• Welcome
•  
• Application Forms
•  
• Graduate Programs
• Online Learning
• Graduate Catalog
• Financial Information
• Online Orientation
• Campus & Community
•  
• Policies & Procedures
• Graduate School Forms
• Professional Resources
• Theses & Dissertations
• Research
•  
• Grad Home Page
• Grad Faculty Council
• Grad Student Council
• Grad School Staff
• Defenses This Week
•  
• Questions?
• Grad School Web Index

 

Graduate Faculty Council Minutes - February 1, 2005

GFC Home Members Committees Recommendations Minutes Document Library

Graduate Faculty Council

Minutes: February 1, 2005

The Graduate Faculty Council (GFC) met on February 1, 2005 in the ROTC Blue Room.

Depts/Programs represented: Casey Huckins (Biology), Brent Lekvin (SBE), Pushpa Murthy (Chem), Neil Hutzler (CEE), Jean Mayo (CS), Kedmon Hungwe (Educ.), Warren Perger (ECE), Kurt Pregitzer (SFRES), John Gierke (GMES), Dennis Lynch (HU), Jianping Dong (Math), H. Wang (MSE), Ghatu Subhash (MEEM), Barry Solomon (SS), Marilyn Vogler (GS), Justin Priestman (GSC).

Depts/Programs/Offices not represented: Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Physics

Guests: Rick Vendlinski (GSC)

1. President Kurt Pregitzer opened the meeting at 4:05.
2. John Gierke volunteered to record and distribute the minutes for the February meeting.
3. Agenda Items (revised from the agenda submitted prior to the meeting):
1. January Meeting Minutes: approved with corrections on the automatic appointment of tenure-track faculty to the graduate faculty (automatic appointment will be given to all new tenure-track faculty in programs offering graduate degrees and those faculty have terminal degrees in their field) on voice vote.
2. Elections of representatives to the Graduate Dean Search Committee.
1. Nominations from departments represented by the GFC were compiled and forms distributed to those GFC representatives in attendance. Each representative was instructed to vote for at most 2 nominees from the COE, 2 nominees from CSA, one nominee from SFRES, and one nominee from SBE. The votes were tallied and those receiving the highest number of votes in these colleges and schools were (in no particular order):
• College of Engineering:
• Tess Ahlborn, Civil and Environmental
• John Sutherland, Mechanical Engineering/Engineering Mechanics
• College of Sciences and Arts:
• Dennis Lynch, Humanities
• Steve Seidel, Computer Science
• School of Business & Economics:
• Dana Johnson, School of Business & Economics
• School of Forest Resources & Environmental Science:
• Shekar Joshi, School of Forest Resources & Environmental Science
2. A discussion regarding the potential omission of GSO staff representation on the search committee. Staff council will not necessarily appoint a GSO representative to the search committee (as of this meeting, Staff Council had not yet appointed a representative). The search policy of the graduate dean should be revised to ensure that GSO staff is certain of representation.
3. The GFC discussed the Graduate Dean position description.
1. GFC Pres. Pregitzer is to discuss with Interim Provost Reed whether an internal search/selection would cause a loss of a position in the department from which the new dean would be selected.
2. Starting with the previous job description, some of the qualities were discussed. The criteria on advising of graduate students was discussed as to whether it was restrictive enough and if it were restricted more, would it make the applicant pool too narrow. Also, appointment at the level of full professor was also discussed as more appropriate criteria. No formal votes were held on these issues, but there was also no opposition voiced regarding making the criteria more strict. GFC representatives would be able to offer their opinions on a revised position description, based on the general discussion, when Pres. Pregitzer forwarded a new draft to the GFC members.
4. GFC discussed the issue of a maximum stipend level for M.S. and Ph.D. students. The issue was initiated by an e-mail from Interim Provost/Grad Dean/VP Research D. Reed on 1/17/05 to GFC Pres. Pregitzer). After discussion, the GFC unanimously voted to remove a maximum on M.S. &Ph.D. stipends. Reconsideration of minimum stipend levels was sent to the Remuneration and Benefits Committee.
5. Asst. Dean Marilyn Vogler has set up a new GFC web page with current lists of GFC representatives and committees, as well as archiving of the meeting minutes back to Fall 1998 and GFC Recommendations back through Summer 1999. This web site will facilitate better communication within the GFC and archiving of GFC activities, as well as provide links to important information for graduate faculty. The web address is: http://www.gradschool.mtu.edu/gfc
6. GSC Represenative Rick Vendlinski presented a proposal from the GSC regarding the policy on the Graduation Ceremony Requrement. After discussion, Asst. Dean Vogler will review MTU Board of Control Policy and draft a proposal for review by the GFC.

The GFC adjourned at 5:00 PM.

Reported by J.S.