Faculty Senate

Graduate Council Meeting Minutes

October 25, 2006

GBB 202, 12:10-1:00 p.m.

Members Present: A. Borgmann, D. Erickson, C. Fiore, M. DeGrandpre, N. Hassanein, L. Hayes, T. Herron, J. Hirstein, M. McClintock, T. Thibeau, G. Stanley

 
Members Absent/Excused: N. Moisey

Ex-officio members Present: Dean Strobel, Arlene Walker-Andrews

Chair Hayes called the meeting to order at 12:10p.m.

The minutes from 10/18/06 were approved by unanimous consent

Communications

• Chair Hayes received a petition signed by 64 members of the Montana Council for Administrators for Special Education (MCASE) in support of the Speech Pathology Program. This was passed around for members to review.
• Members were reminded that work on program review should be continuing. Associate Provost Walker-Andrews has submitted a report to the Commissioner's Office for the November Board of Regents meeting. The report lists where each program is in the program review process.
• The Program Review Criteria Workgroup does not yet have a final draft but asked whether the Council would like a template for the Council's program review documents. The Council was in favor of this approach. This will also be given to programs in advance so they know what will be evaluated. The workgroup should have a draft for the next meeting.
• The MIS Workgroup Chair Stanley provided an update of the groups goals. Professor Stanley met with Dean Strobel, and the student member. Another meeting will be arranged with all five members to work out the details.

• Integration of subjects and disciplines and more flexibility is needed. The Cal State Monterey program may be useful as a model of integrative pedagogy.
• There should be more communication between students and professors.
• Program goals, skills, requirements and competencies need to be evaluated and clarified.
• A faculty "advisory group" should be created for assessment and guidance.
• An "Integrative seminar" should be developed that will bring together MIS and IIP students and faculty for increased communication.  The seminar will provide valuable input and be useful in refining the program.  This was recommended by the IIP oversight committee.  

• Better recruitment tools including a brochure and online information should be created to improve visibility of the program.

There were comments that the program should be substance driven not procedure driven.  Interdisciplinary programs are evolving and responding to the needs in the employment world. Clarity of skills, competencies and progress should be built into the program. This could be an advantage over traditional programs.  Students might have a portfolio that provides evidence of their knowledge and ability.  Many factors need to be discussed.  Enrollment should be limited because of the competition in terms of faculty load.  Students rejected from other programs are not candidates for the MIS. Only the better students should be accepted.  There should be examples that show success in finding connections between disciplines. Professor Stanley's current MIS student is combining science and art to specialize in scientific illustration where there are employment opportunities.  

Unfinished Business

• The final draft of the Educational Leadership and Counseling review document was amended and approved.
• The science subcommittee is still waiting for responses on curriculum follow-up.

New Business

The Social Science Subcommittee Chair, Professor Fiore disseminated a summary of the curriculum changes.   The items listed as OK were approved with the exception of PSC 464, which was withdrawn, and SOC 545 and 577.  Follow-up is required on several graduate increments and there are some questions with regard to Sociology's new courses / option and the effects on the Rural and Environmental Change Option.

There are continuing problems with the graduate increment.  Many departments are not reading the guidelines.  It was suggested that the guidelines be revisited.

The meeting was adjourned at 1:00 p.m.