Graduate Council Meeting
Minutes
Coastal
September 5,
2007
Members
Present: Mark Mitchell (Business Administration), Dennis
Rauch (Business Administration), Emory Helms, (Education), Joe Winslow
(Education), Dan Ennis (Humanities and Fine Arts), John Navin (Humanities and
Fine Arts), Susan Libes (Natural and Applied Sciences), John Reilly (Natural
and Applied Sciences), Dan Lawless (Registrar), and Deborah Vrooman (Interim
Graduate Director).
Guests: Rob Sheehan, Provost;
John Lox, MBA Director; and Ken Rogers, Chair, Department of Politics and
Geography.
The
meeting was called to order at 11:30 am in the Dawsey Conference Room of the
New
Business
A.
Proposal for New Course
POLI 539 International Law (3) (Prereq: POLI 101, POLI 315 or permission of
instructor) Study of the origin, development, and principles of the
international law of peace. The
enforcement of these principles, the law of war, and the pacific settlement of
disputes is presented. Students who have
completed POLI 439 are not eligible for this course.
Rationale: POLI 539 will support graduate programs by offering
students a choice of additional study in the social sciences.
Discussion: The course was approved, after a brief
discussion.
B.
Proposal for Name Change in a Course
Current: EDUC 692 -
Advanced Topics in Special Education
Recommended: EDUC 692 -
Foundations and Services for Exceptional Learners
Rationale: The title
change will better reflect the course content and facilitate review from the
South Carolina Department of Education for individuals seeking endorsement
certification in special education.
Discussion: The name change was approved, after a brief discussion
of the difference in the terms “special education” and “exceptional learners.”
C. Recommendations for Graduate
Studies
Recommended
policy on the completion of a graduate course at the 500 level where a
comparable course at the 400 level has already been completed.
Recommended
Policy: Registration in a graduate course at the 500
level is prohibited where a comparable undergraduate course at the 400 level
has already been completed.
Rationale: While
procedures exist to ensure that graduate study is more rigorous and advanced
than undergraduate study where 400 (undergraduate) and 500 (graduate) level
courses are taught concurrently, the general subject matter and content
explored in the undergraduate course and the graduate course are typically the
same. A student who has completed an
undergraduate course at the 400 level will not experience significantly
advanced study of content at the graduate level in a comparable 500 level
course.
Discussion: The recommendation was not approved. The Provost office was requested to inquire
about policies at other universities on courses taught for both undergraduate
and graduate credit. This will be a
topic at the next meeting.
V. Announcements
Dr. Rob Sheehan discussed several issues with the
members of Graduate Council.
1. Restructuring
of Graduate Studies and the Office of Grants and Research.
2. Growth of
current graduate programs and potential addition of new graduate degrees and
programs.
3. Graduate
courses offered for degree and non-degree credit, including contract courses
offered for teachers and others. Clarification
of policies and procedures for offering graduate courses whether for degree or
non-degree credit.
4. The use and
frequency of “Special Topics” courses.
5. Assessment
of graduate courses and programs.
VI. Adjournment
There being no further items of
business, the meeting adjourned at 12:25 pm.
Respectfully
submitted,
Deborah
Vrooman