Minutes of the Graduate Academic Council meeting on 12/2/21, 11 AM via Zoom
https://albany.zoom.us/j/93081726775?pwd=SDVjNFZEMUhPR2FWWExUL1h2SCsrdz09
Approved by the Council on 2/2/2022 (no corrections).
In attendance: G. Berg (Chair), K. Colvin, O. Lunin, G. Massara, J. Napoleon, E. Pacer, K. Stanwicks, A. Gill,
A. Dawson, S. Kent (staff), C. Davis (staff)
Guests: Tim Sergay, University Senate Chair; Rachael French (Registrar’s Office); Patrick Nold (History),
Jamie Winn (History)
1. Approved this GAC Agenda
2. Approval of the minutes of the GAC meeting of 11/2/2021; no vote needed according to
Robert’s Rules, as long there are no edits/corrections to the minutes.
3. Dean’s Report –Kevin not present; Colleen reported. A communication will be sent out to faculty
and staff regarding the increase in doctoral stipends that were mentioned by President
Rodriguez during his Fall University Address. This increase will implemented in the 2022-2023
academic year. Currently funded doctoral students will also receive a communication. We will
be contacting the group shortly to schedule our Spring 2022 meeting dates/times.
4. Chair’s Report – George Berg - no report
5. CC&I Report – Kim Colvin; report at end of minutes. Motion to accept the report; no discussion
took place. GAC voted to accept the report: 9-0-0
6. CA&AS Report – Kabel Stanwicks reported
a. Grievance 1 – Motion to accept the report; discussion took place involving committee
recommended grade computation suggestion. GAC voted to accept the report: 8-0-1
b. Grievance 2 – Motion to accept the report; no discussion. GAC voted to accept the
report: 9-0-0
7. Program Proposals for Review:
a. Deactivation of TESOL MS Certification and TESOL AGC; Motion to accept the report;
discussion regarding deactivation vs. discontinuation took place. The agenda will be
updated to reflect this is a deactivation request for both programs (not discontinuation).
GAC voted to approve the deactivation request for both programs: 9-0-0
b. Deactivation and Discontinuation of Public History CAS; Professor Patrick Nold from the
History Department was available to discuss the request. The program is no longer
needed as students can pursue the Dual History MA/Information Science MS degrees.
Motion to accept the report; no discussion took place. GAC voted to accept the report:
8-0-1.
8. Any Other Business
Meeting adjourned 12pm.
CCI Report – November 2021
Committee members electronic review: Susan Appe, Haijun Chen, Kimberly Colvin (chair), Andrew Gill,
Ilka Kressner, Eliot Rich, Jeannette Sutton
Staff: Colleen Davis
Program Proposals Reviewed: Public Health DrPH, Business Administration MBA Distance Education
Format, Biodiversity, Conservation and Policy MS
Public Health DrPH Program Proposal:
The School of Public Health is proposing edits to the Public Health DrPH program as follows:
•
Increase the DrPH core courses from 27 credits to 30 credits with the creation of HSPH713
Translating Research Into Program Policy Implementation
•
Reduce the elective requirement from 12 – 15 credits to 9-12 credits to account for the new
core course HSPH713
In Spring 2021, the program was approved by NYSED to remove concentration from the DrPH
curriculum. This resulted in the need to create and assess additional competencies for a “generalist
DrPH” as per the accreditation guidelines of the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH). The new
course HSPH713 was created to address the four new competencies.
DrPH Concentration Competency
Use an implementation science framework to develop a comprehensive
implementation plan for a public health program or policy.
Apply a health equity framework to analyze how health equity has been
incorporated or not incorporated in the implementation of a public health
program or policy
Analyze how a specific decision analytic method has been used or not used in
implementing a public health or policy intervention
Propose appropriate evaluation strategies and measures for assessing an
implementation plan
Based on the department’s justification, the committee voted to approve the changes above (7
approved, 0 disapprove, 0 abstain).
Business Administration MBA Distance Education Format
The School of Business is proposing to add Distance Education Format to the existing MBA program. The
School expects to offer the evening part-time program 100% online and the fulltime program at least
50% online.
The committee voted to approve the proposed program changes (5 approve, 0 disapprove, 0 abstain).
Biodiversity, Conservation and Policy MS Program Proposal
The Department of Geography and Planning is proposing the following changes to the Biodiversity,
Conservation and Policy MS program:
•
Adjust the admission requirement language from “For students pursuing emphasis in biology,
suggested background course work includes genetics, evolution, and ecology, plus at least two
courses in physical sciences (Physics, Chemistry, Earth or Atmospheric Sciences)” to “For
students pursuing emphasis in conservation and policy suggested background course work
includes minimum of 9 undergraduate credits in biological sciences.”
•
Add AGOG504/APLN538 Energy, Environment, and Climate Change to the Tool-based course
requirement in the program. Currently this requirement is 3 credits in a list of courses. This
would add another option for students to take.
Since the program moved from Biological Sciences to the Department of Geography and Planning, the
program emphasis has changed to more conservation and policy issues. Based on this, they are
admitting students with degrees in public policy or environmental sciences. To better understand
materials presented in the courses, students should understand general biology and ecology. Based on
this, the department would like to adjust the admission requirements. Regarding the Tool-based course
requirement, many of their current students are taking AGOG504/APLN538 as an elective and this
course is especially important for students who choose to write their thesis in conservation and policy
fields. After reviewing the course, the department believes it is appropriate in the Tool-based
requirement.
The committee voted to approve the proposed program changes (7 approve, 0 disapprove, 0 abstain).
To:
Graduate Academic Council (GAC)
From: Kabel Stanwicks, Chair
GAC Committee on Admissions & Academic Standing (CA&AS)
Date:
November 12, 2021
Re:
Report and Recommendation
The GAC CA&AS met via Zoom on 11/10/21 in consideration of a student grade grievance and a student
dismissal appeal.
In attendance at the meeting of 11/10/21 were: K. Stanwicks (Chair), S. Roch, R. Torn, J. Napoleon, E.
Pacer, O. Lunin, and S. Kent (staff).
Attached are the confidential reports/recommendations from the Committee on GAC CAAS Cases 2021-
22-1 and 2021-22-2.
