Graduate
Council Meeting Minutes
Coastal
Members Present: S. Libes
(Natural and Applied Sciences), E. Wright (Natural and Applied Sciences), M.
Mitchell for D. Rauch (Business), J. Marcis (Business), E. Helms (Education),
J. Winslow (Education), W.
Prince (Humanities and Fine Arts), J. Navin (Humanities and Fine Arts), D.
Wiseman (Office of the Provost), D. Lawless (Interim Registrar)
Guest: D. Vrooman
The meeting was called to
order by Dr. Dennis Wiseman at 11:30 am in the Dawsey Conference Room of the
New Business
Dr. Wiseman indicated that
proposals for two new courses had been submitted by the Wall College of
Business and that he, as Director of Graduate Studies, was presenting wording
changes to the catalog pertaining to admission, academic standards, transfer
credit and the evaluation of transfer credit.
1.
Proposals for New Courses
CBAD 566 Advanced Security Analysis. (3) (Prereq: CBAD
363) Principles of value investing as
developed by Benjamin Graham and refined by Warren Buffett; application of
value investing theory to the complete equity analysis of the firm and
valuation of common stocks; required research component.
Rationale: The course
gives students the opportunity to learn about and apply the principles of value
investing in collaboration with Chanticleer Holdings, a small/micro-value
investment firm in
CBAD 697 Graduate Internship in Business. (3) (Prereq:
Permission of the MBA Director) Supervised work experience involving a
research component and responsibilities commensurate with graduate level
work. A maximum of 15 hours per week for
12-14 weeks. A research project is
required. Open to M.B.A. students who
have demonstrated professionalism and good character.
Rationale: The M.B.A. is
an applied program of study leading to significant careers in business. The internship will offer students in good
standing the opportunity to apply their knowledge and research skills in the
workplace
Discussion: Both courses
were introduced with supporting comments from Mark Mitchell and John Marcis
from the
2. Proposals
from the Director of Graduate Studies
Rationale for the following recommendations: The
proposed changes that follow are intended to clarify that specific academic
standards are in place for each program and that, while there are specific
University standards, e.g., transfer credit hours, individual programs have
their own standards and that students should consult the graduate coordinators
of their individual programs of interest as to how these standards may apply to
them.
Admission Categories, p. 194
Current wording
Students
admitted to graduate study are placed in either one of two general
categories: candidates for degrees or
non-degree candidates. Applicants are
required to meet all standards for admission if they wish to pursue a degree
program. The category of non-degree
admission is available for qualified students with reasons for earning graduate
credit without a degree objective. Credits earned as a non-degree student may
be applied toward degree requirements only upon the approval of the academic
unit offering the degree. Students
admitted in a non-degree classification are not eligible for student financial
aid.
Recommended wording (recommended changes are
underlined)
Students
admitted to graduate study are placed in either one of two general
categories: candidates for degrees or
non-degree candidates. Applicants are
required to meet all standards for admission if they wish to pursue a degree
program. The category of non-degree
admission is available for qualified students with reasons for earning graduate
credit without a degree objective.
Credits
earned as a non-degree student may be applied toward degree requirements only
upon the approval of the academic unit offering the degree. Students holding non-degree admission are
advised to contact the graduate coordinator in the academic area where a
particular course is offered as to their eligibility to register for the course. Students admitted in a non-degree
classification are not eligible for student financial aid.
Academic Standards, p. 195
Current wording
Graduate students will earn degree credit completed at
a grade level of C or above, but the student’s average on all courses attempted
for graduate credit which are to be applied to degree completion must be at
least a B (3.0 on a 4-point system).
Additionally, the student’s grade point average on all courses numbered
700 or above, that are to be applied to degree completion, must be no less than
3.0. Grades earned on credits
transferred from other universities do not count in the grade point
average. Grades earned below the grade
at C do not transfer to
An accumulation of grades of C+ or below on 12
credits of graduate course work taken at the University within a 6 year period
will disqualify a student for a graduate degree. This rule applies only to courses taken for degree
completion purposes.
Students who receive grades below B on 12 or more
graduate credit hours, where these hours are being taken for degree completion
purposes, are consequently suspended from degree candidacy status and are not
permitted to enroll for further courses even as non-degree students, without
the specific approval by the University.
After a grade below B is 6 years old, it will cease to be a
disqualifying factor.
Recommended wording
Graduate students will earn degree credit completed at
a grade level of C or above, but the student’s average on all courses attempted
for graduate credit which are to be applied to degree completion must be at
least a B (3.0 on a 4-point system).
Additionally, the student’s grade point average on all courses numbered
700 or above, that are to be applied to degree completion, must be no less than
3.0. Students are advised that some
academic programs may have more stringent standards and to contact the graduate
coordinator in their academic area of interest regarding applicable academic
standards.
Grades earned on credits
transferred from other universities do not count in the grade point
average. Grades earned below the grade
at C do not transfer to
An accumulation of grades of C+ or below on 12
credits of graduate course work taken at the University within a 6 year period
will disqualify a student for a graduate degree. This rule applies only to courses taken for
degree completion purposes.
Students who receive grades below B on 12 or more
graduate credit hours, where these hours are being taken for degree completion
purposes, are consequently suspended from degree candidacy status and are not
permitted to enroll for further courses even as non-degree students, without
the specific approval by the University.
After a grade below B is 6 years old, it will cease to be a
disqualifying factor.
Transfer Credit, p. 198
Current wording
A
student transferring to the University from another college or university
should, before enrolling in any course at the University, have transcripts
evaluated by the Office of Admissions.
It is only through such evaluation that a student will know which
transferred courses may be applicable toward Coastal degree requirements. Students from regionally accredited colleges
and universities may transfer credits for academic courses completed with
grades of C or above, but the University reserves the right to determine what
credit, if any, for courses taken elsewhere will be counted toward its degrees.
The
regional accrediting associations are:
Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, North Central
Association of Colleges and Schools, New England Association of Schools and
Colleges, Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges, Southern Association
of Colleges and Schools, and Western Association of Schools and Colleges.
Students cannot receive degree credit for a course taken at Coastal if they
have received transfer credit for an equivalent course taken previously at
another institution. Similarly, transfer
credit will not be awarded if a Coastal equivalent, regardless of the grade
earned, appears on the Coastal academic record.
A student cannot be awarded more transfer credit for a course than the
original institution awarded.
Credits
earned at another institution while a student is on suspension, academic or
non-academic, from
Recommended wording (recommended changes are
underlined)
A
student transferring to the University from another college or university
should, before enrolling in any course at the University, have transcripts
evaluated by the Office of Graduate Studies. It is only through such evaluation that a
student will know which transferred courses may be applicable toward Coastal
degree requirements. Students from
regionally accredited colleges and universities may transfer credits for
academic courses completed with grades of C or above, but the University
reserves the right to determine what credit, if any, for courses taken
elsewhere will be counted toward its degrees.
Decisions as to transfer course applicability, in terms of courses as
well as maximum transfer hours, are made at the academic level where the degree
program is offered. Students
transferring courses into the University should consult the academic area where
their program of interest is housed regarding criteria for the use of transfer
credits in the degree program.
The
regional accrediting associations are:
Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, North Central
Association of Colleges and Schools, New England Association of Schools and
Colleges, Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges, Southern Association
of Colleges and Schools, and Western Association of Schools and Colleges.
Students cannot receive degree credit for a course taken at Coastal if they
have received transfer credit for an equivalent course taken previously at
another institution. Similarly, transfer
credit will not be awarded if a Coastal equivalent, regardless of the grade
earned, appears on the Coastal academic record.
A student cannot be awarded more transfer credit for a course than the
original institution awarded.
Credits
earned at another institution while a student is on suspension, academic or
non-academic, from
Evaluation of Transfer Credit, p. 195.
Current wording
Up
to 12 semester hours of credit with grades of B or above (or equivalent grades
if a different system is used) from other institutions of approved graduate standing
may be transferred for use with the following restrictions. Credit must have been earned at an
institution accredited, at the time the course work was completed, by a regional
accrediting commission. The only
exceptions to this standard are as follows:
transfer from foreign institutions, transfer of course work completed at
an institution accredited by a recognized accrediting body, or the acceptance
of credit for military education.
Graduate credit will not be accepted for portfolio-based experiential
learning which occurs prior to the student’s matriculation into a Coastal Carolina
University graduate program and which has not been under the supervision of the
institution. The credit must be approved
by the graduate administrator and the Dean of the College where the student
seeks to have the credit applied. Transfer
credit must be dated within the six-year period allowed for a degree. There is no revalidation mechanism for
transfer credit that does not fall within this time limit.
Recommended wording (recommended changes are
underlined)
Up
to 12 semester hours of credit with grades of B or above (or equivalent grades
if a different system is used) from other institutions of approved graduate
standing may be transferred for use with the following restrictions. Credit must have been earned at an
institution accredited, at the time the course work was completed, by a
regional accrediting commission. The
only exceptions to this standard are as follows: transfer from foreign institutions, transfer
of course work completed at an institution accredited by a recognized
accrediting body, or the acceptance of credit for military education. Graduate credit will not be accepted for
portfolio-based experiential learning which occurs prior to the student’s
matriculation into a Coastal Carolina University graduate program and which has
not been under the supervision of the institution. The credit must be approved by the graduate
administrator and the Dean of the College where the student seeks to have the
credit applied. Students are advised
that some academic programs do not allow 12 semester hours of transfer course
work to be applied to the degree program. Students transferring courses into
the University should consult the academic area where their program of interest
is housed regarding criteria for the use of transfer credits in the degree
program. Transfer
credit must be dated within
the six-year period allowed for a degree.
There is no revalidation mechanism for transfer credit that does not
fall within this time limit.
Discussion: Dr. Wiseman
explained his interest in making the proposed changes to better clarify not
only the expectations of the University in these identified areas but also to
direct students with transfer credits or non-degree admission status to seek
guidance directly from the appropriate graduate program director with respect
to their use of transfer credits and eligibility to register for courses while
classified as a non-degree student. Dr.
Wiseman indicated that this can be a concern where individual programs may wish
to have standards more restrictive than the general University standards, e.g.,
the use of transfer credits, and where there is an interest in being able to
review non-degree students before they register for courses required in degree
programs. He also noted that it was his
understanding that a proposal would be forthcoming from the Wall College of
Business Administration to recommend that certain language be added to the MBA
section of the catalog to clarify desired standards in that program. He also suggested that the other colleges that
offer degree programs consider this as well if it is their desire to have
program-specific statements and/or standards in these areas.
During
the discussion it became clear that clarifying the wording in the academic
standards section of the catalog dealing with grade standards and time periods could
be helpful. Dr. Wiseman said that he
would submit some possible wording changes for the Council to consider at its
next meeting.
Following
a discussion and review of the proposed changes, the Council voted to support
the changes as recommended.
After
addressing the items on the agenda as distributed, Dr. Wiseman commented that
he had received a question from a faculty member regarding an agenda item on
the Faculty Senate agenda for the Senate meeting to be held later in the
day. The question pertained to standards
for graduate assistants regarding minimum and maximum hours that may be
carried. Some suggested wording changes
were offered. In the interest of time,
Dr. Wiseman said that he would propose wording changes in this area to the
Council and that the proposed changes would be on the agenda for the next
council meeting.
There
being no further discussion, the meeting adjourned at 12:25 pm.