GRADUATE COUNCIL MEETING

Minutes

Friday, April 25, 2003-1:15 p.m.

325 Graff Main Hall

Members Present:    D. Duquette, Chair, J. Finch, G. Gilmore, M. Morziniski,

                                    W. Schwan, S. Simpson

Members Excused:   R. Dixon, T. Kernozek, S. N. Rajagopal, G. Walsko

Consultants Present:   C. Martin-Stanley, R. Rada, D. Schumacher

Consultants Excused:   B. May

• Approval of the minutes of April 11, 2003.

M/S/P to approve the minutes of April 11, 2003.  (5yes, 0 no)

• Review of the Physician Assistant Program:  Information was sent to Graduate Council members, prior to April 25^th for review.  In 1994 UW-L in partnership with Mayo  and Gundersen Lutheran developed a plan and authorization to implement a Physician Assistant Program; in September of 1995 the first 12 students were enrolled in the program.  A site visit by the Accreditation Review Committee for Physician Assistant Education was conducted in November of 1996.  In their report the site visit team noted, “The level of instruction and preparedness of the students are more closely associated with a Master’s degree than a Bachelor’s degree.”

The plan is to enroll the first PA class of students in a Masters Program in June 2004.

There are currently two other PA Programs in Wisconsin.  Some authorities are projecting a physician shortage in the future; therefore Physician Assistants will be in demand.  It is noted that the tution for the Physician Assistant Program is 20% more than other graduate programs.

After a lengthy discussion of the information reviewed by the Graduate Council, the council voted to approve the Graduate Physician Assistant Program.

M/S/P to approve the Physician Program (5 yes, 0 no)

Other business

• A request was made by a Graduate Council Member, to vote on the guidelines for “Incomplete.”  After a discussion, the decision was to treat an “Incomplete” in the graduate program the same as the undergraduate program.

M/S/P to approve the guidelines for an “Incomplete” in the graduate program the same as the undergraduate program.  (5 yes, 0 no)

• As of April 25^th information has not been received from the applicants that failed to complete the Graduate Faculty Membership application.

• Theses Guidelines:  It was suggested that the Graduate Council explore the possibility of uniform guidelines for the university and also to shorten the signature process.  At this time the signatures include:  Department, Dean, Director of University Graduate Studies.  The above suggestions will be discussed and explored at a future meeting.

Meeting adjourned:  2:30 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Fran Temp

Recording Secretary

C:        Graduate Council Members

            Department Chairs

            Graduate Council File

            Faculty Senate Office

            Graduate Program Directors