1. Enrollment
   Currently there are 1712 graduate students enrolled for Spring 2005.  In Spring 2004 the enrollment was 1747 and Fall 2004 the graduate enrollment was 1719.   There are seven days left to register for the Spring 2005 semester.
2. Retirement
   Mr. Al Cage, Library Director, will be retiring February 28, 2005.  Dr. Clack made a motion for Dr. Jeffrey to write a resolution on behalf of the Graduate Council to officially recognize the contributions Mr. Cage has made to the Graduate Council over the years and thank him for his strong support for graduate programs and his shared wisdom of his long experience at SFASU.  Dr. Weems seconded the motion for the resolution. The motion passed.
3. Office of Research and Sponsored Programs
   The Office of Research and Sponsored Programs has moved to the Liberal Arts North Building Room 401.  They will be holding an open house on February 14, 2005 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.  Faculty Research Grant applications are due to their chairs on February 4, 2005.  There will be a workshop this Friday, January 28, 2005 at 2:00 p.m. in the Wyatt Room of the Steen Library.

1. Request for Graduate Minor in Bioinformatics
   The minor in Bioinformatics would provide a foundation for computer science majors or other majors with the background and interest to work in a bioinformatics environment whether in a biological setting or in a computer science setting.  Specifically, the minor would provide 9 hours of study in bioinformatics theory and application with an introduction to biotechnology theory and application with an introduction to biotechnology concepts and techniques.  A minor such as this will provide a link between two departments in the SFA campus that have become very much an integral part of each other in the scientific community.  This minor will fill a niche that will only grow due to the current merging of Computer science and Molecular biology in the nonacademic world.  Dr. Oswald made a motion to approve the minor in Bioinformatics.  Dr. Tinsley seconded the motion.  The motion passed.
2. Overlap Program between SFASU and University of Houston Downtown
   The proposed overlap program would be for students in the Department of Natural Science at the University of Houston Downtown desiring to enroll in the Biotechnology Graduate Program at Stephen F. Austin State University.  The overlap program permits qualified undergraduates to pursue a limited amount of graduate study concurrently with their undergraduate study.  To be eligible for the Overlap Program, a student must have or be concurrently working towards successful completion of the prerequisites necessary for acceptance in the Biotechnology graduate program at SFA.  Admission as a UHD overlap student must be approved by the chair and Dean of the College at both UHD and SFA.  Dr. Oswald made a motion to approve the Overlap program between SFASU and the University of Houston Downtown.  Dr. Eastman seconded the motion.  The motion passed.  Dr. Bea Clack and Dr. Jeffrey will develop a memorandum of agreement between the two institutions for official signatures.
3. Graduate Faculty Applications
   Dr. Jeffrey has reviewed and given administrative approval to the following Graduate Faculty membership applications:
   
   

   Name	Department	Membership Type
   Daniel Saenz	Biology	Adjunct
   Wendy Enochs	Counseling	Associate
   David Lawson	Counseling	Appoint as Full
   Jay Lee	Kinesiology	Associate

Dr. Oswald made a motion to accept the membership applications as presented.  Dr. Weems seconded the motion.  The motion passed.

4. Graduate Faculty Renewals
   
   

   Name	Department	Membership Type
   William Gibson	Biology	Renew as Full
   Dennis Gravatt	Biology	Associate to Full
   Craig Rudolph	Biology	Renew as Adjunct
   Josephine Taylor	Biology	Renew as Full
   Robert Wiggers	Biology	Renew as Full

Dr. Oswald made a motion to approve the renewals as presented.  Dr. Tinsley seconded the motion.  The motion passed.