College of Graduate Studies

Graduate Council Meeting - Minutes
February 14, 2003

Graduate Council Members:

Ken Bowers, College of Letters & Science; Janice Bowman, College of Agriculture; Doug Cairns, College of Engineering; Katie Daughenbaugh, Graduate Students; Marc Giullian, College of Business; Richard Helzer, College of Arts & Architecture; Bruce McLeod, Graduate Dean; Gretchen McNeely, College of Nursing; Craig Stewart, College of Education, Health & Human Development

      Present: Chair Bruce McLeod, Janice Bowman, Mark Giullian, Ken Bowers, Tim     Dunnagan (for Craig Stewart), Doug Cairns, Gretchen McNeely, Rebecca Ward   (College of Graduate Studies), Jennifer Miller (College of Graduate Studies),          Donna Negaard (College of Graduate Studies)

            Meeting commenced at 9:40.

Graduate Council Agenda Items:

Item 1:  Liaison between Faculty Council and Graduate Council

McLeod briefly discussed having a liaison between Faculty Council and Graduate Council. Craig Stewart currently serves on both councils. McLeod will follow up with Stewart to see if he would be interested in being the liaison. McLeod stated that the liaison would give a brief presentation at each council meeting in reference to the other council’s activities.

Item 2:  Policy review discussion and reaffirmation

·         Suspension and Reinstatement

·         Current policy directly from the web as of 2/10/03

Readmission to Graduate Degree Standing

Following suspension, consideration for readmission to the same degree program within the College of Graduate Studies may be requested after the student has completed at least one semester and a minimum of nine (9) semester credits in non-degree status. Such considerations will not be given unless the student has achieved at least a 3.0 grade point average in 400-level and higher courses taken during non-degree status

·         Questions and discussions included the following:  the number and level of credits to be taken before being reinstatement; the credit level of those courses and the use of credits taken while on suspension toward the program of study.

Rewording/Reaffirmation:   After discussion the Graduate Council reaffirmed the current policy with a small revision of wording to read:

Readmission to Graduate Degree Standing

Following suspension, consideration for readmission to the same degree program within the College of Graduate Studies may be requested after the student has completed at least one semester and a minimum of nine (9) semester credits in non-degree status. Such considerations will not be given unless the student has achieved at least a 3.0 grade point average in nine (9) credits of primarily 5xx level coursework (4xx level coursework may be allowed if the department provides written support.)  Credits taken during suspension may not be used toward degree requirements if reinstated to a graduate degree program at MSU.

B.     Independent Study Credits (570’s)

·         The Graduate Council discussed the use of Independent Study Coursework (570) if it is available only to Graduate Students. Undergraduate students may take a 470s for independent study but may not enroll in graduate level independent study (570).  In addition, undergraduate independent study may not be reserved for graduate study.

Reaffirmation:  The Graduate Council reaffirms the Individual Course (570) is only available to Graduate Students.

·         The Graduate Council also discussed Independent Courses from other institutions. The Graduate Council does not support the use of Independent Study Courses from other institutions due to the variability and potential loss of quality of those classes.

Reaffirmation:  The Graduate Council reaffirms that Individual Courses from other institutions will not be accepted on a graduate plan of study at MSU.

C.     Course registration during the final semester of registration.

·        CGS current policy states:  "Graduating" graduate students: must be registered for a minimum of three (3) credits during the term of graduation.

·        The College of Graduate Studies makes allowance for students who need extra time. A student who misses a semester’s deadline semester may enroll in one (1) credit the following semester. All reguirments for the degree msut be completed before the first day of the following semester.  Graduateion will occur that semester. If a student is unable to complete all requirements for the degree before the semester begins, the student would be required to register for three (3) credits instead of one (1).

·        All credits for the last semester must be in-load registration unless the student is pursuing a degree that is offered completely through extended studies.

Reaffirmation:  The Graduate Council reaffirms the current policy of requiring students to be registered for three credits the semester of graduation. A student may register using a one-credit extension if all requirements for the degree are completed before the first day of the immediate ensuring semester. All credits for the last semester must be in-load registrar registration unless the student is pursuing a degree that is offered entirley through extended studies.

D.     Transfer credit issues

                        Action:  Tabled for future meeting

Item 3:  Need for professional international transcript evaluations

Ward asked Graduate Council members to consider requiring all international transcripts to be evaluated by a professional evaluation service. Discussion involved requiring translations for foreign transcripts as needed, cost to applicants and possible problems if this is not done. Graduate Council was in favor of requiring translations for all foreign transcripts. Ward will work on the wording for the next Graduate Council meeting.

Item 4:  Review and approval of December Graduate Council minutes

Motion:  Bowman moved to approve December Graduate Council minutes. Bowers seconded.

Vote:  Unanimously passed

Item 5:  Policy on Double-listed courses. (Courses in which undergraduates and graduates are in the same lecture but graduate students might have different laboratory sections, different examinations and extra mentoring sessions.)

Action:  Tabled for a future meeting

Item 6:  Defining “Professional” programs at MSU

·         Definition of professional degree programs

·         Committee composition (including consideration of 1-person committees)

·         The “professional comprehensive exam”

·         Will professional certification exams be the comprehensive exam?

Action:  Tabled for a future meeting

Meeting adjourned at 10:45.

The next Graduate Council meeting is scheduled for Friday, March 7th from 9:00-10:00 in the Presidents conference Room (Montana Hall, Room 103)