January 11, 2006

The January meeting of the Graduate Council was called to order by Dean David Wittrock, at 8:30am, January 11, 2006, in the Badlands Room of Memorial Union.

In attendance: Mark Aune, Ross Collins, Amanda Dillard, Jacob Glower, Ayanava Majumdar, Judy Pearson, Donna Terbizan, Rodney Traub, Charlene Wolf-Hall. Guests: Paul Homan, Modern Languages and Alicia Kauffman, Office of International Programs.

The minutes for the December 14, 2005 meeting were considered. Judy Pearson made a motion to approve the minutes. Mark Aune provided the second. Motion carried.

TOEFL Internet Based Test:

Dr. Wittrock presented information regarding the new TOEFL Internet Based Test. The Graduate Council must decide the institutional minimum score, teaching assistant minimum score and whether to put subtest score minimums into place. Alicia Kauffman stated the Office of International Programs institutional minimum for undergraduate students is 70 which is comparable to 193 for the old computer-base test and 523 for the old paper-based test. The speaking subtest will replace the Test of Spoken English. Paul Homan indicated that a score of 26 on the TOEFL-IBT is equivalent to the 50 required for the TSE. There was discussion about if minimums should be set prior to our receiving these scores. Rodney Traub made a motion to set the following institutional minimums for Graduate Students: 70 for all students, 100 for teaching assistants, 26 for speaking subtest and 23 for written subtest. These minimums should be re-evaluated after scores are being received on a consistent basis. Donna Terbizan provided the second. Motion carried.

Course proposals:

Course proposals were reviewed by Donna Terbizan and Melissa Selders-Ortez because of the semester break. All changes requested were received except for EDUC/HC & E 487/687 and 488/688. Donna made a motion to approve the course proposals with two proposals pending corrections. Mark Aune provided the second. Motion carried.

Dr. Wittrock asked that if someone is uncomfortable with the way the council is now handling course proposal, please contact him.

Curriculum Revision:

Dr. Wittrock presented two curriculum revisions for the Psychology program. The changes are not major, but the Graduate Council should review them. After discovering some typographical errors and confusing wording, Judy Pearson motion that these revision proposals be reviewed by the Academic Affairs Committee of the Graduate Council. Ross Collins provided the second. Motion carried.

Business

Graduate Assistant Policy:

An updated Graduate Assistant Policy will be presented at the February meeting. An Open Forum will then be scheduled regarding this policy.

Multiple Assistantships:

At the December 14 meeting, the council discussed a 20-hour a week cap for graduate assistants. Dr. Wittrock asked if he should enforce this policy for those with multiple assistantships. Judy Pearson made a motion for Dr. Wittrock to enforce the 20 hour per week cap for those with multiple assistantships. Mark Aune provided the second. A question was purposed regarding the cap for students with one assistantship. Dr. Wittrock stated that if a student is being asked to work more than 20 hours per week, they should bring this issue to the Graduate School for resolution. Motion carried.

Continuous Enrollment:

There are two issues regarding continuous enrollment. The first being if a student is gone for more than two years with out a leave of absence, they must reapply and there is no penalty of registering for additional credits. If a student is gone for less than two years, they must register for one credit for each semester missed, up to four semesters. So, it is less expensive to reapply no matter what. Donna Terbizan made a motion to change to policy to read that students who have been gone for more than two years must reapply and register for 4 credits. Mark Aune provided the second. Motion carried.

The second issue is if students should be required to register for credits after their final defense. There is conflicting language in the Graduate Bulletin. Under the Continuous Enrollment section it states, " Students who interrupt their graduate program prior to the final examination must maintain continuous enrollment for the Fall and/or Spring Semesters of the absence or obtain a leave of absence, which is to be submitted in writing for approval by the Graduate Dean." This implies that continuous enrollment need only be maintained up to the final examination. In the policy section Registration for Research Credits it states, "A student conducting research for the disquisition is to be enrolled in 797, 798, or 799 for the number of credits specified on the plan of study. If a student's program has a cap on the number of 797, 798 or 799 credits that may be earned in the pursuit of degree, the student is to register for 797R, 798R, or 799R (or regular credit at the discretion of the host Program) during each semester in which the student uses faculty consultation and/or University facilities and/or University administration. Such registration is required even in absentia when faculty and/or administration time is consumed in manuscript review, communication, and other forms of assistance." This implies that continuous enrollment be maintained until final copies of the disquisition are submitted. Donna Terbizan made a motion to change the wording of the continuous enrollment policy to read, " Students who interrupt their graduate program prior to the completion of all requirements must maintain continuous enrollment." The motion was tabled until the next meeting. In the meantime, Dr. Wittrock will check to see if there is language in the bulletin regarding registration at the time final copies are submitted.

Meeting was adjourned at 9:50 am.

Respectfully submitted,

Melissa Selders-Ortez