January 12, 2005

The January meeting of the Graduate Council was called to order by Dean David Wittrock, at 8:30 a.m., January 12, 2005, in the Plains Room in the Memorial Union.

In Attendance: Mark Aune, Canan Bilen-Green, Joe Brennan, Amanda Dillard, Jake Glower, Charlene Wolf-Hall, Harlene Hatterman-Valenti, Qun Huo, Ayanava Majumdar, Donna Terbizan

The minutes for the December 8, 2004 meeting were considered. Harlene Hatterman-Valenti made a motion to approve the minutes, and Donna Terbizan provided the second. Motion carried.

NEW BUSINESS

• Harlene Hatterman-Valenti motioned to approve Dr. Bret Chisholm's request to be appointed to Associate Status . Joe Brennan provided the second. Motion carried.
  
  
• Holly Bastow-Shoop and Linda Manikowske presented a request for a new Master's and Certificate Programs in Merchandising. This program is being offered as part of the Great Plains Distance Education Alliance, a multi-university initiative to provide master's programs as institutions that individually do not have the faculty to offer a master's program. Dean Wittrock suggested the practicum required be changed to a Comprehensive Study Option. Donna Terbizan pointed out the course 790 Strategic Planning needs a course number change as 790 is a University number used for Seminar courses. This change has been made and a new copy of the course proposal was given to Dean Wittrock. Charlene Wolf-Hall referred to the policy that certificate programs and degree programs cannot have the same name. Joe Brennan motioned to table the proposal until the next meeting so that the suggested changes can be made. Donna Terbizan provided the second. Motion carried.

COURSE PROPOSALS

• Dean Wittrock reminded the council that X96 course proposals are for information only and that they do not have to be approved by the Graduate Council. The Dean's signature is not required for approval and only means that it has been seen by the members of the council.
  
  
• BIOC 796, Special Topics: Bio-Ethics: Jake Glower expressed concern that as described the course offered no bio-ethics information. Joe Brennan said the proposal mentions team teachers, but no other instructors are listed. The council voted not to sign off on the course proposal.
  
  
• MATH 796, Special Topics: Galois Theory: Charlene Wolf-Hall pointed out that in Section E of the proposal sheet it lists 5 upper division students, however upper division students are not permitted to take 700 level courses. The council voted to sign off on the course proposal.
  
  
• PHYS 696, Special Topics: Molecular Simulation: Dean Wittrock suggested the projects schedule be listed on the syllabus, clarify if ITS had been contacted regarding computer resources, clarify if this course exists at the 400 level, and. Mark Aune pointed out there are two many words used in Section C of the proposal form. The council voted to sign off on the course proposal.
  
  
• STAT 796, Special Topics: Nonparametric Theory: Dean Wittrock commented that there is no course schedule in the syllabus. The council voted to sign off on the course proposal.
  
  
• BIOC 460/660, Foundations of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology I: Dean Wittrock expressed concern that the syllabus does not reflect the graduate level course number. He also recommended removing the paragraph about scheduling problems. Joe Brennan motioned to table the decision and send the proposal back to the department for the above changes and to clarify why this is a graduate level course. Harlene Hatterman-Valenti provided the second. Motion carried.
  
  
• BIOC 461/661, Foundations of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology II: Dean Wittrock commented the syllabus does not list required text and readings. He also questioned if the instructors both have the same office hours. Donna Terbizan asked for clarification as to whether or not this course, along with BIOC 460/660 are intended to replace BIOC 701 and 702. If so, the council needs to be address as to why this change is being made. Joe Brennan motioned to table the decision and send the proposal back to the department for the above changes and to clarify how this course relates to 701 and 702. Harlene Hatterman-Valenti provided the second. Motion carried.
  
  
• CSCI 436/636, Intelligent Agents: Donna Terbizan motioned to approve the course. Jake Glower provided the second. Motion carried.
  
  
• CSCI 448/648, Digital Image Processing: Dean Wittrock pointed out the project descriptions are not listed on the syllabus. Mark Aune asked for clarification of resources used. Jake Glower asked if this course may be a duplication of another course on the agenda, ECE 448/648. Jake Glower motioned to table consideration of this course and ask the department to speak with Electrical and Computer Engineering to see if they could become one course. Charlene Wolf-Hall provided the second. Motioned carried.
  
  
• ECE, 448/648 Image Processing I: Donna Terbizan motioned this consideration of this course be tabled for the same reasons listed above for CSCI 448/648. Jake Glower provided the second. Motion carried.
  
  
• P & C 785, Nanomaterials Chemistry: Mark Aune motioned to approve the course. Joe Brennan provided the second. Motion carried.
  
  
• PSYC 718, Visual Neuroscience: Joe Brennan motioned to approve the course. Donna Terbizan provided the second. Motion carried.
  
  
• PSYC 720, Cognitive Neuroscience: Amanda Dillard recommended the grading scale be updated as the points overlap. Mark Aune motioned to approve the course pending the change in grading scale. Joe Brennan provided the second. Motion carried.
  
  
• PSYC 760, Neuroscience Research Methods: Dean Wittrock recommended the grading scale be updated as the points overlap. Harlene Hatterman-Valenti motioned to approve the course pending the change in grading scale. Mark Aune provided the second. Motion carried.
  
  
• ECE 796, Special Topics: Network Theory: Joe Brennan motioned the proposal be sent back to the department to clarify if it is a new course and update the form. Mark Aune provided the second. Motion carried.
  
  
• PSYC 764, Advanced Topics in Attention: Dean Wittrock recommended the grading scale be updated as the points overlap. Mark Aune motioned to approve the course pending the change in grading scale. Jake Glower provided the second. Motion carried.
  
  
• ZOO, 460/660Animal Physiology: Joe Brennan motioned the proposal be sent back to the department to correct the number of credits on the syllabus, change the grading scale to avoid overlapping percentages, clarify the difference between the graduate level and undergraduate level work and correct the class time error. Harlene Hatterman-Valenti provided the second.
  
  
• ME 484/684, Gas Turbines: Mark Aune motioned to approve the course. Harlene Hatterman-Valenti provided the second. Motion carried.

Dr. Wittrock would like committee updates at the February meeting.

Dr. Wittrock adjourned the meeting at 9:55 a.m.

Submitted by,
Melissa Selders-Ortez, Student Services Associate