Received by the Graduate Council—December 2, 2013
GRADUATE COUNCIL CURRICULUM COMMITTEE (GCCC)
Second Meeting/2013-14 Academic Year
November 11, 2013
Approved
p. i of v
PRESENT: J. Chown (LAS/COMS), V. Demir (EET/ELE), S. Elsawa (LAS/BIOS), D. Engelman
(LAS/SOCI/Student), S. Howell (EDU/KNPE), D. Munroe (for J. Olson, HHS/NUHS), T. Smith
(EDU/ETRA), L. Zhou (BUS/FINA)
CONSULTANTS: F. Pugh (Graduate School), D. Smith (Catalog Editor/Curriculum Coordinator)
GUESTS: B. Henry (HHS), J. Hertz (HHS/NUHS), J. Strom (HHS/NUHS)
Chown called the meeting to order.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Howell made a motion, seconded by Munroe, to APPROVE THE AGENDA. Motion passed unanimously.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
1. Minutes from the October 14, 2013, meeting were approved and sent electronically.
2. Changing Teacher Certification language to Educator Licensure. Rationale: Educator Licensure
is the new terminology being used by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE).
CONSENT AGENDA
Howell made a motion, seconded by Zhou, TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA. Motion passed
unanimously. The following minutes with no graduate curricular items were so received.
College of Business #4
College of Health and Human Sciences #4
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences #8
College of Visual and Performing Arts #1
The following minutes with graduate curricular items were so received.
College of Education #5
College of Engineering and Engineering Technology #5
College of Health and Human Sciences #5
College of Health and Human Sciences #6
College of Health and Human Sciences #8
Received by the Graduate Council—December 2, 2013
GRADUATE COUNCIL CURRICULUM COMMITTEE (GCCC)
Second Meeting/2013-14 Academic Year
November 11, 2013
Approved
p. ii of v
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences #5
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences #6
COLLEGE MINUTES FOR DISCUSSION
College of Business #2
Chown pointed out the course revisions to OMIS 682. Since the revisions are substantive, D. Smith followedup with the department regarding verification on nonduplication. She reported that the Department of
Operations, Management and Information Systems received the approval from the Department of Computer
Science. Zhou made a motion, seconded by Munroe, TO APPROVE THE GRADUATE-LEVEL
CURRICULAR ITEMS IN COLLEGE OF BUSINESS #2 (9/24/13). Motion passed unanimously.
College of Business #3
In these minutes are a new certificate of graduate study and new course proposals. Howell made a motion,
seconded by Zhou, TO APPROVE THE GRADUATE-LEVEL CURRICULAR ITEMS IN COLLEGE OF
BUSINESS #3 (10/8/13). Motion passed unanimously.
College of Education #4
A new certificate proposal was noted. D. Smith reported that she informed the department that since this
certificate is 18 semester hours it will have to be reported to the state and they will have to track outcomes to
report to the state. She added that any certificate with 18 semester hours or more has to be reported to the
state. T. Smith confirmed that the department has agreed to the reporting. Chown noted that the language on
page 2 will be duplicated in the Admissions section of the catalog. There are also a number of course
revisions for designator changes. Pugh confirmed that there are no issues with those changes. Howell made a
motion, seconded by Elsawa, TO APPROVE THE GRADUATE-LEVEL CURRICULAR ITEMS IN
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION #4 (10/1/13). Motion passed unanimously.
College of Engineering and Engineering Technology #1
New courses in green engineering were noted. Howell made a motion, seconded by Munroe, TO APPROVE
ALL OF THE GRADUATE-LEVEL CURRICULAR ITEMS IN COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND
ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY #1 (9/26/13). Motion passed unanimously.
College of Engineering and Engineering Technology #2
Chown pointed out the use of undergraduate courses as prerequisites and that this is a disadvantage to students
who did not earn their bachelor’s degrees at NIU. Pugh noted that this is not programmable in MyNIU at this
time for any graduate students, including those who earned their bachelor’s degrees at NIU. Pugh said a cross
career look at classes can’t be done. It then is up to the department (consent of department) to admit students
into these courses. The GCCC discussed how to proceed on this issue. Howell suggested that a friendly
suggestion be made to departments to not include undergraduate courses in prerequisites. Munroe said that
when she served on her college’s curriculum committee they were told not to put undergraduate courses in the
prerequisites for graduate courses. The GCCC agreed that D. Smith should communicate to colleges that this
Received by the Graduate Council—December 2, 2013
GRADUATE COUNCIL CURRICULUM COMMITTEE (GCCC)
Second Meeting/2013-14 Academic Year
November 11, 2013
Approved
p. iii of v
should not be done since it is not programmable in MyNIU, it is a disadvantage to all graduate students, and it
becomes a burden on departments to do the consent for each student prior to enrolling in the course.
Engelman asked if admittance to a graduate program implies that you have the prerequisites and Pugh
responded that it does not. Chown explained that often students work in graduate programs that aren’t related
to their undergraduate degrees, so often there are deficiencies that need to be met. Munroe asked if the course
revisions in these specific minutes should go through. Chown said yes, that ultimately it’s up to the
department if they want to do the consent of department for students to enroll in these courses, but to have D.
Smith communicate with all colleges that there should not be undergraduate courses as prerequisites for
graduate courses. Munroe made a motion, seconded by Howell, TO APPROVE ALL OF THE GRADUATELEVEL CURRICULAR ITEMS IN COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND ENGINEERING
TECHNOLOGY #2 (10/3/13) AND THAT D. SMITH COMMUNICATE WITH THE COLLEGES AS
DISCUSSED ABOVE. Motion passed unanimously.
College of Engineering and Engineering Technology #3
A new specialization for the M.S. in Industrial and Systems Engineering was noted. D. Smith confirmed that
they are cooperating with the Department of Management regarding the use of “management” in the title of
the specialization. Another undergraduate course in a prerequisite was noted. T. Smith made a motion,
seconded by Elsawa, TO APPROVE ALL OF THE GRADUATE-LEVEL CURRICULAR ITEMS IN
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY #3 (10/10/13) PENDING BOARD
OF TRUSTEES APPROVAL. Motion passed unanimously.
College of Engineering and Engineering Technology #4
New courses were pointed out as well as other revisions. Munroe made a motion, seconded by Howell, TO
APPROVE ALL OF THE GRADUATE-LEVEL CURRICULAR ITEMS IN COLLEGE OF
ENGINEERING AND ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY #4 (10/17/13). Motion passed unanimously.
College of Health and Human Sciences #7
In these minutes is a proposal for a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). Strom gave the GCCC the rationale
for the proposal. The program will attract well-qualified applicants with the knowledge and skills to earn a
professional practice degree rather than a research-oriented degree. Henry said that professional associations
in the field are saying that within the next few years the master’s level practice degree won’t be recognized.
So if this new degree doesn’t move forward, there would not be an advanced program for nursing practice at
NIU. She added that this will meet a growing demand for future students in the practice as well as address the
needs of society and of patients. Hertz said that the school anticipates a large pool of applicants who are
master’s prepared as nurse practitioners. Chown asked about similar programs in the state and Strom said that
several universities in the state offer the DNP, but NIU would be the only institution to offer the DNP in
addition to the master’s degree. Chown asked about the impact on resources available to offer undergraduate
courses and Strom responded that there would be no adverse affect on the undergraduate program. In fact, by
offering the DNP, Strom feels that it will elevate the quality of the undergraduate program. Chown said that
there are no duplication issues, this is a unique program. Henry addressed the revision to PHHE 605 and that
the change in hours from 3 to 4 is to allow for additional content. Zhou asked why the GRE is not required.
Hertz responded that other criteria are used to identify the strongest applicants, e.g., goals statement, letters of
Received by the Graduate Council—December 2, 2013
GRADUATE COUNCIL CURRICULUM COMMITTEE (GCCC)
Second Meeting/2013-14 Academic Year
November 11, 2013
Approved
p. iv of v
reference, academic history, and an interview. Strom added that for this degree, the GRE is not a predictor of
success and the literature supports this. Zhou asked if the GRE is required in the programs at other
institutions and Hertz stated that nationally, only 40-50% of the programs require the GRE. Henry added that
the GRE is not required for admission into the master’s program. Munroe made a motion, seconded by
Elsawa, TO APPROVE ALL OF THE GRADUATE-LEVEL CURRICULAR ITEMS IN COLLEGE OF
HEALTH AND HUMAN SCIENCES #7 (10/11/13) PENDING BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND ILLINOIS
BOARD OF HIGHER EDUCATION (IBHE) APPROVAL. Motion passed unanimously.
College of Health and Human Sciences #9
A new course was pointed out. Munroe made a motion, seconded by Elsawa, TO APPROVE ALL OF THE
GRADUATE-LEVEL CURRICULAR ITEMS IN COLLEGE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SCIENCES #9
(10/25/13). Motion passed unanimously.
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences #4
Changes of note were new courses and the deletion of the concentration in Southeast Asian Studies. They are
proposing that program become a certificate of graduate study. Chown noted that offering a certificate rather
than a concentration would be more useful to students. T. Smith made a motion, seconded by Zhou, TO
APPROVE THE GRADUATE-LEVEL CURRICULAR ITEMS IN COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS AND
SCIENCES #4 (9/18/13) PENDING BOT APPROVAL. Motion passed unanimously.
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences #7
New courses were noted. For BIOS 641, undergraduate courses as prerequisites were pointed out. D. Smith
said that since this was a new course proposal, she did ask the college if the department was aware of the
repercussions of having undergraduate courses as prerequisites in a graduate courses and she was told they
would pass that message on to the department. Munroe made a motion, seconded by Engelman, TO
APPROVE THE GRADUATE-LEVEL CURRICULAR ITEMS IN COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS AND
SCIENCES #7 (10/9/13). Motion passed unanimously.
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences #9
Changes were pointed out, including new courses and a new concentration in Financial Economics. Zhou
said that he did not receive the request for nonduplication for ECON 661B. He also asked if he could consult
with his department on the nonduplication for the other new ECON courses and overlapping of content
regarding the concentration. Engelman asked if independent study is available and Zhou said it is in finance,
but a concentration involves more course work. Chown expressed concern that there be more course options
for the concentration to make completion easier, but he has been assured that the courses listed are available.
Howell made a motion, seconded by Elsawa, to TABLE THE GRADUATE-LEVEL CATALOG CHANGES
FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMICS TO VERIFY NONDUPLICATION AND OVERLAPPING
OF CONTENT AND TO APPROVE THE REMAINDER OF THE GRADUATE-LEVEL CURRICULAR
ITEMS IN COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS AND SCIENCES #9 (10/23/13). Motion passed unanimously.
College of Visual and Performing Arts #2
New courses were pointed out as well as other changes. Elsawa made a motion, seconded by Zhou, TO
Received by the Graduate Council—December 2, 2013
GRADUATE COUNCIL CURRICULUM COMMITTEE (GCCC)
Second Meeting/2013-14 Academic Year
November 11, 2013
Approved
p. v of v
APPROVE THE GRADUATE-LEVEL CURRICULAR ITEMS IN COLLEGE OF VISUAL AND
PERFORMING ARTS #2 (10/3/13). Motion passed unanimously.
OLD BUSINESS
1. CEET #6, ELE 699A course revision. There was nothing more to report. This item will remain
tabled.
NEW BUSINESS
There was no new business.
Howell made a motion, seconded by Elsawa, to adjourn. The meeting adjourned at 11:10.
The next meeting of the Graduate Council Curriculum Committee will be held electronically to address the
tabled changes as noted above.
Respectfully submitted,
Donna M. Smith, Catalog Editor/Curriculum Coordinator