University of Nevada, Reno Graduate Council

Meeting Minutes, December 13, 2001

Members Present:

Deborah Ballard-Reisch, Chair and HCS

Linda Brinkley, VP for Research and Dean of the Graduate School

Marsha Read, Interim Associate Dean of the Graduate School

Jennifer Greer, Journalism and vice chair

Brent Bowman, Business

Rangesan Narayanan, Agriculture

Jeongwon Joe, Proxy for Katharine DeBoer, A&S, Fine Arts

Robert Winzeler, A&S, Social Sciences

Jeff Thompson, A&S Science

Stacy Burton, A&S, Humanities

Chris Cheney, Education

Peter Krumpe, Medicine

Dean Adams, Engineering

Carlos Ledon, Graduate Student Association

Michael Peters, recorder

Members Absent:

Scott Tyler, Mines

Dana Edberg, Faculty Senate Representative

Guest:

Susan Henthorne

Markus Kemmelmeier, Social Psychology

Steve Zink, Information Technology

1. The Chair called the meeting to order at 1:35. The Chair reported that the proposal for the Certificate of Organizational Health Care Professional had been returned to the Psychology Department for revisions, i.e. too many of the program’s core requirements were identified as being seminar or special topics courses.

2. C&C Report: Tyler reported via Greer that at the last C&C meeting there were no graduate program revisions, new courses or substantive course modifications reviewed, approved or denied.

3. Social Psychology Master’s Degree: The Chair called on Markus Kemmelmeier to introduce the master of arts in social psychology. This degree would be solely for social psychology doctoral students who have successfully completed the first two years of their doctoral program and passed the comprehensive qualifying examination. The degree would make students more competitive in employment and research opportunities by providing them with a credential more accurately reflecting their experience and expertise. Upon approval by the Regents, current doctoral students in social psychology who qualify for the master’s degree could apply to graduate with the master’s degree. While students could elect to complete the master’s degree and not continue with their doctoral studies, students, by virtue of having passed the qualifying examinations, would have to be eligible to continue doctoral work to receive the master’s degree.

MOTION (Cheney/Thompson) To approve master’s degree in social psychology. Motion passed unanimously.

4. Electronic Submission of Theses and Dissertations: Steve Zink presented information about submitting theses and dissertations electronically. Some important issues to be considered include:

a. Reluctance of professional journals to publish research papers that have already been released as a theses or dissertations and are available via the world wide web.

b. Accessibility for students/faculty to download and/or access large text/data files (dissertations and theses) via modem connections.

c. Difficulty in reading large documents via computer screen.

Zink indicated that University Microfilms, Inc. could accommodate a variety of restrictions on availability of published dissertations which could be negotiated by UNR such as making dissertations available only in hard copy or delaying availability for a period of one, two, or three years. He also indicated that a number of other institutions were currently doing this and it would appear that the trend is indicating an expansion of this form of submission. As this agenda item was for information purposes only, no decision was called for. Zink will provide Read with a list of currently participating institutions and she will explore the advantages and disadvantages of electronic submission and report back to the Council.

5. Dean’s Report: Brinkley reported that the Phase II documents of the developing Strategic Plan had been completed and outlined her proposed strategies for graduate education.

Foster the recruitment of highly qualified domestic and international graduate students

Increase the minimum graduate stipend to $12,000 for the academic year in two years.

Provide health insurance coverage to graduate students

Develop an on-line catalog

Continue to improve and maintain the quality of graduate programs

Create the Center for Research Design and Statistical Methods

Ensure high quality instructional performance as graduate teaching assistants

Utilize TSE to assure English skills prior to admission

Provide remediation avenues for TAs scoring below 50 on TSE or Speak test

Reconceptualize interdisciplinary graduate programs to maximize their potential

Systematize administrative/organizational research on graduate applications, admissions, progression and graduation

Data warehouse for SIS data and HR data with network access capabilities

All graduate school forms on-line with electronic signature capabilities

Administratively facilitate student admissions, progression through program completion and graduation

Document imaging capabilities

Enhanced international student application process

Provide leadership and support to facilitate the graduate student association

Provide training to departments, graduate faculty and graduate program directors

On-line tutorials on graduate school procedures and policies

Improve admissions procedures for international students

Require international applicants to use an approved fee-for service credential evaluation service

Require international applicants to have taken the TSE and submit the scores as part of their application

Have the Associate Dean of the Graduate School become an approved signatory for visas

Brinkley also requested the Council review the current admissions policy that allows admission to master’s programs based on a calculation using the student’s undergraduate grade point average multiplied the sum of the student’s verbal and quantitative Graduate Record Examination (GRE) test scores (GPA X (V+Q) ) = 2,466). She cited the literature of the Educational Testing Service indicating that this was an inappropriate use of GRE test scores.

6. Read reported that beginning with the August, 2002 graduation cycle, the Graduate School would be implementing a new graduation application procedure in which the student’s approved Program of Study would be used to check degree requirements against their transcript instead of having the student re-enter their course listings on a graduation application form. Details are still being worked out and will be disseminated early in the spring semester

7. At 3:30 the Council adjourned. Due to the semester break, there will be no meeting in January. The next meeting with be held in the Alan Bible Conference Room, Getchell Library, at 1:30 p.m. February 14, 2002.