MINUTES OF THE FIRST MEETING OF THE GRADUATE COUNCIL FOR 2012

January 18, 2012

Next Meeting: February 8, 2012

Participating Members of the Council and Retirement Dates:

George Flowers (Dean), George Crandell (Associate Dean), Yucheng Feng (August 2012), Scott Kramer (August 2012), Maria Witte (August 2012), Juming Zhong (August 2012), Anita All (August 2013), Astrid Keel (August 2013), Karen Rogers (August 2013), Salisa Westrick (August 2013), Anwar Ahmed (2014), Cynthia Bowling (2014), David Mark Carpenter (2014), Sareen Gropper (2014), Steven Clontz (GSC).

APPROVED MINUTES:  December 7, 2011

NEW BUSINESS:

None.

OLD BUSINESS:

• The Graduate Council approved without opposition the following Credentials Committee recommendations for appointments and reappointments:

• The following graduate faculty criteria were approved without opposition:

Ø  Department of Music

·         The Graduate Council approved without opposition the following Curriculum Committee recommendations for course proposals and modifications:

 __________________

Next meetings:  February 8, March 7, April 4, May 2

MINUTES OF THE SECOND MEETING OF THE GRADUATE COUNCIL FOR 2012

February 8, 2012

Next Meeting: March 7, 2012

Participating Members of the Council and Retirement Dates:

George Flowers (Dean), George Crandell (Associate Dean), Yucheng Feng (August 2012), Scott Kramer (August 2012), Maria Witte (August 2012), Juming Zhong (August 2012), Anita All (August 2013), Astrid Keel (August 2013), Karen Rogers (August 2013), Salisa Westrick (August 2013), Anwar Ahmed (2014), Cynthia Bowling (2014), David Mark Carpenter (2014), Sareen Gropper (2014), Steven Clontz (GSC).

APPROVED MINUTES:  January 18, 2012

NEW BUSINESS:

The following information items were discussed:

1. An update was provided on a family and graduate housing initiative.  The goal of this initiative is to provide housing for students with families, most of which are likely to be graduate students, through partnerships with local private housing providers to create a stock of AU Affiliated Housing.  At the present time, negotiations are underway with two possible housing providers.  If successful, this will result in about 70 units being available for students with families starting in Fall 2012.

2. The current status of proposed changes to tuition fellowship program was discussed.  At present, none of the proposed changes have been finalized.  Any changes that may occur will not go into effect before Fall 2013.

      3.      In preparation for the upcoming SACS accreditation visit, information and discussion was had on SACS requirements with regard to graduate education. Details of the relevant requirements are listed below.

SACS Standards (Graduate Education)

3.6.1  The institution's post-baccalaureate professional degree programs, master's and doctoral degree programs, are progressively more advanced in academic content than its undergraduate programs. (Post-baccalaureate program rigor)

3.6.2  The institution structures its graduate curricula (1) to include knowledge of the literature of the discipline and (2) to ensure ongoing student engagement in research and/or appropriate professional practice and training experiences. (Graduate curriculum)

3.6.3  At least one-third of credits toward a graduate or a post-baccalaureate professional degree are earned through instruction offered by the institution awarding the degree. (Institutional credits for a graduate degree)

3.6.4 The institution defines and publishes requirements for its graduate and post-baccalaureate professional programs.  These requirements conform to commonly accepted standards and practices for degree programs.

While the fact of publication in the Bulletin or elsewhere is of primary importance, recently re-affirmed institutions have typically included the following information in these descriptions, which are suggested as guidelines:

For Master’s degree programs (and options):

            1.  Application requirements

            2.  The number of hours required for the degree

            3.  All required course work required for the degree (including total number of hours)

4.  All other requirements for the degree (e.g., electives, projects, portfolios, practical experiences, internships, comprehensive examinations, etc.)

            5.  Requirements for options, including thesis and non-thesis (if applicable)

            6.  Options for minors (if applicable)

For Doctoral degree programs (and options):

            1.  Application requirements

            2.  The number of hours required for the degree

            3.  All required course work for the degree (including the number of hours)

            4.  All other requirements for the degree

            5.  Requirements for options

            6.  Requirements for advancement to candidacy

            7.  Requirements for defense and approval of the dissertation

For information and guidance, an illustrative example can be found in the current bulletin (pp. 138-139) describing the Public Administration and Public Policy degree program and options.

OLD BUSINESS:

• The Graduate Council approved without opposition the following Credentials Committee recommendations for appointments and reappointments:

·         The Graduate Council approved without opposition the following Curriculum Committee recommendations for course proposals and modifications:

____________________

Next meetings:  March 7, April 4, May 2

MINUTES OF THE THIRD MEETING OF THE GRADUATE COUNCIL FOR 2012

March 7, 2012

Next Meeting: April 4, 2012

Participating Members of the Council and Retirement Dates:

George Flowers (Dean), George Crandell (Associate Dean), Yucheng Feng (August 2012), Scott Kramer (August 2012), Maria Witte (August 2012), Juming Zhong (August 2012), Anita All (August 2013), Astrid Keel (August 2013), Karen Rogers (August 2013), Salisa Westrick (August 2013), Anwar Ahmed (2014), Cynthia Bowling (2014), David Mark Carpenter (2014), Sareen Gropper (2014), Steven Clontz (GSC).

APPROVED MINUTES:  February 8, 2012

NEW BUSINESS:

• The Graduate Council approved without opposition the following revisions to the AU ETD (Electronic Thesis and Dissertation) policy:

 1.      Students may have the option to publish their thesis/dissertation with ProQuest.   (Under the previous policy, students were required to publish their thesis/dissertation with ProQuest.)

 2.      Allow students to petition to extend the limited access period if publication in AUETD is likely to preclude publication elsewhere.

 3.      Require students to discuss with their major professor their plans for publication, including: 

a.       Unlimited access:  Publication in AUETD with unlimited access is immediate and irreversible.  Once a thesis/dissertation is published in AUETD, access via the world-wide-web may not be denied or reversed. 

b.      Limited access:  Upon request, students may limit access to their thesis/dissertation only to users with a valid AU userid and password for a limited time period.  Upon request, limited access is granted for a period of time not to exceed:  i) six months; ii) one year; iii) two years; or iv) five years.  Unless the student petitions to extend the period of limited access, the thesis/dissertation will be published with unlimited access immediately upon the expiration of the time period. 

c.       Withheld access:  Upon request, students may withhold access to their thesis/dissertation to all users for a limited time period.  This means that all users, including the students and their advisory committees are denied access to the thesis/dissertation in AUETD.  Upon request, withheld access is granted for a period of time not to exceed:  i) six months; ii) one year; iii) two years; or iv) five years.  Unless the student petitions to extend the period of limited access, the thesis/dissertation will be published with unlimited access immediately upon the expiration of the time period. 

d.       Copyright.  If students plan to copyright some of all of their thesis/dissertation, these plans should be discussed in advance with the major professor, especially if the thesis/dissertation includes shared data. 

4.      Revise the AU ETD Final Approval Form.  To insure compliance with #3 (above), a signature blank will be added to the Auburn University Electronic Thesis/Dissertation Final Approval form indicating that the major professor is aware of the choices the student has made regarding publication of the thesis/dissertation. 

5.      Strongly encourage units to develop guidelines (similar to the attached “Research Memorandum of Understanding”) explaining expectations for researchers.

OLD BUSINESS:

• The Graduate Council approved without opposition the following Credentials Committee recommendations for appointments and reappointments:

·        The Graduate Council approved without opposition the following Curriculum Committee recommendations for course proposals and modifications:

____________________

Next meetings: April 4, May 2

MINUTES OF THE FOURTH MEETING OF THE GRADUATE COUNCIL FOR 2012

April 4, 2012

Next Meeting: May 2, 2012

Participating Members of the Council and Retirement Dates:

George Flowers (Dean), George Crandell (Associate Dean), Yucheng Feng (August 2012), Scott Kramer (August 2012), Maria Witte (August 2012), Juming Zhong (August 2012), Anita All (August 2013), Astrid Keel (August 2013), Karen Rogers (August 2013), Salisa Westrick (August 2013), Anwar Ahmed (2014), Cynthia Bowling (2014), David Mark Carpenter (2014), Sareen Gropper (2014), Steven Clontz (GSC).

APPROVED MINUTES:  March 7, 2012

NEW BUSINESS:

None.

OLD BUSINESS:

• The Graduate Council approved without opposition the following Credentials Committee recommendations for appointments and reappointments:

·        The Graduate Council approved without opposition the following Curriculum Committee recommendations for course proposals and modifications:

____________________

Next meetings:  May 2, June 13, July 11, August 1