Minutes of Graduate Council

October 19, 2005
3:30 p.m.
Cashion, Room 303

Larry Lyon, Presiding

Members present at Waco campus:
Allman, Dwight; Baker, Clark (also representing Ferdon); Bowery, Anne-Marie; Brooks, Gary; Carini, Gary; Conaway, Betty; Driskell, Robyn (for Mencken); Garza, Baudelio; Gravagne, Ian (for Marks); Greenwood, Mike; Hankins, Barry (also representing Davis); Kaska, Toni (for Diaz-Granados & Saxon); Kearney, Chris; Manzanares, Carlos; Maurer, Peter; McEntire, Elizabeth; McGee, Dan (for Bellinger); Music, David; Park, Ken; Ray, Robert; Rivers, David (for Garrett); Schlueter, David; Stamey, James (for Bratcher); Stanke, Ron; Trower, Jonathan; Van Walsum, Peter

Others present at Waco campus:
Nicholas Coppola (HCA, Fort Sam Houston); Diane Brittain; Chris Garcia (HCA, Fort Sam Houston); Sandra Harman; Laine Scales; Sherry Sims

San Antonio Location:
Dan Renderio (DScPT)

Videoconferencing Technician:
Conner Krey

Dr. Larry Lyon gave the invocation.

Dr. Lyon reminded the Council members about two recent emails that they had received.

One of the emails provided details about the exit survey that graduate students take prior to graduation. The purpose of the exit survey is to provide information for program improvement more than for responding to SACS requirements. Religion and Biology have developed a subset of questions exclusively for their graduates and those questions will come on-line on November 1. If a particular program needs unique questions added to the existing survey, the graduate program director should communicate with Dr. Lyon.

A second email announced that electronic dissertation and thesis (EDT) submission is now a reality. Graduate students will soon get an e-mail directing them to the official web site which is http://www.baylor.edu/graduate/edt/

Dr. Lyon expressed special appreciation to Dr. Ken Wilkins and to Mrs. Sandra Harman, Mr. Neil Luft, and Ms. Billie Peterson-Lugo. Each of these people played an integral role in developing this new process. The BaylorGraduateSchool is extremely proud to have this project now "up and running."

Dr. Truell Hyde, Professor of Physics and Vice Provost for Research, presented information regarding the current state of research at Baylor. He explained the close connection between research at the university and the GraduateSchool and documented the growth in external funding for research. The web address for the Vice Provost for Research is http://www.baylor.edu/research/splash.php

Dr. Lyon strongly encouraged the council members to express their support of research at Baylor to their colleagues.

The Graduate Program Curriculum Committee approved and recommended a proposed joint degree, Master of Health Administration and Master of Business Administration to the Council. Dr. Lyon introduced Dr. Gary Carini, director of the graduate business programs, LTC Nick Coppola, director of the Army-Baylor Health Care Administration program and Commander Chris Garcia, Army-Baylor Graduate Program Committee Chairperson who described and discussed the proposed new joint degree.

This joint degree will be launched from two existing programs. The curriculum will co-mingle the courses in an 87 credit program. No additional funding from Baylor will be required.

The Health Care Administration program has a 55 year history with Baylor. This new joint degree would provide the business administration and management skills that health care administrators need. The Army evaluated several MBA programs around the US and determined that Baylor could provide the best MBA program. The new degree will have a one year residency as a part of the degree and this is the only program in the U.S. that will include this component.

The recommendation from the Curriculum Committee was voted on by the Council and the Council approved the new joint degree. The proposed degree will be presented to the Regents at their next meeting, October 27 & 28.

Dr. Lyon reminded the Council members that their "copy" for the 2007 Graduate Catalog is due to Ms. Sherry Sims by November 1.

The graduate program directors will receive notification regarding their request for stipend and tuition funds for the 2007 FY early next week. The Excel spreadsheet and justification document from each department will be due by Monday, November 14, to the GraduateSchool. Again this year, funding will be tight, but Dr. Lyon is hopeful about the future funding of graduate education.

The meeting adjourned at 4:50 p.m.