BINGHAMTON UNIVERSITY
MINUTES OF THE November 12, 2007 MEETING OF THE GRADUATE COUNCIL
PLACE:
Couper Administration Building, Room 148
PRESIDING:
Nancy E. Stamp, Vice Provost and Dean of the Graduate School
MEMBERS:
David Campbell, Michael Conlon, James Constable, James Fang,
Monazir Khan, Maneesha Lal, Edward Li, Weiyi Meng, Ajay Mishra,
Susan Pollock, Maria-Teresa Romero, Karen Salvage, Olga Shvetsova,
Pamela Stewart Fahs, Marilyn Tallerico, Diane Wiener, Nan Zhou
EX OFFICIO
MEMBERS:
Stephen Gilje, Dara Silberstein, Lindsay Tremain
EXCUSED:
Susan Currie, Steve Tammariello, Gerald Sonnenfeld
ABSENT:
Amit Garg, Ed Kokkelenberg, Tom McDonough, Daryl Santos, Thomas Wilson,
GUESTS:
Dean Pat Ingraham, Sharon Holmes, Rodger Summers, Dina Maramba
I. CALL TO ORDER:
Vice Provost and Dean Nancy Stamp called the meeting to order at 3:02 pm.
II. MINUTES:
The minutes of the October 15, 2007 were approved as written.
III. COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Academic Standards Committee
This committee has not met.
Advisory Committee for Scholarship and Research
Stephen Gilje reported that the committee met and evaluated the proposals submitted for the
Provost’s Interdisciplinary Symposium program. Eight proposals were submitted and four were
recommended to the Provost and she has approved those four for funding. The committee
discussed a laboratory safety policy. Their comments have been forwarded to Jill Harrington,
University Compliance Officer.
Budget Advisory Committee
This committee is scheduled to meet to review the applications for the Travel Grant.
Clark Fellowship Advisory Committee
Dara Silberstein reported that the committee worked on setting dates for considering Clark
applications. A new form was approved for the departments to submit their nominations.
Curriculum Committee
1. Proposal for MS in Student Affairs Administration Program
Professor Sharon Holmes, Professor Rodger Summers, Dean Pat Ingraham and
Professor Dina Maramba attended to explain the proposal and answer any questions.
Professor Holmes gave an overview of the student affairs environment. This is a 45 credit
hour program and the program will work closely with the Student Affairs Division to
provide experiences for the student outside of the classroom.
There was a motion for approval of the Proposal for MS in Student Affairs Administration
Program by Professor Tallerico and seconded by Professor Shvetsova. The proposal
was approved unanimously.
2. GRD 593: Graduate Writing Workshop—Approved
3. SOC 625: Comparative Hegemonies—There was some concern that this proposal
needed more information. It was decided to table approval of this course until the
department provided more clarification.
4. GEOG 553: Seminar in Ethnic Geography—Approved
5. BIOL 525: Mechanisms of Microbial Pathogenesis—Approved
6. ELED 504: Educational Programs for Young Children (Birth to Grade 2)—Approved
7. ELED 506: Early Language and Emergent Literacy (Birth to Grade 2)--Approved
Grievance Committee
This committee has not met.
Strategic Planning Committee
The committee has met and has been reviewing the Graduate School Strategic Plan and will be
bringing action items to the Council.
IV. NEW BUSINESS:
Associate Dean Silberstein reported on a meeting she attended at SUNY-Central regarding
establishing Professional Science Masters programs on SUNY campuses from a grant from the
Sloan Foundation. This program is a graduate program that combines advanced training in
science with skills in business. This program prepares students for science careers in business,
government and non-profit organizations. This could be offered as a certificate. The first round
of applications is due Dec. 15. The maximum amount of funding for any campus will be $15,000
for start-up costs. There was discussion on whether this would be good for our campus. Dean
Stamp suggested that the Graduate School could establish a URL to let departments know about
this and also that the discussion continue with either the Academic Standards Committee or the
Curriculum Committee.
Dean Stamp distributed a statistical report for Fall 2007 from the International Student and
Scholar Services Office. Nationally international enrollment was up by 7% this year. At BU the
total for international enrollment for the University was up 14% from last year. Undergraduate
international enrollment was up 13% and graduate international enrollment was up 16%. This
puts Binghamton 75th in the nation in terms of international students. There was some discussion
of some of the problems the international students have with obtaining housing since there is no
campus housing. Because of visa requirements the students sometimes have to be here two
weeks before classes and have no place to stay. Dean Stamp said this issue will be looked into.
V. ADJOURNMENT:
The meeting was adjourned at 4:32 p.m. on a motion by Associate Vice President Gilje
and seconded by Professor Shvetsova.
_____________________________
Minutes recorded by Alta Hooker,
Secretary to the Vice Provost and Dean
of the Graduate School
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