I. Minutes Approval
The minutes of the November meeting were approved with Peter Karsten’s note that the History Department’s ranking was 32 out of 110.

II. Proposal to Establish an Area of Concentration (Specialized Nursing Roles) in the MSN Program in Health and Community Systems
Elizabeth Baranger noted that UCGS is not usually called upon to review requests for areas of concentration, but that in this case the ARCO reflects a change in the degree program; therefore, UCGS is asked to consider the implications of the request for this area of concentration.

Dean Ellen Rudy noted that students at the masters level now have two options: the practitioner route or the anesthetist. These both involve medical and nursing training. Graduates of the program do not want to leave Allegheny County; furthermore, current health system set-ups need nurses who are managers or who can do clinical trials rather than nurses who work directly with patients. This area of concentration will address those needs.

Rudy was asked why the proposal was not for a certificate rather than an area of concentration. She noted that she was under the impression that UCGS did not approve of certificates and that it is easier to sell the idea of a second masters degree to prospective students. Baranger noted that Rudy’s impression of UCGS’s attitude toward certificates is incorrect.

Other discussion points included how the need or market was surveyed, clarification that the specialty areas are distinct for Katz and Public Health, that the connections to Katz and Public Health are what is allowing the re-opening of this program (closed in 1994), and whether or not the proposed title (Specialized Roles) would be meaningful to those in the profession. In response to the latter, Rudy agreed that the title is not meaningful but that it would afford students flexibility.

Baranger suggested the proposal be revised to ask for two areas of concentration, one in Nursing Administration and one in Nursing Research. Rudy pointed out that more roles may be added, so she would prefer the greater flexibility of a vague title.

After Rudy was excused from the room, Council discussed the credits outlined in the proposal. Roslyn Stone noted that this proposal is different from others Council has seen in that half of the courses come from outside the school (i.e. from Public Health or Katz). In fact, it appears that students could take the majority of their credits from Katz and yet get a degree in Nursing.

A motion for approval with the provision that the name of the ARCO (Specialized Roles) be changed to relfect the educational nature of the program was made and passed. If more areas of concentration in this Specialized Roles rubric are initiated, they need not be brought to UCGS for approval unless the Provost’s Office has questions or envisions problems as the initiative goes through the standard ARCO approval process.

III. Subcommittee Reports
Ian Reynolds reported that the Postdoc Task Force has met and is reviewing documentation on postdoc-related issues. The task force is looking for some postdoctoral fellows to serve on the committee.

Baranger reported that Graduate Student Affairs has met and discussed advising of doctoral students. It was difficult for the members of the committee to see problems in their own schools and to decide what advising recommendations should be made. Committee Chair Phyllis Coontz and Baranger will draft a definition of academic advising at the graduate level and of good academic advising practices; this document will be reviewed by the committee and then brought to Council.

Evelyn Rawski asked whether each school had a student ombudsman to handle complaints or problems with poor advising. Each school should have someone designated in the dean’s office to serve in that role.

IV. Review of Doctoral Program in Social Work
SEAP liaison Kathleen DeWalt summarized the findings of the internal and external review committees and the SEAP recommendations. Both teams found a strong program. SEAP made a number of recommendations (see the SEAP report for the specifics).

Dean Epperson responded to DeWalt’s summary and the SEAP report with thanks, but noted that students’ computer needs are met through the public labs on the ground floor of the Cathedral, that service research has been addressed for a long time and will be enhanced by a mental health center, and that other things (such as the recommendation for instruction on pedagogy in the discipline) are available as electives every other year.

Baranger asked Epperson to respond to the recommendation that mentoring be improved. Epperson noted that junior faculty are involved in the expected grant and will have 50% effort in that grant work; he and others will begin a consistent mentoring process by identifying tenured faculty to be responsible for each member of the junior faculty.

Council asked that the SEAP report be amended to note that the school, not the doctoral program, is ranked 18th nationally. This correction will be made.

After Epperson was excused from the room, Council moved and approved (with one abstention) sending the SEAP report and recommendations to the provost.