GRADUATE
COUNCIL MINUTES
(Approved
Present: Harrel (Chair), Hermes,
Hoeness-Krupsaw, Khayum, Luebben, Philleo, Raske, Rivers, Schultz, Wade, White
I. Dr. Harrel called the meeting to order at
II. No course or faculty petitions were presented to the Council.
III Discussion Items
1. Banner
Student and XTender Solutions
Dr. Harrel reported to the Council on the progress on USI's
implementing the new software system, Banner and some of the data collecting
work shops she has attended. She described the process we will use when Banner
Student and XTender Solutions are implemented to scan in or upload transcripts
and other application materials to the students' permanent records. She asked
the graduate program directors (a) to make lists of documents each of their
programs currently place in a student's file to make admission decisions, and
(b) to consider which of these documents should become a part of the student's
permanent file. The graduate program directors will compile these lists and
send the information to Dr. Harrel.
2. Graduate
Student Hooding Ceremony
Dr. Harrel reported to the Council
that the fact that the USI Commencement ceremony has now outgrown Roberts
Stadium has suggested the idea of a separate graduate hooding ceremony. She
asked the graduate program directors whether August or December would be the
better month to hold such a ceremony. Discussion ensued about the ceremonies
the programs currently hold for their students. Dr. Harrel distributed a worksheet
showing the number of graduate students eligible to graduate who did not
participate in each graduation ceremony since 2001. The topic will be discussed
again at a later meeting.
3. Probation
and Dismissal Policy Task Force
Dr. Harrel appointed Dr. Luebben,
Dr. Khayum, and Dr. White to a task force to review the USI Graduate Studies
Probation and Dismissal Policy (2003-2005 Bulletin, p. 216). The task force
will (a) review the policy for internal consistency and clarity, (b) review it
in comparison or relation to other policies in the Bulletin, (c) review or
compare any related policies of the various graduate programs (for example, the
MBA and MSA "3 C's Rule"), (d) make their recommendations to Dr.
Harrel, and (e) complete this policy review and subsequent revisions in time
for them to be published in the 2005-2007 Bulletin, scheduled for revision this
fall.
4. Refiguring
GPA for Applicants' Transcripts
Dr. Harrel asked the program directors how their programs use
the recalculated GPAs the GSO provides them on the Graduate Studies
applications. She proposed that the GSO change the procedures for recalculating
and recording the GPA on transcripts from universities other than USI. She
asked the graduate program directors how useful the recorded recalculated GPAs
are to their admission decision. Discussion led to the agreement that the only
GPA that the GSO will recalculate and record is one from the baccalaureate
degree granting institution, if it is below a 3.1. GSO will continue to
calculate and record the GPA for all transcripts from any institution whose
transcript does not record the GPA.
5. International
Transcript Evaluation Services
Dr. Harrel proposed requiring that international students have
their application materials evaluated by an international credential evaluation
service. USI currently does not have the expertise to evaluate international
transcripts to provide appropriate and equitable evaluation of international
applicants, nor do we foresee acquiring such expertise. She distributed information
demonstrating how other colleges and universities handle this. This requirement
will ensure that the GSO and the graduate programs will have more complete,
accurate, and timely information they need to make their admission decisions.
The program directors supported the proposal. GSO will implement the
requirement and disseminate it in all appropriate venues.
6. Discontinue
Printing Undergraduate USI Transcripts
Dr. Harrel explained that the
process of requesting printed USI transcripts for USI undergraduates applying
to a USI graduate program wastes time and resources. The information is
viewable on the SIS+ transcript display screen (136). The graduate program
directors agreed it is unnecessary to print USI transcripts.
IV. Announcements
1. Dr.
Harrel announced the Office of Graduate Studies is now operating on summer
hours until late August. The hours are
2. Dr. Harrel announced the results of the
Student Academic Grievance Committee Elections. She congratulated the two
graduate faculty elected, Dr. Paul Frazer and Dr.
David Schultz. The Graduate Student Advisory Group elected two graduate
students, Rolli Lall (MHA) and Theresa Schneider (MSW).
V. The meeting was adjourned at