INDIANA STATE UNIVERSITY                                                                            FACULTY SENATE

The Graduate Council met 18 times this academic year.  We do not anticipate meeting as a full council during the summer.

 Attendance Record—as of April 17, 2008

  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, 32 graduate faculty members served on Council committees and assisted with the work of the Council.

 Charges:

 The Council received 4 charges from Faculty Senate this year:

1.         “Continue consideration of revisions to graduate faculty status requirements, including the possibility of department-only review for those holding terminal degrees or differential requirements for teaching graduate courses versus chairing graduate committees.”

 Graduate Council continued discussion on the Graduate Faculty Status policy.   GC approved the new policy by a vote of 9-0-0.  See Appendix A for full policy revisions.

 2.         “Meet and process curricular proposals, applications for graduate faculty status, and changes to graduate programs, policies, and procedures as appropriate.”

 Graduate Council approved all Graduate Program Development Committee proposals that came forward.  Graduate Council provided consultation to the Dean on curricular and procedural matters as requested.

3.         “Receive and review documents pertaining to the mission and academic organization/structure of the College of Nursing, Health, and Human Services as they pertain to graduate education and programs.”

 T. Sawyer, E. Acree, and M. Sample presented a report and summary of the proposed structure for CNHHS to Graduate Council. A review and discussion on the proposed structure was discussed.  Particular emphasis was placed on the role the reorganization would have on graduate students.  The representatives assured Graduate Council that the proposed structure should not affect graduate programs.  The only difference will be that allocation of graduate assistantships will go to one College instead of two colleges.  GC voted to approve/support the change.

 4.         “Select one faculty representative to the Theodore Dreiser Distinguished Research and Creativity Award Committee.”

 Liz O’Laughlin volunteered to represent the GC on the Theodore Dreiser Distinguished Research and Creativity Award Committee. The Council approved by consensus.

 Graduate Council Standing Committee activities:

 1.         Assistantship/Fellowship Committee— This committee met several times this year and conducted the following business:  Reviewed the graduate student grant applications for Priority I, II and III.  During fall, 2007 we reviewed 28 applications and awarded nearly $8,500 for student research/creative activity and professional development.  During spring, 2008 we reviewed 43 applications and awarded nearly $13,000.  We still have one more round of applications to review, summer, 2008 and have around $9,000 to award.

 2.         Graduate Faculty Committee—This Committee met a number of times during the year.  The committee considered and acted upon a total of 82 Graduate Faculty Status applications.  These included applications for Regular, Associate, and Special Purpose Graduate Faculty applications. 

 3.         Graduate Student Appeals Committee—No additional charges beyond addressing appeals were received.  The committee met 5 times and will meet during the summer as needed. Overall, 14 petitions were considered and approved.

4. Program Development Committee— The Graduate Program Committee met 9 times and forwarded the minutes to the Graduate Council.  The committee experienced some difficulty during the Fall semester finding a time when every one was free to meet.  This was due to the large number of committee members and diversity in teaching schedules.  The Program Development Committee was very active in assisting the full Council with addressing the above Faculty Senate Charges (see where appropriate). The GPDC Executive Committee was very active reviewing the minor program changes.  This was completed along with operating guidelines. See Appendix B for a complete listing of courses and program revisions considered and acted upon.

 Additional Activities:

 ·         Interim Dean Kuhlman charged Graduate Council with reconsidering and developing a new Mission, Vision, and Values statement for the School of Graduate Studies.  A sub-committee was formed to work on this draft.  A final document was approved by full Council (Boyer/O’Laughlin; 8-0-0) on November 8, 2008.  The new Mission, Vision and Values of the ISU Graduate School are

1.      Mission: The School of Graduate Studies facilitates the research, creative, and scholarly activities of students and faculty; it provides leadership in quality program development and the recruitment, education, and professional preparation of students; and it supports the general advancement of graduate education.

2.      Vision: The School of Graduate Studies will effectively promote the education of our highly qualified, diverse students who will advance scholarship, conduct research, and provide leadership that will solve problems and improve local and global communities.

3.      Values:

a.       Scholarship

b.      Diversity

c.       Practice

d.      Engagement

• The Chair of CAAC, Mike Murphy, forwarded a proposed change to the CAPS Manual to GC for review and approval.  The Course Changes revision calls for a modification in the procedure to administratively change course numbers or letters rather than going through the entire process.  This change does not apply to curricular matters rather it refers solely to administrative changes.  M. Boyer moved to approve, L. O’Laughlin seconded. After some discussion and questions from the GC the motion was approved (8-0-0).  The Course Changes were as follows:

Course Changes

 Course changes may be administrative or editorial and require no action from governance.  However, others are curricular and must undergo curricular review.  The following procedures are designed to provide for review that is both appropriate and efficient.

 Administrative Changes

Administrative changes to subject area and prefix for course numbers do not require curricular review. For these administrative changes to a group of courses the program would submit a statement of the change(s) on a F-1 form.  The Dean(s) and Chair(s) should sign the F-1 to indicate review and approval. The F-1 would be submitted to DARS and Registration and Records. DARS will notify the proposing department of all other programs affected. The originating department/unit will send consultation forms to all affected departments. 

 When catalog copy is prepared, the old subject and prefix will be changed throughout the catalog. Departments and deans' offices are responsible to check catalog copy to assure that all instances of the old subject and prefix have been changed. Affected departments and deans' offices will need to make other changes, such as advising materials and web sites.  

 Curricular

For all other changes, including course description, level, or title; number of credit hours; grading; and pre- or corequisites the fully completed F-1 Course Proposal form is required.

• Ed Kinley, Director, OIT, visited Graduate Council to present the OIT Progress Report.  Graduate Council heard the report and asked questions regarding the continual update and progress of the computer systems on campus.
• Graduate Council heard information and commented on the Faculty Criminal Background Checks: Policy, Procedures and Guidelines (Informational Item).  Virgil Sheets, Chair of the Faculty Senate presented a historical background of the policy. This policy will apply to Graduate Assistants since they are ISU employees and often perform the same type of activities that regular faculty do. It is recommended that the assistantship letters stipulate that the appointment is subject to a criminal background check. The process starts with a voluntary self- disclosure that will be then verified by the ISU human resources office. The cost will be covered by ISU.

 ·         Graduate Council nominated two members to be considered for the Search Committee of the Dean of Graduate School. B. El-Mansour and L. O’Laughlin volunteered for the nomination. GC approved the nominations. (9-0-0)  Both are serving on the committee.

·         Graduate Council approved changes to the Graduate Catalog on Transfer Credit Hours Policy.  A summary of changes in the policy follows (See Appendix C for complete Transfer Policy):

1.      For Master’s programs the SOGS will accept for transfer a maximum of 9 semester credit hours for programs that require less than 40 hours, 12 semester hours for programs that require 41-50 hours, and 15 credits for programs that require more than 50 hours.

2.      Departments may set lower limits on transfer credit and, therefore, students should consult with the appropriate department chairperson for such information.

• B. Frank moved approval the proposed changes to the Transfer Credit Hours Policy; W. Barrat seconded. New policy was approved (8-0-0).

 ·         Academic Integrity Policy Feedback

§  D. Wright from Student Affairs presented information about the ISU Academic Integrity Policy. Student Affairs is requesting faculty feedback on the policy: What is working well? What needs to be clarified or improved? Any comments or suggestions on the Policy should be sent to the Associate/Assistant Deans of each College. The Deans then will pass the information to Student Affairs. Information to assist faculty can be found at the library web site: http://library.indstate.edu/academic-integrity/home.html Faculty Guide to Academic Integrity. D. Wright informed the GC that faculty and students appear to be taking academic integrity seriously and are using the new Policy and Procedures. During the Fall semester, Student Judicial Programs received 57 notifications of academic integrity violation forms. One case was completed using the formal process and three are still pending.

·         GC asked several questions and were provided clarifications. GC is concerned that a graduate student should be part of the panel that hears complaints of academic integrity against other graduate students. GC discussed possible ways to make sure a graduate student is part of the process in such cases.

 ·         Graduate Student Assistantship/Fellowship Policy

§  Interim Dean J. Kuhlman distributed copies of the Graduate Assistantship and Scholarship/Fee Waiver Award Guidelines. She explained that the requirements to receive an assistantship during the ISU Summer Session have been changed.  The changes are in Section 3.b. and are as follows:

·         Must earn a minimum of three credit hours during the summer period if a fulltime assistantship is awarded in the summer. Must earn a minimum of one credit hour during the summer period if a half-time assistantship is awarded. Failure to maintain the appropriate enrollment limits for summer assistantships may result in ineligibility for future assistantships/fee waivers.

§  After questions, answers, and clarifications, W. Barratt motioned to approve the policy change, B. Frank seconded. Motion was approved (6-0-0).

  ·         Thesis and Dissertation Handbook

            Interim Dean J. Kuhlman informed the GC that Rob Perrin is editing the new Thesis and Dissertation Handbook.  Comments and changes about the Old Handbook should be e-mailed to the Interim Dean, so they can be included in the new Handbook.

The new document will not be published before coming to the GC for consideration and approval during the next academic year.

• Graduate Council asked to respond to the FAC Subcommittee Report on +/- grades.  S. Barton distributed (via e-mail) copies of the proposed response to the FAC Subcommittee Report on +/- grades. After some discussion, additions and modifications, L. O’Laughlin moved to approve the proposed response, M. Haque seconded. Motion was approved 8-0-0.

            The GC Response to FAC Subcommittee Report on +/- grades is as follows:

                        The following document serves as a representation of the Graduate Council response to the Faculty Affairs Subcommittee on plus and minus grading.  Through much discussion, the bullets listed below represent the foreseen advantages and disadvantages of maintaining a plus and minus system.

            I.          Advantages of Plus and Minus Grading System

·         The variability within the grade range is a motivator for students.

·         Students currently question why we give plus but no minus grades.

·         Adding the minus grade provides more options for the faculty member.

·         The current practice of having a plus grade and no minus gives a perception of gap in grading. 

·         Adding the A+ grade provides ample recognition of student achievement.

 II.        Disadvantages of Plus and Minus Grading System

·         Concerns over change in the GPA calculations.

·         Concerns over A+ grade because of qualitative indicator.

·         Concern that the statistics presented by the Faculty Affairs Committee are not reflective of graduate programs.

·         Concern over students transferring in B- grades as well as those ISU students receiving B- grades and transferring to other universities.

·         Concern for how this policy will influence students, i.e., concern over transcript transition; will the note on the back of the transcript be enough to explain the change.

·         Concern over grade point distribution, i.e., 4.0, 3.7, 3.3, etc., and not having equal distribution between scales.

·         Curriculum pieces that reference old GPA would have to be changed.  This could impact scholarships and admittance into programs that are awarded by GPA.

• GC began considering revisions to the policy on incomplete grades for the Master’s Theses.  This proposal was tabled and should be considered by the 2008-2009 Graduate Council.

• Graduate Council was represented at each of the NCA Leadership Accreditation Group Meetings (formerly PPARC) meetings throughout the year.

• Graduate Council reviewed and made recommendations to the SOGS Dean on the Graduate Catalog copy.

• Graduate Council was represented at the School of Graduate Studies Spring 2008 Criminal Background Checks and Assistantship Updates meeting.

 APPENDIX A:

INDIANA STATE UNIVERSITY HANDBOOK OCTOBER 2005 III-1

SECTION III

FACULTY AND ACADEMIC POLICIES

GRADUATE FACULTY MEMBERSHIP

Graduate Faculty

INDIANA STATE UNIVERSITY HANDBOOK OCTOBER 2005 III-1

SECTION III

FACULTY AND ACADEMIC POLICIES

GRADUATE FACULTY MEMBERSHIP

Graduate Faculty

The graduate faculty have the responsibility of guiding the university’s mission at the graduate level, establishing the policies and procedures of graduate studies, and fostering the development and maintenance of high quality graduate education.

 Regular Graduate Faculty

 At the time of appointment (effective for all faculty appointed Fall 2007 or after) all tenure-track faculty with terminal degrees will be granted graduate faculty membership.  Current (as of Summer 2007) associate and regular members of the graduate faculty will automatically become members of the graduate faculty with the endorsement to chair thesis and/or doctoral committees.  Faculty appointed prior to Fall 2007 who are not members of the graduate faculty must apply no later than January 2009 using the standards in place prior to Fall 2007.

 The initial appointment will qualify the faculty member to teach graduate classes, to serve on thesis/dissertation committees and to serve on the Graduate Council and the subcommittees of the Council.  Review of graduate faculty membership may occur at the request of the department chair, college dean, or Dean of the School of Graduate Studies and will be conducted by the Graduate Faculty Subcommittee of the Graduate Council.

 An endorsement to chair theses/dissertations is granted separately from graduate faculty status by a vote of a departmental committee, approval of the department chairperson, college dean, and the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies. To qualify for the endorsement to chair thesis/dissertation committees graduate faculty members must work with a graduate mentor appointed by their department, serve on thesis/dissertation committees, and participate in a graduate faculty workshop sponsored by the Graduate Council to develop knowledge of the thesis/dissertation process at ISU.  Review of the endorsement to chair theses/dissertations may occur at the request of the department chair, college dean, or Dean of the School of Graduate Studies and will be conducted by the Graduate Faculty Subcommittee of the Graduate Council.

 Emeritus Graduate Faculty

Faculty who are a regular member of the graduate faculty at the time of retirement will be granted Emeriti Graduate Faculty membership and have the rights and privileges of regular graduate faculty thereafter. 

 Special Purpose Graduate Faculty

An individual may be appointed for a limited period as a special purpose member of the graduate faculty.  A special purpose graduate faculty member must be at least one of the following:

         1.  Tenure-line faculty with an earned doctorate or other terminal degree in the field of specialization, or a tenure-line faculty who has an earned master’s degree and has distinguished themselves in teaching, research, and /or service, but do not meet the requirements for Graduate Faculty membership; or

         2.  Tenure-line faculty or newly hired tenure-line faculty with all but dissertation completed who are actively working toward a doctorate; or

         3.  Special purpose faculty at Indiana State University who have expertise for a specified graduate course or graduate thesis or dissertation committee; or

         4.  Professionals who are not tenure-line faculty at Indiana State University, but have expertise for specified graduate courses, or graduate committees.

A special purpose graduate faculty member may teach graduate courses, supervise practicums/clinicals, and may serve on thesis/dissertation committees.  A special purpose graduate faculty member will not be granted the endorsement to chair theses/dissertations.

 The appointment is usually for the lesser of five years or the term requested, with the exception for Ph.D. dissertation committees.   Reappointment as special purpose faculty is unlimited, but the duties are limited to those described in the application packet at the time of appointment.

 Ex-Officio Graduate Faculty

Ex-officio graduate faculty membership may be granted to university administrators who do not hold faculty rank.  The membership qualifies the administrator to teach graduate courses and to serve on and direct graduate committees. Ex-officio graduate faculty will maintain the title without need for reapplication as long as the person maintains the administrative position.  All university administrators appointed prior to Fall 2007, who have a tenure-track faculty position and ex-officio graduate faculty membership will automatically become members of the graduate faculty with the endorsement to chair thesis and/or doctoral committees.

 Appeal Procedure

In cases where an appeal is to be made the Graduate Council of the University Faculty Senate is the body to which the appeal should be directed. 

 Approved by the Graduate Council –October 4, 2007

Approved by Faculty Senate – December13, 2007

APPENDIX B:

Program Development Proposals Considered and Status

(See attached Excel Spreadsheet)

APPENDIX C:

TRANSFER CREDIT POLICY REVISIONS

Approved by Graduate Council January 17, 2008

TRANSFER CREDIT

 Work taken for graduate credit at other institutions may be transferred in partial fulfillment of degree requirements under the following conditions:

 1. Transfer of credit will be considered for graduate work taken only at regionally accredited institutions or at institutions recognized by the Department of Education. Graduate credits earned from an international college or university will be evaluated by a School of Graduate Studies recognized evaluation agency before being considered for transfer into an ISU degree program. Students are responsible for the cost of this evaluation.

 2. The research requirement must be taken at Indiana State University. Graduate credits appropriate to the degree taken at Indiana State University may be accepted for transfer at the recommendation of the student’s department-level curriculum committee.

3. For transfer credit requests on courses that are not part of a completed graduate degree, licensure, or post-bachelor’s certificate program and that were taken outside of the time to-

degree completion guidelines, it is the responsibility of department curriculum committees to evaluate the currency of the student’s knowledge from courses presented for transfer.

A justification for accepting these courses as part of a program of study must be sent to the School of Graduate Studies.

 4. Transfer credits approved at enrollment remain current within the specified time-to-degree completion period (seven years for master’s, eight years for education specialist’s, and nine

years for doctoral degrees).

 5. Hours of credit may be transferred, but grades earned in courses taken at other institutions do not transfer.

6. Only graduate courses in which a student has earned a grade of B (or 3.0 on a 4.0 scale) or better may be considered for transfer.

 7. Graduate courses taken at another university on a credit/no credit, pass/fail, or satisfactory/unsatisfactory option are not accepted as transferable unless approved by the appropriate academic unit and the School of Graduate Studies.

 Transfer credit limitations for master’s, educational specialist’s and doctoral degrees are provided under the specific degree section in this catalog.

 REQUIREMENTS FOR EARNING MASTER’S DEGREES

 Transfer Credit

1. For master’s programs the School of Graduate Studies will accept, for transfer a maximum of 9 semester credit hours for programs that require less than 40 hours, 12 semester hours for programs that require 41-50 hours, and 15 credits for programs that require more than 50 hours. Such credits, however, must be earned at an institution that is regionally accredited to award graduate degrees. No course in which a grade lower than a “B” (3.0 on a 4.0 scale) was earned will be accepted for transfer. Furthermore, transfer work must meet the standards for the credit hours earned at Indiana State University. All transfer hours must be appropriate to the particular program in which the student is enrolled.

 2. Departments may set lower limits on transfer credit and therefore students should consult with the appropriate department chairperson for such information.