University of Nevada, Reno Graduate Council

Meeting Minutes, February 12, 2004

Members Present:

Stacy Burton, Chair and A&S, Humanities

Marsha Read, Associate Dean of the Graduate School

Kathryn Obenchain, Education

Jeri Bigbee, HCS

Donica Mensing, Journalism

James Winn, A&S, Fine Arts

John Nelson, A&S Science

Tracy Veach, Medicine

Banmali Rawat, Engineering

James Sundali, Business

Scott Tyler, Mines

Dana Edberg, Faculty Senate Representative

Susan Henthorne for Jessica Muehlberg, President, GSA

Members Absent:

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

Richard Davies, A&S, Social Sciences

Rangesan Narayanan, Agriculture

Michael Peters, recorder

Guests:

Noel Tiano, Director, Nevada Center for Ethics and Health Policy

1. The Chair called the meeting to order at 2:35 and invited Noel Tiano to present the proposal for a certificate program in bioethics. The certificate program has been revised to reduce the course load to 14 credits and is targeted at both graduate students as well as professionals (doctors, lawyers, scientists, etc.) Although there is no recognized accrediting agency for this program, completion of the certificate program should enhance one’s ability to make ethical decisions. MOTION: (Rawat/Winn) To approve the certificate program in bioethics. Motion passed with 10 yes votes, 1 no vote and 1 abstention.

Old Business

2. The chair called for a motion to approve the previous meeting’s minutes. Obenchain requested a revision to the minutes pertaining to proposed changes in master’s programs in elementary education and secondary education. MOTION: (Winn/Nelson) To approve the December 2003 minutes as revised by Obenchain’s suggestions. Motion passed unanimously.

Standing Reports

3. Graduate Dean’s Report: Read reported that the graduate catalog is now up on the Graduate School website. She invited council members to review the catalog and forward recommended revisions to the Graduate School. The catalog will probably be revised only once a year.

Read distributed a summary of survey data from the 2002 Survey of Earned Doctorates (see attached).

Read reported on an assessment of exceptions to policy approved for the 192 graduates from December, 2003: 13% of graduates required some exception to policy more than half of which involved time extensions for course work.

4. Courses & Curriculum Committee Report: Read reported that she had reviewed a number of proposals that did not need review by the entire council and would be forwarded to the university C&C.

5. GSA Report: Henthorne reported that the GSA president, Jessie Muehlberg, was currently attending the National Association of Graduate Students in Washington, D.C. Henthorne reported that GSA had voted in favor of building a new student union and were willing to pay higher fees if taking 7 credits or more. GSA awards are now listed on their website with some rule changes included for this year. Finally, April 5 – 9 will be celebrated as Graduate Appreciation Week with more information forthcoming.

6. Faculty Senate Report: Edberg reported that the Senate had passed a revised Conflict of Interest Policy which establishes disclosure policy to identify potential conflicts of interest and conflicts of commitment. The approved policy now needs to be implemented. The next major discussion point for the Senate to undertake is expected to be providing input to the President regarding final decisions on merit policy and pay.

New Business

7. Faculty Load Policy – Implications for Graduate Education: Burton distributed the Class Load Policy that had been passed in May, 1995 as well as a Draft Course Load Policy for State Funded Faculty with Instructional Responsibilities. Although the 1995 policy has been in effect for the last nine years, it has not generally been enforced. The proposed new policy has a number of implications for graduate education. Discussion ensued. Some of the issues raised included defining the size of a graduate program solely by student enrollment instead of faculty/student ratio; recognizing only the major professor on a student’s advisory committee instead of the entire committee; and not recognizing the workload involved in enrollment in thesis, dissertation or independent studies credits. The Council decided that Read and Burton would compile a draft of council concerns to be forwarded to the provost before the next Faculty Senate meeting.

8. Draft Appeals Policy: Read distributed a proposed draft of an appeals process for graduate students. Discussion ensued. Some recommendations for modifications included providing language to more clearly define the type of appeal involved; changing the appeals review committee format to that used for grade appeals, i.e. one faculty member from the student’s department, one faculty member from outside the student’s department, and one graduate student; recommending deleting language providing for a student’s advocate or attorney from attending the appeals committee meeting and speaking on behalf of the student. The revised draft proposal will be forwarded to Sally Morgan, Director of Student Judicial Affairs for her review and comment.

9. Graduate Council Lead Reviewer for HDFS Program Review: As the HDFS department has completed an external review of their program, Burton solicited from the Council members a volunteer to serve as the lead reviewer for the rest of the program review process. Jeri Bigbee volunteered.

7. The Council adjourned at 4:30. The next meeting will be March 11, 2004 at 2:30 in the conference room at the School of Journalism.