STEPHEN F. AUSTIN STATE UNIVERSITY
GRADUATE COUNCIL
MINUTES
SEPTEMBER 25, 2003
Meeting #1
Present: Dr. David Jeffrey Mr. Ronald Havner
Mr. Peter Andrew Dr. Joe Oliver
Mr. Al Cage Dr. Brian Oswald
Dr. John Dahmus Dr. Janice Patillo
Dr. Raymond Eastman Dr. Gary Wurtz
Dr. Michele Harris Dr. Janie Kenner
Absent: Dr. Bea Clack Dr. Aileen Smith Ms. Sherry Wells
Visitor: Ms. Melinda Colby for Ms. Sherry Wells
The Graduate Council met at 3:00 on Thursday, September 25, 2003 in Room 307, Austin Building. Dr. Oswald made a motion to approve the minutes of the April 24, 2003 meeting. Dr. Eastman seconded the motion. The motion passed.
I. Announcements
A. New Graduate Council Members
Dr. Gary Wurtz is representing the Faculty Senate. Mr. Peter Andrew was elected from the College of Fine Arts and Dr. John Dahmus was elected from the College of Liberal Arts. Dr. Michele Harris was elected from the College of Sciences and Mathematics. Dr. Janice Pattillo was appointed from the College of Education. Mr. Ronald Havner, a biology graduate student, is the new Graduate Student Representative.
B. Graduate Enrollment
Graduate Student enrollment for Fall 2002 was 1,573. Our current Fall 2003 enrollment is 1,661 which is an increase of 88 students. This is a 5.6% increase over last fall. Credit hours by course level has also increased from 9,347 last fall to 10,152 for Fall 2003 which is an increase of 8%. There has also be an increase of 24 international students on campus, most of whom are graduate students.
C. Graduate Assistantships
Graduate Assistantship stipends have increased from $1,255,918 last fall to $1,328,408 for Fall 2003. Dr. Jeffrey expressed his appreciation to Dr. Guerrero and Dr. Young for their continued support.
D. Excellence
Last year the Texas Excellence Funds provided by the Texas Legislature was $227,405. This year the program was not funded. We did, however, receive $90,000 from the SFA administration, which is the indirect cost return. Dr. Jeffrey expressed his appreciation to Roland Smith and Danny Gallant in allowing the money to go research assistantships.
II. New Business
A. Committee Assignments
l. Academic Affairs Committee
Dr. Brian Oswald will chair the Academic Affairs Committee. Included on the committee is Dr. Michele Harris, Dr. Janice Pattillo, Mr. Al Cage and Ms. Sherry Wells. The Academic Affairs Committee will be working on curriculum and program review along with reviewing overlap requirements for students with 90-115 hours.
2. Faculty Affairs Committee
Dr. Bea Clack has agreed to chair the Faculty Affairs Committee with Dr. Ray Eastman, Dr. Gary Wurtz and Dr. John Dahmus. The committee will be doing graduate faculty review as needed and reviewing graduate faculty regulations on limited membership.
3. Student Affairs Committee
Dr. Joe Oliver will be chairing the Student Affairs Committee with Mr. Peter Andrew, Mr. Ronald Havner, Dr. Aileen Smith and Dr. Janie Kenner. The Student Affairs Committee will be reviewing assistantship assignments, student survey information and limitation of four-semester assistantship for programs over 36 hours.
B. Graduate Faculty Applications
Dr. Jeffrey has reviewed and given administrative approval to the following Graduate Faculty membership applications:
Name Department/Program Membership Type
Sanford Miller Kinesiology Associate
Dr. Oswald made a motion to accept the membership application as presented. Dr. Kenner seconded the motion. Discussion took place and a vote was taken. The motion passed.
Name Department/Program Membership Type
Michael Janusa Chemistry Full
John Jacobson Elementary Education Full
Dr. Smith made a motion to accept the membership applications as presented. Dr. Kenner seconded the motion. The motion passed.
Name Department/Program Membership Type
Dottie Gottshall Elementary Education Limited
I-Kuai Hung Forestry Associate
Mary Prentice Forestry Adjunct
Dr. Oswald made a motion to accept the membership applications as presented. Dr. Eastman seconded the motion. The motion passed.
B. Graduate Faculty Renewals
Name Department/Program Membership Type
Mark Atkinson Biotechnology Adjunct
Vijay Boggaram Biotechnology Adjunct
Ronald Dodson Biotechnology/Envs. Adjunct
Laura Hedrick Biotechnology Limited
Anna Kurdowska Biotechnology Adjunct
Ming-Cheh Liu Biotechnology Adjunct
Malini Madira Biotechnology Adjunct
Murty Madiraju Biotechnology Adjunct
Usha Pendurthi Biotechnology Adjunct
L.Vijaya M. Rao Biotechnology Adjunct
Barry Starcher Biotechnology Adjunct
Richard Wallace, Jr. Biotechnology Adjunct
Christian Zwieb Biotechnology Adjunct
Dr. Dahmus made a motion to approve the renewals as presented. Dr. Smith seconded the motion. The motion passed.
Name Department/Program Membership Type
Carolyn Abel Elementary Education Associate to Full
Vikki Boatman Elementary Education Limited to Associate
Mary Nelle Brunson Elementary Education Limited to Associate
Steven Josephsen Elementary Education Associate to Full
Dr. Smith made a motion to approve the renewals as presented. Dr. Dahmus seconded the motion. The motion passed.
Name Department/Program Membership Type
Larry Lowry Environmental Science Adjunct
Paul Rountree Environmental Science Adjunct
Dr. Oswald made a motion to accept the membership applications as presented. Dr. Eastman seconded the motion. The motion passed.
Name Department/Program Membership Type
Randy Balice Forestry Adjunct
Ching-Hsun Huang Forestry Limited
James Kroll Forestry Renew as Full
Gary Kronrad Forestry Renew as Full
Michael Legg Forestry Renew as Full
Dr. Smith made a motion to accept the membership applications as presented. Dr. Kenner seconded the motion. The motion passed.
Dr. Eastman made a motion to adjourn. The motion was seconded by Dr. Dahmus.
The meeting adjourned at 4:15.
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Dr. David L. Jeffrey Lagena B. Carver
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