Attending:  Elizabeth Baranger (Chair), Jacob Birnberg (KGBS), Jeff Brodsky (A&S), Judith Erlen (NUR), Ken Etzel (DENTAL MED),  Paula Grabowski (A&S),  Steven Husted( A&S), Carl Johnson (EDUC),  Malcolm McNeil (SHRS), Steve Phillips (SOM), Louis Pingel (EDUC), Esther Sales (SW), Roslyn Stone (GSPH), Martin Weiss (SIS), Glen Whitehead (A&S),  Brian Yoder (GPSA), Patricia Cochran (Provost’s Office),  Carrie Sparks (Provost’s Office)

Guests:  Patty Beeson (A&S), David Clubb (OIS), Meryl Karol (GSPH), and Clifford Brubaker, Kim Crawford, and Scott Lephart (SHRS)

I. Approval of Minutes
The minutes of the November 18, 2003 meeting were approved as written.

II. Proposal to Establish a Certificate in Global Health
Associate Dean Meryl Karol from the Graduate School of Public Health presented a proposal to establish a certificate in Global Health that is supported by Dean Goldstein of GSPH.  It is expected that the certificate program will attract both students currently pursuing a degree and students who will enroll only to pursue the certificate.  The program will prepare students for interdisciplinary and international thinking and perspectives in health care and affiliated fields.

Council was surprised that none of the fifteen credits earned to complete the certificate could be counted toward the 30 credits required for the masters, even if a course in the certificate program would be a course in the degree program.  They approved this, but believe that the faculty may want to change their minds as the program becomes operational.

Members of Council recommended that the evaluation of the program be outlined more clearly.  A motion was made to approve the proposal with the addition that the role of the faculty oversight committee be clearly defined.  That motion was amended to include the requisite that the faculty oversight committee be explicitly involved in determining how program evaluations would be conducted.  The motion was seconded.  All present voted in favor of this motion.

III. International Students and Recent Events
David Clubb, Director of the Office of International Services, gave a presentation titled Update from the Office of International Services (People. Service. Results).  He outlined the new changes in immigration regulations and how they were impacting graduate students.  In particular, he pointed out the implications of the new SEVIS fee ($100) and how it might be collected from international applicants prior to their Visa application.  Mr. Clubb strongly recommended that all programs admit the best international applicants as early as possible.  He encouraged members of Council to continue to foster good communication between their respective departments and their designated OIS contacts.  For more information on OIS department contacts, Council should go to the OIS Website http://www.ois.pitt.edu.

Steven Husted brought to Council’s attention that other universities say they are suffering from a big decrease in the numbers of applications from international students.  He is investigating if this is true in Arts and Sciences.

IV. Proposal Concerning Programs in Sports Medicine and Nutrition
Clifford Brubaker, Kim Crawford, and Scott Lephart, from the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, presented a proposal concerning changes in the programs offered by the Department of Dietetics and Nutrition and the Sports Medicine Program.  The proposed major academic change is the elevation of the professional coordinated program in dietetics from the BS level to the MS level.  The department name would be changed to Department of Sports Medicine and Nutrition.  Dr. Brubaker emphasized that the changes were being made in order to maintain a more comprehensive and contemporary program.

The guests were excused and members of Council commented that this proposal was proactive and showed foresight on the department’s part.  It was also stated that a Master’s degree is becoming necessary in the Dietetic field.  It was noted that some of the course numbers and the number of credits in the course requirements were indicated incorrectly in the proposal.  This should be corrected.

There was a motion to approve the proposal.  The motion was seconded.  All present voted in favor of this motion.

The meeting was adjourned.  The next meeting of Council will be held on February 17, 2004.