TO: Members of University Council The following Commission on Graduate Studies and Policies Minutes of April 7, 1999, will be voted on at the May 3 University Council meeting. ***************************************************************************** Minutes Commission on Graduate Studies & Policies April 7, 1999 206 Sandy Hall Present: Dr. Jim Burger, Dr. Julia Beamish, Dr. Marty Day, Dr. David Ford, Dr. Skip Fuhrman, Dr. Betty Heath- Camp, Dr. Virginia Maxwell, Dr. Malcolm McPherson, Dr. Len Peters, Dr. Judy Pearson, Dr. Richard Veilleux, Mr. Hunter Pittman, Ms. Nichole McKeown, Ms. Janey Miller, Ms. Shannon Knapp, Ms. Ellie Albro, Ms. Nina Sengupta, Mr. John Cosgriff, Ms. Barbara Fraticelli, and Ms. Kathryn Young Absent with Notification: Dr. Ron Daniel, Dr. Ellie T. Sturgis, Dr. Eileen Hitchingham, Dr. Kent Nakamoto, and Dr. Mike Vorster Invited Guests: Dr. John Eaton, Mrs. Susan Vest, and Mr. Marvin Foushee Jim Burger, Chair, called the meeting to order. Announcements-Dr. Jim Burger announced that Nichole McKeown would be the Student Government Association representative for CGS&P for the remainder of the academic year and welcomed her to the meeting. Dr. Jim Burger reminded committee chairs that annual reports were due by April 16, 1999. The final CGS&P meeting for this academic year will be on April 21, 1999. Approval of the agenda - Approved. Approval of minutes of March 17, 1999- Approved with minor revisions. Committee Reports: Graduate Curriculum Committee-Angela Webb summarized the Graduate Curriculum Committee minutes from March 26, 1999. These minutes included the approval of second year DVM courses. These minutes were approved by the commission. Final meeting minutes for the academic year and an annual report will be presented at the next CGS&P meeting. Graduate Student Appeals-No activity to report at this time. Graduate Student Relations-Mr. Hunter Pittman summarized the March 25, 1999 Graduate Student Relations Committee minutes. Mr. Hunter Pittman commented on the positive changes made by the commission this year and how those changes and ideas would be affecting graduate students. Ms. Barbara Fraticelli agreed to serve on this committee for the remainder of the year. Adhoc Catalog Committee-Dr. Richard Veilleux commented that the Adhoc Catalog Committee was meeting regularly. The draft of this project will be presented at an upcoming CGS&P meeting for review. Adhoc ETD Advisory Committee-Dr. Eaton reported that the Adhoc ETD Advisory Committee had met and presented the commission with minutes from the March 19, 1999 meeting. This committee is working on revisions for the ETD approval form and a UMI form. These revised documents will be presented at an upcoming CGS&P meeting for approval. Adhoc Advisory Committee Membership Committee-Dr. Eaton commented that the Adhoc Advisory Committee Membership Committee had met on March 17, 1999 and recommended amending a statement from page 25 of the Graduate Catalog at the end of the section on advisory committees to state: "In the case that one or more members does not approve the change in the membership of the advisory committee, an appeal may be made by either the student or a faculty member to a department graduate committee. The graduate committee will make a recommendation for action to the Department Head and the Dean of Graduate School." This recommendation was approved and a resolution will be forwarded to University Council. DRSCAP- Dr. Marty Day presented the commission with a Resolution Regarding Residency for Doctoral Degrees and a Resolution Regarding Transfer Credit for Master's Degrees. The commission approved both resolutions. Other Reports: Graduate Student Assembly- Janey Miller reported that the GSA had elected new officers for the 1999-2000 year. The final GSA newsletter for this academic year will be mailed in the near future. The 1999 Research Symposium was a great success with 89 entries. The GSA is planning a year end social. Dr. Len Peters commended the GSA on their work on the Research Symposium and endorses a resolution for their exceptional work on this project. Graduate Honor System- Ms. Barbara Fraticelli reported that the Graduate Honor System was currently working on two cases from Fall and one new case for Spring. University Library Committee-No report at this time. New Business: Nominating Committee for 1999-2000 CGS&P Chair-Dr. Marty Day, Dr. Skip Fuhrman, and Dr. Jim Burger will make recommendations at the next CGS&P meeting for the 1999-2000 CGS&P Chair, 1999-2000 CGS&P Vice Chair and 1999-2000 Chair of the Graduate Curriculum Committee. Review of Implementation of Centers Policy-Dr. Len Peters gave an overview of Dr. Peggy Meszaros's memorandum on the Implementation of Centers Policy. Dr. Meszaros's memorandum is the Policy and Procedure by the University on Department, College, and University Centers. The concept of and different types of centers were discussed. Dr. Peters also distributed a Commission on Research Policies and Procedures for Interdisciplinary Research Centers which pertains to University-Wide Centers only. Dr. Peters suggested that the Commission on Graduate Studies and Policies construct a similar policy and procedure guide for Instructional Centers. Dr. Eaton and Dr. Peters will work closely to identify which University-Wide Centers would be reviewed by the CGS&P. Nomination of VTIP Board Representative-Dr. Peters made a suggestion to CGS&P to appoint Dr. Joe Sullivan as the CGS&P representative for the Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties Board. The commission approved this recommendation. Career Services Assessments-Ms. Janey Miller spoke on the results from the Career Services Assessments Survey. Ms. Miller also provided the commission with a comparision of results from the graduate survey vs. the undergraduate survey. Ms. Barbara Fraticelli commented on Career Services and how well they were serving graduate student needs. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 4:59 p.m. Respectfully submitted: John L. Eaton, Associate Provost for Graduate Studies Sandy Smith Executive Secretary Senior President's Office, Virginia Tech 540-231-6232 FAX: 540-231-4265