Graduate Council Meeting

January 18, 2008

3:00 p.m. 

Special Collections Room, Main Library

Invited Guests: Dr. Xubin Zeng, Professor, Atmospheric Sciences

Dr. Hoshin Gupta, Professor, Dept of Hydrology and Water Resources

Dean Comrie called the meeting to order at 3:05 p.m. In lieu of roll call, members were asked to check their name off of a circulated membership list to indicate their attendance at the meeting.

The minutes of the October 19, 2007 meeting were approved as read.

Dean's Report. Dean Comrie reported that Associate Dean Horgan has been visiting ASU to review its application of PeopleSoft, an integrated software system used by both ASU and NAU. The UA is considering the purchase and implementation of PeopleSoft to take the place of FSO, PSO, SIS, and other systems currently in place here.

GPSC Report. Member Murdaugh reported that Carol Elliott has been hired as a ½ time Program Coordinator for the GPSC office. An RFP for childcare issues has been formed, led by VP for Student Affairs, Melissa Vito. The first meeting of the group will be February 5, 2008.

New Business

A. Permission to Plan Proposal for Master's and PhD Degrees in Hydrometeorology. Guest Xubin Zeng of the Atmospheric Sciences and Guest Hoshin Gupta of the Department of Hydrology and Water Resources were present at the meeting to provide background information for the submission of this Planning Proposal. Guest Zhen indicated that hydrometeorology is a new field in the Sciences. They stated that the University of Arizona is the only university with both a Hydrology/Water Resources Department and an Atmospheric Sciences Department and that having a Master's degree and a PhD degree in Hydrometeorology would bring additional prestige to the University. The program will have joint leadership of both departments and no financial support is needed for this program as the existing resources of both departments will be utilized. A Board of Advisors would be formed, with one person identified to be the contact person for students in the program. There are a number of students already in these two departments with a major in either atmospheric sciences or hydrology, and a minor in the other. Both departments could count students so there would be no "turf" problems. After discussion with Guests Zhen and Gupta about additional concerns they might want to address (such as the importance of a structure being in place to ensure the continuation of the program in the event any of the "major players" in the program leave the University), the motion to approve the Permission to Plan Proposal was made by Member Chisholm, seconded by Member Cherrington, and the motion was passed.

B. Removing Limits on Maximum Enrollment. After discussion of whether graduate students should be restricted to a number of units in which they can be enrolled, member Cherrington motioned that there be no such restriction. The motion was seconded by Member Jacobs and the motion passed.

C. Proposal for the Disestablishment of the Master of Teaching Degree. Member Horgan reported that the Master of Teaching degree that was established in the College of Education is no longer in use. The motion to disestablish was made by Member Chisholm, the vote taken, and the motion passed.

Announcements

New Forms/Procedures for Candidacy. Member Horgan presented a copy of the new form for Advancement to Candidacy. Two previous documents have been collapsed into this one form. Information and signatures required on the document are now listed sequentially to correspond to the events required by the advancement to candidacy process. One suggestion made for the new form was that in addition to the signatures of the dissertation committee, printed names also be given. Chair Comrie asked that the Graduate Council members send any other suggestions to Vice Chair Horgan.

Completion Rates. Vice Chair Horgan distributed a listing by department of completion rates (what percentage of matriculating PhD students actually completes the program). She reported that the Associate Deans of the Graduate College will soon interview the departments with the lowest completion rates to determine causes and what resources exist or are needed to help them raise their completion rates.

Adjournment. The meeting was adjourned at 4:55 p.m. The next meeting of the Graduate Council is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. on February 22, 2008 in the Special Collections Room, Main Library.

Respectfully submitted,

Linda Nultemeier

Graduate Council Secretary