4-8-14 GAC Minutes
Minutes of the Council meeting of April 8, 2014
Approved by the Council on April 29, 2014
In attendance:
J. Bartow (staff), F. Bolton (staff), S. Chittur, A. Dariano (staff),
M. DeRensis (staff), G. Griffith, S. Hogan, D.Mancini, J. Poniatowski
A. Rorissa, R. Toseland (Chair), K. Williams, M. Wolfe, A. Zemel
R. Craig (Guest/Presenter), V. Ng (Guest/Presenter)
1. Alyce Dariano was introduced to the Council as a newly welcomed secretary in the Office
for Graduate Education who will be providing services to the Council as well in the months
ahead.
2. Draft minutes from the GAC meeting of 3/11/14 were considered and approved without
amendment by a vote of 9-0-0
3. Dean’s Report – Kevin Williams
Dean Williams reported that the Rockefeller College proposal to establish a Master of
International Affairs (M.I.A.) degree program, previously approved by the Council, had
additionally been approved by the University Senate and President Jones, with transmittal to
SUNY imminent. The Senate also just approved on 4/7/14 the Rockefeller College proposal
to establish a Graduate Certificate Program in International Health & Human Rights
Dean Williams also reported on his participation with Ray Bromley and Bob Andrea on an
internal self-review on international study & recruitment issues. Some outcomes were
recommendations to establish new positions and re-structure the Office of International
Education. A report on this self-review is forthcoming.
Dean Williams commented on the recently announced SUNY merger/acquisition of CNSE
with SUNY IT. The timeline for implementation of the merger will be impacted by
proposals regarding accreditation and NYS SED program registrations.
Dean Williams asked that the GAC examine the campus definition of full-time in relation to
research fellowships.
4. Chair’s Report – Ron Toseland
None.
5. Proposal to establish a Graduate Certificate Program in Teaching Composition
Professor Randall Craig, Chair, English Department introduced this proposal and provided a
verbal summary about it. It is envisioned primarily as a programmatic add-on to PhD
English students who are not specializing in rhetoric and composition (RCO). The certificate
program requires completion of 3 courses (2 in pedagogy; one in RCO), a semester’s training
work in the University’s Writing Center, compilation of a teaching portfolio, and teaching
two terms in the Program in Writing and Critical Inquiry (WCI) while also participating in
WCI professional development opportunities. This add-on certificate should be of significant
value to graduates seeking teaching employment.
Professor Hogan emphasized the need for rigor in the program. Professor Craig assured him
of such, as well as extensive developmental supervision.
The Council voted to approve the Proposal and introduce it to the University Senate for final
campus governance approval by a vote of 10-0-0.
6. Proposal to amend the formal program title of the M.A. Women’s Studies to become
Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies
Professor Vivien Ng, Chair, Department of Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies
introduced this proposal to update the M.A. program title (and affiliated combined
programs). Since its establishment at UAlbany, the field has “undergone significant
transformation.” The details of this transformation were described in the written proposal
that had been previously distribute to the Council. Prof. Ng summarized such to be an
evolution away from a focus on the state of white women to a focus on the intersectionality
of gender, race and sexuality, as currently taught by our faculty. The Council voted to
approve the programs’ title changes 10-0-0.
END OF GAC 4/8/14 MINUTES
Future Meetings:
4/29/14 & 5/9/14; 8:30AM – 10:00AM; MSC 102
