Minutes of Graduate Council

November 22, 2002
3:30 p.m.
Morrison Hall 330

Larry Lyon, Presiding

Members present at Waco campus: Stacy Atchley; DeAnna Toten Beard (for Marion Castleberry); Bryan Brooks (for Susan Bratton); Larry Browning (for Betty Conaway); Gary Carini; Richard Duhrkopf; Harry Elzinga; Baudelio Garza; Clova Gibson (for Bob Patterson); Deborah Johnston; Carlos Manzanares; Christopher Marsh; Charles McDaniel (for Derek Davis); Bob Piziak (for Frank Mathis); Robert Ray; Stuart Rosenbaum; James SoRelle; Greg Speegle; Jonathan Trower; Richard Watts; Jimmy Williamson (for Al Smith)

Others present at Waco: Diane Brittain; Larry Lyon; Michael Thomas; Ken Wilkins

Dallas Site: Frances Strodtbeck (for Pauline Johnson)

San Antonio Site: Dan Dominguez

Dean Lyon gave an update on the stipend and tuition requests for 2003-2004. The majority of the requests have been returned to the Graduate School. Dean Lyon is hopeful that the department will know their awards by mid-January.

Dr. Bryan Brooks, Assistant Professor in Environmental Studies, explained the proposed non-thesis option for the M.E.S. degree. For this option, a student would be required to take 36 hours, 12 hours of which would be 5000 level classes. In addition, a practicum of 12 hours, a major research paper, and an oral exam would be required. For the non-thesis majors, this would be a terminal degree. The non-thesis option was approved by the Council.

Dr. Baudelio Garza, Associate Professor of Spanish, and Dr. Micheal Thomas, Division Director, presented the dual tracks option for the M.A. in Spanish. A master's student in Spanish would be able to choose the appropriate track. A thesis-track student would take 36 hours, including six thesis hours. A minimum of fifteen hours, excluding six thesis hours, would have to be taken at the 5000 level. A non-thesis student would also take 36 hours; a minimum of 18 hours of 5000 level classes would be required. The dual tracks option was approved by the Council.

Chip Tate gave an update on recruiting efforts. If the department will email Chip, he can help facilitate the GRE search. This search for names is capable of producing labels and the Banner system will also accept the names.

Banner will be the new student information system replacing SIS. Chip reminded the directors that there is necessary training is currently available.

The Graduate School is using the Content Management System (CMS) to build and maintain the web pages.

In conjunction with Scholars Day, February 12, 2003, the Graduate School is encouraging departments to use this as a possible recruiting tool. Potential students might be invited to come the day before, attend Scholars Day events, and interact with the department.

Dean Lyon reported that Baylor is continuing to work to get our health insurance coverage expanded. Hopefully, when the information regarding stipend and tuition awards is distributed, there will be an update on health insurance for graduate students.

According to Dean Lyon, Dr. David Lyle Jeffrey, who has been named the Provost-elect, should continue in the tradition of Don Schmeltekopf by being a strong proponent of graduate education. During the time that Dr. Jeffrey has been Senior Vice Provost, he has had the opportunity to experience the special nature of graduate education at Baylor. According to Lyon, "Dr. Jeffrey will be a strong and articulate voice for graduate education."

Dean Lyon and council members discussed the requirement that GRE scores not be the sole criterion for admittance to Graduate School. The selection approach should be more holistic. On a related issue, there is a growing problem with fraud on international transcripts and GREs. Departments are handling this problem in different ways. Christopher Marsh, graduate director in Political Science, indicated that he would be glad to interview students when he is in China; directors can contact him via email or phone.