COLLEGE OF GRADUATE STUDIES

To:����������� TAMUK Faculty

From:�� Dr. Brenda Melendy, Graduate Council Secretary (x3609, kfbdm00@tamuk.edu)

Topic:�� Minutes from the regular Graduate Council Meeting of January 20, 2004

Faculty Present:� Dr. Rajab Challoo, Dr. Hector Estrada, Dr. Dean Ferguson, Dr. Craig Hollingshead, Dr. Steven Lukefahr, Dr. Robert Marshall, Dr. Brenda Melendy, Dr. Alberto Olivares, Dr. Ali Pilehvari, Dr. Fred Ponder, Dr. David Sabrio, Dr. Jack Shorter, Dr. Chu-Sheng Tai, Dr. Guadalupe Thompson.

Faculty Absent:� Dr. David Hewitt, Dr. Randy Stanko.

Graduate Student Representatives Present: Erin Monaco, Patricia Purcell, Jayce Mathews.

Graduate Student Representatives Absent: Anita Bradford, Mary McWithey.

I.��������� The meeting was held in the Blue Room of Sam Fore Hall.� The meeting was called to order at 2:45 p.m.� A motion was made to approve the minutes from the meeting of November 18, 2003.� The motion was seconded and approved unanimously.

II.����������� Standing Committee Reports:

����������� A.����������� Executive Committee

Dr. Estrada reported that the Academic Council turned down the Graduate Council�s recommendation to change the terminology for members of the graduate faculty who are not TAMUK faculty members.� The current External Membership designation will be retained.

����������� B.����������� Curriculum Committee

����������� ����������� No report.

C.����������� Membership Committee

Dr. Lukefahr reported that the Membership Committee�s application paperwork has been mailed out with a deadline for return of the applications of January 23.

D.����������� Program Review Committee

The Graduate Program Review Committee met Thursday January 8, discussed the charge of the committee and the procedures necessary for completing the report, and divided the programs for review between the five members of the committee.  Each member will review the specific program under his/her responsibility and will meet with the author of the departmental program review document.

III.������ Dean�s Report

A.������� With the assistance of Dr. Raj Challoo, the graduate program review and outcome assessment reports beginning with academic year 2000 will soon be posted on the College of Graduate Studies website for SACS review.

Hard copies of graduate program review reports for masters programs are on file in the graduate office beginning with academic year 1986.

B. Twenty-five graduate scholarships and eleven doctoral assistantships are proposed to be awarded beginning Fall 2004.� The awards will be distributed amongst the five academic colleges.

C. Under Section C. PROPOSALS of the THESIS MANUAL, two sentences will be included that state: �The REFERENCE section should include journal citations that support the proposed research.� Electronic references must be properly cited.�

The inclusion of the above language was proposed as a resolution, was seconded and passed by the Graduate Council.

D. The Dean distributed a Handout entitled, �Questions that may be asked about new degree program proposals.�� New programs to be presented to the Board of Regents for consideration should be accompanied with a short briefing document addressing the nine questions that are found in the handout.

IV.������ Student Representatives

The representatives express concerns regarding the Library hours. The current hours are not sufficient to accommodate all of the students� needs, particularly weekends and intersession periods. Dr. Estrada, who is also the Library Committee Chair, will discuss this concern with the Library Director, Dr. Gilda Ortego, and will respond to the students at the next Graduate Council Meeting.

V.������� Old Business

����������� None

VI.������ New Business

Mrs. Maggie Williams, Director of Admissions and Registrar, updated the Graduate Council on upcoming changes in graduate admissions, to be in compliance with Texas House Bill HB 1641. Also, Mrs. Williams inform the council that soon TAMUK will use the Texas Common application because TAMUK already pays for this service.

VII.����� A motion was made to adjourn the meeting at 4:00 pm.� The motion was seconded and passed.� The next meeting of the Graduate Council is scheduled for Tuesday, February 17, 2004.

Respectfully submitted,

����������������������� ����������� ����������� ����������� ����������� ����������� Dr. Brenda Melendy, Secretary