Office of the Provost


GRADUATE COUNCIL

GRADUATE COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
for the
Wednesday, Oct. 17


Members attending:Peter Stearns (Chair), Linda Schwartzstein (Provost Office), Peter Becker (COS), Jamie Cooper (CHSS), Rick Diecchio (for Peter Becker, COS), Yariv Ephraim (IT&E), Chris Hill (SPP), Joan Isenberg (CEHD), ), Roy Hinton (SOM), Daniel Menasce (IT&E), ), Linda Miller (CVPA), Agnieszka Paczynska (ICAR), Ellen Rodgers (CEHD), James Vail (CHHS).

Special Attendees:Robert Ehrlich, Chair, Physics & Astronomy, COS; Andrew Flagel, Dean, Admissions Office; Jennifer Flagel, Director, Technical Projects, EP&A; Donald Gantz, Chair, Applied Information Technology, IT&E; James Gardner, Chair, Music, CVPA; Anastasia Kitsantas, Associate Professor, CEHD; Victoria Salmon, Director, Graduate Studies, CVPA; Alice Watts, Academic Coordinator, CVPA..

I. Call to Order

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

II. Approval of May Minutes

    The minutes of the September 19, 2007 meeting were approved as written
III. Announcements

        The Provost commented that the visiting committee for the review of the proposed Ph.D. in Sociology was on campus.  The committee noted that this proposal was written in such a way that it would have real impact on the field, not just regionally but nationally.  Commendations to those who worked on the proposal.

IV. Discussion Items

    A.  Inactivation of Degree Programs (Karen Gentemann)

    Karen Gentemann presented the following to the Council:

    Policies and Procedures Affecting All Students (p 29 under “Academic Policies”)

    Beginning with the third sentence under “Knowledge of University Policies”:   “When the university or one of its academic units modifies a program or makes changes in course requirements, grading procedures, or the level of qualitative performance expected of its students for acceptance into particular programs, academic standing, or graduation, the changes apply to all students from that term forward regardless of enrollment status.  Students enrolled in terminated or inactivated baccalaureate or master’s programs will have six years to complete their programs.”

    Andrew Flagel suggested that there be some additional language that says, “Reasonable consideration will be given to students who enter the university under programmatic articulations.”

    Chris Hill and Daniel Menasce expressed concern that the existing language concerning modifications to programs by academic units is confusing and needs to be clarified.  Linda Schwartzstein agreed to provide Council with language indicating students’ degree requirements are fixed by catalog year.

    Provost Stearns asked Council for approval based on the clarification to the current language that will be provided by Linda Schwartzstein.  A motion was made and Council approved the first proposal.

    Final approval to terminate or inactivate a program rests with the Provost.  Notification of the official status of such programs will be made by the Provost to the following:
    Department Chair
    Admissions
    Registrar
    Dean

    Provost Stearns stated that it is his responsibility to notify the Board of Visitors and SCHEV of the termination or inactivation of a program and requested Linda Schwartzstein to develop language for this notification procedure. No formal action was taken on the second proposal.

VI. New Business

VII. Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 1:58 p.m.