GRADUATE COUNCIL MINUTES
January 20, 1998, 2:30 p.m.

Members Present: Dr. Walter Britt, Dr. James Knapp, Dr. Jan Moore, Dr. Karla Oty, Dr. Randy Prus, Mr. Barry Tally (substituting for Dr. Virginia Reasor), Dr. Connie Taylor, Dr. David Whitlock, Dr. Wayne Dixon, Dr. Ron Finkbine, Dr. James Mitchell, Ms. Shelley Sauer (Student), and Dr. Jack L. Robinson

Members Absent: Dr. Larry Minks

The meeting was called to order at 2:30 p.m. by Dr. Karla Oty, chairperson. The first item of business was to consider two graduate appeals. Gaylene Donnell requested admission to the Graduate School and Master of Education program in Special Education. Dr. Jim Mitchell, Coordinator of the Master of Education program, indicated that Ms. Donnell had made eight hours of "A" during the Fall 1997 semester, that she had recently passed the State Certification Test in Business Education, and would be eligible for alternative certification at the secondary level. Based on her recent performance and a recommendation from one of her instructors, he made a motion that she be admitted to the Graduate School of Master of Education program. After the motion was seconded by Dr. Walter Britt, her admission was approved unanimously by the Council. The second appeal was presented by Mr. Arnold Lay to have six hours of graduate work that was beyond the deadline be accepted for the Master of Education program at Southeastern. After a brief discussion, a motion by Dr. Britt, seconded by Dr. Dixon, passed by a majority vote to accept these six hours with the understanding that Mr. Lay's six years to obtain a master's degree was to be made effective with the Fall 1997 semester.

The second item of business was to consider the nomination of Judith Sexton as a Regular Faculty member at SOSU. Her record of scholarly activity was noted as well as that she had served in the Fall 1997 as a Temporary Graduate Faculty. Her nomination was approved unanimously.

The third item of business was to review the procedures for petitioning that a 3000/4000 level course by taken for graduate credit. A petition is submitted at the time a student enrolls so that administrative offices are notified that the undergraduate course is being taken for graduate credit. Dr. Robinson mentioned to the Council that in past few semesters a few students who had filed a petition returned later wanting to reverse this request. In one case, a student found out that the course was not needed on her degree plan after she had petitioned for graduate credit. In two other cases, students indicated that they did not wish to do the extra work for graduate and decided to take the course for undergraduate credit. One of these cases occurred near the end of the semester which created a number of logistical type problems. After some discussion, a motion by Dr. Walter Britt, seconded by Dr. David Whitlock, was passed by a majority vote that in the future once a student enrolls in an undergraduate course for graduate credit, a reversal of this decision will not be allowed. The option that would remain for the student would be to withdraw from the course provided they did this within the allowed withdrawal period.

The fourth item of business was to consider a statement to be added to course syllabi for 4000-level courses. Currently, a significant number of students enroll in 4000-level, and generally, there is no way to determine which 4000-level courses will be taken by students for graduate credit. Except in the School of Business, where 4000-level courses are not allowed in the MBA program. The Council also reviewed a statement which would appear in the instructions for completing course syllabi. These instructions basically ask faculty to state the additional assignments required for graduate credit. After some discussion, a motion by , seconded by , passed with a majority vote that the revised syllabus outline be circulated to the deans with a request that faculty who teach 4000-level courses add a statement about the additional expectations for graduate students enrolled in 4000-level courses.

The fifth item of business was to review policy exceptions that have been considered by the Graduate Council over the past few years. Kristie Luke had prepared a report for the past three years showing time extensions that had been granted including several other exceptions to policy. It was noted that a total of twenty-one exceptions had been made while five had been denied. As the Council reviewed the exceptions, it was also noted by one of the members that with a total graduate student enrollment of 470 students for the fall semester, twenty-one exceptions was a very small percentage indeed.

The sixth item of business was to review a survey of non-enrolled graduate students for the Fall 1996 semester. Surveys were sent to thirty-four students who had been admitted to the graduate program, but who did not enroll. Seventeen students responded which is considered to be an exceptionally good response rate. Most of the students indicated that work related duties and personal financial situation were the two most frequently cited instances that contributed to the non-enrollment. Seventeen percent of the respondents indicated that the schedule of the classes conflicts with their work. Another seventeen percent responded that their plans had changed, and they were no longer interested in graduate studies.

The last item of business was to review the minutes from the November 4, 1997, Graduate Council meeting. On review of the minutes, Dr. Oty mentioned that the Graduate Council needed to begin a review of Graduate Faculty. Discussion ensued about the mechanics of the review process. After some discussion, the consensus was that the Council needed to review the criteria for appointment of Regular Graduate Faculty and NCA guidelines relative to graduate programs and Graduate Faculty. Second, the Council requested that a form be devised to assist with the review process. The third step would be to have a practice session where one or more resumes were reviewed and discussed. After this, the Council would begin its review of Regular Graduate Faculty.

The Council adjourned at 3:30 p.m.