University of Nevada, Reno Graduate Council

Meeting Minutes, November 13, 2003

Members Present:

Stacy Burton, Chair and A&S, Humanities

Marsha Read, Associate Dean of the Graduate School

William Thornton for Kathryn Obenchain, Education

Jeri Bigbee, HCS

Donica Mensing, Journalism

James Winn, A&S, Fine Arts

John Nelson, A&S Science

Richard Davies, A&S, Social Sciences

Tracy Veach, Medicine

Banmali Rawat, Engineering

Dana Edberg, Faculty Senate Representative

Susan Henthorn for Jessica Muehlberg, President, GSA

Members Absent:

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

James Sundali, Business

Scott Tyler, Mines

Rangesan Narayanan, Agriculture

Michael Peters, recorder

Guests:

Provost John Frederick

Bob Quinn, Chair, Curriculum, Teaching and Learning

Chris Cheney, Chair, Educational Specialties

Old Business

1. The Chair called the meeting to order at 2:35 and as the Provost had arrived, proceeded to agenda item 3a. Program Review for Foreign Languages and Literatures (FLL). Provost Frederick reiterated his request to have the Council’s input in conducting and evaluating program reviews. Burton then introduced the proposed guidelines for Graduate Council work in program reviews (agenda item 1b.) which had yet to be adopted by the Council. In the ensuing discussion, the Council addressed both the proposed guidelines and how they may be implemented with the FLL program review. Winn suggested that perhaps the Council should simply deal with identified program weaknesses instead of commenting on strengths. Provost Frederick answered that the on-campus perspective provided by the Council would be most helpful to more accurately assess both strengths and weaknesses identified through the program review; that assessments by outside evaluators (often centered in a specific discipline) needed to be looked at in the context of how suggested improvements may or may not fit into the university’s overall plan for development. Additionally, the Council could provide advice about how to improve a given graduate program in light of what other programs on campus do. Burton pointed out that it would be helpful for the Council representative to have the program’s self-study documents prior to participating in the program review. The council then selected Donica Mensing to serve as the Council’s point person for the FLL program review. The Chair then requested the Council propose a process for selecting future point persons. This concluded this portion of the meeting.

2. The Chair called for a motion to approve the previous meeting’s minutes. Motion: (Nelson/Davies) To approve the October 2003 meeting minutes. Motion approved unanimously.

3. GSA Report: Henthorne reported that the GSA was developing, as part of their long-range strategic plan, a proposal for the creation of a Graduate Student Union facility.

4. Faculty Senate Report: Edberg reported that the November 6, 2003 meeting of the Faculty Senate approved a new policy regarding intellectual property. Major changes include a revision to the breakdown of monies returned to the owner of intellectual property rights and a modification to the uses the institution can make of intellectual property developed by faculty. Upcoming, the Senate will look at a new merit awards policy as well as faculty workload.

5. Courses and Curricula Report: Read reported on her review of modifications to curricula with accompanying recommendations. Motion: (Veach/Nelson) To approve the recommendations of Dean Read for curricula changes to include:

Deleting HDFS 441/641 and HDFS 451/651

Changing number of credits for NURS 482/682 and approving common course number changes for nursing courses.

Approving 11 Speech Pathology and Audiology course proposals to bring curricula in line with their national organization guidelines. (SPA 660; 661; 667; 721; 765; 767; 762; 759; 755; 754; 753.

Approving change of degree title from Master of Science to Master of Science in Nursing.

Approving the move of the MA-TESOL from the Graduate School (as an interdisciplinary program) to the College of Education.

Approving 3 new TESOL courses (ESL 463/663; 464/664; and 737.

Returning NURS 485/685 to department for greater clarification of differences between undergraduate and graduate components.

Approving four course proposals from Music, MUS 723, 724, 740, and 741

Approving two elective courses from Chemistry, CHEM 707 and 788

Approving one new course from ERS, ERS 475/675

Approving one cross-listed course from Health Ecology HE 439/639 and GERO 439/639

Approving change in title, credits, course description and prerequisites for ATMS 706

Approving change in course description for ENG 427/627

Motion passed with one abstention.

Chris Cheney and Bob Quinn, the new chairs of the two newly re-organized departments, Educational Specialties and Curriculum, Teaching and Learning respectively introduced a number of curriculum changes resulting from the re-organization. These included changing the prefix of certain CI courses to either CTL (Curriculum, Teaching and Learning) or EDS (Educational Specialties); creating a new course CTL 585 or EDS 585, Supervised Internship which can be taken for either 6 credits in one semester or 16 credits in one semester, depending on the specific requirements for the degree. Literacy Studies, previously a concentration in either Elementary Education or Special Education will be developed into a full graduate program offering either an master of arts in literacy studies (thesis program) or a master of education in literacy studies (non-thesis program). Library Science courses will be taught through Continuing Education and will remain non-degree courses. The Chair recommended deferring a discussion on the proposed Literacy Studies program until next meeting. Motion (Davies/Winn): To approve the curriculum changes outlined on Read’s handout, items 5 – 11 and 13 – 14; deferring discussion of item 12, library science courses to next meeting. Motion approved with two abstentions.

6. Review of Graduate Faculty Guidelines: Burton introduced the topic for discussion at a later meeting of the Council. Since the delegation of authority to appoint faculty to graduate faculty status (Fall 1997) to academic programs/departments there has been a diminishing consistency in how faculty are appointed, reappointed or removed from graduate faculty status and that the issue bears addressing by the Council.

7. There being no further business, the Council adjourned at 3:25. The next meeting will be December 11, 2003 at 2:30 p.m. in the Alan Bible Room of the Getchell Library.