University of Nevada, Reno Graduate Council

Meeting Minutes, December 9, 2004

Members Present:

Scott Tyler, Chair and COS, Mackay School of Earth Science and Engineering

John Nelson, COS

Eric Rasmussen, CLA, Humanities

James Winn, CLA, Fine Arts

Tracy Veach, Medicine

Ron Phaneuf, Faculty Senate

Matt Leone, HCS

James Sundali, Business

Andy Trzynadlowski, Engineering

Donica Mensing, Journalism

Jessica Muehlberg, Graduate Student Association

Members Absent:

Marsha Read, Graduate Dean

Kathryn Obenchain, Education

Glenn Miller, Agriculture

Stacy Gordon, College of Liberal Arts, Social Sciences

1. The Chair called the meeting to order at 2:30 and proceeded to call for the standing reports.

Standing Reports

2. Faculty Senate: Phaneuf reported that at the 12/8/04 senate meeting President Lilly reported that the Regents had approved the UNR master plan. Additionally, the President encouraged UNR faculty to become more engaged as academic entrepreneurs and to develop more new programs, particularly at the doctoral level. Phaneuf further reported that President Lilly’s evaluation would take place in January and interested faculty could make their contributions. Finally, the senate was creating a sub-committee on faculty morale.

3. GSA: Muehlberg reported that there will be two graduate students on the VPR search committee; that the graduate student needs survey is in-progress and asked faculty to encourage their students to participate in it; that there would be a Graduate Student Data Blast in February to showcase Student Services programs for graduate students; and that the annual awards program to highlight outstanding graduate students would begin in the spring semester.

4. Courses & Curricula: Nelson reported that the council’s subcommittee reviewing graduate curricula changes had approved a host of minor changes and revisions not requiring the full council’s review. Additionally, he noted the subcommittee needed curricula changes two weeks prior the council meeting to have adequate time for review.

5. The Chair noted that the council still needed a volunteer to serve on the Student Services Advisory Board and indicated he would send an email to council members soliciting a volunteer.

New Business

6. Items for next year: The Chair opened discussion for items to be included on the council’s agenda for next year. Muehlberg proposed discussing the results of the graduate student survey which should be available early in the spring semester. Other members indicated they would propose agenda items via e-mail to the Chair.

7. There being no other business, the council adjourned at 3:30. The next meeting will be on February 10, 2005 in Room 239 of the Jot Travis Student Union.