Graduate Academic Council
2021-2022
Minutes of the Graduate Academic Council meeting on 2/2/22, 10 AM via Zoom
https://albany.zoom.us/j/93081726775?pwd=SDVjNFZEMUhPR2FWWExUL1h2SCsrdz09
Approved by the Council on 3/1/2022.
In attendance: G. Berg (Chair), S.Appe, K. Colvin, O. Lunin, G. Massara, J. Napoleon, E. Pacer, K.
Stanwicks, A. Gill, A. Dawson, E. Rich, K. Williams, S. Kent (staff), C. Davis (staff)
Guests: Tim Sergay, University Senate Chair; Melissa Powers (Registrar’s Office); Kathie Winchester
(Undergraduate Education Office); Ryan Torn (Atmospheric and Environmental Science
Department)
1.
Approved this GAC Agenda
2.
Approval of the minutes of the GAC meeting of 12/2/2021
3.
Dean’s Report – Kevin Williams welcomed the GAC members to the new semester. Currently
there is not much to report. There was a small delay to the start of the Spring semester. We will
discuss shared resource courses later in the meeting. We will be establishing a graduate board
to serve as a vehicle for communication between the Graduate School and the departments.
Graduate program directors will be invited to join shortly. This will not be a policy setting body;
this is an advisory and communication board.
4.
Chair’s Report – George Berg also welcomed the group to the new semester. He reminded
everyone that this is his last term serving as the GAC Chair. He asks that members consider
serving in this capacity next year, or recommend serving to their colleagues. Ideally, we would
like to vote someone in at the end of this academic year so we can start quickly next year.
5.
Applied Atmospheric Science MS Program Proposal: The proposal was presented by Ryan Torn
from the Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences Department. He explained that the current
Atmospheric Science MS program is designed for students going into research-based careers.
The department does have students who go into private sector and applied based careers, so
this program was born out of this need. These students go into fields other than pure
atmospheric science-based research careers. The current MS program will remain as is, so the
idea was to create a new applied Atmospheric Science program. The department sought out
peer departments at UAlbany to collaborate on this program. The new program has 3 tracks:
Business, Data Analytics, and Policy and Emergency Preparedness. This new program will utilize
courses that are already being taught but let students design a program that fits with their
interests. The department plans on proposing a combined undergraduate/graduate program
with this new MS, but they also believe this new program will attract Non-UAlbany students
who want to go into an applied field. There is also potential to create combined programs with
outside institutions, similar to other MOUs UAlbany currently has (MPA). This program is an
academic course-based degree program with a summer internship component. There are a few
different companies interested in this program and providing internship opportunities for these
students. The external reviews were positive.
GAC members had various questions regarding the program documents and hyperlinks.
Professor Torn will work with the Graduate School to finalize the proposal before it is sent off
campus to SUNY and SED (missing EHC approval, incorrect course descriptions). There were
questions related to the program length and if a student could pursue the program on a part-
time basis. While the program can be completed within a year, there is flexibility for students to
complete the program beyond this time period. When the Letter of Intent was approved in Fall
2019, UPPC reviewed the resource implications at that time. Additional review by UPPC is not
necessary. A motion to approve the proposal was given and no further discussion occurred. GAC
voted in favor (11-0-0).
6.
CC&I Report – Kim Colvin provided the report; report at end of minutes. Motion to accept the
report; no discussion took place. GAC voted to accept the report: 11-0-0
7.
Program re-registration Project with SUNY and NYSED; the Graduate School will be contacting
department shortly regarding program re-registration. They are reviewing the oldest registered
programs to determine the previously registered curriculum and comparing it with the current
curriculum to determine if re-registration is necessary. This project will extend beyond this
academic year and will involve the departments providing the necessary materials (updated
syllabi, justification language, etc.). Departments are advised to review their current courses and
inactivate those courses that have not been taught in years. The Graduate School has expanded
its online resources in preparation for this project. There are new websites dedicated to creating
or amending a program and course changes.
8.
Shared Resource Courses; Kevin presented this topic. The Graduate School has encountered
several questions recently related to shared resource courses and recent program registration
documents. The policy related to shared resource courses is available in the Graduate Bulletin.
The graduate level of the shared course must have increased requirements compared to the
undergraduate level and this must be specified in the syllabus. The department is also only
authorized to offer 5 shared resource courses per term. An email was recently sent out by the
Graduate School to the departments regarding these courses and the policy. The quality of
graduate education needs to be considered, but fiscal limitations are an issue.
GAC member inquired about the 5 course limit outlined in the policy. Unfortunately we do not
know the origin of the 5 course limit, but Kevin believes it has something to do with the total
credits required for master’s programs (half of 30 credits possibly). There is a suggestion that we
change it to average 5 per semester per year (instead of the strict 5 each term). The intent of
the policy is to ensure there is good quality instruction at the graduate level. We also have to be
cognizant of smaller programs and their enrollment and financial limitations. Shared resource
courses are a positive, but you have to maintain the gap in differential requirements. It truly has
to be 4th year undergrads with 1st year grads (keep them in a narrow band of knowledge). Having
shared resource courses can work, but we want to make sure it is operating the way it is
intended to operate. The goal of this conversation is to solicit comments, bring it back to the
Graduate School to suggest adjustments to the policy, and then bring back to GAC for review.
George will set up an ad hoc committee to review this information and solicit comments from
departments. We need to make sure we consider the diversity in the departments when
creating this committee. We don’t want to create a policy that is detrimental to other
departments. Please send comments to George. We will make sure Undergraduate Education is
involved in this committee as this is a joint policy between the Graduate and Undergraduate
bulletins. Emily Pacer has volunteered to serve on this committee as a graduate student who has
taken these types of courses.
9.
No other business discussed
10. Adjourn 11:17am
CCI Report – January 2022
Committee members electronic review: Susan Appe, Haijun Chen, Kimberly Colvin (chair), Andrew Gill,
Eliot Rich, Jeannette Sutton
Staff: Colleen Davis
Program Proposals Reviewed: Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity CGS
program, Literacy MS program
Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity CGS Program Proposal:
The College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity is proposing edits to
their CGS program as follows:
In the Emergency Preparedness Track:
o
Add EHC600 Fundamentals of Emergency Management as an option in the required
course (currently it is EHC557/PAD557 and EHC555/PAD555 for 6 credits; would now be
EHC557/PAD557 and one of the following courses EHC555/PAD555 or EHC600)
o
Add the following courses in the elective requirement (9 credits total):
Ehc 500 - Preparedness and Response (3)
Ehc 501 - Mitigation and Recovery (3)
Ehc 502 - Planning, Risk, and Continuity (3)
Ehc 503 - Governance and Stakeholders in Emergency Management and
Homeland Security (3)
Ehc 505 - Crises & Vulnerable Populations (3)
Ehc 542 - Advanced Threat and Hazard Assessment (3)
Ehc 599 - Selected Topics in Emergency Management (3)
Ehc 609 - Risk Theory and Management (3)
Int 503 - Quantitative Approaches to International Affairs (3)
Int 507 - Statistics for International Affairs Managers and Policy Analysts (3)
In the Homeland Security Track:
o
Add EHC610 Fundamentals of Homeland Security as an option in the required course
(currently it is EHC557/PAD557 and EHC554/PAD554/POS554/INT543 for 6 credits;
would now be EHC557/PAD557 and one of the following courses
EHC554/PAD554/POS554/INT543 or EHC610)
o
Add the following courses in the elective requirement (9 credits total):
Ehc 502 - Planning, Risk, and Continuity (3)
Ehc 503 - Governance and Stakeholders in Emergency Management and
Homeland Security (3)
Ehc 505 - Crises & Vulnerable Populations (3)
Ehc 542 - Advanced Threat and Hazard Assessment (3)
Ehc 560 - Terrorism and Counterterrorism (3)
Ehc 561 - Homeland Security Risk (3)
Ehc 609 - Risk Theory and Management (3)
Int 503 - Quantitative Approaches to International Affairs (3)
Int 507 - Statistics for International Affairs Managers and Policy Analysts (3)
In the Cybersecurity Track:
o
Add the following courses in the elective requirement (9 credits total):
Int 503 - Quantitative Approaches to International Affairs (3)
Int 507 - Statistics for International Affairs Managers and Policy Analysts (3)
The college is requesting this to allow CGS students to easily apply course credits from the Emergency
Management and Homeland Security MS and the Master of International Affairs programs. Based on the
department’s justification, the committee voted to approve the changes above (6 approved, 0
disapprove, 0 abstain).
Literacy MS Program Proposal:
The Department of Literacy Teaching and Learning is proposing the following changes to the Literacy MS
program:
Remove the high school practicum hours (25 hours) from the course ELTL505 Practicum:
Academic Literacy Across Instructional Contexts, 5-12 (6 credits) and reduce the credits from 6
to 3 credits. The course title will change to Academic Literacy Across Instructional Contexts, 5-
12.
Create a new course to move the practicum hours into: ELTL602 High School Practicum: Dialogic
Teaching and Learning (3 credits).
Adjust the program requirements to include the new course and reduce ELTL505 credits in the
5-12 and B-12 tracks.
There are no changes to the B-6 track.
The department found that the current LTL 505 course is a disciplinary literacy course, which means the
content is disciplinary literacy. Based on the work the students were doing with the high school
students, it was difficult to recruit high school students to participate. They discuss more desirable youth
interests that would attract high school students and found the following: the college application essay
and multimodal Public Service Announcements on topics of interest to youth. They are also making a
more flexible practicum schedule that would accommodate high school youths’ schedules. Based on the
department’s justification, the committee voted to approve the changes above (6 approved, 0
disapprove, 0 abstain).
Davis, Colleen
From: The Graduate School Fac/Staff <GRADSCHOOLFS@LISTSERV.ALBANY.EDU> on behalf
of Davis, Colleen <cdavis@ALBANY.EDU>
Sent: Thursday, January 20, 2022 2:39 PM
To: GRADSCHOOLFS@LISTSERV.ALBANY.EDU
Subject: Shared Resource Courses
This email is being distributed to deans, graduate directors, and program directors.
Please circulate this newsletter to faculty and staff in your department.
The Graduate School would like to bring to your attention the policies related to
Shared
Resource Courses. Departments are increasing the number of shared resource
courses
being offered and we want to ensure that our current policy is observed.
Unfortunately,
we have seen an increasing number of syllabi for shared resource courses that do
not
include additional course components that would significantly distinguish between
graduate and undergraduate requirements. We cannot give graduate credit for
basically
the same work an undergraduate student does. As we begin to re-register graduate
programs with SUNY and the New York State Education Department, it is important
that
our syllabi reflect the differential course requirements for the graduate level course.
The policy is as follows:
Each department offering a graduate program may design and offer "shared-
resources
courses" within its total curriculum. "Shared-resources courses" are paired courses
dealing with the same topic (one a 400-level and one introductory graduate 500-
level)
that meet with the same instructor, at the same time, in the same classroom. The
course
description of the 400-level course should accurately describe its upper-division
scope
and responsibility. The course description of the 500-level course should accurately
describe its graduate scope and responsibility and must include extra requirements
such
as the submission of a graduate research paper and/or of an additional weekly hour
meeting or laboratory session to allow a deeper and more comprehensive
examination
of the subject than required at the undergraduate level. [emphasis added]
Departments can schedule up to 5 shared resource courses each term. Please note
however, that graduate students are not permitted to enroll in the graduate section
of a
shared resource course if they have already completed the undergraduate section
of the
same course.
Please ask all faculty of shared resource courses to follow this policy. The Graduate
School
will be reviewing current shared resource courses and adding language to the
course
descriptions of the graduate level course indicating that students cannot receive
credit if
the undergraduate level course has been taken. Additionally, departments are
encouraged to review the course syllabi to confirm that the graduate level course
has
additional requirements, such as additional assignments, readings, meetings, etc.
The
course syllabus guide for the Graduate School can be found here.
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