Graduate Academic Council
2002 – 2003
Minutes of the Council meeting of February 28, 2003
Approved by the Council on March 14, 2003
In attendance:
C. Smith, L. Cohen, M. Casserly, H. Charalambous, C. Bischoff, E. Block, K. Trent, J.
Rudolph, R. Irving, J. Mumpower, M. Genkin K. Sarfoh, L. Raffalovich, L. Trubitt, C.
MacDonald (Chair), J. Bartow (staff) & J. Newman (guest)
Unable to attend: G. Singh, S. Maloney, B. Spanier, Vivien Ng, & M. Gallant
1.
Minutes from the meeting of 11/15/02 were amended (copy below) and unanimously approved
2.
Minutes from the meeting of 12/6/02 were amended (copy below) and unanimously approved.
3.
Dean’s Report – J. Mumpower
Graduate applications for Fall 2003 are significantly up.
The Nanosciences & Nanoengineering Programs Proposal was approved by the
Senate & President and has been transmitted to SUNY.
Graduate Instruction – The issue of enforcement of policy and consideration for
exceptions will be discussed with the academic deans.
4.
Chair’s Report – C. MacDonald
Today’s agenda should be amended to include discussion of (1) the grade change
grievance policy being proposed by UAC and (2) procedures for considering
graduate instruction exceptions.
Academic misconduct issues may surface for Senate consideration. Keep an eye on
the Senate agenda for such.
Students are still seeking to have open GA/TA positions noted on an appropriate
website.
GAC matters/progress should similarly be posted to the GAC/Senate website.
5.
Academic Standing Committee – H. Charalambous: No report
6.
Curriculum & Instruction Committee – L. Raffalovich
The C&I Committee met on 2/27/02. Professor Raffalovich briefly reviewed the 5 items in the
Committee’s written report to the Council (below). The council voted unanimously (15 – 0) to
accept the report and approve the items contained therein.
7.
Educational Policy & Procedures Committee – R. Irving
The Committee has not met yet this term. In regard to the draft proposal from the UAC regarding
grade change grievances, the CEP&P discussed the matter last semester. Issues of whom might
become authorized to change grades against the will of as instructor of record and whom might
serve to provide alternate evaluations of students’ work were of concern to the Committee. Yet,
the Committee recognized the value of potentially having a uniform policy at the University
pertaining to such matters for students, be they graduate or undergraduate. The Committee tabled
the item before it to seek further consultation with the UAC. A response has been received from
Prof. Reed Hoyt of the UAC that in part states “The UAC believes that the grievance procedures
for undergraduate vis a vis those for graduate students differ sufficiently that we can have separate
rules.”
Graduate Council members commented that (1) two distinct policies (grad/undergrad) might be
unwise and that (2) an opinion from the University’s attorney on such might be advisable.
A motion was made and seconded that “The GAC recommends that an attempt to establish a
unified policy, including agreement by UAC, GAC and Counsel as to wording, should be sought.”
The GAC voted unanimously (15 – 0) to approve the motion and ask that the Chair report such to
the Senate Executive Committee, the Senate if appropriate, and the UAC.
8.
M.S. Educational Psychology
Professor Joan Newman, Division Director for the Ed Psych program introduced the proposal
(previously distributed to Council members) to amend the existing M.S. program in Educational
Psychology. She distributed summary copies of the current program and the new track. The
proposal call for the establishment within existing degree requirements for a specific track that,
upon completion by students, will serve to qualify them for teacher certification. As matters of
teacher certification programs must be registered with the State Education Department, GAC
endorsement of the specific proposal is sought. The Council discussed the matter briefly and then
voted unanimously (15 – 0) to approve the curriculum proposal.
9.
BA/MA Political Science/Public Affairs & Policy
The proposal (previously distributed to Council members) to establish this combined program,
involving a potential overlap of up to 12 (graduate) credits, was reviewed by the Council. Noting
that all graduate program requirements for the M.A. will be fulfilled within the combined
program, the Council voted unanimously (15 – 0) to approve the Proposal. Following editing (to
replace MPP with MA Public Affairs & Policy) and corresponding approval by the UAC, the
Proposal to establish the combined program will be ready for joint introduction by the UAC and
GAC for Senate consideration.
10.
Graduate Instruction
The Council returned to a discussion of how best to handle requests for exception to standard
requirements for faculty qualification to provide graduate instruction. Dean Mumpower
highlighted his particular concerns about such requests receiving timely review during the summer
months or similar “off season” periods. The GAC Committee on Ed Policy & Procedures will
continue to consider this matter as they were asked to do in December 2002 by the Council. Dean
Mumpower committed to raise the issue with the academic deans and provide feedback to the
Council and Committee. The Council asked that Jon Bartow additionally solicit comments about
criteria for exceptions to be considered by GAC and process concerns from the graduate programs
at the University.
By unanimous consent, the GAC meeting was adjourned.
END OF 2/28/03 GAC MINUTES
To:
Graduate Academic Council
From:
Professor Lawrence Raffalovich, Chair
GAC Committee on Curriculum & Instruction (CC&I)
Date:
February 27, 2003
Subj.:
Report and Recommendations
The CC&I met on 2/27/03. In attendance were: L. Raffalovich (Chair), K. Quinn, K. Sarfoh, D. Parker, J.
Bartow (staff), R.-M. Weber, F. Henderson, E. Block, & A. Cervantes-Rodriguez. Professors M. Gallant &
G. Pogarsky were unable to attend, although both did forward comments in advance pertaining to agenda
items.
Five proposals were considered as listed below. Each was thoroughly discussed and the Committee
unanimously recommends all for approval by the Council. It should be noted that Prof. Henderson
abstained from the vote on item 2, as it was from his department.
1.
School of Social Welfare – Ph.D. Program
It is proposed that the residency requirement for the Ph.D. program be modified to become two
terms at nine credits each term. The University-wide policy on full-time study in residence for
doctoral programs was modified in 1999, allowing for each program to establish residency
requirements, subject to GAC approval. The faculty of Social Welfare have proposed an amended
requirement for their program with a rationale as detailed in their proposal.
2.
Geography – M.A. Program
The faculty propose to establish a non-thesis track within their M.A. program, aimed at serving
those interested in considering the M.A. their terminal degree prior to seeking employment. The
rationale and proposed revisions detailing two tracks within the program are detailed in the
proposal.
3.
Curriculum & Instruction Ph.D. Program, Department of Educational Theory & Practice
It is proposed by the faculty that the Internship requirement of the program becomes optional and
that the credits associated with the internship be reduced from 4-8 to 1-6. Total program credit
requirements are not proposed for change. The proposal is advanced noting that “not all students
benefit from the internship experience, especially not the extensive experience.”
4.
M. S. Secondary Education Programs, Department of Educational Theory & Practice
It is proposed that the research seminar requirement in each of the nine discipline based secondary
education programs be amended to delete ETAP580 (Introduction to Classroom Research) and
replaced by either ETAP 680 (Research Seminar: Critical Introduction to Educational Research
Paradigms) or ETAP681 (Research Seminar: Research in Practice). Credit requirements of the
programs remain unchanged.
5.
Curriculum Design & Instructional Technology, Advanced Classroom Teaching and General
Educational Studies M.S. Programs, Department of Educational Theory & Practice
It is proposed that ETAP 681 (Research Seminar: Research in Practice) be added to the curricula
as an alternative within the current “culminating research seminar” requirement for each program.
This will be in addition to the traditional ETAP 680 (Research Seminar: Critical Introduction to
Educational Research Paradigms).
