GRADUATE COUNCIL MINUTES 9/3/14
GBB 205, 12:10-1:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Members Present: B. Bach, M. Berthelson, K. Briknarova, I. Crummy, R. Delaloye, L. Gray, M.
Kia, A. Kinch, M. McGuirl, D. Spencer, K. Swift
Members Absent/Excused: C. Stanick, S. Williams, M. Alwell
Ex Officio Members Present: R. Arouca, N. Lindsay, S. Ross
Past minutes: The minutes from May 7th 2014 were amended and approved.
COMMUNICATION:
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New members were welcomed and members introduced themselves.
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Members were reminded of the October 3rd Curriculum Deadline. Chair Swift provided a
brief overview of the curriculum review process. Most curriculum forms are minor changes
and can be approved in mass. The substantive changes should be discussed by the
subcommittee and brought to the full committee as necessary. Subcommittees should decide
on their chair as soon as possible.
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The program reviews are also reviewed according to subcommittee. Materials are posted on
Blackboard for the following reviews.
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Communication Studies (Social Science)
Political Science (Social Science)
History (Humanities)
College of Education & Human Science departments (Professional Schools)
o
o
o
o
Counselor Education – postponed until spring
Curriculum and Instruction
Educational Leadership
Health and Human Performance (to be reviewed by the Sciences Subcommittee)
The Provost’s Office is changing the timeline for the review, so there are programs scheduled
for this spring as well. This is the transition year, so review will take place in both the fall
and spring. The Council will not meet next week to allow the subcommittees’ time to work
on program review.
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The IIP Oversight Committee will also need to elect a chair. The IIP Oversight Committee is
made up of members on Graduate Council from departments with PhD programs. Last
year’s IIP Oversight Committee Chair, Professor Duncan Campbell is willing to meet with
the Committee to go over pending issues. Raquel Arouca is the IIP Program Coordinator.
She will organize the first meeting for the committee.
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Last year Professor Hassanein expressed concern that the Council was spending too much
time on administrative details related to curriculum review and not doing much in the way of
strategic thinking about pig picture issues. Chair Swift agrees and would like to change this.
Last year the Council’s charge was revised. At that time it was pointed out that the Council
is not a decision making body, but rather it makes recommendations through the shared
governance process. One recommendation was to plan out the year so that there will be time
for the Council to discuss big picture issues and meet with the Provost and others as
appropriate. Given that one of the strategic goals is to grow graduate education, it is essential
that there are adequate mechanisms to support and promote graduate education.

Raquel Arouca provided a brief update with regard to the suggested revisions to the Graduate
School’s self-study. Many of the items are still pending. Hopefully the revised document
will be available in a few weeks, at which time it will be put on the agenda for discussion.
Associate Provost Lindsay asked the Council to include a list of action items or
recommendations separated into categories such as advising, funding and research. We need
to think about what we should be doing in the future. There has not been any movement on
identifying the external reviewer.
The Academic Alignment and Innovation Program Taskforce will likely want to meet with
the Graduate Council.

Student member Delaloye informed the Council that the Graduate Student Association is
putting forward a referendum for a $3 student fee increase to create a more robust GSA that
will support graduate students in a student centered and programmatic way to offer
opportunities for professional development, and research support in the form of travel grants
that are decided by peer review rather than a lottery. The GSA plans to establish a Senate
structure that brings students together from across disciplines for monthly meetings. Please
help spread the word to promote full representation to assure the vibrancy of the graduate
student body. The GSA is working on appropriate incentives to persuade graduate students to
participate. Other issues considered by the GSA include insurance, credits required for full
time status, and graduate school functions.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 12:50 p.m. in order for subcommittees to meet and decide on
chairs. The following chairs were identified.
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Humanities: Ashby Kinch
Schools: Lori Gray
Social Science: Betsy Bach
Science: Michelle McGuirl