Graduate Council Meeting - Minutes
April 20, 2004

Present:  Chair Bruce McLeod, Ken Bowers, Janice Bowman, Marc Giullian, Richard Helzer, Robert Maher, Wade Hill (for Gretchen McNeely), Craig Stewart, David Weaver (Faculty Council), Becky Ward, Mary Kay West, Beckie Allen.

Meeting commenced at 10:05 a.m. in the President’s Conference Room, Montana Hall.

GRADUATE COUNCIL AGENDA ITEMS:  (Numbers refer to item numbers on the Agenda)

4.      Update on submission of ETDs (Electronic Theses and Dissertations) versus paper submissions of theses and dissertations

Beckie Allen from the College of Graduate Studies presented samples of color pages that had been submitted through ETDs.  For spring 2004, 61 ETDs were submitted and 18 paper were submitted.  She reported that ETDs were less stressful for students and more streamlined for CGS review.  For departments, there are no printing costs for ETDs.  ETDs can be accessed by employers for students who put their ETD link in their resumes.

McLeod stressed the importance of getting the word out all across campus on the ease of ETD submission.  If a student has difficulties, the CGS can help.  CGS can put any common format into the correct ETD form.  Students control the timing of when their thesis or dissertation will go on the web (due to possible patent issues, etc) or students can limit them to MSU access only. 

5.      Time frame to move to a mandatory submission of ETDs

McLeod reported that the change from paper to ETDs had gone very well with very little resistance.  He proposed Fall 2005 as the beginning date for all theses and dissertations being submitted to CGS in electronic form only.  He asked the Council members to take the proposal to their depart heads and faculty for discussion.

The MSU library is looking into what will happen to ETDs in the future when technology changes.

6.      Status of 2004-2005 application numbers for MSU’s graduate programs

McLeod reported that applications are down, especially the international (down approximately 50%).  This is due to lengthy Embassy review processes of students visas, and to other countries (Australia, Europe) increasing their competition for foreign students.

Stewart reported that HHD applications are down 30%; Bowman noticed that the quality of applications is down.  One reason may be the improving U.S. economy which attracts more students into the work force than into graduate school.

1.      Approval of March minutes

Bowman motioned and Stewart seconded to approve the minutes of the March meeting of Graduate Council.  Vote was unanimous.

2.      Undergraduate in graduate level courses and BATE 

McLeod presented a letter from Robert Carson (department head of MSU Education) concerning the BATE Program.  BATE (Borderless Access to Training and Education) started as a distance learning undergraduate project to help working teachers obtain library science media certification.  The 5-state consortium now wants the BATE Program to be offered at graduate level (for teachers salary considerations), with a provision for “a few qualified undergraduate students (sophomore or junior)” to be able to take the courses. 

MOTION:  Stewart moved and Giullian seconded that the current policy remain in force.  Current policy allows seniors with a GPA of 3.25 or higher to Petition for admission into graduate level courses through the College of Graduate Studies.  Vote was unanimous.

3.      Continued discussion of new graduate programs reviewed by Graduate Council and Faculty Council’s Academic Affairs Committee

This item was postponed to the May meeting.

McLeod will put a student issue on the Graduate Council web for discussion.  A student has 11 years of thesis credits and will not finish his PhD dissertation on time.  Can CGS allow him to receive a Master’s degree instead?

Meeting adjourned at 11:05 am.