Minutes of Graduate Council

March 29, 2001
3:30 p.m.
Draper, Rm. 139

Larry Lyon, Presiding

Members present at Waco campus: Mark Bateman; Bill Brackney; Kyle Cole; Fred Curtis; Richard Duhrkopf; Harry Elzinga; Lawrence Felice; Steve Gardner (for Steve Green); David Garrett; Baudelio Garza; Nick Gvosdev; Kenneth Hafertepe; Truell Hyde; Robert Kane; Brad Keele (for Jim Diaz-Granados); Roger Kirk; Linda Livingstone (also substituting for Charles Davis); Carlos Manzanares; Frank Mathis; Dennis Myers (for Diana Garland); Andy Pittman; Robert Ray; Richard Riley; Stuart Rosenbaum; David Rudd; Randall Vaughn (for Jonathan Trower); Patricia Wallace; Jimmy Williamson

Others present at Waco: Bob Baird; Diane Brittain; Eu-jin Kong; Larry Lyon; Helen Powell; Ron Rowe; Sherry Sims; Crystal Summers; Ken Wilkins; Jon Wivagg

Fort Sam Houston: Stephen Allison; Daniel Dominguez (for Charles Wainright)

Videoconference Specialist: Joe Radke

Graduate Student Association (GSA) student representatives were also present.

Crystal Summers, a doctoral student in the English Department and co-president of the Graduate Student Association, opened the Council meeting with a prayer.

Drs. Baird and Rosenbaum presented their proposal for a Ph.D. in Philosophy. Lyon noted that the proposed degree had received preliminary approval of the Dean of Arts and Sciences, the Provost and the Graduate School Curriculum Committee. Baird and Rosenbaum pointed out that the possibility of a Ph.D. in Philosophy had been discussed and studied since 1992. They believe that given the resources the University is providing, a high quality Ph.D. in Philosophy can be developed. After discussion, the Council voted unanimously to approve the proposal.

Lyon gave the results from the Higher Education Data Survey (HEDS). The HEDS report compares Baylor with such schools as Brandeis University, Brown University, Dartmouth, Duke University, Emory University, Georgetown University, and Northwestern University. This survey of 395 Baylor students reflects very highly on graduate education at Baylor. Baylor students are more satisfied with their graduate experience than are their peers in the national sample. The HEDS report is available on the Graduate School website.

Lyon reported a record number of graduate programs participated in the GRE search for potential students with a total of 3500 names being provided to departments since the inception of the program.

Lyon reported on the stipend enhancement funds for 2000-2001. He commended Business, Communication Sciences and Disorders, History, and Music for successfully recruiting 2 or more students eligible for these awards. Lyon identified Social Work, Business, History, and Sociology as being in the process of recruiting multiple students who are eligible for the funds for 2001-2002 year.

Lyon mentioned that the Graduate School is assisting with recruiting for Educational Administration, Museum Studies, Education/Curriculum & Instruction, Music, and Social Work with funds for brochures and posters. Also funds have been made available to Sociology and Philosophy for travel funds for potential students to visit the campus.

Next, Lyon reported on the results of recruitment. In a time when almost all graduate schools are experiencing a decline in applications, Baylor achieved an all time high of 1535 applications in 2000. Lyon thanked the graduate program directors for their recruitment efforts. He singled out 5 programs for exceptional recruiting---

• Master of Accountancy
• Master of Science in Education
• Doctor of Education
• Master of Arts--Philosophy
• Master of Social Work

Lyon provided examples of how the library's new Web of Science research tool can be used to compare our graduate programs with other programs across the nation.

Lyon offered congratulations to Pauline Johnson of Nursing, David Garrett of Communication Science and Disorders, Stephen Allison of Physical Therapy, and Charles Wainright of Health Care Administration for their continued high ranking in the U.S. New & World Report 2002 ranking of graduate programs.

Ron Rowe and Crystal Summers, co-presidents of the Graduate Student Association (GSA) gave an update on the GSA organization. Mr. Rowe explained that the purpose of the GSA is to enhance the graduate school experience for Baylor graduate students. The goals of the GSA are three-fold---

1. to be an advocate for student concerns
2. to serve as a clearing house for information and opportunities for graduate students
3. to promote a sense of community among graduate students

The GSA has been responsible for the Orientation and Kickoff in the fall, 2000 and will host this event again in the fall of 2001. They have also been responsible for the travel awards for students to present papers at conference; this program has been extremely successful. Also, the GSA helped secure health insurance information and coverage for doctoral students who teach classes at Baylor.

The GSA publishes a newsletter each semester that is delivered to all graduate students. Later in April, the GSA is sponsoring several seminars that include grant and application writing, web page design and others.

Ms. Summers presented data from the survey that the GSA conducted. The survey revealed that graduate students especially value community in their graduate programs. Another project that the GSA will work on is to develop guidelines regarding assistantships so that the student and the department will have similar expectations.

Wilkins explained to the Council that Eu-jin Kong (Information Systems) and Jun Wang (Computer Science) are currently working with him on a major project to update and enhance the Graduate School web page. They have been rebuilding the Graduate School website and hope to have the project completed by the end of this semester. This project should provide increased efficiency in the processing of the application and enhancing the web presentation to the potential graduate student. Wilkins also hopes that the Graduate School can provide assistance to departments to enhance their departmental web sites/pages.

In conclusion, Lyon briefly mentioned the following items:

1. Interdisciplinary courses are offered in the fall and spring to doctoral students. The fall course, GRD 6101, is devoted to pedagogy. The spring course, GRD 6102, addresses knowledge and research from an interdisciplinary perspective. The Graduate School provides the tuition for the one-hour class and hopes to have funds available to provide the books required for these two courses.
2. Health insurance and computer connections are now being offered to doctoral students who are teaching and meet the requirements.
3. A new opportunity exists for graduate student to participate as a graduate assistant in the Maastricht program.
4. BUGS polo shirts and T-shirts must be ordered by April 11, 2001, in order to insure prompt delivery.
5. The Young Christian Scholars program is available for persons teaching at a church-related college or university who enter a Ph.D. program here at Baylor and have a commitment from their university to return after completion of the Ph.D.

Further information on all these items is available on the "News and Opportunities" section of the Graduate School web site.