Attending: Elizabeth Baranger (Chair), Ray Burdett (SHRS), Judith Erlen (NUR), Stephen Hirtle (SIS), Steven Husted (FAS), Rainer Johnsen (FAS/Physics), Mark King (EDU), Cindy Persinger (GPSA/FAS), Steve Phillips (SOM), Louis Pingel (EDUC), Esther Sales (SW), Randy Smith (PHARM), Mary Lou Soffa (FAS/CS), Roslyn Stone (GSPH); Carrie Sparks (Provost’s Office)

Guests:  Susan Berk-Seligson (Hispanic) and Alan Juffs (Linguistics)

 
I. Approval of Minutes
The minutes of the November 19, 2002 meeting were approved as written.

II. Academic Integrity
Dean Steve Phillips presented some new issues in the handling of plagiarism and some suggestions on how programs can educate their students about these issues.  After a difficult academic integrity case involving several international students, Dean Phillips concluded that using some of the available software was the best way to avoid a culturally biased system for detecting plagiarism even though there are some negative aspects to this method.

III. Annual Review of Off-Campus Programs
Vice Provost Baranger reviewed the report of graduate programs offered on the Johnstown campus and a table showing the numbers of off-campus and distance education programs at the graduate level. No action was required by Council. The consensus was that a yearly report on Off-Campus Programs was sufficient to keep Council updated on this issue.  Council said that Vice Provost Baranger should use her discretion on when to bring any related items to Council’s attention.

IV. Proposal to Establish a Masters and Ph.D. Program in Hispanic Linguistics
The Faculty of Arts and Sciences submitted a proposal for a program in Hispanic Linguistics, within the Department of Linguistics, leading to the Master of Arts and Ph.D. degrees.  This program was previously offered as a track in the Master of Arts and Ph.D. degree program in Hispanic Languages and Literatures.

Vice Provost Baranger took the proposal to the UCGS Procedures Committee first.  Council suggested that in the future she to use her discretion on what items should be sent to the Procedures Committee.

Professors Susan Berk-Seligson and Alan Juffs attended the meeting to answer questions.

The guests were excused.

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

V. Brief Report on ETD discussion with the Graduate and Professional Student Association
Carrie Sparks gave a brief informal report on a discussion between members of the ETD Working Group and the Graduate and Professional Student Association (GPSA).  The Working Group members listed questions and concerns expressed by GPSA members regarding the possibility of ETDs becoming a University requirement.  These concerns will be addressed by the ETD Working Group.

The meeting was adjourned.  The next meeting of Council will be on February 18, 2003.