Members Present:

David Chisholm, Barbara Cone-Wesson, Arthur Gmitro, Richard Hallick, Dianne Horgan, Paul Ivey, Suzanne Knosp, Charlene McQueen, Larry Medlin, Nadia Silvestry Rodriguez, Richard Shoemaker, Donald Slack, Douglas Taren, Maria Teresa Velez, Kevin Vinson

 

Members Absent:

Andrew Comrie, Nicholas Amatuzzi, Anne Cione, Steven Dvorak, Price Fishback, Stephanie Fryberg, M. Luna Iris, Marwan Krunz, Steven Kuhn, Carl Liaupson, Jesse Martinez, Barbara Norrander, Kumar Ramohalli, Donato Romagnolo, Terrie Thompson, John Ulreich, Gail Varin, Joyce Verran, Roger Yelle

 

Guests Present:

Jacqueline Mok, Denise Roe, Jim Ranger-Moore, Randy Richardson

 

I. Call to Order. The meeting was called to order at 3:05 pm by Member Dianne Horgan. An attendance sheet was passed for members in attendance to sign.

 

II. Approval of March 24, 2006 Minutes. Member Silvestry motioned to accept the March 24, 2006 minutes as presented and Member Knosp seconded.

 

III. Dean's Report. Member Velez reported that Dean Comrie was out of town, however she was asked to report that applications from international students, applications were up 61% from last year. The online application process and the upgraded website have been very successful and possibly contributed to this increase. Nationwide, applications for international admissions is up 11% and ASU is up 28%. CONACYT -Thirty-five eligible students have been admitted to UA. Registration in Social and Behavioral Sciences is down, but it is up in Public Health. Progress is being made with remission and ERE issues. The only issue is finding the money. Postdoc issues -- Vice President Tolbert and Dean Comrie have put together a task force and a report will be prepared soon.

 

IV. GPSC Report.

Member Silvestry reported that GPSC elections have taken place and the new President is Paul Thorne.

 

V. New Business

A. Planning Proposal Process. Guest Jacqueline Mok, Vice Provost for Academic Programs, reported that the template for the planning process for new academic programs has been streamlined to reduce paperwork. Much of the heavy detail has been removed and it is expected that very few expedited requests will occur due to the simplified process. Guest Mok requested that the members of the Graduate Council let her know if they feel the form is not user friendly and/or that questions aren't pertinent from the reviewer's standpoint. Member Barbara Cone-Wesson suggested that a change be made to the template to make it clear that it is not just for duplicative programs. She and Guest Mok will make that change and the template will go forward to ABOR for approval at the June meeting.

 

B. Planning Proposals for College of Public Health. Guest Denise Roe gave an overview of the submitted proposals. Reaccreditation requires the College of Public Health have three doctoral programs in place with students in them by Fall 2007. Funding has been obtained to move 20 faculty into tenure-eligible slots for a total of 31, which will result in additional teaching of classes.

 

1. PhD Biostatistics. Member Gmitro recommended that Graduate Council's communication with the College of Public Health include a statement that they should be in very close contact with the newly approved GIDP in Statistics. Richard Hallick moved to approve the request to plan the new degree program, seconded by Donald Slack. Vote taken and the motion passed unanimously.

 

2. PhD Health Promotion Sciences. Several members felt there was overlap in Nursing, Family and Consumer Sciences, Communication, and Psychology. The Graduate College will ask for more focused rationale. Richard Hallick motioned to reject this proposal with a recommendation to resubmit. Seconded by Richard Shoemaker. After a call for discussion, the motion was amended by Richard Hallick to reject the proposal without a recommendation to resubmit. Seconded by Richard Shoemaker. Vote was 12 approvals and 2 opposed.

 

3. DrPH in Public Health. Motion to approve by Donald Slack and seconded by Richard Hallick. Passed unanimously.

 

4. PSM Economic Geology. Guest Randy Richardson gave an overview of this program and stated that it is fully supported by the Dean of the College of Science, Joaquin Ruiz. After discussion, the motion to approve the request for authorization to plan the new degree program was made by Member Slack and seconded by Member Silvestry Rodriguez. The motion passed unanimously. However, the Graduate Council will not move it forward until it receives Dean Ruiz's Memo of Support.

 

C. Grad Council member to serve on ICPC. Member Horgan reported that the Faculty Senate has asked for a representative from the Grad Council to serve on the ICPC. Member Knosp might be willing to serve; however, she wanted to think about it over the weekend. A vote was taken and passed for Member Knosp to represent the Graduate Council if she decides in the affirmative.

 

VI. Old Business

A. Diversity fellowships - Member Velez reported that 39-40 students have committed. There are still fellowships available and if colleges are still admitting and have other candidates, they can still apply. Also, candidates who applied and were turned down can also resubmit.

 

B. Academic Program Updates. The Accelerated Master's program passed the ICPC by a vote of 5 to 3. Dean Comrie and Member Horgan will attend the Faculty Senate meeting on May 1, 2006. It does not need to go to ABOR for approval. Four certificates were approved by the Provost Management Group: Rock Mechanics, Mine Safety, Mine Production and Information Technology, and Water Policy. They will go to ICPC in the fall.

 

C. Update on National Research Council. Member Horgan distributed an update.

 

VII. Announcements

A. Recognition of Outgoing Council Members. Members Anne Cione, Barbara Cone-Wesson, Suzanne Knosp, Steven Kuhn, Jesse Martinez, Charlene McQueen, and Nadia Silvestry Rodriguez are rotating off of the Graduate Council. Members Horgan and Velez thanked them for their service and recognized them with plaques of appreciation.

 

B. Schedule of next year's meetings. This was the final one for this academic year. A schedule of next year's Graduate Council meetings will be sent to members shortly.

 

VIII. Adjournment. The meeting was adjourned at 5:00 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

Linda Nultemeier for

Cynthia Anne Bjerk-Plocke

Acting Council Secretary

 

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