Arkansas Tech University
Graduate Council
Minutes of Meeting
August 26, 2014
The Graduate Council met in RPL 325, on Tuesday, August 26, 2014, at 3:00 p.m. Graduate Council
members include the following:
Dr. Mary Gunter, Chair
Dr. Linda Bean, Vice Chair
Dr. Susan Underwood
Dr. Annette Holeyfield
Dr. Sid Womack
Dr. Deborah Wilson
Dr. Cheryl Smith
Dr. Thomas Nupp
Dr. Jan Jenkins
Dr. Mona Chadwick
Dr. Pat Buford
Dr. Sandy Smith
Dr. James Stobaugh
Mr. Trent DeWitt, Student Representative
Ms. Tammy Weaver, Secretary
Guests included Dr. John Watson, Academic Affairs; Ms. Courtney Mullen, Graduate College; Ms.
Michelle McMinn, Graduate College; Ms. Brandi Tripp, Registrar’s Office; Ms. Brandi Duvall, Registrar’s
Office; and Dr. Monica Varner, Assessment and Institutional Effectiveness.
Dr. Watson welcomed the committee and reported the doctoral program had been approved by ADHE.
He thanked Dr. Gunter and the committee for their work.
CALL TO ORDER/APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Dr. Gunter called the meeting to order and indicated a quorum was present for the meeting and
business could be conducted. She indicated Mr. DeWitt was reappointed as student representative.
Dr. Gunter asked for approval of the minutes from April 15, 2014. Motion by Dr. Cheryl Smith, seconded
by Dr. Underwood, to approve the minutes. Motion approved.
DEAN’S REPORT
Dr. Gunter reported the below graduate enrollment:
2014 fall term
890 headcount
5,294 student semester credit hours
2013 fall term
858 headcount
5,091 student semester credit hours
Dr. Gunter reported the Board of Trustees approved the Graduate Academic Misconduct Policy effective
July 1, 2014.
Dr. Gunter reported all graduate assistant positions were filled.
Dr. Gunter reported she will conduct an orientation session for all 2014 Thesis Chair or committee
members.
Dr. Gunter reported a timeline of tasks would be developed for the new 63 hour doctoral program that
would include advertisement, recruitment, application, interviews, and acceptance for the program.
She indicated a student dissertation handbook would be developed. Dr. Gunter reported that she would
address any additional questions from ADHE. She indicated there would be an HLC site visit because of
the program change request.
Dr. Gunter indicated the proposal for the Master of Professional Studies was located on the Graduate
Council web site to be reviewed for the September meeting.
ACTION ITEMS:
Motion by Dr. Sandy Smith, seconded by Dr. Holeyfield, to amend the agenda to act on additional
requests for Nominations for Membership on Graduate Faculty. The additions follow:
Dr. Xiang (Peter) Chen, Emergency Management, College of Engineering & Applied Sciences;
Dr. Doris Lee Ellison, Curriculum and Instruction, College of Education;
Dr. Joshua Lockyer, Behavioral Sciences, College of Arts & Humanities;
Dr. Debra D. Murphy, Curriculum and Instruction, College of Education; and
Dr. Ellen Treadway, Center for Leadership & Learning, Graduate College.
Motion approved.
Motion by Dr. Sandy Smith, seconded by Dr. Womack, to nominate Dr. Bean to the vice-chair position.
Motion approved.
APPROVAL OF NOMINATIONS FOR MEMBERSHIP FOR GRADUATE FACULTY
Dr. Sandy Smith requested the request for Nomination for Membership on Graduate Faculty for Dr.
Larry Potter, Emergency Management – Engineering and Applied Science, be removed from
consideration.
Motion by Dr. Womack, seconded by Dr. Jenkins, to approve the following faculty to Regular faculty:
Dr. Zhi Chen, Electrical Engineering – Engineering & Applied Science;
Dr. Yung Kil Lee, Electrical Engineering – Engineering & Applied Science;
Ms. Terri Toland, Curriculum and Instruction – College of Education;
Dr. David Roach, College of Business;
Dr. Kevin Mason, College of Business;
Dr. Sarah Stein, English and World Languages, College of Arts and Humanities;
Dr. Ashley McKeever, English and World Languages, College of Arts and Humanities;
Dr. William Browder Swetnam, English and World Languages, College of Arts and Humanities;
Dr. Xiang (Peter) Chen, Emergency Management, College of Engineering & Applied Sciences;
Dr. Doris Lee Ellison, Curriculum and Instruction, College of Education;
Dr. Joshua Lockyer, Behavioral Sciences, College of Arts & Humanities;
Dr. Debra D. Murphy, Curriculum and Instruction, College of Education; and
Dr. Ellen Treadway, Center for Leadership & Learning, Graduate College.
Motion approved.
Motion by Dr. Underwood, seconded by Dr. Jenkins, to approve the following faculty to Non-Regular
faculty:
Dr. Frank A. Holman, Center for Leadership and Learning, Graduate College; and
Dr. Brenda Sellers, Center for Leadership and Learning, Graduate College.
Motion approved.
CURRICULAR ITEMS
Motion by Dr. Bean, seconded by Dr. Chadwick, to approve the following proposal form the Department
of English and World Languages to delete the following classes from the course descriptions: a) TESL
6066, Public School Experience; b) TESL 6076, intensive English Internship; and c) TESL 6086, Overseas
Internship. Motion approved.
Motion by Dr. Bean, seconded by Dr. Cheryl Smith, to approve the Letter of Notification from the
College of Business to approve the Master of Science in Business Administration (existing degree) to be
delivered via distance learning. Motion approved.
OTHER BUSINESS
Ms. Mullen reported she was working on a Graduate Student Organization proposal for spring
implementation.
Dr. Gunter reported the Graduate College Assessment Reports Deadline is October 1, 2014. She
indicated a graduate assistant will be designated to assist with data entry into TrackDat.
ANNOUNCEMENT:
Tuesday, December 9th, 11:30 am – 1:00 pm – Graduate Council Christmas Luncheon to be held in the
President’s Dining Room at Chambers.
Other Important Dates:
Graduate Council Meeting Dates for 2014:
September 16, 2014 – Tomlinson 102
October 21, 2014 – Tomlinson 102
November 18, 2014 – Tomlinson 102
December 9, 2014 – President’s Dining Room at Chambers (11:30-1:00)
January 20, 2015 – Tomlinson 102
February 17, 2015 – Tomlinson 102
March 17, 2015 – Tomlinson 102
April 21, 2015 – Tomlinson 102
May 19, 2015 – Tomlinson 102
Meeting adjourned at 3:40 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Tammy Weaver