GRADUATE COUNCIL MINUTES

 Friday, October 6, 2006-10:00 a.m.

325 Graff Main Hall

Members Present:    Vijendra Agarwal, Lauren Cikara, Peggy Denton, Tim Donahue, Gary Gilmore, Jonathan Majak, Yang Il Park, Kasi Periyasamy, S.N. Rajagopal, David Reineke, William Schwan, Steve Simpson,

                                    Teri Staloch

Members Excused: 

Consultants Present:  Chris Bakkum, Lise Graham, Diane Schumacher, Rob Tyser

Consultants Excused: 

Consultants Absent:

Others Present:  Steve Senger and Tom Gendreau

1.  The meeting was called to order at 10:01 am. by Bill Schwan

2.  A motion was made by Tim Donahue and seconded by David Reineke to approve the minutes for the September 22, 2006 meeting.  (11 yes, 0 no, 0 abstention)

Motion carried.

3.   William Schwan made two meeting announcements.

• It is likely the October 20^th meeting will be cancelled as the Graduate Council will be having a joint meeting with the Graduate Program Directors on November 10^th.
• Health Professions may have a student or students requiring Academic Dismissal Appeals hearing at the beginning of J-Term.  If required, this special meeting of the Graduate Council will be held January 4^th or 5^th.

4.  Advisory Committee recommendations for Professional Travel Grant Applications. 

• A motion was made by S.N. Rajagopal to approve the grant awards as recommended by the Advisory Committee.  It was seconded by Tim Donahue.   The Council asked questions and clarifications from the Committee.  The Council voted to approve the Professional Travel Grants as recommended.  (13 yes, 0 no, 0 abstention)

Motion carried.

5.  Five year (BS + MS) program proposed by Computer Science Department

• Steve Senger and Tom Gendreau presented a plan to offer a five year BS/MSE degree.  The program would like the Graduate Council to approve credit waivers and allow students to not begin paying graduate tuition until they have completed 9 graduate credits. 
• The Council asked questions of Steve Senger and Tom Gendreau.  The Council expressed concerns that allowing the students to pay graduate tuition after completing 9 graduate credits may cause inconsistencies between programs and set a precedent where programs could request special payment structures.  The Council would like for the program to provide a comparison of its program and the way the other dual-degree programs handle the graduate tuition issue.  Also, the Council would like information from Business Services as to the feasibility of changing the rate charged to students halfway through the year. 
• The program was also advised that they would need to seek approval from the Faculty Senate as well.

• The Council will hear from the program again at its next meeting, which will likely be November 3^rd.

6.  The Graduate Council Advisory Committee’s Responsibilities were discussed.  Members of the Council reviewed the suggested list of responsibilities created by the Committee.  Several changes were suggested, and those changes will be incorporated into the document.  The updated list of responsibilities will be resubmitted for approval at a future Graduate Council meting.

Meeting adjourned:  11:16 a.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Chandra Hawkins

C:         Graduate Council Members

            Department Chairs

            Graduate Program Directors

            Faculty Senate

            Graduate Council File