March 2, 2005

The March special meeting of the Graduate Council was called to order by Dean David Wittrock, at 8:30 a.m., March 2, 2005, in the Plains Room in the Memorial Union.

In Attendance: Mark Aune, Canan Bilen-Green, Joe Brennan, Jake Glower, Charlene Wolf-Hall, Harlene Hatterman-Valenti, Ayanava Majumdar, Judy Pearson, Donna Terbizan, Rodney Traub

The minutes for the February 9, 2005 meeting were considered, Joe Brennan made a motion to approve the minutes, and Charlene Wolf-Hall provided the second. Motion carried.

NEW BUSINESS

• Dr. Albert Schneiter, Department of Plant Sciences, presented an agreement between the Department of Plant Sciences, the College of Agriculture , Food Systems and Natural Resources at North Dakota State University and The College of Agricultural Sciences at the University of Puerto Rico , Mayaguez (UPRM). This agreement provides for a co-op relationship that allows students from UPRM to apply to the Ph.D. program in Plant Sciences at NDSU. In turn, faculty from UPRM may be granted associate faculty status at NDSU. UPRM does not offer a Ph.D. program and they would like their faculty to pursue advanced degrees as well. Students would be required to have a 1-year residency at NDSU and they may be here for other coursework and for exams. They would not be treated any differently than other students. Joe Brennan suggest item 3 on page one be changed to reflect that Associate Faculty appointments are approved by the Dean of the Graduate School in consultation with the Graduate Council. Rodney Traub suggest it be clarified that these faculty members may be granted Associate Faculty status, which is not clear in the agreement now. Joe Brennan made a motion commend the Department of Plant Sciences for this agreement and for the Graduate Council to support the agreement. Rodney Traub provided the second. Motion carried.
  
  
• Dean Wittrock presented changes brought forth by Agribusiness and Applied Economics for the International Agribusiness program. The program has not changed, but the list of partners where students enroll for their final semester has been expanded. Joe Brennan asked if the Monterrey Institute of Technology offers graduate programs. His understanding is they only offer bachelor's degrees. Dean Wittrock will check into this issue.
  
  
• Denver Tolliver presented a proposal for a new Master of Transportation and Logistics program. This program is offered in conjunction with the Department of Defense to help facilitate a major transformation of which logistics is an important part. NDSU has been working with the Department of Defense for the last year to develop an innovative and intense program. This program would allow 30-40 mid career officers to study at NDSU for 12 months. This is not a research-focused program. It would not compete with any other programs in this region, nor would it compete with the Transportation and Logistics program.
  
  Jake Glower asked if anyone would be eligible to take these courses. Denver Tolliver said there is no secure information being presented in the courses, but the Department of Defense would tell him if they were uncomfortable with others taking the courses. Dean Wittrock asked if the fee structure would be the same as those being paid by the Department of Defense. Denver Tolliver said for contractors taking these courses, the fee structure would have to be the same.
  
  Judy Pearson asked if this program would change the admission process, meaning would all applicants be accepted. Denver Tolliver said we have the right not to accept students, but it would more of an issue over program space that qualified students. Judy Pearson also asked about resource issues (space, instructors). Denver Tolliver said this program is being facilitated through the College of Business Administration and the College of Engineering and Architecture. Though the Department of Defense won't provide development funds, they do pay a substantial per student fee that will generate a good revenue stream. Revenues will be used to free up current faculty and bring in visiting experts to teach courses. Classroom requirements will be met by holding courses at alternate times, especially early in the morning, so as not to conflict with current needs.
  
  Mark Aune asked about the Library resources needed. Denver Tolliver said there are materials that we must have available to these students. Much of it is available on line, or may be available for free since they are government documents. President Chapman has indicated he will loan funds to the program with the expectation of repayment once student fees are paid.
  
  Joe Brennan suggested the program broaden the range of faculty being used for the program, for example Emergency Management and Operations Research. Denver Tolliver also said the military does not want operations research as part of the program. He has also spoken with Agribusiness and Applied Economics and Civil Engineering and each felt the program would not impact them.
  
  Judy Pearson said building relationships with other departments in regard to this program is a good idea. When this proposal is brought to the University Senate, some departments may be upset when they see the speed at which this program has been approved when other programs like the Ph.D. in English has been stalled.
  
  
• Dr. Paul Gleye presented a proposal for a Master of Architecture degree, which is designed to replace the current Bachelor of Architecture degree. Currently students receive two degrees after 5 years of studies, a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Design and Bachelor of Architecture. The purpose is not to extend the time of study, but expand the depth of the program. Under this proposal, at the end of the third year of study, students would apply to the Graduate School . During the fourth year of study, they would have dual status and be a graduate student during their fifth year.
  
  Dean Wittrock said this would be a departure from current Graduate School policies, as they cannot currently hold dual status. PeopleSoft will allow the NDSU to track students in dual status roles. Students would be admitted conditionally for the fourth year until the bachelor's degree is complete.
  
  Dr. Gleye said students would have to prepare a design thesis and demonstrate competence in elements of architecture. They also ask a question regarding how a trend, new law or other element impacts the design of their structure. Dean Wittrock said it would be a Plan C option. Joe Brennan asked how it differs from Plan B. Dean Wittrock said they would not be submitted for editing and not bound. Jake Glower asked if the acceptance rate would be 100% because students are coming from the undergraduate program. Dr. Gleye said students could be turned down for low GPA, but most students who graduate from the undergraduate program with a low GPA do not become architects. He is not concerned about losing these students. Joe Brennan motioned to approve the program proposal for the Master of Architecture program. Judy Pearson provided the second. Motion carried.

COURSE PROPOSALS

• Donna Terbizan reported that her committee approved all courses given to them except for CFS/PLSC 759 Milling, as the changes requested were not submitted. Dean Wittrock asked how the council should proceed: should revised syllabi be re-circulated or should the council approve. Joe Brennan said the revisions should be circulated. Harlene Hatterman-Valenti said the council delegated the responsibility of reviewing these courses to the committee. Dean Wittrock asked that at the April meeting the Academic Affairs Committee report their process for reviewing and approving course proposals. Joe Brennan motioned to let Dean Wittrock review and approve all courses approved by the Academic Affairs Committee of the Graduate Council. Harlene Hatterman-Valenti provided the second. Motion carried.

Dr. Wittrock adjourned the meeting at 9:50 a.m.

Submitted by,

Melissa Selders-Ortez, Student Services Associate