University of Nevada, Reno Graduate Council

Meeting Minutes, October 24, 2005

 

Members Present:

Kathryn Obenchain, Chair and College of Education

Marsha Read,  Associate Graduate Dean

Michael Branch, CLA-Humanities

Victor Vasquez, Engineering

Duane Karna, CLA – Fine Arts

Donica Mensing, Journalism

Matt Leone, HCS

James Sundali, Business

Ron Phaneuf, Faculty Senate

Glenn Miller, Agriculture

John Nelson, COS

Ed Johnson, GSA President

Susan Henthorne, GSA Advisor

Michael Peters, Recorder

 

Members Absent

Mark Brenner, Graduate Dean

Tracy Veach, Medicine

Stacy Gordon, College of Liberal Arts, Social Sciences

 

Guests

William Eubank, Political Science

Scott Tyler, Hydrologic Sciences

John Frederick, Provost

 

1.  The Chair called the meeting to order at 2:30 and called for a motion to approved the previous meeting’s minutes.  MOTION: (Nelson/Phaneuf) To approve the previous meeting’s minutes.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

Standing Reports

 

2.  Associate Dean:  Read reported on a variety of up-coming events including

            - National Research Council doctoral program survey to obtain data on all aspects of doctoral programs with a survey to be distributed in spring, 2006

            -  Possible proposals from graduate programs to establish defined specializations within established advanced degree programs.  The council created an ad hoc committee (Branch, Miller, Johnson, and Peters) to prepare a talking paper on the topic for consideration at the next council meeting.

            - In preparation for the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) accreditation process, Dr. Eric Herzik will be requesting faculty to serve as chairs for each of the nine standards by which the university will be evaluated.  Look for appointments to be made early in the spring 2006 semester.

            -  Possible changes to Higher Education Authorization Act may mandate regionally accredited universities to accept transfer credits from institutions lacking regional accreditation.  This is still in discussion in Congress.

 

3.  Faculty Senate:  Phaneuf  reported that the proposal for the Center for Corporate Governance and Business Ethics was reviewed by a Senate ad-hoc committee, revised based on the committee’s recommendations and sent to the Board of Regents for approval at its September meeting.  Additionally, a policy for audio and video equipment usage on campus was presented and rejected.  A Committee on Video Surveillance will be constituted to review existing and future camera installations and to revise the policy as needed.  The Faculty Morale Task Force has begun it’s work.  Finally, the Senate and the administration will work together to develop a more effective strategic planning process.

 

4.  GSA President:  Johnson reported that GSA was exploring the possibility of a recognition program for graduate students comparable to the Herz medal for undergraduates where recipients would also be honored with their names entered in the Honor Court.  Additionally, there were discussions about a possible graduate student of the month program.

 

5.  Courses and Curriculum Report:  Read presented the consent agenda recommending approval for BIOL 430/630, BIOL 433/633, BIOL 435/635, BCH 707, CEE 446/646, CEE 463/663, EDS 762, EL 746, EL 762, EL 763, EL 798 and GEOL 730.  MOTION: (Read/ Sundali) To approve consent agenda.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

New Business

6.  External Review reports.  The Provost received the reports from the Graduate Council representatives for the external reviews of Hydrologic Sciences (Scott Tyler), EECB (Stacy Gordon), Criminal Justice ( Bill Eubank) and Biology (Scott Tyler).  The Council discussed the recommendations and findings with the Provost.

 

7.  There being no further business the Council adjourned at 4:05.  The next meeting will be November 22, 2005 at 2:30 in the JTSU Ingersoll Senate Chamber.