INDIANA STATE UNIVERSITY                                                                            FACULTY SENATE

The Graduate Council met 22 times this academic year.  This year, we do not anticipate meeting during the summer.

Attendance Record—as of April 13, 2005

The work of the Graduate Council (GC) is facilitated by the Assistantship/Fellowship Committee, the Graduate Faculty Status Committee, the Graduate Student Appeals Committee, the Program Development Committee, and several ad hoc committees.  This year, 40 graduate faculty members served on Council committees and assisted with the work of the Council.

Charges

The Council received 8 charges from Faculty Senate this year:

1.         "Formalize relationships to Alliance for Experience, Excellence, and Engagement to assure Council engagement in implementation of experiential learning and community engagement."

            Graduate Council invited representatives from Faculty Senate and Academic Affairs to discuss this charge.  Through the discussion it was decided that a formalized liaison should be identified to communicate between Graduate Council and the Alliance.  Two Graduate Council members were included in the Trustees meeting regarding the initiative.  There was concerned voiced that graduate education was omitted from the original document and that efforts should include language specific to graduate education.

2.         "Receive information from programs using the new program review process and evaluate its implementation.  Coordinate with CAAC and prepare a report to be submitted to Executive Committee."

Charged the Program Development sub-committee with working with CAAC on this process.   This work was done cooperatively between the Program Development Committee and CAAC.  The results of the work have been tabulated. 

3.         "Insure prompt dissemination of Graduate School policies to faculty and students."

            Continued efforts are being made to disseminate information to both faculty and students in a timely manner.  Both the Town Hall meetings and the Chairs and Program Directors meetings are used as a mechanism to disseminate information.  Additionally, the SOGS web page is continually updated with information.  Currently Graduate Council is working on the creation of a web page to address some of these concerns.  This work is ongoing.

4.         "Consider the role of internal and external certificate programs at ISU, and the Council's role in approving them and formulating policies regarding their development (with CAAC)."

This charge was given to the Program Development Committee.  It is still in process and will continue into Fall, 2005. 

5.         "Continue to recommend ways to streamline the curriculum approval process (with CAAC)."

Representation from the Program Development Committee was involved in the review of the Program Review/Curriculum Approval Process.  The subcommittee looking into this issue has developed its final report. 

6.         "Select one faculty representative to the Theodore Dreiser Distinguished Research and Creativity Award Committee."

            Dr. Carmen Montanez was identified as the Graduate Council representative on the Theodore Dreiser Distinguished Research and Creativity Award Committee.

The following two charges were derived from the report Fulfilling the Promise—the Path to Pre-Eminence and related documents:

7.         "Work with the Alliance regarding the goals of establishing a graduate fellowship program in the Alliance, and increasing the numbers of ISU undergraduates going to ISU for graduate school, the numbers of external grants including graduate students, and the numbers of graduate students engaged in research and creative activities."

            A Graduate Council representative was identified to work with the Office of Sponsored Programs in regards to the number of external grants that include graduate students.  Additionally, Graduate Council representatives continue to be involved in the discussions with the SOGS Dean and the Registrar’s Office regarding the Dual Enrollment Policy.  This policy was approved by Faculty Senate this year and is moving forward to the Board of Trustees.

8.         "With CAAC and FAC monitor the administrative initiative requiring all programs to meet appropriate productivity and quality standards.  Develop assistance for departments as needed."

The Program Development Committee was charged with reviewing this particular charge.  The Chair of the committee attended the session with Alliance representatives.  The information garnered from this presentation was taken back to the full committee.  The discussions are on-going and will continue into the next academic year.

Graduate Council Standing Committee activities:

1.         Assistantship/Fellowship Committee—met several times during the fall and spring semesters.  The primary topic of discussion during the fall semester was the independent committee organized to review graduate assistantships on campus.  The committee was not part of the independent committee and one member of the committee served on the independent committee.  The independent committee's final report was received in mid-February from the Graduate Council.  Following reception of that report, moving the recommendations forward and (2) to make recommendations regarding graduate school scholarships.  The committee completed the following actions:

1.         Reviewed the independent committee final report and recommends this charge be extended to the 2005-2006 committee.  The report was received too late in the academic year for this committee to act.  The report of the independent committee, as submitted, contained several inaccuracies and proposed some changes while circumventing more important issues.

2.         The scholarship nominations were received by the committee and acted upon.

3.         Recommendation:  The Arab Scholarship is for undergraduate and graduate students and has traditionally been handled by the Graduate School from when the Graduate was also the International Affairs coordinator.  We recommend that the International Affairs Center Advisory Board have primary responsibility for this award.

2.         Graduate Faculty Committee—This Committee met 5 times and is scheduled to meet at least once more before the end of Spring semester. Considered and acted upon Regular Graduate Faculty (26), Associate Graduate Faculty(14), and Special Purpose Graduate Faculty (32) applications.  Additionally, the committee was charged with comparing Graduate Faculty policies of peer institutions to ISU’s policy.  This work is ongoing.

3.         Graduate Student Appeals Committee—no additional charged beyond addressing appeals.  Met 8 times and will meet at least one additional time this academic year and several times in the summer.  Three of those meetings were conducted by members of the 2003-2004 Academic year committee. Overall, 25 petitions were considered, 20 were approved (including one that was partially approved), 2 were denied, and 1 remains tabled and has not been resubmitted.  Two petitions were removed from the table as petitions did not need to be considered.  Additionally, the Evaluation of Course Currency Policy was sent on to the Graduate Council for approval.

4.         Program Development Committee—To date, the committee has met six times as a full committee and the PDC Executive Committee has met three times.  It is anticipated that the full committee will meet at least one more time this academic year to consider proposals which are currently in process.  The Committee considered 39 program proposals/revisions, 2 department reassignments, and 1 certificate program.  In addition, the Program Development Committee was very active in assisting the full Council with addressing the above Faculty Senate Charges (see where appropriate). Response to one additional Graduate Council charge: The GPDC should form an Executive Committee to review minor program changes.  This was completed along with operating guidelines. 
 

Additional Activities:

• Graduate Council approved 39 program proposals/revisions, 2 department reassignments, and 1 certificate program.

• Graduate Council reviewed and approved the Satisfactory Academic Progress policy for Assistantships and Fellowships.  This policy was sent forward to Faculty Senate Executive Committee for approval.

• Graduate Council identified a representative to be involved with discussion with the Financial Aid Office regarding the University wide Satisfactory Academic Progress policy.  Graduate Council is monitoring this progress and will be reporting back next academic year.

• Graduate Council heard the proposal by the Office of Information Technology to support the Laptop Initiative.  The proposal was discussed and the Graduate Council voted to support the initiative.

• Graduate Council reviewed, developed, and approved an addendum to the Transfer Credit policy.  This policy was sent forward to Faculty Senate Executive Committee for approval.

• Graduate Council and the School of Graduate Studies supported one Department Chairs and Program Directors meeting in the Spring.

• Graduate Council supported a Graduate Student Town Hall meeting hosted by the School of Graduate Studies and Academic Affairs.

• Graduate Council provided consultation to the Dean on curricular and procedural matters as requested.

• Graduate Council was represented at each of the PPARC meetings throughout the year.

• Members of Graduate Council participated in the search for the School of Graduate Studies Assistant Dean position.

• Graduate Council identified volunteers (both faculty and students) for the Academic Integrity Committee.  The names were sent forward to the School of Graduate Studies.

• Graduate Council entered a discussion with Student Judicial Programs regarding the Academic Integrity Policy.  Through the course of the discussion it was revealed that there are many efforts throughout the campus being made to review the Student Code of Conduct, University Standards, and the Graduate Student Academic Integrity policy.

• Graduate Council reviewed the current incomplete policy stating a student may not graduate with an incomplete on their transcript.  It was discussed and a recommendation was put forth to the SOGS to monitor the number of students impacted by this policy.  A review should occur during Spring 2006.

• Graduate Council heard information from the Academic Affairs Office regarding the potential for Credit by Exams.  It was taken under consideration and recommended that input should be gathered from the departments.  This issue is still under discussion.

• Graduate Council is working with the Dean of SOGS to implement the course numbering changes previously approved.  The new numbering sequence should be in place by Spring 2006.

• Entered a discussion regarding Graduate Faculty Status.  The Graduate Faculty Status sub-committee was charged with reviewing the policy.  This work is ongoing.

·        Supported discussions with the SOGS and the registrar’s office regarding the policy on the removal of all graduate incomplete grades.  The new policy indicates that all graduate removal of incomplete grades no longer require the signature of the graduate dean before processing as long as the course is within university policy (1 calendar year from date IN grade is assigned) unless the course is dissertation, thesis, project or research in nature.