University of Nevada, Reno Graduate Council

Meeting Minutes, February 13, 2003

Members Present:

Jennifer Greer, Chair and Journalism

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

Marsha Read, Associate Dean of the Graduate School

Richard Davies, A&S, Fine Arts

Marilou Woolm, President, GSA

Scott Tyler, Mines

James Winn, A&S, Fine Arts

Dana Edberg, Faculty Senate Representative

Brent Bowman, Business

Kathryn Obenchain, Education

Jeri Bigbee, HCS

Rangesan Narayanan, Agriculture

Stacy Burton, A&S, Humanities

Jeff Thompson, A&S, Science

Members Absent:

Banmali Rawat, Engineering

Peter Krumpe, Medicine

Guest:

John Fredrick, Provost

Pam Moore, recorder

Susan Henthorne, GSA Advisor

The Chair called the meeting to order at 1:35 pm and asked that Provost John Fredrick’s report on the role of graduate council in the program review process be presented before old business.

New Business

1. Four types of program review process are used (Internal Review (every 7 years), Assessment, Accreditation Review, and Strategic Planning). In 2002 whole college review was done for Journalism, COE, and School of Medicine. James Winn indicated that he thought that the Music Program did program review every 10 years. It was discussed that the Graduate Council be proactive by developing a set of guidelines/best practices (data etc.) for programs that will be reviewed. During the discussion Dr. Brinkley said the interdisciplinary programs have to do an annual program review before the next fiscal budget is approved. Jennifer Greer said that one part of the Graduate Council By-Laws is that the council be involved with program review. One of the points made during the discussion was that Graduate Council was very involved with the “birthing” of a program but what is its role if the program requires “hospice” care? What the provost office would like the council to look at is what and when would it be most useful for the Graduate Council to become involved with program review. Dr. Brinkley asked about a multi-year calendar of review (4-5 years out) John Fredrick indicated that his office is working on or has one. When the council becomes more active with program review each college delegate will present the program(s) that will be up for review maybe one? each meeting?. Scott Tyler will be writing a draft concerning the Graduate Councils role in program review for the March Graduate Council meeting and if anyone has information or questions please email to Scott Tyler ( tylers@unr.edu).

Old Business

2. December 2002 minutes reviewed and chair called for a motion to approve the December minutes. MOTION (Woolm/Tyler): Motion approved unanimously.

New Business

3. Report on policies/procedures for Oral Committees had to be rescheduled as Richard Davies and Peter Krumpe have not been able to meet. Jennifer asked for a volunteer to work on this committee. Rang Narayanan volunteered. The committee will look at setting up guidelines for oral exams, and what constitutes a pass. This committee will report to the council at the April Meeting.

4. Report on Electronic Dissertation/thesis. The committee has not had a chance to meet yet but Jeff Thompson gave a summary of the information he had concerning Electronic Dissertation/thesis. In 1997 Virginia Tech was the first school to go to E.D. About 100 schools now accept them. They all have a standard format usually Adobe pdf, they are print on demand files or can be restricted, they include video, audio, graphics, links, thumbnails, and search engines. They also have a standard formats for video, audio, and graphics. E.D are cheaper to store. The Start-up cost $50,000 (used to hire grad assistant to help with pdf conversion etc). Virginia Tech shows that with E.D. there are as many as 150 hits daily vs hard copy checked out 2-3 times a year. Library wants E. D.. To phase in E. D. can be done with a phase in target date or as Virginia tech did they announced that as of XYZ date they will only accept E.D. Discussion continued and concerns about backward compatablility, copy right, IRB, and access issues were brought up. Chair called for a motion to endorse Electronic Dissertation/thesis acceptance and to move forward. MOTION (Tyler/Bowman): Motion approved unanimously.

5. Jennifer Greer’s responsibility as interm dean of Journalism will require her to step down as Chair of the Graduate Council, Stacy Burton as current vice chair has agreed to finish out Jennifer’s current term and to serve as Chair for the 2003-2004 council. Jennifer will serve as vice chair and on the C & C committee for the Graduate Council.

Standing Reports

6. Dr. Brinkley reported that President Lilley has asked several times about new graduate programs. She would like everyone to think about new graduate programs that maybe “market unique” and that would match with the University focal areas.

7. Marsha Read reported on the graduation application being online. It might be a short form that the student would go online to fill out that has just basic information and pay the fee. The Program of study would be used as the actual form for review, saving the student and advisors from having to do the same basic form twice. Discussion followed. The concern that was apparent was that the graduate program director would like to be notified when someone from their program applies for graduation and how would that be done with this new system? the suggestion that was had the most positive response was after the student applied an email would go out the grad school, the advisor, and the graduate program director with the provision that everything is pending advisor’s approval. Recommendation was to ask the Directors of Graduate Studies for some input and then work toward implementation for December 2003 graduation.

8. CHE 706, A discussion concerning wording and whether it can be pre-req., and/or co-req. and changing the wording from pre or co req., but can’t count for degree. Meeting with Wallace Whiting to discuss wording

9. GSA: looking for Graduate Council support concerning financial aid office definition of Full time graduate student. Changing default policy concerning what is considered full time (6 or 9) (assistantship/no assistantship) the FA office default excludes a lot of grad students who may be on assistantships. Chair asked for motion supporting GSA concerning this. MOTION: (Burton/Woolm)

10. Dana Edberg reported on the break-up of A & S had been postponed. Faculty senate had some fundamental problems with several items and felt it needed to be looked at again. Nothing new to report from faculty senate.

11. Meeting was adjourned at 3:15 pm

12. Next Graduate Council Meeting will be on Thursday, March 13, 2003 in the Alan Bible Conference Room at 1:30 pm