GRADUATE COUNCIL
FOR THE
FEBRUARY 20, 2008 MEETING
Members attending: Peter Stearns (Chair), Jamie Cooper (CHSS), Yariv Ephraim (IT&E), Chris Hill (SPP), Roy Hinton (SOM), Daniel Menasce (IT&E ), Agnieszka Paczynska (ICAR), Ellen Rodgers (CEHD), Victoria Salmon (for Miller, CVPA), James Vail (CHHS), Richard Wagner (CHSS).
Special Attendees: Andrew Flagel, Dean, Admissions Office; Susan Jones, University Registrar; Wendy Payton, Assistant Provost, Academic Affairs.
I. Call to Order-
Provost Stearns called the meeting to order at 1:30 pm.
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The minutes of the January 23, 2008 meeting were amended to reflect that the Volgenau School of Information Technology & Engineering has withdrawn three proposed new concentrations (Business and Economics, Law and Public Policy, and Health Care and Services Industry) in the MS in E-Commerce degree program, and will instead develop these as specializations within the degree program.
The Council approved the amendment as described above and the remainder of the minutes as written.
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The Provost discussed the possibility of declaring a two-year moratorium on the creation of new Ph.D. programs (for calendar year 08 and 09) due to current budget uncertainties, and the university’s efforts to increase graduate funding. Provost Stearns stated that he would discuss this with the deans and directors at their meeting the following day. He asked Council members to let him know if they had any negative feed-back.
A. Homeland Security website (Wendy Payton)
Wendy Payton stated that she met with academic units to discuss the use the term “homeland security” in their programs. As a result of those discussions, academic units agreed that the term “homeland security” would not be used in degree or certificate titles but may be used in concentration titles. A website will be developed highlighting programs with homeland security content.
B. 3-1-1 Programs (Peter Stearns)
The Provost stated that when he first came to Mason he was surprised that the university didn’t have more Master’s programs with 3-1-1 opportunities for undergraduates. At that time there didn’t seem to be an interest in increasing the number of programs offering the 3-1-1 option. The Provost stated that he wanted to revisit this issue to view where the university currently is, with the possibility that the university is making a request to the Robertson Family Fund to get support with the 3-1-1 option prominently mentioned. If we could more widely advertise the availability of 3-1-1 programs for qualified students, it would benefit the undergraduate admissions effort and the masters programs.
Susan Jones responded that she had prepared a report for the Council on students in 3-1-1 accelerated programs: There are 284 students who have the 3-1-1 on their record; there are 84 students who have completed both their bachelors and their masters degree; there are 83 students have completed their bachelors and are eligible to go into the masters degree; and 51 students are actively working on their bachelors degrees. The Provost asked Susan Jones to prepare a list by programs where accelerated option is available, which would then be distributed to Council members by the Council secretary. He further requested that units with programs not listed take a look to see what can be done to provide further facilitation.
Andrew Flagel spoke briefly about the advantages of offering Bachelors/Accelerated Masters degree programs to attract “high profile undergraduates. The advantage such programs offer can be maximized when tied to ‘honors’ for entering freshmen.” He offered to provide Council members with information to be distributed with the 3-1-1 report Susan Jones would prepare.
VI. New Business
Proposal from the College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Contact Person: Jamie S. Cooper, 3-8414, jcooperb@gmu.edu
Modified Certificate (Announcements):
Women’s Studies
Modified Concentrations (Announcements):
Women’s Studies
Proposal from the College of Health and Human Services
Contact Person: James D. Vail, 3-1913, jvail@gmu.edu
New Courses (Action Items): APPROVED
HHS 830 The Scholarship of Writing
Proposal from the College of Visual and Performing Arts
Contact Person: Linda Miller, 3-4551, lmille6@gmu.edu
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The meeting adjourned at 1:58 pm.