Office of the Provost - George Mason University

GRADUATE COUNCIL

GRADUATE COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
for the
APRIL 18, 2007
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:Peter Stearns (Chair), Linda Schwartzstein (Provost Office), Peter Becker (COS), Jamie Cooper (CHSS), Yariv Ephraim (IT&E), Roy Hinton (SOM), Joan Isenberg (CEHD), Terrence Lyons (ICAR), Linda Miller (CVPA), Catherine Rudder (SPP), Hugh Sockett (CHSS), James Vail (CHHS), Steve White (CEHD).

Special Attendees: Robert Ehrlich, Chair, Physics & Astronomy, COS; Andrew Flagel, Dean, Admissions Office; Wendy Payton, Director, Special Projects, Office of the Provost; Anthony Stefanidis, Earth Systems & Geoinformation Sciences; David Walnut, Professor, Mathematical Sciences.

I. Call to Order

The Provost called the meeting to order at 1:30 p.m.

II. Approval of March Minutes

The minutes of the March 19, 2007 meeting were approved as written

III. Announcements

Provost Stearns called Council members’ attention to a list of proposed new degree programs that are likely to come before the Council during the next academic year.

IV. Discussion Items

A. Graduate Dismissal (Susan Jones)

Susan Jones, University Registrar, reviewed the dismissal/termination policy approved in the Graduate Academic Policies Committee, and requested Council approval:

Eligibility for dismissal/termination from graduate program
Dismissal pertains to degree status; termination pertains to non-degree status. Students are eligible for dismissal or termination when they accumulate in their graduate or non-degree graduate academic record two grades of “F” or nine hours of unsatisfactory grades “C” or “F.” Different colleges may have more restrictive standards.

After grading for a semester, the Registrar’s Office will identify students whose entire academic record makes them eligible for dismissal/termination.
The Registrar’s Office will: notify the students through e-mail of this pending status and their right to appeal; and send a list of students to the Deans.
Students will appeal through their Dean’s Office by the deadline; Vice Provost’s approval of the appeal is required.
Students whose appeal is approved will be able to continue attending, and will be coded so that the original deficient grades that made them eligible for dismissal or termination do not prompt a new notice each semester.
Dean’s offices will forward to the Registrar a list of students who do not appeal or whose appeals are denied. The Registrar’s Office will place a dismissal or termination notation on the students’ transcripts. Any future registered classes will be administratively dropped.
Students who continue to attend based on a successful appeal in a previous semester who then receive another unsatisfactory grade will be dismissed or terminated by the Registrar, and a notation made on the transcript.
Such students may petition their dean to continue their studies despite thedismissal or termination. Dean’s and Vice Provost’s approval would both be required. The transcript would still note the dismissal at the end of one semester, and the Dean’s Over-ride the next semester of attendance.
Dismissed students “may not take additional course work at Mason.” Terminated students “are no longer eligible to take courses in the program, but may apply to [a] degree program or take courses in other programs through nondegree studies.”University Catalog, Academic Policies section.

The Council approved the policy and language as stated above. (The form approved for dismissal/termination is available at the link for “Graduate Dismissal.”)

B. Electronic Theses and dissertations (ETD) Program (continued from February) (John Zenelis)

John Zenelis told Council members that the current ETD proposal reflects the changes requested by Council at its February 2007 meeting.

The Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETD) Program was approved by Council.

C. Graduate Application Process (Hugh Sockett)

Hugh Sockett expressed concerns about the graduate admissions process and its impact on units’ ability to recruit the highest quality students. After some discussion the Council agreed to have the Graduate Academic Policies Committee, with admissions processors included, review the current graduate admissions process across the university.

D. Official Transcript Evaluations (Daniel Menasce) (postponed to May)

E. Presidential Scholars Program (Linda Schwartzstein)

Linda Schwartzstein advised Council members that beginning next year (2007-2008) units submitting a nomination for the Presidential Scholars program will have to include both the student’s grades and GRE scores even if the unit does not require the GRE.

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

New Course (Action Item):Approved

EDCI 570

Proposal from The College of Health and Human Services
Contact Person: James D. Vail, 3-1913,jvail@gmu.edu

Modified Course (Announcement):
GCH 712 Introduction to Epidemiology
HAP 735 Risk Analysis in Health and Bioscience(submitted in error; withdrawn following the meeting)

Proposal from The College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Contact Person: Jamie S. Cooper, 3-8414,jcooperb@gmu.edu

New Course (Action Item):Approved