Graduate
Council Meeting Minutes
Coastal
Members Present: S. Libes
(Natural and Applied Sciences), E. Wright (Natural and Applied Sciences), J.
Marcis (Business Administration), J. Navin (Humanities and Fine Arts), J. Winslow
(Education), D. Wiseman (Office of the Provost), D. Lawless (Interim Registrar)
Guests: D. Vrooman,
J. Lox
The meeting was called to
order by Dr. Dennis Wiseman at 11:30 am in the Dawsey Conference Room of the
New Business
Proposals for New Courses
MSCI 573 Biology of Sharks
(3) Prereq: permission of instructor) (Coreq: MSCI 573L) An introduction to the
biology of sharks. Lecture component
covers evolution, anatomy, behavior, natural history, physiology, conservation,
and ecology. Classes will be held on
campus and/or in the
MSCI 573L Biology of Sharks
Laboratory (1) (Coreq: MSCI 573) Topics will include taxonomy, diversity,
anatomy, physiology, capture and identification; telemetry tracking; and
observation of shark behavior in both their natural habitat and captivity.
Rationale: MSCI 573 and MSCI 573L were offered
spring/summer 2006 in response to student demand. MSCI 573 and MSCI 573L provide background for
students interested in shark research as well as international field
experience.
Discussion: MSCI 573 and
MSCI 573L were introduced as having been offered previously on an experimental
basis and having been very successful.
Questions were asked regarding any prerequisites to study in the course and
the signing of waivers for participation.
It was noted that permission of instructor was the key prerequisite for
the course and that students who were not marine science majors were eligible
to take the course upon the approval of the instructor. Regarding waivers, it was explained that the
course had been offered previously with no issues but that the
Dr. Wiseman noted that an
undergraduate course and lab, MSCI 473 and MSCI 473L, had been approved by the
Committee on Academic Affairs at the Committee’s February meeting. The courses had been favorably received with
recommended changes to the descriptions as follows:
MSCI 473 – end the
description with the sentence Classes will be held on campus and/or at a Field
Station; MSCI 473L – end the description with the sentence This lab will be
held on campus, in local waters, and/or at a Field Station.
Dr. Vrooman commented on how
the graduate version of the course had additional and more rigorous
requirements than the undergraduate version.
There being no further discussion, the courses were approved with the
description wording changes made at the undergraduate level also adopted for
MSCI 573 and MSCI 573L.
Proposals from the Director of Graduate Studies
Rationale for the following recommendations: The
proposed changes that follow are intended to clarify specific expectations
related to graduate education at the University.
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 (recommended changes are
underlined)
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
Students who receive grades of C+ or below on 12
credits of degree-required graduate course work at the University within a 6
year period are 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.
Discussion:
Dr. Wiseman introduced the
recommended wording changes in the area titled Academic Standards as a
follow-up to comments and suggestions made at the Council’s meeting in
February. What was being submitted was
an effort to clarify the wording used in the passage. Points were raised regarding the wording used
and a recommendation to change reference to C+ to B to keep the wording
consistent throughout concerning minimum student grades. A question also was raised regarding how the
University gives approval for students to take courses after not being
permitted to do so. The suggestion was
made that 1) this approval should come from the Office of Graduate Studies and
2) the approval should be in writing.
Following the discussion, the Council approved the following wording to
the passage.
Students who receive grades below B on 12 credits of
degree-required graduate course work at the University within a 6 year period
are suspended from degree candidacy status and are not permitted to enroll in further
courses even as non-degree students, without written approval by the Office of
Graduate Studies. After a grade below B
is 6 years old, it will cease to be a disqualifying factor.
-----
Dr. Wiseman introduced the
item of course loads for graduate assistants as one that the Council also had
worked with previously.
Course Loads for Graduate Assistants, p. 197
Current wording
Graduate assistant applicants must be full-time
students. Graduate assistants are
required to carry a minimum of six (6) hours and may carry up to twelve (12)
hours combined during the fall and spring terms. Assistants are expected to carry a minimum of
three (3) credits each summer session, except in the CMWS graduate program. Students in the CMWS graduate program must
carry one (1) credit hour during the summer.
Recommended wording (recommended changes are
underlined)
Graduate assistant applicants must be full-time
students. Graduate assistants are
required to carry a minimum of twelve (12) hours over a twelve month
period. Students in good standing and
with extenuating circumstances may apply to the Graduate Coordinator in their
area of study for an extension to the 12 month period. Assistants are expected to carry a minimum of
three (3) credits each summer session, except in the CMWS graduate
program. Students in the CMWS graduate
program must carry one (1) credit hour during the summer.
Discussion: The item dealing with course loads for graduate
assistants was on the February agenda of the Council and a recommendation was
made that Dr. Wiseman present clarifying wording to the passage. Dr. Wiseman commented on the recommendation
on the agenda and noted that he felt that additional changes were needed, in
particular in reference made in the passage relating to graduate assistants and
summer study. Dr. Wiseman suggested
that, with the expectation that graduate assistants take a minimum of 12 credit
hours over a 12 month period that there wasn’t a need for reference to summer
study. Comment was made, though, that
the CMWS program had expectations of student research in the summer and that
students should be registered for at least some study during the summer while
doing this research. The suggestion was
made that the passage end with a similar statement now in place in other sections
of the graduate catalog that refers the student to specific requirements in
place for individual programs.
Otherwise, the section on course loads for graduate assistants focuses
on the need for a minimum of 12 credit hours to be taken over a 12 month
period. Following the discussion, the
item was approved with the change noted below.
Graduate assistant applicants must be full-time
students. Graduate assistants are
required to carry a minimum of twelve (12) hours over a twelve month
period. Students in good standing and
with extenuating circumstances may apply to the Graduate Coordinator in their
area of study for an extension to the 12 month period. Students are advised to contact the graduate
coordinator in their program area with respect to any specific requirements for
graduate assistants in that area.
Dr. Wiseman introduced Mr.
John Lox, new director of the MBA program.
Mr. Lox had one item of business that he wanted the members to
consider. Even though the item had not
met the deadline to be included on the agenda distributed for the meeting, he
explained its importance in terms of the change being included in the 2007-2008
university catalog. The recommended
changes pertained to expected GPA of MBA students, acceptance of transfer
credits and eligibility of graduate students in a non-degree student
classification to take MBA-related graduate courses.
The following reflects
current and then recommended catalog wording:
“Degree Requirements
The Master of Business
Administration requires:
New:
This provides the amendments
to the MBA Program for the Catalog:
Rationale:
To raise the academic
standards for MBA students versus current requirements. This change is more in line with aspirant
university MBA programs. The change was approved by the Wall MBA Committee.
Discussion: The discussion that followed the introduction
of the recommendation was positive toward the college’s interest in making
changes to the catalog but noted that the recommendation was not clearly
worded. Given the interest in the
college to have the changes reflected in the catalog for 2007-2008, the
decision was made to have the members vote on the changes electronically. Dr. Wiseman and Mr. Lox would work on revised
wording and then Dr. Wiseman would distribute it to the members for their
consideration.
The following wording was later
distributed electronically to the Council members and approved.
Degree Requirements
The Master of
Business Administration
Non-Degree Students
Students classified as non-degree graduate students may take no more than 6 credit hours of graduate study in MBA-related coursework. Non-degree student registrations must be approved by the MBA Director.
Transfer Credits
With the MBA Director’s approval, a maximum of 6 transfer credit hours may be applied to a student’s program of study; all transfer course work must have been completed with a minimum grade of B.
There being no further
discussion, the meeting adjourned at 12:35 pm.