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Graduate Faculty Council Minutes - March 22, 2001

GFC Home Members Committees Recommendations Minutes Document Library

Graduate Faculty Council

Minutes of 3/22/01 meeting

Meeting began at 4:10; no quorum, but discussion on several issues

Present: Bruce Mork (EE), Vicky Bergvall (RTC), Mark Roberts (SBE), Jim Mihelcic (CEE), John Sutherland (ME-EM); Neil Hutzler (CoE), Jo Deaton (GSC), Marilyn Urion (Grad School)

Not represented: SS, Math, Chem, Bio, Forestry, CS, Physics, Mat Sci/Eng, Mining, Geo, Chem Eng.

4 issues discussed:

1. Grad Dean Search committee membership settled
2. Grad student recruitment
3. M Sci degree proposal
4. Transfer credits/residency (esp. for distance ed programs)

1) Grad Dean Search committee membership settled

Final appointees and elected members:

• Administration/Dean: Glen Mroz
• Dept. Chair: Bob Baillod (elected chair of committee as well)
• GSC representative: Michelle Trim (HU)
• Staff: Betty Chavis

2) Grad student recruitment (Neil Hutzler)

Visit by five PhD candidates flown in by College of Engineering, went well, great camaraderie.

• But: library visit not possible (not open Sat. morning)
• Hard questions about financial aid, health insurance

Need to upgrade web presence for better recruiting

• Problems with consistency of look/accessibility by outsiders, but also
• Problems with local control of content/look
• Need localized support

Need coordination from University level, plus budget dedicated to grad recruitment

3) M Sci degree proposal

• formed under model of M. Engg. in College of Engineering
• questions:
• How are programs added?
• How is oversight of new programs managed?
• Who should sign off on the addition of new degree programs, whether or not new resources are requested? What is approval path?
• Where are resources to be approved? GFC, Senate level approval
• differences from M. Engg. model:
• not always already a cognate/variant degree program within the Science and Arts department
• residency issues
• Threshhold of triggers for higher approval seem to be based on new resources requested: if needs new resources, has to have more approvals.
• What to call degree to keep it separate from a Masters of Science (emphasize practical side of this new degree, therefore practicum important.

4) Transfer credits/Residency

1. M Engg has 15 credits taken at MTU; note catalog says 1/3 max of coursework may be transferred in from elsewhere
2. New standard: 1/2 plus 1 credit must be taken at MTU?
3. Is Practicum to be considered "research" or "coursework" (Answer: Coursework)
4. New system for transferring in credits? Proposed maximums:
• 1/3 of credits from participating MIGS (courses come in with grades)
• 1/3 without grades
• 1/3 from MTU?
5. Residence thus set at or near 50% for distance ed?
6. Therefore consider relaxing all MS requirements to allow 50% of coursework credits to be transferable?

COMING ISSUES:

• tuition scholarships (for 1 credit, while students finish degrees, without stipend)
• setting caps on paying for credits taken by students; accounting problems

Discussion ended around 5:25 PM