Members present at Waco campus:
Dwight Allman; Stacy Atchley; Rodney Bowden; Anne-Marie Bowery; Tom Bratcher; Susan Bratton (for Van Walsum); Gary Brooks; Mary Brucker; Marion Castleberry; David Garrett; Baudelio Garza; Steve Green (also for Carini); Chris Kearney; Rafer Lutz; Carlos Manzanares; Charles McDaniel (for Marsh); Peter Maurer; Carson Mencken; David Music; Ken Park; Mike Parrish (for Hankins & Thompson); Bill Pitts; Robert Ray; David Schlueter; Al Smith; Matthew Stanford; Ron Stanke; Amanda Sturgill; Joe White

Others present at Waco campus:
Diane Brittain; Rapture Hill; Laine Scales; Frances Strodtbeck; Chip Tate; Ken Wilkins

San Antonio Location:
Robert Griffith; MaryAnn Sifuentes

Dr. Steve Green gave the invocation.

Dr. Lyon welcomed the new representatives to the Graduate Council. The new representatives are Rodney Bowden (Education), Mary Brucker (Nursing), Susan Johnsen (Educational Psychology), Rafer Lutz (HHPR), Bill Pitts (Religion), Al Smith (Educational Administration), Amanda Sturgill (Journalism), Michael Thompson (Engineering), and Joseph White (Biology).

Dr. Lyon also recognized the Graduate Student Association (GSA) representatives who were present. The GSA is more visible and more active than ever before. The GSA is promoting a sense of community among graduate students and accomplishing great things again this year.

Dr. Carolyn Roark, Assistant Professor of Theater Arts, announced that the Theater Arts Department is seeking unpaid interns to assist with the editorial process for upcoming issues of the Baylor Journal of Theatre and Performance. Interested persons may contact Dr. Roark at Carolyn_Roark@Baylor.edu.

Report from the Dean

Dr. Lyon reviewed the document "Profile of Graduate Students, Fall 2005 & Fall 2006" which was published by Institutional Research and Testing. Enrollment for this fall is up by 50 students. While there is an emphasis on non-traditional students at some universities, at Baylor 50% or less are 25 years of age or younger. Our international enrollment is down this year. Religion does matter and the data show that Baylor is hospitable to religions other than Baptist. The enrollment in doctoral programs is up and enrollment in master's level programs is down. GRE scores are up 31 points more than for fall 2005.The GRE data indicate that Baylor is attracting top-tier students to its graduate programs.

Report from the Assistant Dean of Graduate Enrollment Management & Academic Technology

Mr. Chip Tate discussed a handout, Graduate Admissions Overview for Graduate Program Directors. The handout showed in a flow-chart diagram the admissions process for a potential graduate student. Mr. Tate pointed out various steps in the process and explained that great effort is being made to make the process both efficient and positive for all who are involved.

Now applicants are able to check the status of their on-line application at the following link: www.baylor.edu/graduate/gradappstatus according to Mr. Tate. The prospective student can see the progress of the application as long as there have not been substantial changes to the applications. This new feature will help prospective students and the departments.

Mr. Tate also reminded the Council members of two important recruiting tools: McNair Scholars' List and the GRE Search. If a graduate program director is interested in this, he/she can contact Mr. Tate who will help them determine the parameters that can be used to locate prospective students.

Report from the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies & Research

Dr. Ken Wilkins presented a PowerPoint presentation which explained some of the details of the National Research Council's Assessment of Doctoral Research Programs. The programs at Baylor that are participating in the study are Chemistry/Biochemistry, English, Physics, Psychology, Religion, Biomedical Studies, Mathematics, Sociology, and Statistical Science. The overall project will take two years and the data collection phase will end on December 15, 2006. This is a broad ranging process and it could prove very beneficial to BaylorUniversity.

Baylor continues to have strong graduate programs in conjunction with the U.S. military. The continuing programs are the Master of Healthcare Administration, Doctor of Physical Therapy, and the Doctor of Science in Physical Therapy (BrookeArmyMedicalCenter at Fort Sam Houston and U.SMilitaryAcademy at West Point). A new masters program in Nutrition has just begun. Under consideration is a masters of science program in Anesthesia Nursing. Each of these programs is excellent in quality and brings strength to graduate education at Baylor.

Dr. Wilkins also presented information and gave the website address for the Vice Provost for Research. The web address is http://www.baylor.edu/research/. Dr. Wilkins encouraged the Council members to go to the site in order to find opportunities for funding and to become aware of the resources at the website.

The travel awards program for graduate students has been and is very successful and meaningful for the students. Dr. Wilkins showed a world map that pinpointed the various places that graduate students have traveled to participate in professional and academic meetings. For the 2007 year, the per trip award will remain at $300 for a PhD student and will be increased to $200 for a master's student. Also, this year a student may apply for a maximum of two awards.

Report from the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies & Professional Development

Dr. Laine Scales introduced Mr. Kyle Babb, the GSA representative for the School of Music. Mr. Babb assisted Bracy Hill in the New Student Orientation that was held on August 16, 2006, in the Hooper-Schaefer Fine Arts Building. Mr. Babb expressed his appreciation for the outstanding participation and cooperation that the GSA received in planning, hosting, and presenting this orientation. He expressed appreciation to Dr. Marion Castleberry from Theater Arts for donating theater tickets for a door prize.

Based on feedback from the orientation last year, the GSA made some changes in the presentations and the format of the day's events. And again, this year the GSA asked participants to provide evaluation and feedback of this year's event so that they can improve. The response and participation was very positive this year and the GSA is appreciative of the faculty that helped them lead the sessions and provided help for this event.

The Graduate School Orientation is planned for the Wednesday just prior to the beginning of class in the fall semester. Dr. Scales reminded the members to mark their calendars so that their new graduate students could participate on Wednesday, August 15, 2007.

Also, Dr. Scales told the Council that the GraduateSchool will host the second orientation for new graduate program directors on Friday, September 29. This orientation will provide information and insight into the wide-ranging responsibilities of graduate program directors.

New this semester is the Teaching Assistant Preparation Program (TAPP). This program is required by all graduate students who are the teachers of record unless the individual academic department has a program for their students. An honorarium is provided for those faculty who lead workshops. The response has been outstanding for the workshops that have been held so far. The TAPP workshops will be held at various times with various topics each semester.

The web address is http://www.baylor.edu/graduate/index.php?id=39493

The meeting concluded at 4:50 p.m.