I. Approval of Minutes

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

II. Evaluation of the Graduate Programs in the Department of History of Art and Architecture

The report of the Subcommittee on the Evaluation of Academic Programs (see attached) will be presented by the liaison, Merrilee Salmon. Professor David Wilkins, chair of the department, and Professor Jim Knapp, chair of the Internal Review Committee, will attend the meeting to answer any questions concerning the report. Any member who wishes to review the Internal Review Committee Report, the External Review Committee Report, and the Department's Response in 801 C.L. should contact Kristin Anderson.

III. Elements of Good Academic

Advising I attach the final version of Elements of Good Academic Advising. This was prepared by the UCGS Student Affairs Committee in response to concern about advising expressed by the Graduate and Professional Student Association (GPSA). It was reviewed by UCGS at its meeting on My 12 and after minor modifications submitted to deans, department chairs and GPSA for comment. The responses were then circulated to the Student Affairs Committee with a suggested modified version. One member phoned in some corrections. I ask that UCGS agree to circulate this as a UCGS document.

IV. Graduate Web Page

The two web pages for graduate studies maintained by the Office of the Provost - Graduate Studies at the University of Pittsburgh (www.pitt.edu/~graduate) and Graduate Admissions and Financial Aid (www.pitt.edu/~graduate/admissions.html) will be redesigned this fall. At the last UCGS meeting I asked that members look closely at their school's Web page (s) for graduate study as well as looking at the Provost pages. How can the pages be made more useful to current and prospective graduate and professional students. What links might we consider adding (or deleting)? How can the pages be organized more effectively? What is your opinion of the quality of your school's page (s)? How can school pages be improved? A checklist developed by the University Web Committee is attached

V. Report and Recommendations of the AAU Committee on Graduate Education

I attach the letter I just received from the President of the AAU and the news release describing the report. This report is being widely circulated. I would like UCGS or a subcommittee to review the report to see if we are satisfied that we have already implemented their recommendations and if not how we can work to implement appropriate recommendations to improve graduate education at the University of Pittsburgh. At the Association of Graduate School meeting in October, members who had been in contact with the committee and with the AAU when this report was considered were convinced that AAU presidents are committed to advancing these recommendations and urged us not to ignore it.