Graduate Council
Annual Report for 2009-2010
Submitted by Timothy Demchak Chairperson
The Graduate Council met 14 times this academic year.
Final Attendance Record:
Members
Timothy J. Demchak, Chair
Stan Buchanan, Vice Chair
Barbara Eversole, Secretary
Michele Boyer
Rusty Gonser
Leamor Kahanov
Christine MacDonald
Larry Tinnerman
David Robinson
Liz O’Laughlin
Attended
13
13
13
13
13
10
13
11
8
13
Absent
1
1
1
1
0
4
1
3
0
1
Comments
Substitute-Served Fall
Substitute- Served Fall
Spring only due to time conflict Fall
The work of the Graduate Council (GC) is facilitated by the Assistantship/Fellowship Committee
(AFC), the Graduate Faculty Status Committee (GFC), the Graduate Student Appeals Committee
(GSAC), the Program Development Committee (PDC), and several ad hoc committees. This
year, 21 graduate faculty members served on Council committees and assisted with the work of
the Council.
Charges from Faculty Senate:
The Council received 5 charges from Faculty Senate this year. Some were addressed by the
standing committees of the Council, others were addressed by Council itself or by Council
members in collaboration with standing committee members.
GC Charges 2010-2011
Graduate Council Committee:
1.
Work with CAAC to review and enhance curriculum management processes. Consider
the possibility of additional fast-tracking of program-changes approved within colleges
(ongoing).
Ongoing. Graduate Council and Program Development Committee continued fast track
procedure , which enabled efficient review and movement of many minor-modified proposals
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2.
Recommend one nominee for service on the Theodore Dreiser Research/Creativity Award
Committee (ongoing charge).
Barbara Eversole represented Graduate Council on the Theodor Dreiser Research/Creativity
Award Committee
3.
Monitor how Graduate Education is reflected in the implementation of the Strategic
Plan.
Graduate Council’s Program Development Committee reviewed Assurance of Student Learning
Reports from the College of Arts and Sciences. A report was forwarded to the Faculty Senate.
4.
Examine the Handbook’s revised format to ensure no inappropriate changes have been
made and to suggest appropriate changes in the committees’ domain of responsibility.
5.
Create a University-wide assessment process to determine whether appropriately high
standards are being applied by the doctoral-granting Colleges when evaluating dissertations and
theses.
Graduate Council formed an ad hoc committee to review the Thesis and Dissertation process at
ISU. Recommendations were made to Graduate Council and forwarded on to Faculty Senate.
The changes included editing the Graduate handbook.
Graduate Council Standing Committee activities:
The following charges were given to the Standing Committees by Graduate Council. See
Appendix A for the complete text of the Graduate Council Standing Committee Annual Reports.
Program Development Committee
1. Review and approve program and course changes.
 105 Courses revisions were fast tracked
 Approve 5 new graduate programs
 Approved 14 certificate programs and program revisions
Assistantship/Fellowship Committee
. Review and Recommend Graduate Student Grant Proposals to the Dean for Funding.
The committee Review 60 grants (Fall 35; Spring Summer 25) funding cycles and
Approved 28 grants and denied 34.
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Graduate Student Appeals Committee
1. Conduct reviews and make recommendations on graduate student appeals (ongoing).
2. Monitor appeals and make recommendations, as appropriate, for revisions in academic
curricula or graduate policies (Graduate Council charge).
3. Consider and make recommendations regarding the respective decision-making roles of
programs, departments, the Graduate Council Appeals Committee, and the Graduate Dean’s
office in the appeals process (fall) (Graduate Council charge).
Graduate Faculty Status Committee
1. Evaluate and make recommendations on Special Purpose Faculty applications (ongoing).
Special Purpose Faculty applications were reviewed provide the committee and Graduate
Council a complete list of the Graduate Faculty in May of each year.
Additional Graduate Council Activities:



Thesis and Dissertation review Subcommittee submitted a report with recommended
changes to Graduate Catalog and and Statement of Quality of Theses and Dissertations.
Graduate Council developed a Statement on New Programs
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