Alabama Council of Graduate Deans

Drs. Chandra Reddy and John Schmitt from Alabama A & M University and the University of Alabama provided meeting participants with important information regarding their recent SACS reaffirmation visits. Some general points made by Drs. Reddy and Schmitt were:

• Provide as much material to the off-site team as possible

• Make sure that all graduate school handouts, booklets, and minutes of graduate council meetings are updated and available for the team.

• Be prepared to discuss the role of the graduate school and the university's strategic plan.

• Be prepared to justify the scholarly and work related experiences of non-terminal degree graduate faculty.

• The SACS team will look for specific learning outcomes for graduate students in each program area.

• Focus on the 12 principles most related to graduate school. Please see handout provided by Dr. Schmitt.

• Place as much information as possible on a website so that the SACS team can review information through electronic format.

• Utilize SACS terminology in all written documents that you prepare and make sure your website reflects this terminology.

• Be prepared to demonstrate how the institution goals and department goals are assessed and results of assessment are used to make improvement.

• You should have 3 documents that contain all information for the visit, i.e.; a manual, a CD and a website.

Dr. Gordon Emslie, Associate Vice President for Research and Dean, Graduate College , Oklahoma State University and President, Conference of Southern Graduate Schools, addressed and challenged the group to consider creative ways to deliver graduate education in an environment of shrinking resources. Council members identified some barriers to this in Alabama and possible strategies to address these barriers.

Friday, April 22

Mr. Gordon Stone, Higher Education Partnership, discussed issues that he thought would be addressed by the legislature this year. Mr. Stone also suggested ways that the council could begin to review and consider and eventually take action about some of these issues.

Ms. Brenda Carter, Alabama Commission on Higher Education, briefly addressed the council. Ms. Carter informed the group that the commission is working with institutions who have non-viable liberal arts programs and the options available to these institutions. Ms. Carter also briefly discussed the moratorium and explained to the council that additional information would be forthcoming about this issue.

Minutes of March 9 Meeting

The minutes were approved by all in attendance with the following corrections:

The spelling of Deb Moriarity and John Schmitt is corrected.

Treasurer's Report

As of April 22, 2005, the council has $6,272.97 in the bank. The next meeting is nominating committee report/election of officers. The following slate of officers was approved for the 2005/2006 year.

Dr. Judd Katz, Chair, Auburn University at Montgomery

Dr. Terry Roberson, Immediate Past Chair, University of Montevallo

Dr. John Schmitt, Vice-Chair/Chair Elect, University of Alabama

Dr. Jean M. Pugliese, Secretary, Jacksonville State University

Dr. Joe Wilkins, Treasurer, University of West Alabama

Dr. Debra Moriarity, Member-at-large, University of Alabama at Huntsville

Dr. Stephen McFarland, Communications Officer, Auburn University

Upcoming Important Dates

Executive Committee Meeting, June 22, 2005

Full Council Meeting, August 3, 2005

CGS Annual Meeting, December 7-10, 2005 in Tampa , Florida

New Deans Institute and Workshop, July 9-13, 2005, Sante Fe , New Mexico

Developed by Dr. Stephen L. McFarland and Junmo Yang