Graduate Academic Council
2004 – 2005
Minutes of the Council meeting of February 16, 2005
Approved by the Council on March 10, 2005
In attendance:
F. Bolton (staff), H. Meyer, J. Bartow (staff), L.-A. McNutt (Chair), M. Pryse, M.
Casserly, M. Jerison, M. Rodriguez & S. Friedman
Unable to attend: B. Joseph, D. Byrd, S. Maloney, S. Shahedipour & O. Ongiti
1.
Minutes of the GAC meetings of 1/26/05 and 2/2/05 were presented and approved unanimously
without amendment.
2.
Dean’s Report – M. Pryse
Dean Pryse reported that she is working to carve out her Graduate Dean’s space.
Graduate applications and admissions for Fall 2005 are up slightly at the masters level compared
to last year at this time, with doctoral lagging behind a bit. It is still early.
At a future meeting, Dean Pryse would like to engage the Council in a discussion regarding the
relationship between doctoral and masters programs at the University.
Preparations have begun to expand the graduate studies web presence, especially the academic
services components.
Prof. Jerison inquired about graduate student support awards allocations. Dean Pryse indicated
she has distributed information to deans about college scholars’ funding and presidential
fellowships. Other allocations, essentially steady-state with the current year, are about to be
confirmed with the deans. The basis for allocations to the schools and colleges will be reviewed
in greater detail in the upcoming months.
3.
Chair’s Report – L.-A. McNutt
Professor McNutt reported that the two items (departmental name change: Environmental Health
Sciences; Ed Admin School Leadership certificate programs) from the GAC that were recently
considered by the Senate were both approved on 2/7/05 without significant discussion.
Prof. McNutt drew reference to the Council’s work ahead on (1) the Ombuds Proposal and (2)
Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETDs).
4.
Old Business – Ombuds Proposal
An updated draft from the Council’s Ombuds working group was distributed by Chair McNutt. She
highlighted and summarized the details contained within it. Prof. Meyer advised against including any
specific reference to the potential inclusion of Ombuds services to undergrads in this particular
proposal. A friendly amendment was offered and accepted to delete reference in the proposal for
Ombuds services to faculty. Council members discussed the structure and size of the Ombuds
Advisory Committee. An amendment to delete the Chair of the Senate from advisory committee
membership was offered by Prof. Jerison. Prof. McNutt suggested that the proposal as written had
very limited resource implications. The matter of course release for Ombudspersons was discussed but
a determination reached to leave it out of the specific proposal. Prof. Rodriguez stressed the
importance of how the Ombuds role will be received by faculty. Prof. McNutt highlighted the
confidential nature of anticipated discussions with appropriate authorizations from students for
supportive efforts on their behalf.
Prof. Meyer moved that the amended proposal be approved by the Council for introduction to the
Senate as a resolution. The motion was approved by a vote of 7-0-0. Prof. McNutt will incorporate
the revisions and bring the resolution forward.
5.
Graduate Certificate Proposal Reviews
Chair McNutt distributed a sample of content to be incorporated within a letter to chairs and deans
apprising them of review procedures and typical GAC questions pertaining to proposals undergoing
review. Council members agreed generally that such communication would be advisable and helpful.
6.
Committee on Admissions & Academic Standing (CAAS)
Jon Bartow highlighted the CAAS report/recommendation on student petition GACCAAS0405-04.
The formal report is appended to the end of these minutes, with a student specific confidential
recommendation contained in Council records. After a period of brief discussion the Council voted 7-
0-0 to accept the report and approve the recommendation contained therein.
It was suggested that the School of Business might want to explore a formally registered dual degree
relationship between the MS Accounting and MBA programs. Mr. Bartow agreed to highlight this to
the dean.
7.
Future Meetings
It was agreed that an attempt to re-schedule the 3/16/05 meeting to a day/time that might allow GAC
CEP&P Chair Don Byrd to participate would be pursued, preferably to a date before the 3/14/05
Senate meeting. It was also agreed that the UAB would be an acceptable and/or preferred location for
future GAC meeting during the Spring 2005 term.
The meeting was adjourned.
END OF GAC THE MINUTES OF 2/16/05
To:
Graduate Academic Council
From:
Shadi Shahedipour, Chair
GAC Committee on Admissions & Academic Standing (CAAS)
Date:
February 15, 2005
Subj:
Report and Recommendations
The CAAS met on February 15, 2005. In attendance were A. Boehm, C. Wagner, D. Peterson, J. Bartow
(staff), L. Scoville and S. Shahedipour (Chair).
Two petitions, one from a current student and one from a former student were considered. Petition
GACCAAS0405-04 is recommended for GAC action. Committee recommendation on petition
GACCAAS0405-01 will be reported to the Council in the near future.
