SPP was seeking to change the policy that students maintaining continuous registration be allowed to register for courses other than the current 999 series courses for one credit.

Provost Stearns commented that there could be an advantage for students, particularly if a new course was being offered that pertained directly to the dissertation.

Andrew Flagel raised the concern that international students might not have enough course work and could be out of status.

Teresa Panniers suggested a “place holder.” Andrew Flagel thought that was a possibility with 999 and zero credits.

Council agreed to seek feedback from the University Registrar and the Office of International Programs and Services. (Discussion will be continued at the September meeting.)

V. Old Business

none

VI. New Business

Proposal from the College of Education and Human Development
Contact Person: Joan Isenberg, 3-2037,Jisenber@gmu.edu

Modified Courses (Announcement):
EDCD 652 Introduction to Substance Abuse Counseling
EDCD 654 Counseling, Ethics and Consultation in Community Agencies
EDCD 656 Diagnosis and Treatment Planning for Mental Health Professionsls

Proposal from the Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution
Contact Person: Terrence Lyons, 3-1336,tlyons1@gmu.edu

New Course (Action Item): Approved
CONF 749 World Religions, Violence, and Conflict Resolution

Proposal from the School of Management
Contact Person: Phillip Buchanan, 3-1129,Buchanan@gmu.edu

New Course (Action Item): Approved
MBA 726 Negotiations

Closing Comments

Provost Stearns asked the units to review their 3-1-1 programs during the semester and be prepared to discuss them at the December or January Grad Council meeting.

Peter Becker requested guidance for dual masters programs with international institutions. Wendy Payton will prepare a template to be presented at the October meeting.

VII. Adjournment at 2:46 pm.