STEPHEN F. AUSTIN STATE UNIVERSITY
GRADUATE COUNCIL
MINUTES
NOVEMBER 18, 2004

Meeting #3

Present:

Dr. David Jeffrey Dr. Dale Hearell
Mr. Peter Andrew Ms. Tamberly Kerr
Dr. Beatrice Clack Dr. Dillard Tinsley
Dr. Raymond Eastman Dr. Suzy Weems
Dr. Michele Harris Ms. Sherry Wells

Absent:
Mr. Al Cage
Dr. Brian Oswald
Dr. Joe Oliver
Dr. Janice Pattillo

Visitor: Dr. Linda Bobo for Dr. Brian Oswald

The Graduate Council met at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 18, 2004 in room 301, Human Services Building. Dr. Harris made a motion to approve the minutes of the October 28, 2004 meeting. Dr. Weems seconded the motion. The motion passed.

I. Announcements

A. Coordinating Board

The Coordinating Board will be establishing an advisory committee on graduate education. Dr. Jeffrey has been nominated to serve on the committee

B. Professional Master’s Degrees

Across the country there is a new emphasis on professional master’s degrees. A few examples of a professional master’s degree are chemistry, biotechnology, and environmental science, in which the student is trained to work in the field rather than seeking a master’s degree as a stepping stone to a doctorate. SFA is interested in changing some of its degree programs to reflect a professional emphasis and advertising its programs to prospective students as means to a better job.

C. GRE Redesign

The GRE will be redesigned for testing beginning in October 2006. The GRE will still contain the verbal, quantitative, and writing sections, but knowledge of vocabulary will be tested through verbal reasoning rather than the traditional questions which are included now.

D. New On Line

Sherry Wells reported that the degree audit is now on line, along with the course schedule for Spring 2005.

II. New Business

A. Graduate Faculty Applications

Dr. Jeffrey has reviewed and given administrative approval to the following Graduate Faculty membership applications:

Name Department/Programs Membership Type

Bradley Bailey Art Associate
Teresa Kirchner Art Associate
Jennifer Sholtis Art Associate
Christopher Talbot Art Associate
Timothy Neary History Associate

Dr. Eastman made a motion to accept the membership applications as presented. Dr. Tinsley seconded the motion. The motion passed.

B. Graduate Faculty Renewals

Name Department/Program Membership Type

Peter Andrew Art Renew as Full
William Arscott Art Renew as Full
Jill Carrington Art Renew as Full
Charles Jones Art Renew as Full
Gary Parker Art Renew as Limited

C. Academic Planning Document

Dr. Jeffrey had sent his first draft of the academic planning document for the Graduate School to the Council before this meeting. The Council went over the document point by point and added its comments to the draft. The discussion included current and future goals for the Graduate School. The Council suggested new points as well as revisions of some of the language.

Dr. Tinsley made a motion to adjourn. Dr. Eastman seconded the motion. The meeting adjourned at 5:00 p.m.

________________________________
Dr. David L. Jeffrey

________________________________
Lagena B. Carver


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