Minutes from the Graduate Council Meeting of November 16, 2004

 

Faculty Present: Drs. Ballard (represented by Dr. Kuvlesky), Bradley, Faruqi (represented by Dr. Cholkar), Garza, Hewitt, Martinez, Massa, Melendy, Nekovei, Olivares, Pilehvari, Ponder, Shorter, Stanko and Wagman.

 

Faculty Absent:  None

 

Graduate Student Representatives Present:  Aaron Haines, Sankara Cherubkuri, Rebeka Gutierrez, Venkatesh Dhagumudi and Sameer Gokhale

 

I.                    The meeting was held in the Blue Room of Sam Fore Hall.  Dr. Melendy called the meeting to order at 2:45 P.M.

 

II.                 The minutes from the October 19, 2004 meeting were approved unanimously.

 

III.               Standing Committee Reports

 

A.    A.    Executive Committee-Dr. Melendy stated there was nothing to report at this time.

 

B.     B.     Curriculum Committee-Dr. Bradley reported on 27 proposal considerations that encompass Communication Science and Disorders, Mechanical Engineering, Music, Psychology and Sociology.  Proposed changes were distributed for review and consideration.  All proposed changes were unanimously approved with the request that a revised memo must be submitted to clarify changes in Music that reflect the correct course numbers (MUSI-04-G-03 and MUSI-04-G-06).

 

C.    C.    Membership Committee-Dr. Melendy stated that graduate faculty nomination and renewal notification letters would be mailed on January 3, 2005.  The deadline for submission of nominations to the Graduate Dean is January 24, 2005.

 

D.    D.    Program Review Committee- Dr. Massa noted that December 1, 2004, is the deadline for completed self-study program reviews to be submitted to the Graduate Dean.

 

IV.              Dean’s Report

 

Dr. Olivares delivered the Dean’s report.

 

Dr. Olivares distributed copies of the Spanish version of the Graduate School brochure.

 

Dr. Olivares distributed a revised graduate council membership roster for consideration.

 

Dr. Olivares initiated discussion of the Javelina Honor Code.  The faculty and student representatives of the Graduate Council deemed the honor code acceptable.

 

A copy of the THECB “Doctoral Education in Texas, Part 2; Recommendations for the State” document was distributed.  Dr. Olivares discussed the implications of the document.

 

The Texas A&M University System Preliminary Fall 2004 20th class day headcount for Fall 2003 was distributed for information purposes.

 

A handout regarding international graduate student enrollment declines was distributed and discussed.  International enrollments at TAMUK as of now have been on an increase, but this may not be the case in upcoming semesters, according to the International Student Director, Mr. Albert Salinas.

 

Dr. Olivares asked for further comments on the Vision Statement and Draft Institutional Goals. Suggestions were made to alter Core Value Integrity such that Examples of “Integrity” would be for “Faculty, Staff and Administrators”; Suggestions were made to alter Core Value Excellence such that Examples of “Opportunity” would be for “Faculty, Staff and Administrators”; Suggestions were made to alter Core Value Excellence such that section “f” would read “faculty publish peer-reviewed articles”;  Section “i” warrants a redefinition of extramural funding; Section “k” should be altered to “Increase and/or maintain graduate student enrollment”.

 

Dr. Olivares informed the council that paper copies of the graduate catalog are projected to become available sometime in March 2005.

 

Dr. Olivares informed the council that a graduate student forum was held in conjunction with the Student Government/Graduate Student Association on Wednesday, November 10, 2004, in Cousins Hall Lounge.  Several student concerns relating to academic issues were clarified.

 

V.                 Student Representatives

 

Bryan Dyson, doctoral student in EVE, submitted an email stating that security concerns exist regarding the Steinke parking lot located by the Engineering building.  A lack of suitable lighting needs to be addressed by the university to provide adequate protection to students working during nighttime in the Engineering building. Dr. Olivares mentioned that Mr. Castillo is in the process of having increased lighting made available for that parking lot.

 

VI.              Old Business

 

Nothing was discussed at this time.

 

VII.            New Business

 

Nothing was discussed at this time

 

VIII.         A motion was made to adjourn the meeting at 3:45 P.M.  The motion was seconded and passed.  The next meeting of the Graduate Council is scheduled for January 25, 2005.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Dr. Enrique Massa, Secretary

(X4118, e-massa@tamuk.edu)