MINUTES
Graduate School Administrative Board Meeting
Monday, August 11, 2008
3:30PM
1511 Greenville Centre
MEMBERS PRESENT: Susan Beck-Frazier, Sharon Bland, Stan Eakins, Rick Ericson, Linner Griffin, James Holte, George Kasperek, Ron Newton, Belinda Patterson, Hettie Peele, Pat Pellicane,
Marie Pokorny, Heather Ries, Art Rouse, Marianna Walker, Terry West.
MEMBERS ABSENT: Brenda Eastman, Hamid Fonooni, Monica Hough, Sharon Knight, John Kramar, Vivian Mott, Heather Ries, Art Rouse, and Marianna Walker.
AGENDA
1. Call to order
Meeting was called to order by Dean Pellicane at 3:35pm.
2. No new GCC minutes
3. Approval of 7/14/2008 GSAB minutes
Dr. Pellicane reported that there was need to discuss one paragraph in the Scholastic Standards policy that was discussed before the minutes could be approved.
The Scholastic Standards policy indicates that a student can receive no grade less than a “B.” However, we are now going to a GPA standard, as such, it is not the number of grades below ‘B’ that drive a student’s academic status. The following paragraph was presented for discussion:
“For doctoral students, no grade less than a B in a graduate-level course may be used to satisfy any part of the minimal credit hours required for his/her degree. A grade less than B in a course defined by the student’s program as being essential for the doctoral degree might, at the program’s discretion, result in dismissal from the program. A cumulative GPA of 3.0 in graduate-level courses is a prerequisite for the administration of the doctoral candidacy, qualifying, and/or comprehensive examination.”
The above paragraph was amended as follows:
A cumulative GPA of 3.0 in graduate-level courses is a prerequisite for the administration of the doctoral candidacy, qualifying, and/or comprehensive examination.”
It was moved to amend the Scholastic Standards policy document with the above paragraph. The motion was approved. This new GPA policy will be effective in spring 2009.
It was moved to amend the minutes with the amended policy document. The minutes were approved as amended.
4. Announcements
Program Review (Linner Griffin) – The Faculty Senate and the Divisions of Research and Graduate Studies and Academic and Student Affairs are working to bring graduate and undergraduate reviews together into one process. A committee has been working on this during the latter spring and all summer. The committee has received input from both Divisions, and the respective vice chancellors have approved a draft document. It will now be presented to the Educational Policies and Planning Committee and then to the Graduate School Administrative Board. The goal is to have it reviewed and approved this fall 2008.
5. Graduate Certificates (Stan Eakins)
Unit programs are having difficulty in tracking students who are in a certificate program. Student currently apply for the certificate like they do now for a graduation diploma; the Registrar’s office provides the certificate as they do with the graduation diploma. A web-site application form is available. The concern is: how can students who are already in a program be more informed about obtaining a certificate? Marie Pokorny and Stan Eakins were assigned to put a draft document together refining the process, and they will present it at the next GSAB meeting.
6. Admission Index (Pellicane) (see Admission Policy, attached)
Dr. Pellicane discussed the three track admission standards document that was presented at the last GSAB meeting. GSAB representatives were encouraged to obtain responses from their respective units. Stan Eakins reported that the COB presently has an admissions formula that they use; they compared their procedures with that proposed, and he reported that there was a close match for the two procedures. Their procedures are compatible with the proposed procedure. Each school/college would have their own flexibility to do what they wanted to do in addition to those policies provided by the Graduate School. Dr. Pellicane will draft a procedures document and present it to the GSAB.
7. Continuous Registration (Pellicane)
Dr. Pellicane had looked at other programs at other institutions to determine how they handle “continuous registration.” Currently, our students register for one-credit hour continuously, but they incur more than $300 in expenses. This procedure is used to cover students taking thesis credit only. The purpose is to maintain “registration status” – i.e. remain active. Dr. Pellicane has concluded that there is not a solution, and will have to put this on the “back-burner.” Dr. Pellicane will be discussing this with officials in the UNC General Administration (Jim Sadler).
8. Other Business
It was reported that students are inquiring to see if improvements can be made with their interactions with the Office of Student Financial Aid. Is there anything we can do? The Graduate School is seeking to have discussions with them, and to address concerns.
9. Adjourn
The meeting was adjourned at 4:42 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
R J Newton, Recorder
