4-6-2016 GAC Minutes
Minutes of the Council meeting of April 6, 2016
Approved by the Council on April 29, 2016
In attendance:
J. Bartow (staff), P. Atrey, G. Burke, T. Curley (staff),
A. Dariano (staff), C. Davis (staff), J. Fossett, S. Hogan, M. Larsen, C. Malloch, D. McDowall, C.
Pastore, R. Prince, R. Toseland (Chair) & K. Williams
Guests:
Melissa Powers (Registrar’s Office); P. Shea (ETAP) & L. Ni (ETAP)
1. Draft Minutes from the March 2, 2016 meeting were approved by the Council without amendment by a vote of 6-0-1
.
2. Dean’s Report – None
3. Chair’s Report – None
4. Committee on Educational Policy & Procedure Report – Jim Fossett
Written report summarized - The Committee considered a proposal to amend policy pertaining to certifiable full-time
graduate enrollment status. Upon receiving assurance from the Graduate Dean that programs are not expected to retrofit
delivery structure or advisement in consideration of the proposed 9 credit standard, the Committee recommends approval of
the policy amendment. The Council voted to accept the report, approve the proposal and recommend its adoption to the
University Senate by a vote of 10-0-0.
5. Proposal to establish a graduate certificate program in Computing Education
Guests Peter Shea and LiJun Ni from the Department of Educational Theory and Practice introduced the (previously
distributed) proposal to establish a 15 credit graduate certificate program in Computing Education. The rationale for
creation was summarized and the program structure reviewed. Council members voted 10-0-0 to approve the proposal and
recommend it for Senate approval, once similarly endorsed by UPPC.
6. Committee on Curriculum and Instructions Report – Chris Pastore
The previously distributed written report was reviewed verbally by Prof. Pastore, Committee Chair. Program changes are
recommended for approval in the following programs: Educational Administration & Policy Studies PhD; Physics MS &
PhD; Behavioral Neuroscience PhD; Biomedical Sciences MS & PhD. The Council voted 10-0-0 to accept the report and
approve the program changes recommended.
7. The Council considered a request from Jim Collins, Chair of the Governance Council of the Senate, that the GAC engage
itself, with representatives of the Graduate Student Association (GSA), in consideration of: 1. the implementation plan
following the release of the Blue Ribbon Issues on Graduate Stipends and 2. the status of the graduate ombuds program.
Graduate Dean Williams provided a verbal update to the Council regarding the Blue Ribbon Panel report &
implementation. Too, he suggested his office reach out to the GSA to review the structure and status of the ombuds
program. The Council voted (10-0-0) to refer the matter of the Blue Ribbon Panel report and implementation to its
Committee on Educational Policy & Procedures, for consideration with the GSA, and to expect a report back on the
ombuds program from the Graduate Dean.
8. Next meeting scheduled will be held on Friday, April 29, 2016 at 1:00pm in Conference Room UAB 320.
9. The meeting was adjourned.
END OF GAC 4-6-2016 MINUTES
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