MEMBERS PRESENT:

Dr. Natalie Adams Dr. Martyn R. Dixon Dr. Timothy A. Haskew   Dr. Diane E. Johnson Dr. Jordan I. Kosberg Dr. Yorgo Pasadeos Dr. Harry E. Price Dr. Nancy J. Rubin Dr. Forrest R. Scogin Dr. Pieter B. Visscher Dr. John M. Wiest Dr. Elizabeth K. Wilson

Dr. Sharon E. Beatty Dr. Barbara Fischer Dr. Marsha L. Houston Dr. Olivia W. Kendrick Dr. Michael D. Murphy Dr. Carol J. Pierman Dr. Eric E. Roden Dr. Edward J. Schnee Dr. Marietta P. Stanton Dr. Harold M. Weber Dr. S. Allen Wilcoxon

MEMBERS ABSENT:

Dr. Bruce E. Barrett         Dr. Sheila R. Black

Dr. David W. Cordes      Dr. D. Jeff Jackson

Dr. B. Joyce Stallworth   Dr. David R. Roskos-Ewoldsen

EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS PRESENT:   

Dr. Ronald Rogers

Dr. Tavan T. Trent

STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES PRESENT: 

Ms. Melissa Medlin for Mr. Seth Burgess 

GRADUATE SCHOOL REPRESENTATIVES PRESENT:  

Dr. Pat Harrison, Associate Dean

Dr. John Schmitt, Associate Dean

Ms. Louise Labosier, Admissions Officer

Dean Ron Rogers asked if there were correction to the September 23, 2003 Graduate Council minutes. No corrections were noted, and the minutes were approved as written.

Dean Rogers called for the reports from various committees.

I.                  Reports from Graduate Council Committees

A.        Financial Aid

Dr. Pat Harrison presented the Financial Aid Committee’s report in the absence of Chairman Dr. David Roskos-Ewoldsen. The Graduate Council Research and Creative Activity Fellowships were awarded January 29, 2004 with 37 nominations and 15 awards, all of which have been accepted. Round 1 for Graduate Council Fellowships was announced on January 21, 2004 and awarded on February 12, 2004. Round 1 resulted in 44 nominations and 23 offers. Students have until April 15, 2004 to respond. On February 16, 2004 round 2 of Graduate Council Fellowships was announced with February 27 as the deadline for nominations. The final round will be announced in early March with nominations due prior to spring break.

B.        Admissions and Recruitment

Chairman of the Admissions and Recruitment Committee, Dr. Ed Schnee, reported that the committee had reviewed information submitted by departments for the four-year review of departments previously approved to eliminate or modify the admissions test score requirement. Programs due for review were master’s in social work, master’s in criminal justice, Engineering, master’s in studio art, master’s in nursing and master’s in theatre. The committee recommended that these programs continue with their policy regarding elimination or modification of test score requirements.  The committee will continue to discuss standards and procedures for future consideration of proposals and four-year reviews.

 The committee reviewed a proposal from Nursing for changes in the admissions requirement for the MSN degree. Nursing’s request to change admission test score criteria (from 50^th percentile to 40^th percentile) for conditional admission was approved. Other requests for admissions requirement changes were returned to Nursing for clarification and will be considered at a later meeting.

The Committee entertained a request submitted by a faculty member to consider admission of an international applicant who holds a 3-year bachelors degree from an Indian university. Graduate Council members discussed UA’s policy that graduate students must hold bachelor’s degrees from   regionally accredited U. S. institutions (or the equivalent for international applicants). Members discussed implications of the policy for highly qualified international applicants who do not hold the equivalent of a 4-year U.S. bachelor’s degree. It was confirmed that SACS requires an institution’s policy be consistent for applicants who are U.S. or international citizens. Dean Rogers noted that graduate faculty may propose changes in policy to the Admissions and Recruitment Committee and provided a list of recent changes in admissions policy that have been approved and implemented.

C.                Teaching and Research Award Committee

Dr. Pieter Visscher announced the 2003-2004 Graduate School Awards for

                                Outstanding Teaching and Research. They are as follows:

Dr. Schmitt announced the winners of the Outstanding Thesis and Dissertation Awards as follows:

                                Thesis                                  Julius Henderson                A&S               Chemistry

                                Dissertation                          Jacqueline Trimble             A&S                English

Dr. Schmitt also indicated that Dean Rogers recognized the nominees from each college for their outstanding achievements.

D.             Program and Degree Committee

Dr. Natalie Adams, Chairman of the Program and Degree Committee, reviewed

with the committee proposed changes in the number of transfer credit hours allowable for the master’s and Ed.S. degree programs. At the master’s level, it was proposed, “the greater of 9 hours or 25% of the required coursework for a graduate master’s degree may be transferred from another institution.” Recognizing the needs of some programs with distance learning options, the committee’s recommendation was amended to read “the greater of 12 hours or 25% of required coursework” at the master’s level. The motion was approved.  The Graduate Council then voted to approve the committee’s recommendation allowing the greater of 12 hours or 25% transfer credit at the master’s level and the greater of 9 hours or 25% transfer credit at the post-master’s degree level.

II.              Reports from the Dean’s Office and Academic Affairs

Dr. John Schmitt reported that the 2003 Graduate Teaching Assistant Orientation and Ongoing Development Survey was conducted online in the summer of 2003. The biennial survey is part of the Graduate School’s ongoing use of assessment results for the improvement of GTA training and development activities. Results of both the 2001 and 2003 surveys can be found on the Graduate School website under Faculty/Student Resources.

III.     Reports from Standing University Committees

Dr. Tavan Trent reported that the Faculty Senate had discussed proposed changes in health insurance. He encouraged members to attend an informational meeting March 2 in the Ferguson Theatre.

IV.     Old Business

There was no old business.

V.       New Business

Ms Melissa Medlin announced the Seventh Annual Graduate Student Research Conference to be held March 10-12. The goal of the event is to increase student awareness of and involvement in research at The University of Alabama. She invited faculty members to attend and if available, to judge competitions. The first week of April will be “Graduate Student Appreciation Week” and is sponsored by the National Association of Graduate and Professional Students.

Dr. Rogers proposed a change in the length of tenure for appointment as a temporary graduate faculty member from one to three years. A motion was made to change temporary membership to a term “not to exceed three years.” The motion was seconded and approved.

Dr. Rogers adjourned the meeting at 4:15 p.m.