BINGHAMTON UNIVERSITY
MINUTES OF THE April 4, 2008 MEETING OF THE GRADUATE COUNCIL
PLACE:
Couper Administration Building, Room 148
PRESIDING:
Nancy E. Stamp, Vice Provost and Dean of the Graduate School
MEMBERS:
Michael Conlon, Jim Constable, James Fang, Monazir Khan,
Maneesha Lal, Sarah Lam, Edward Li, Weiyi Meng, Karen Salvage,
Pamela Stewart Fahs, Marilyn Tallerico,
EX OFFICIO
MEMBERS:
Stephen Gilje, Dara Silberstein, Lindsay Tremain
EXCUSED:
David Campbell, Susan Currie, Ed Kokkelenberg, Maria-Teresa Romero,
Daryl Santos, Olga Shvetsova, Gerald Sonnenfeld, Diane Wiener,
ABSENT:
Amit Garg, Thomas Wilson, Nan Zhou
GUESTS:
Provost & Vice President Mary Ann Swain
I. CALL TO ORDER:
Vice Provost and Dean Nancy Stamp called the meeting to order at 3:05 p.m.
II. MINUTES:
The minutes of the March 3, 2008 meeting were approved as written.
III. COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Academic Standards Committee
This committee has not met.
Advisory Committee for Scholarship and Research
This committee will be meeting to review the Interdisciplinary Collaborative Grant
proposals. The committee will also be reviewing the annual reports for the OR Centers.
Budget Advisory Committee
This committee has not met.
Clark Fellowship Advisory Committee
Associate Dean Silberstein reported that the committee just completed the third round of
considerations for Clark Fellowships. There hasn’t been a wide-range of applications
from departments that traditionally propose applicants. Some of the problem could be
that in the new application process on-line there isn’t a place for the students to self
identify themselves. This is a problem with Banner that will be investigated.
Curriculum Committee
1. Proposal for Combined BS in Mechanical Engineering and MS in
Mechanical Engineering
Approved
2. Proposal for Programs Leading to Eligibility for NYS Teaching Certificates
In Early Childhood Special Education and Early Childhood and Childhood
Special Education
Approved
3. Changes in proposed Childhood Program
Approved
4. Formal Proposal for Law JD Program (Draft)
Dean Stamp reviewed the procedure for proposals for new degrees. Dean
Stamp explained that this proposal is unusual in many ways. In this proposal
there is no dean or faculty yet; the curriculum a generic curriculum,
rather than a specialized curriculum reflecting the research interests of
faculty; and it will require a change in the University’s Master Plan. The way
that SUNY-system has set up the procedure, all of the approvals have to be in
place before a law school at Binghamton is finally approved by the state. The
Curriculum Committee felt there were many pros, such as it fits with the
research interest of some of our faculty and it could contribute to the recognition
of the University. The cons were the need for substantial start-up funds and the
potential impact on current programs/schools if additional funds were needed.
The Curriculum Committee felt this proposal should come to the Council for more
discussion.
Provost Swain explained that she believes that an addition of a law school makes
sense. A law school would more securely define Binghamton’s position as one
of the university centers. Provost Swain explained that there is a concern
nationally by the American Bar Association that the debt load of many students
that have gone into law is so high that the numbers of lawyers choosing to
practice in the public sector have decreased. Thus, there is a need for more
public law schools and Binghamton is a logical choice.
After more questions and discussion, Dean Stamp made a motion to approve the
formal proposal for a Law JD degree and Professor Conlon seconded it. It was
approved by a vote of 10 yes and 1 abstention.
Grievance Committee
This committee has not met.
Strategic Planning Committee
The committee is working on items but has nothing to report at this time.
IV. NEW BUSINESS:
There was no new business.
V. ADJOURNMENT:
The meeting was adjourned at 3:55 p.m. on a motion by Associate Vice President
Stephen Gilje and seconded by Professor Weiyi Meng.
_____________________________
Minutes recorded by Alta Hooker,
Secretary to the Vice Provost and Dean
of the Graduate School