University Council on Graduate Study October 17 , 2000 3:00-5:00 PM, 817 CL Attending: Elizabeth Baranger (Chair), Jacob Birnberg (KGSB), Ray Burdett (SHRS), Luis Chaparro (Engineering), Allisha Chapman (GPSA/Law), Nancy Condee (Interdisciplinary/FAS), Judith Erlen (Nursing), Tom Farraro (FAS), Joseph Grabowski (FAS/Chemistry), Stephen Hirtle (SIS), Stephanie Hoogendoorn (GPSA), Steven Husted (FAS), Margaret Mahoney (Law), David Miller (GSPIA), Cindy Persinger (GPSA/FAS), Louis Pingel (Education), Deane Root (FAS/Music), Esther Sales (Social Work), Roslyn Stone (GSPH) Regis Vollmer (Pharmacy); Kit Ayars (Provost's Office), Kevin Conley (Sports Medicine), Sam Conte (Registrar's Office), Anthony Delitto (SHRS), Scott Lephart (Education) I. Minutes Approval After general introductions, the minutes of the May meeting were approved with the addition of Roslyn Stone to the list of attendees. Dean Ban's name in the minutes was formalized to Caroline. II. Role of UCGS Council's role is described in detail in Regulations Governing Graduate Study. Elizabeth Baranger, chair of UCGS and Vice Provost for Graduate Studies, notes that UCGS was created when the University's Graduate School was dissolved; Council's role is to serve as the center of knowledge of graduate education issues. One responsibility not explicitly outlined in Regulations but held by Council is concern for graduate student issues. Baranger noted that the first-professional programs are not within UCGS' purview, though the Provost does sometimes ask that Council review or advise proposals or actions from those programs. III. Activities of Council 1999-2000 Baranger presented an overview of Council's activities during the 1999-2000 academic year; these are represented in draft form of the 1999-2000 UCGS Annual Report. Baranger called Council's attention to two items that will need members' attention continued and focused attention this year: electronic theses and dissertations and the negotiations for the supported students' health insurance plan. Baranger noted the following "to-do" items are identified in the report: == Report on how MA/MS comprehensive exams are implemented; == An overview of travel funds' distribution by schools; == Review of the early admissions process or success of 3/2 programs; == Attention to schools' implementation of Elements of Good Academic Advising; == Possible Graduate Procedures Committee consideration of clarifying names of certificates offered at the graduate level. IV. Report of the Graduate Procedures Committee Lou Pingel, GPC chair, reported on the June meeting of this committee. He noted that GPC did not support the School of Nursing request to transfer undergraduate courses for graduate credit and therefore is not recommending action to Council. GPC did ask that Vice Provost Baranger send out a memo reminding schools to use Full-Time Dissertation Study with their students as appropriate. Finally, the committee recommended that Council approve Baranger's drafted guidelines for off-campus graduate programs. Current off-campus graduate programs include the Social Work program at the Murtha Center in Johnstown and MBA programs in Brazil and Czechoslovakia. The School of Information Sciences will be submitting a proposal this fall for an off-campus program. Baranger asked Council if they wanted more information on these programs' proposals or an annual update on off-campus programs being offered. Council had no reaction. Baranger offered to keep track and give a report to Council as needed. V. Proposal to Transfer the Sports Medicine Program in Education to SHRS Deans Alan Lesgold (School of Education) and Clifford Brubaker (SHRS) propose transferring the Sports Medicine program from the School of Education to SHRS. This will include transfer of faculty and graduate programs. Under the proposed transfer, the master's program will lead to a major in Health and Rehabilitation Sciences with a focus in Sports Medicine. The PhD program will lead to a PhD with a major in Rehabilitation Science. Scott Lephart, from Education, reviewed the history behind the proposal, noting that the program started small and exceeded Education's expectations and resources. The proposal calls for the program to move from Trees Hall to the new South Side facility; the administrative offices will move to Forbes Tower, where other SHRS administrative offices reside. Council expressed concern about the student/advisor ratio and asked for an explanation of how the proposal will provide new faculty to the program; Lephart noted that there are SHRS faculty with dual credentials in Athletic Training; this will immediately increase the number of graduate faculty available to advise students by 3 or 4. Financial resources should be available through additional tuition revenue in the first year to recruit a new faculty member dedicated specifically to the program. He stated, however, that there is no intention to raise extra tuition by increasing the number of graduate students in the program. Other questions revolved around the difference in tuition (SHRS tuition is higher than School of Ed tuition), support for students, library resources, and the potential for current students to choose in which of the two schools to complete degrees. Further discussion noted that the move seems in graduate students' best interests as it gives them better access to resources and faculty. Council recommended approval of the proposed transfer. VI. Announcement Re New ID Cards Kit Ayars brought to Council's attention that members of the University community would be receiving new ID cards this term; the new cards must be used beginning January 2001. The distribution system of cards will vary by school; graduate students will receive a memo informing them when and where to go to pick up their new card. Council expressed some concerns and need for clarification; these were relayed to Juli Gismondi. VII. Future Activities of Council: 2000-2001 Baranger noted that neither the postdoc committee nor the evaluation-of-academic-programs committee met last year. She opened the floor for discussion or suggestions for issues any of the existing committees should take into consideration for the current academic year. Identified issues included: === In-state vs out-of-state tuition rates Council members noted that the ratio of the rates varies from one school to another; high out-of-state tuition rates can impact a school's recruitment efforts. Baranger noted that while the tuition rates for Pennsylvania residents must be lower than the rate for out-of-state students, there is only a general rule of thumb calling for the latter to be twice the in-state rate shaping the actual figures. She will present Council with figures (in-state vs out-of-state) for all of the graduate schools at the University. === Campus Life Issues This might include a need for gathering spaces, computer resources, placement and graduate student housing. Graduate and Professional Student Association President Stephanie Hoogendoorn noted that housing is of particular concern to graduate students. The meeting was adjourned.