November 8, 2006

The November meeting of the Graduate Council was called to order by Dr. Donna Terbizan, at 8:30am, November 8, 2006, in the Badlands Room of Memorial Union.

In attendance: Bill Berzonsky, Jacob Glower, Verlin Hinsz, Samudra Kugel, Renee Magnan, Seth Rasmussen, Carol Rusaw, Donna Terbizan, Rodney Traub, Charlene Wolf-Hall.

The minutes for the October 11, 2006 meeting were considered. Carol Rusaw made a motion to approve the minutes. Samudra Kugel provided the second. Motion carried.

Business

Requests for Associate Faculty Status/Teaching Waiver

The Council considered a request from HNES to grant a teaching waiver to Justin Forde to teach HNES 431/631 Sport Governance Spring Semester 2007. Donna Terbizan made a motion to grant a teaching waiver to Justin Forde. During discussion questions were brought up regarding teaching experience and what the course is about. Bill Berzonsky made a motion to table the request until the next meeting. Charlene Wolf Hall provided the second. Motion carried.

The Council considered a request from Coatings and Polymeric Materials to grant Associate Graduate Faculty Status to Dr. Brian Hinderliter and Kerry Allahar. Verlin Hinsz made a motion to approve. Jacob Glower provided the second. Motion carried.

The Council considered a request from Plant Sciences to grant Associate Graduate Faculty Status to Dr. Shiaoman Chao. Rodney Traub made a motion to approve. Jacob Glower provided the second. Motion carried.

The Council considered a request from Agribusiness and Applied Economics to grant Associate Graduate Faculty Status to Dr. Benjamin Onyango. Jacob Glower made a motion to approve. Seth Rasmussen provided the second. Motion carried.

Course proposals:

The Council reviewed the course proposal for CDFS 780 Ethics and Professional Issues in Couple and Family Therapy. The Council asked the proposal be sent back to the department for the addition of a grading scale.

Language Proficiency for Teaching Assistants

Paul Homan was unable to attend the meeting to discuss language proficiency. The Council discussed issues sent out in the Graduate Council packets. Questions that arouse out of the discussion are:

Are the requirements for TA's discriminatory?

Are lab instructors TA's? What is the "wiggle room"?

What are the requirements for faculty hires? Should TA's meet the same requirements?

If we videoconference, who documents and evaluates it? At what level are these conducted (department, Graduate School )?

What are the criteria? Could a tool be developed for this?

Is the cost of an interview less than cost of TOEFL?

The idea of an evaluation early in the semester is great, but what do we do if there is a problem? Could experienced TA's mentor new TA's?

The meeting was adjourned at 9:45 am.

Respectfully submitted,

Melissa Selders-Ortez