December, 2007

The December meeting of the Graduate Council was called to order by Dr. Wittrock, at 8:30 am, December 12, 2007 in the Lake/Agassiz Room in Memorial Union.

In attendance: Ann Burnett, Mac Butler, Bill Berzonsky, Jacob Glower, Verlin Hinsz, Marjorie McCullagh, Renee Magnan, Brandy Randall, Seth Rasmussen, Rodney Traub, Charlene Wolf-Hall

The minutes for the November 14, 2007 meeting were considered. Ann Burnett made a motion to approve the minutes. Jacob Glower provided the second. Motion carried.

Requests for Associate Faculty Status/Teaching Waiver

The Council considered a request from the Department of Health, Nutrition and Exercise Science for a teaching waiver for Ed Lockwood. Verlin Hinsz made a motion to ask the department for the course syllabus and the field in which Ed's undergraduate degree is and to allow Dr. Wittrock to make a decision with regard to this request when this information is received. Jacob Glower provided the second. Motion carried.

The Council considered a request from the Department of Animal Sciences request for a teaching waiver for Dr. Jake Reed. Verlin Hinsz made a motion to approve. Charlene Wolf-Hall provided the second. Motion carried.

Course and Program Changes

Jacob Glower made a motion to approve the course proposals listed below as reviewed by the Curriculum committee. Ann Burnett provided the second. Motion carried.

ME 726 Fracture Mechanics

HNES 750 Advanced Human Nutrition

CE 499/696 Design of Masonry Structures?

ECE 432/632 Computational Methods in Power Systems

RNG 462/662 Rangeland Planning and Analysis

RNG/NRM 454/654 Wetland Resources Management

STEM Ph.D. program

Dr. Bill Martin from the School Education spoke to the group with regard to the STEM Ph.D. program. After discussion, Jacob Glower made a motion to approve the program proposal. Ann Burnett provided the second. Motion carried.

College of Agriculture, Food Systems and Natural Resources reorganization

Dr. Wittrock explained the requested organizational changes within the College of Agriculture, Food Systems and Natural Resources. Charlene Wolf-Hall made a motion to approve the requested changes. Rodney Traub provided the second. Motion carried.

Additional Items

Commencement Changes

Rhonda Kitch presented information regarding potential changes to future commencement ceremonies. With the increase in participants, she is looking at splitting the ceremonies. However, there are many considerations and options to consider. The plan is to have a recommendation to President Chapman by February. Any changes would be made by May 2009, but possibly implemented in December 2008.

Refusal Reasons in Embark

Dr. Wittrock told the Council a version of the new evaluation sheet in Embark is not yet available.

Full Time Status

Dr. Wittrock gave an update as to how many students request full-time status with less research credits versus internship/field experience credits. In Spring 07, 25 requests were for research credits and 3 requests were for practicum/internship credits. In Fall 07, 15 were for research credits and 5 requests were for practicum/internship credits. The Graduate School will check with Registration and Records to see if there is a way to track those who make these requests multiple times.

At 9:50 a.m., Dr. Wittrock adjourned the meeting.

Respectfully submitted,

Melissa Selders-Ortez