Office of the Provost


GRADUATE COUNCIL

GRADUATE COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
for the
SEPTEMBER, 2005
Meeting

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: Linda Schwartzstein (Acting Chair; Provost Office), Peter Becker (SCS), Meg Brindle (CVPA), 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 attendees:Wendy Payton, Director of Special Projects, Office of the Provost.

I. Call to Order

    Linda Schwartzstein called the meeting to order at 1:32 pm.

II. Approval of August Minutes

    The minutes of the August 24, 2005 meeting were approved as written.

III. Announcements

    None

IV. Discussion Items

    1. Graduate Funding (continued)

      Linda Schwartzstein asked Council members for feedback from their units regarding the report on graduate funding, which outlined three possible options. Daniel Menasce responded that IT&E faculty feel that increasing the stipend to $20,000 would attract better quality students, and that the increased stipend should apply to incoming and current students.

      Peter Becker stated that SCS faculty prefer Option 2B, which would offer an increased stipend to new students. Another suggestion was to offer a stipend of $15,000 to incoming and possibly current students; a higher level stipend would be available to students on a competitive basis among all the units.

      Cathy Rudder and Steve White both mentioned that their units preferred tuition waivers rather than the stipends. Steve White stated that CEHD would support Options 1 or 2, because they realize that other units need that for recruiting. Further, he wondered if the money could be decentralized so that units could decide which option they would follow.

      Linda Schwartzstein responded that that was not an option being considered at this time. (SPP indicated that they prefer (1) tuition waivers, or (2) increased stipends. CAS prefers Option 2B.)

      Daniel Menasce stated that IT&E faculty would prefer offering the high potential stipend to second year doctoral students who have a proven track record. Linda Schwartzstein responded that the awards were meant for recruiting. She also suggested that if the high potential award is modified, it raises the question as to whether the university has a minimum standard and a continuing standard. Although the university does not at this time, Daniel Menasce responded that IT&E does have minimum and continuing standards.

      Phillip Buchanan stated that increasing the stipend to make it very competitive and make fewer awards would serve the university better than more awards with a lower stipend.

    2.Bridge Program for three-year degrees (continued)

      Linda Schwartzstein stated that Admissions had done some research on international three year degrees and determined some that are equivalent to a US degree. She suggested postponing discussion to the October meeting and inviting Andrew Flagel to discuss this topic.

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

    Proposal from the College of Arts and Sciences
    Contact Person: Jamie Cooper, 3-8414, jcooperb@gmu.edu

      New Courses (Action Item): Approved
      ASTR 590 Selected Topics in Astronomy and Astrophysics

      Modified Courses (Announcement):
      SOCW 691 Integrative Seminar
      PSYC 810 Psychological Assessment I

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

    Proposal from the School of Information Technology & Engineering
    Contact Person: Daniel Menasce, 3-1537, Menasce@gmu.edu

      Modified Courses (Announcement):
      CS 780 Computational Vision
      CS 809 Scaling Technologies for E-business
      CS 811 Research Topics in Machine Learning and Influence
      CS 815 Parallel Computation
      CS 817 Neural Networks
      CS 844 Pattern Recognition
      CS 852 Graphical Real- Time Stimulation
      CS 910 Research Topics in Artificial Intelligence
      CS 915 Research Topics in Parallel Computation
      IT 811 Research Topics in Machine Learning and Influence
      IT 815 Parallel Computation
      IT 910 Research Topics in Artificial Intelligence
      IT 915 Research Topics in Parallel Computation

      Deleted Courses (Announcement):
      CS 812 Advanced Natural Language Processing
      CS 816 Parallel Architecture, Algorithms, and Applications
      CS 858 Logic Models in AI
      IT 812 Advanced Natural Language Processing
      IT 816 Parallel Architecture, Algorithms, and Applications
      IT 858 Logic Models in AI

      New Certificate (Action Item): Approved
      Computer Science

    Proposal from the School of Public Policy
    Contact Person: Catherine Rudder, 3-4996, arudder@gmu.edu

VII. Adjournment

    The meeting was adjourned at 2:05 pm.

Comments and Suggestions | Privacy Statement | Disclaimer

MSN-3A2 4400 University Drive, Fairfax, Virginia 22030
Phone: 703-993-8770 | FAX: 703-993-8871

Copyright © 2008 George Mason University