Minutes of Graduate Council

April 23, 2003
3:30 p.m.
Morrison Hall, Room 330

Larry Lyon, Presiding

Members present at Waco campus: Stacy Atchley; Susan Bratton; Harry Elzinga; David Garrett; Baudelio Garza; James Henderson (for Steve Green); Deborah Johnston; Bob Kane; Carlos Manzanares; Chris Marsh; Frank Mathis; Karen Mittendorf (for Gary Carini); Bob Patterson; Andy Pittman; Robert Ray; Tillman Rodabough; Stuart Rosenbaum; Dwight Russell; David Schlueter; Al Smith; Richard Watts

Others present at Waco campus: Diane Brittain; Larry Lyon; Joe Radke; Sherry Sims; Chip Tate; Ken Wilkins

Dallas site: Pauline Johnson

San Antonio site: Dan Dominguez

Dr. Bob Patterson gave the invocation.

Dr. Lyon recognized the Council members who are retiring or stepping down as graduate program directors-Tom Charlton, Richard Duhrkopf, Harry Elzinga, Bob Patterson, and Andy Pittman. Dr. Lyon praised these persons for all they are doing for graduate education at Baylor. Dr. Lyon gave special recognition to Harry Elzinga who is retiring from Baylor after 18 years.

Derek Davis presented a proposed new degree option, Doctor of Philosophy in "Religion, Politics, and Society." If approved, future doctoral students will be able to choose between the current Church-State degree or the new proposed degree. The proposal was approved by the Council.

Dr. Pauline Johnson, director of graduate studies for the Louise Herrington School of Nursing, presented the proposed revision to the Advanced Nursing Leadership program which would be the elimination of the thesis as a requirement. This change is in complete accord with the AACN and other accreditation groups. A student who chooses not to do a thesis will be required to take 36 hours of class work; those choosing to do a thesis will take 40 hours. The Council approved the revision.

Chip Tate, recruiter for the Graduate School, gave a recruiting status report. He indicated that at this time, the Graduate School has received 25% more applications than last year. Currently, the Graduate School is receiving 3 times as many on-line applications than last year. Hopefully, beginning on June 1, 2003 several new services will be available. An applicant will have the option to pay the application fee with a major credit card. Also, the application materials will be scanned and made immediately available to the directors. There will also be new recruiting software available for the directors to use which will help with recruitment.

The Graduate School web page has several features updated or new features:
• an improved online application
• an updated Graduate Faculty listing, along with the details of the new nomination process
• postings of the Graduate Council minutes
• new information on the processing of stipend and tuition forms

Dr. Lyon encouraged the directors to contact him regarding the use of advertisements in high profile publications which would include several departments.

Within the next few days, directors will be receiving the exit interview data (HEDS) survey for their particular department.

Dr. Lyon also mentioned that the Colloquy for Provost Schmeltekopf is on the Baylor web page.

The Council was adjourned until Fall, 2003.