I.    Approval of Minutes

 The minutes of the last meeting of UCGS are attached for your review.

II.    Proposal to Reorganize the Master of Public Administration Degree

The Dean of the Graduate School of  Public and International Affairs has submitted a proposal to change the overall structure of the MPA curriculum to produce a clear delineation of academic programs.  To do this they propose there be three major fields of study: Urban and Regional Affairs, Public and Nonprofit Management, and Policy Research and Analysis.  They also are proposing nine minors.  Dean Ban and Professor Kevin Kearns, Director of the Division of Public and Urban Affairs, will attend the meeting to answer questions.
 
III.    Annual Report: 1998-99

 I attach a draft of the Annual Report: 1998-99.  Please review it for accuracy and content.  This is mailed to all faculty or to all graduate faculty in some schools.  It will be formatted as was the report of 1997-98 which I also attach.

IV.    Committee Appointments

 Appointment to UCGS committees will be presented.

V.     Report of the Director of the John P. and Joyce Murtha Center for Continuing Education and Professional Development at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown 

When Council approved the establishment of this center in 1993 it asked for an annual report from the director.  I attach the report for 1998-99.  Information about the status of other off-campus programs will be presented.

VI.    Certificate Programs

Currently certificates offered at the graduate level are almost all called “Certificate of Advanced Study.”  There are several which are called “Master’s Level Certificate” and three which are called “Doctoral Level Certificate.”  The definition of these categories is not clear and programs have been put in them somewhat arbitrarily.  For your information, programs which offer certificates at the graduate level are listed along with degree granting programs at the end of Finding the Graduate Program that’s Right for You.  I will suggest some alternative names.  This issue will be referred to the Graduate Procedures Committee after our discussion.