Graduate Council Meeting

September 10, 2009

Faculty Present:  Linda Challoo, Jieming Chen, Michelle Garcia, LaVonne Fedynich, Thomas Fields, Fidel Hernandez, Enrique Massa, Joon-Yeoul Oh, George Wagman, Venkatesh Uddameri

Faculty Absent:  Ashley Bennington, Sue Bradley, Rajab Challoo, Patrick Mills, Mamoudou Sétamou, Roberto Vela Cordova

Meeting called to order at 1:30 p.m.

Interim VP Welcome –  Dr. Fields reported on the graduate student enrollment.  There is a decrease in enrollment in the doctoral level and masters level.  Big decrease in the international first-time students. 

Dr. Fields submitted the following items for discussion: 
1.  Three-year degrees: some non-USA universities and colleges have developed a 3 years bachelor’s degree, how do we admit these students to our graduate programs? 
2.  Graduate admission standards:  Current policy allows someone with a 1000 GRE to be admitted with a GPA of 2.00.  Is this a high enough standard? 
3.  Undergraduate courses for graduate credit? Should this be allowed?  
4.  Graduate Faculty Status:  Should standards be raised? 
5.  Graduation requirements:  How many semesters can a student continue without having met admission requirements? 
6.  Graduate Scholarships/Awards:  Should this be open to students of all nationalities or limited to U.S. and Mexican nationalities? 
7.  Graduate Probation/Suspension:  Do we need to change this policy?  If so, how?

Executive Committee  –  No Report

Curriculum Committee  –  No Report

Membership Committee  –  No Report

Program Review Committee  –  No Report

Council discussions:
Item 1.  Three year degrees: some non-USA universities and colleges have developed a 3-year bachelor’s degree, how do we admit these students to our graduate programs? 

The following was approved by the council members:
If a student has earned a certified three or four year bachelor's degree, then we should not deny them.  It is up to the discretion of the department/program/advisor to determine if a student needs additional course work.

Item 2.  Graduate admission standards:  Current policy allows someone with a 1000 GRE to be admitted with a GPA of 2.00.  Is this a high enough standard?

The following was approved by the council members:
Applicants will be assigned Degree Status when they have an overall undergraduate GPAs between 2.4 - 2.69 and a minimum GRE composite (Q+V) score of 1000 or MAT score of 398 (optional test to the GRE for Education majors, only).
Applicants with GPAs between 2.7 - 4.00 must have a minimum GRE composite (Q+V) score of 800 or MAT score of 388 (Education majors, only).

Other items will be discussed at our next meeting.

Motion to adjourn at 2:55 p.m.

Minutes submitted by Linda Challoo