Attending: Elizabeth Baranger (Chair), Jacob Birnberg (KGSB), Jeff Brodsky (FAS/Bio Sci), Ray Burdett (SHRS), Meredith Cohen (EDU), Paul Danczyk (GPSA), Judith Erlen (NUR), Stephen Hirtle (SIS), Steven Husted (FAS), Rainer Johnsen (FAS/Physics), Margaret Mahoney (LAW), David Miller (GSPIA), Cindy Persinger (GPSA/FAS), Steve Phillips (SOM), Louis Pingel (EDUC), Dennis Ranalli (DEN), Mark Roberts (SOM), Esther Sales (SW), Mitchell Seligson (FAS), Roslyn Stone (GSPH); Barbara Repasi Heron (Registrar’s Office), Carrie Sparks (Provost’s Office)

Guest:  Rush Miller (ULS)

II. Changes in the Use of the Library by Graduate Students
Rush Miller discussed changes in the reserve room system which will permit articles placed on reserve for a class to be scanned in and viewed by students electronically using Blackboard.  He then made a presentation on the changing patterns of graduate students’ use of the library.  He discussed how many things are possible now through the use of Blackboard including audio clips, video clips, and other support materials.
 
III. Proposal for a J.S.D. Degree to be Offered by the School of Law
UCGS reviewed the Graduate Procedures Committee Report written in response to the meeting on March 14, which was held to discuss issues raised at the February meeting of Council.

The Graduate Procedures Committee recommended that the amended proposal to establish a J.S.D. degree program in the School of Law be approved if the concerns raised by UCGS and the subcommittee are addressed satisfactorily.

There was a motion made to approve the proposal as amended by the recommendations from the Graduate Procedures Subcommittee.
The motion was seconded
All present voted in favor of the motion.

Along with considering the proposal for the J.S.D. degree program, the Graduate Procedures Subcommittee considered the section entitled “Other Doctoral Degrees” (p. 41) in Regulations Governing Graduate Study at the University of Pittsburgh.  The Graduate Procedures Subcommittee recommended that Regulations Governing Graduate Study be modified to read as follows:

Other doctoral degree programs may differ from those for the PhD in other ways.  They are generally more strongly focused on professional affairs and practice and often serve as preparation for, or advancement of, careers in the professions.  These include the JSD in the School of Law and professional doctorates for practitioners.  Such programs must be reviewed by UCGS before initiation.

There was a motion made to accept the proposed modification.
The motion was seconded.
There was one abstention, the rest present voted in favor of the motion.
 

IV. Revision of TA/TF/GSA Policy
In response to the Office on International Students’ concern about violations of the INS regulations, Vice Provost Baranger proposed a sentence be added to the TA/TF/GSA policy and the GSR policy in the section describing overload payments.  Council discussed these revisions.

A member of Council suggested that the phrase “while school is in session” be clarified with the addition of “during the fall and spring terms.”

There was a motion made to accept the revisions after Vice Provost reviewed them once more with OIS.
The motion was seconded.
Sixteen members voted in favor of the motion while three members abstained.

The meeting was adjourned.  The next meeting of Council is scheduled for May 13, 2003.