GRADUATE COUNCIL

Minutes of the Meeting

March 20, 2004

The meeting was called to order by Dean Judith Walker de Felix at 1:30 p.m. Members in attendance were: Joseph Carroll, Cody Ding, Alice Hall, Wesley Harris, Karl Kottemann, Sandra Lindquist, Therese Macan, Carol Peck, Nancy Shields, Eduardo Silva, Zuleyma Tang-Martinez, Richard Wright. Members absent: Bill Kyle, Mary Beth Mohrmann. Shiying Zhao is on leave.

I. Minutes

The minutes of the February 20 2004 meeting were approved as submitted.

II. Committee Reports

Program Development – Eduardo Silva

The committee reviewed and recommends approval of an alternative format to the Master of Business Administration program. Excerpts from the rationale state “This program would be a variation of the MBA program. Its most unique feature would be the requirement to study fulltime outside of the U.S. for the first school year. ….our program is unique in that our students would be offered the choice of which overseas partner school to attend for that first year.” The international format would be in addition to the current evening and internet-based MBA offerings. Council approved the committee’s recommendation unanimously.

The committee received a proposal which included both the undergraduate and graduate certificates in Women’s and General Studies. The graduate component is being repackaged by clustering existing courses into:

· Gender, Language and Identity

· Gender, Theory and the Arts

· Gender, Health, Aging and Science

· Gender, Ethnicity and Globalization

· Gender, Work and Public Policy

· Gender, Organizations and Leadership

Students will have the option to keep the original, non-specific track or choose one of the clusters.

Council had a few concerns. The graduate regulations require that at least 9 credits (of 18 required hours) be at the 5000-level. The document needs to be changed to reflect this requirement. Some clusters only have 2 courses at or above the 5000-level. Also, only 6 hours may be independent study. On the surface, it would appear that the Graduate School requirement could only be met if the optional courses on page 1 of the document be included in the certificate. This must be made clear to the students.

The idea is good but the document needs to be cleaned up and questions about the availability of 5000 level courses needs to be addressed. Also, the document states that only 6 hours can be taken in Independent Study. Since there are not enough 5000-level IWGS courses, how would a student get enough 5000 level courses for some of the clusters? Since Dr. Silva won’t be at the April 2 meeting, Bill Kyle, who is on the committee, will be asked to contact Dr. Mushaben and report back to Council.

Curriculum and Instruction – Wes Harris

Council reviewed and recommends approval of the following course proposals. The only change is the Mktg 5761 and 5775 where the prerequisite was changed to “graduate standing.”

Mktg 5761 Business to Business Marketing (add)

Mktg 5775 Domestic Transportation (add)

Mtkg 5780 Seminar in International Marketing (add)

Cns Ed 7780 Doctoral Internship (change)

Cns Ed 7785 Doctoral Internship II (drop)

Acct 5455 Taxes and Manager’s Decisions (add)

Acct 5480 International Accounting (change)

BA 4700 Marketing Management (change)

BA 4321 Production and Operations Management (change)

BA 4350 Management Science Methods (change)

BA 4381 International Logistics and Operations Management (add)

BA 4405 Professional Accounting Research (add)

Art 4490 Senior Seminar in Photography I (add)

Art 4491 Senior Seminar in Photography II (add)

JEE 4000 Independent Study (add)

JEE 4020 Computer-Aided Design of Electronic Systems (change)

JEE 4300 Engineering Electromagnetic Applications (change)

JEE 4340 Solid State Power Circuits and Applications (change)

JEE 4350 Electrical Energy Laboratory (change)

JEE 4380 Applied Optics (change)

JEE 4410 Control Systems (change)

JEE 4420 Digital Control Systems (change)

JEE 4600 Switching Theory (change)

JEE 4630 Digital Integrated Circuit Design and Architecture (change)

JEE 4640 Digital Systems Engineering (change)

JEE 4650 Digital Systems Laboratory (change)

JEE 4670 Embedded Computer Systems (change)

JEE 4710 Communications Theory and Systems (change)

JEE 4820 Digital Signal Processing (change)

JEE 4980 Electrical Engineering Design Projects (change)

JEP 4370 Environmental Risk Assessment (change)

JME 4310 Control Systems I (change)

JME 4440 Solar Energy (change)

JME 4510 Computer Controlled Manufacturing (change)

Fin 6542 Real Estate (add)

Fin 6580 International Financial Management (add)

Fin 6581 Seminar In International Investments (add)

LOM 5320 Service Operations Management (add)

Fin 6591 Finance Internship (add)

PPA 6850 Information Technology and the Public Sector (add)

Psy 4330 Hormones, the Brain and Behavior (add)

Chem 4302 Survey of Physical Chemistry with Applications to the Life Sciences (add)

Chem 4733 Biochemistry Laboratory (change)

Econ 4900 Advanced Topics in Economic analysis (add)

Engl 4920 Major Works of European Fiction (change)

Engl 4960 Ethnic Literature (add)

Anth 5429 The Body in East Asian Culture (add)

Engl 5150 Magical Realism Workshop (add)

Engl 5180 Form and Theory of Poetry (add)

Engl 5650 Critical Studies in African American Texts (add)

Biol 5059 Topics in Ecology, Evolution and Systematics (change)

Biol 5069 Topics in Cellular and Molecular Biology (change)

Biol 5192 Community Ecology (change)

The committee recommends against approving one course:

Economics 5100 “Econometric Theory and Methods”

The stated prerequisites appear to provide two pathways into the course, one based on graduate courses and a parallel path based on undergraduate courses. A set of explicit prerequisites based on undergraduate courses conflicts with the institutional policy that undergraduates may enroll in a 5000-level course only with special permission.

Dr. Harris moved to accept the Committee’s recommendations to approve all courses as presented with the exception of Economics 5100. Council approved the report unanimously.

III. Proposed Changes to the Rules and Regulations

Dean Felix distributed proposed changes to the Rules and Regulations based on subcommittee recommendations and previous Council discussions. Some changes are editorial, as agreed by the subcommittees and Council, and will only be presented to the Graduate Faculty as such.

Changes to wording in section 1.2, 4.1, 4.5 and 7.6 were considered editorial only and do not need Graduate Faculty approval. Approved changes are listed below in italics:

1.2 Changes in the Policies: ….Nonsubstantive changes (e.g. minor alterations in forms) and those that are made to reflect changes in University of Missouri or campus policies do not require Graduate Council or Graduate Faculty approval.

4.1 Support of Graduate Students Whenever funds are available, the University will make available scholarships, fellowships, and assistantships.

4.5 Additional wording added to end of section for clarification of practice: Non-academic appointments are not eligible for tuition scholarships.

7.6. Grade appeal was deleted to bring policies into accord with University Rules: In case of disputes regarding grades, graduate students shall follow the university Grade Appeal Process.

Items which need Graduate Faculty approval are:

6.1. Eliminate sentence: “Departments without graduate programs may offer 5000-level courses after the Graduate Council reviews the content, function, and purpose of the course. Such courses shall be reviewed every two years and may be re-authorized.” Dr. Silva moved to accept, Dr. Macan seconded and Council approved it unanimously.

7.2. In-Progress Grades

When a course extends for more than one term and the student’s performance is deferred until the end of the final term, provisional grades of In Progress may be assigned in the intervening terms. The In-Progress grade represents progress in a sequential course and indicates that a grade will be assigned at the end of the sequence. In-Progress grades do not count toward earned hours. No credit is awarded or grade points assigned until the sequence is completed and a permanent grade is entered replacing the In-Progress grade(s).

In-Progress grades may be given in thesis or dissertation research. Additionally, the Graduate Council may approve the In-Progress grade for specific internships, practica, or project courses that allow at least six months for completion. In no case will an In-Progress grade be given for other graduate research or internship experiences. Instead, students will be given a Delayed grade if work is not completed during the semester that the course is taken.

In-Progress grades are left on the student’s record until the committee and dean of the Graduate School accepts the thesis or dissertation and the research advisor or internship director submits the final regular grade. At that time, the grade point average will be calculated to award the same grade for all hours taken in the In Progress sequence. In the event that the full sequence is not completed as scheduled, the Registrar shall replace the In-Progress grade with the Delayed grade when the instructor has no basis for assigning a grade for the term(s) completed.

Dr. Silva moved to accept, Dr. Peck seconded. It was clarified that the IP grade would be an option, not a replacement for the delayed grade. It would be possible for a faculty member to use the IP grade and give a delayed grade or an actual grade in one semester if satisfactory progress wasn’t being made. Dr. Carroll noted if the student didn’t complete the dissertation, thre would be no credit awarded for any of the work. One solution might be to register the student for a special topics course. Council voted to approve the addition of an IP grade.

7.8. and 7.9. Probation and Dismissal (places students on probation automatically after the graduate program director reviews the list and has opportunity to make exceptions):

Failure to make adequate progress jeopardizes a student’s potential to complete the degree and their financial aid. To provide students notice of inadequate progress at the end of each semester, graduate students with a cumulative GPA below 3.0 in a minimum of nine credit hours are placed on probation. A program may also place a student on probation if it regards the student's progress as unsatisfactory. Graduate School shall inform students of their probation by letter, with copies sent to the graduate director of the program, the Graduate Admissions Office and Financial Aid.  

If at the end of the probationary semester the cumulative GPA is at least 3.0, the probationary status is removed. A probationary student who fails to raise the cumulative GPA to 3.0 may, on the recommendation of the program, be allowed a second probationary semester. A student is subject to dismissal upon failure to raise the cumulative GPA to 3.0 by the end of the second probationary semester, or at any time a semester or cumulative GPA falls below 3.0.

Dismissal:

A student who is on probation for more than two semesters during his/her program of study will be dismissed, unless the dean of the Graduate School approves an exceptional request for continuation from the advisor and/or graduate director. Upon recommendation of the unit, the Graduate School may dismiss any graduate student who does not make adequate progress. The Graduate School is responsible for sending dismissal letters to students, with copies sent to the graduate advisor, the graduate director of the program, the Graduate Admissions Office, and the Financial Aid Office.

Dr. Peck moved to approve, Dr Macon seconded the motion and Council approved sections 7.8 and 7.9 unanimously.

4.8. Term Limits – added sentence to end:

Units may establish term limits to assure that awards are available to a greater number of students. Such limits shall be specified in the initial appointment letter.

Dr. Lindquist moved to approve, Dr. Ding seconded the motion and Council approved it unanimously.

9.6 Doctoral Residency Requirement – paragraph added to strengthen the residency requirement:

The intent of the residency requirement is for doctoral students to participate in a community of scholars. Programs may specify the types of scholarly activities expected of students in residency.

Dr. Tang-Martinez moved to approve, Dr. Peck seconded the motion and Council approved it unanimously.

9.11.1 Dissertation proposal: omit dissertation time restriction that is not enforced.

Questions arose about the language “any substantial research”. The first sentence was proposed to read “Programs may establish the maximum number of credits allowed for dissertation research prior to approval of the dissertation proposal”. After much discussion, Council tabled any change until next year.

There being no other business, the meeting adjourned at 3:25 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Therese Macan

Vice-Chairperson and Secretary

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