MINUTES:
Graduate Council
ATTENDEES:
Antkiewicz, Barrett, Bitter, Brown, Caton, Champney, Herrin, Greer,
ABSENT:
GUEST: Elhindi
I. Approval of Minutes
Action
taken by Council: Approved with the
addition of Dr. Pointer to the list of attendees.
Dr.
Brown briefly described the new electronic curriculum process for preparation
and submission of course and non-substantive curriculum proposals. Format A-F will still need to go to TBR for
approval after December 2002. Only new
degree programs will be routed through TBR.
One of the most important aspects of the process is that the electronic
document can be completed in one step and submitted through the process or the
creator has the option to save it and finish at a later date and time. Dr. Brown stated that links to the site and
security ID(s) will be provided at a later date. He further stated that approvals throughout
the process are password based and he doesnt perceive any problems at the
front-end of the process. There was some
concern expressed from the Council regarding identification of revisions and
how individuals would be able to recognize or verify that revisions and/or
changes had been authorized. Dr. Brown
said that this would be addressed with the committee before the process is
finalized and ready for implementation.
1. Ms. Gigi
Alandt Technology
Recommend Interim
Membership
2. Dr. Wallace E. Dixon, Jr. Psychology
Recommend
Associate Membership
3. Dr. Masoud Ghaffari Adult Nursing
Recommend
Associate Membership
4. Mr. Peter Hriso - Technology
Recommend Associate
Membership
5. Mr.
Jeffrey Roach Computer and Information Sciences
Recommend Interim
Membership
6. Mr. James
A. Wronecki Technology
Recommend
Interim Membership (lack of terminal degree)
Action taken by
Council: Approved.
1. Dr. M.
Lou Ernst-Fonberg Biochemistry
Full
Membership Expired - Fall 02
Recommend
Full Membership
2. Dr.
Donald B. Hoover Pharmacology
Full
Membership Expired - Fall 02
Recommend
Full Membership
3. Dr. Hamid
S. Kasmai - Chemistry
Full
Membership Expired Fall 02
Recommend
Full Membership
4. Dr.
Richard A. Wissell Public Health
Associate Membership
Expired Fall 02
Recommend Associate
Membership
Action taken by Council: Approved.
1. Dr. Brown displayed the new CD developed at the Graduate School which has the first 232 electronic Dissertations and Theses explaining that this format will be used to create an additional archive of documents as it is easier to maintain and takes up less space than the old paper archival method.
2. Dr. Brown informed Council members of the Administrative Retreat planned for November 14-15, 2002 emphasizing that there would be discussion regarding QEP at the graduate level.
1. Editorial Changes
Jeff Greer distributed editorial changes
for the 2003-3004 catalogs as an information
item.
2. International Students
IELTS Issues Dr. Joseph Elhindi
Dr. Herrin provided
background information on IELTS (International English Language Testing System)
explaining that the IELTS would not replace TOEFL for international students
but be used as an alternative to the TOEFL. She also stated that this could be
used as an optional test for international students who would otherwise have to
go to another country to take the TOEFL test or receive special admission
status prior to taking the TOEFL.
Dr. Elhindi explained the
pros for accepting IELTS as follows:
1.
It is recognized by more than 200 U.S. higher
educational institutions as a valid predictor of English proficiency for
undergraduate and graduate level students.
2.
There is one fee ($110 in the U.S.) and tests
all four language skills, i.e. listening, reading, writing, and speaking.
3.
The IELTS has flexible test dates and special
test sessions available worldwide.
4.
There are test centers in 107 countries.
5.
A secure, two week turnaround time by test
centers to receiving institutions.
6.
The test is jointly managed by the University
of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES), the British Council, and IDP
Education Australia.
7.
The IELTS validity, reliability, and security
are assured by UCLES.
Dr. Elhindi is now
administering the OPI (Oral Proficiency Interview) to all international
students hold graduate assistantships or tuition scholarships. This process currently takes 20-25
minutes. The new IELTS test will give
the university this information rather than having to do the separate OPI test
for international students.
After discussion from the
Council regarding issues such as minimum scores and comparison scores on the
TOEFL and IELTS, the following motion was made:
IELTS would be used as an alternative to TOEFL.
The minimum score for admission to Graduate School
programs would be decided by the School of Graduate
Studies. The Graduate School would need to look at
TOEFL scores for score cap and minimum score. They
would
also look at raising computer based TOEFL score
from
213 to 230.
Action taken by Council: Motion was tabled requesting additional
information be obtained by the Graduate School on
TOEFL score data and diversity
implications.
3. Graduate School
Policies Dr. Roberta Herrin
A. Graduate Academic
Review Board - Dr. Herrin distributed a handout detailing the report of the
sub-committee to establish a Graduate Academic Review Board. She further requested approval from the
Graduate Council for a change in the membership of the proposed Graduate
Academic Review Board from five (5) to six (6) members.
The six voting members
would be recommended by the Graduate Dean and approved by the Graduate
Council.
The Graduate Council
endorsed establishment of a Graduate Review Board based on the proposal
submitted by Dr. Herrin suggesting that she continue to refine and develop a
final policy to bring back to the Council for review and approval.
B. Revision to Second Masters Degree Catalog
Text Dr. Roberta Herrin
Dr. Herrin requested
approval to add from a regionally accredited U.S. institution to the text in
the Graduate catalog for graduate students wishing to seek a second masters
degree at ETSU.
Action Taken by Council: Approved.
The meeting was adjourned
at 2:35 p.m.
Scott Champney, Chair