Year-End Report
Academic Year 2002-2003
 

Significant Events
 

Scholarship Awards

Graduate Outstanding Scholar Awards

Graduate Academic Awards

Ø                   Barbie Kelly                   MS Biology/Anesthesia

Ø                  Rachael Smith               MS Biology

Ø                  Anja Pennell                  MA Biology

Ø                  Melissa J. Robillard        MS Business Education

Ø                  Shaowie Wang              MA Information Design

Ø                  Bryan Wosezyna           MA History

Ø                  Jessica Delaney            MS Marriage & Family Therapy

Ø                  Ryan A.Gawel               MA Mathematics

Ø                  Daniel E. Jensen           MA Mathematics

Ø                  Stephen Hard                MA Psychology

Ø                  Dawn Hyland                 MS Elementary Education

Ø                  Thomas Brodnitzki         MS Education Foundations

Ø                  Richardo W. Canal         MS TESOL
 

By-Laws Changes

Amended Article I, Section 1 (Membership) to a) allow one member and alternate from each department and one member and alternate from each recognized graduate program or specialization.  It also eliminated GSC department from those departments merely offering one or more stand-alone graduate courses, b) Grants membership with voting privileges to the President of the Graduate Student Association and one GSA student elected at large from matriculated students in good standing (Attachment II).

Added Section V. Graduate Studies Committee Approval Procedures to describe in detail the processes for seeking Graduate Studies Approval for changes in curriculum, scholastic standards, or admissions policy  (Attachment III).
 

Other Resolutions Passed

Reduces the number of credits to qualify for a graduate academic award and/or graduate outstanding scholarship from 18 to 15 credits.

Approve revised procedure when an undergraduate student wishes to enroll in a graduate course including the requirement that the student have an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0.
 

Other

New Withdrawal policy went into effect All Graduate Files are now housed in the Office of Graduate Studies. Increase in Media exposure for Graduate Studies.  

Appendix I.

Results of Brainstorming on Ways to Bring Graduate Tenets Alive

Under the leadership of Dr. Cassandra Broadus-Garcia, Chair of the Policy Committee, members of the Graduate Studies Committee participated in a brainstorming session devoted to identifying ways to keep the graduate tenets in the forefront of all activities.  The Graduate Tenets are derived from the Graduate Mission Statement and are considered the means by which the mission can be accomplished.  Following are the results of the brainstorming session:

1.      Community of Scholars

v     Emphasis on undergraduate and graduate advisement

v     Mentorship between faculty and students

2.      Scholarly Inquiry

v     Sharing our own scholarship with students

v     Faculty could model the “life of the mind” through active engagement in scholarly activity.

v     Develop more inquiry-based courses or assignments that are more intellectually challenging.

v     Involve students on faculty research projects even before they reach the capstone course.

v     Research seminar series:  faculty can present their research and student also presents their work.  Consider adding a 1-credit requirement per year (max. 2 credits) to each program for students to develop and present at a research seminar.  Each student would give two seminars during his/her program, plus (possibly) a final seminar on their capstone project.

v     Graduate Research Day: promote to all graduating students, not just seniors.

3.      Intellectual and Personal Integrity

v     Display research exhibits (capstone projects) for an extended time in the library.

v     Establish an award for community service or service to the profession.

v     Promote mentor relationships between undergraduate and graduate students.

4.      Excellence

v     Excellence transcends all levels including the university, department and faculty/student relationships.

v     Using the strategic planning grant for curriculum development and release time for faculty.

v     A challenge was cited in which some faculty maintain heavy undergraduate loads, which leaves less time to focus on graduate students and/or research interests.

5.      Leadership

v     Mentoring students in the discipline.

v     Promote and facilitate capstone projects

v     Use guest speakers in the discipline.

v     Hold students (graduate) to high standards.

v     Encourage students to pursue independent studies in the discipline.

v     Have professors share their graduate school experiences to students.

v     Encourage joint research work.

Appendix II.

By-Laws Change

Article I. Membership

Old By-Laws

I    Membership

1. One member and alternate shall be elected for a two-year term from and by the faculty of each academic department offering graduate courses and of the University library.  Elected alternates can serve as representatives of their departments only when elected members are unable to fulfill their responsibilities.
2. In addition, any department offering more than one specialization or degree program may select one member to represent any degree specialization.  Similarly, the faculty committee or the departments offering any interdisciplinary or multidisciplinary degree program which enrolls more than thirty students annually may each select a member to serve on the GSC.
3. The Chair of the Curriculum Committee, ex officio.
4. The Dean of the School of Graduate Studies and the Deans of the Academic Schools, ex officio.
5.  The Chair of the International and Area Studies Committee, ex officio.
6. One student and an alternate from each school of the University (Arts and Sciences, Business, Education and Professional Studies, and Technology) is selected for a one-year term by and from the matriculated students in good standing according to procedures established by the Graduate Student Association.

New By-Laws Approved January 30, 2003

I.  Membership

1. One member and alternate shall be elected for a two-year term from and by the faculty of each academic department offering one or more graduate degree program(s) and of the university library.  In addition, the faculty committee of any interdisciplinary degree program may select a member to serve on the Graduate Studies Committee.  Elected alternates can serve as representative of their departments only when elected members are unable to fulfill their responsibilities.

2. The Chair of the Curriculum Committee, ex officio Page 4.  Graduate Studies Committee Annual Report 2002-2003.

3. The Dean of the School of Graduate Studies and the Deans of the Academic Schools, ex officio.

4.  The President of the Graduate Students Association (GSA) and one GSA student elected at large from the matriculated students in good standing will serve as voting members on the Graduate Studies Committee for a one year time.

Appendix III

By-Laws Change Adopted March 20, 2003

This proposal adds Section V. Graduate Studies Committee Approval Procedures.  The purpose of this addition is to improve clarity and consistency regarding procedures for submitting requests to the Graduate Studies Committ

Recommended Wording
 

V.  Graduate Studies Committee Approval Procedures

1.  Requests for Curriculum Changes

1. All requests for curriculum changes shall be governed by the University Curriculum Committee by-laws.
2. Requests from a Department or School shall be signed by the Department Chair and the Deans of both the Academic School and the Graduate School..
3. Copies of requests submitted to the Chair of the University Curriculum Committee shall be forwarded concurrently to the Chair of the Graduate Curriculum Committee at least one week in advance of the Graduate Curriculum Committee meeting at which they are to be considered
4. Requests affecting more than one department shall carry appropriate endorsement by the other group(s) concerned.
5. Department representatives shall be present at the Graduate Curriculum Committee meeting to discuss the proposed changes and respond to questions from members of the Graduate Curriculum Committee.
6. All proposals approved by the Graduate Curriculum Committee shall be submitted to the next regularly scheduled Graduate Studies Committee meeting for approval prior to referral to the Faculty Senate.
7. Procedures for effecting minor curriculum changes shall be in accordance with the University Curriculum Committee by-laws.

2.       Requests for Changes in Scholastic Standards or Admissions Policies

1. Request for changes that deviate from current graduate scholastic standards or admissions policies shall be made according to the latest Graduate Studies Committee approved format.
2. Requests for changes to graduate scholastic standards or admission policies shall be approved by the Graduate Studies Committee prior to referral to the Faculty Senate.
3. Requests shall be referred to the Chair of the Graduate Policy Committee at least one week prior to its regularly scheduled meeting.  A copy of the request shall be forwarded concurrently to the Chair of the Graduate Studies Committee.
4. Requests from a Department or School shall be signed by the Department Chair and the Dean of the Academic School and the Dean of the Graduate School.
5. Requests affecting more than one department shall carry appropriate endorsement by the other group(s) concerned.
6. Department representatives must be present at the Graduate Policy Committee meeting to review the proposed changes and respond to questions from members of the Graduate Policy Committee.
7. All proposals approved by the Graduate Policy Committee shall be submitted to the next regularly scheduled Graduate Studies Committee meeting for approval prior to reporting to the Faculty Senate.

Recommended Format for GSC Submissions Relating to Scholastic Standards or Admissions Policies 

Requests for changes to Graduate scholastic standards or admissions policies shall be made according to the following captioned format:

a.      Nature of request

b.      Date voted on by Department faculty

c.      Rationale for recommended change

d.      Exact wording that will go into Graduate Catalog

e.      Date new policy will go into effect

f.        Effects on programs and faculty load

g.      Signatures of Department Chair(s), Academic Dean(s), and Graduate School Dean