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The Graduate School

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Office of the Dean of the Graduate School

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GRADUATE COUNCIL MINUTES

August 20, 2009

MEMBERS PRESENT

Voting: Professors C.R. Geren, T.P. Cronan, A.J. Dowdle, A.E. Ellstrand, P.M. Hewitt, T.W. Martin, M.B. Orr, M.D. Richardson, F. M. Scheide, R.K. Ulrich; Mr. B.K. Chastain

Non-Voting: Professors W.P. Curington, D.L. Graham, P.R. Koski, M.T. Miller, J.R. Young; Ms. S.L. Theiss

MEMBERS ABSENT

Voting: Professors L.C. Purcell, P.R. Selvam, L.M. Webb; second representative from the Graduate Dean’s Student Advisory Board

Non-Voting: Professor C.H. Adams

GUESTS  Ms. T. Fisher

The meeting was called to order at 2:00 p.m. by Chair Patricia Koski

  1. Minutes for the June 18th, 2009, Graduate Council meeting stand approved, as no changes were suggested. (The minutes of the Graduate Council may be found at http://www.uark.edu/depts/gradinfo/dean/gradcouncil/minutes/index.html.) 
  2. The members of the Council introduced themselves.  The Council welcomes the new members:  Professors Andrew J. Dowdle, representing Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, Paul M. Hewitt, representing the College of Education and Health Professions, Michael D. Richardson, representing the Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences, and Rick K. Ulrich, representing the interdisciplinary programs.  The complete membership list is contained in Attachment A.
  3. Professor Koski reported that the new Graduate Student Orientation, held the day before, was very successful and commended Diane Cook for her hard work organizing this event.
  4. Dean Geren made several announcements:
    1. He has spent this week with a representative from the Department of Energy on beginning the clean-up of the Southwest Experimental Fast Oxide Reactor.  Yesterday a vendors’ fair was held in which 30 vendors participated; this was to bid out the work to be done.  It is hoped that the work will be completed by the end of December so that continued funding can be secured.
    2. He reminded the Council that he has submitted his intent to retire in the summer 2010.  The Provost has decided to separate his two positions, and two search committees will be constituted.  One will search for the next chief research officer and the other will search for the next graduate dean.
    3. The University submitted a proposal for a smart grid for the state of Arkansas, at the request of the Governor.  This would make Arkansas the alpha site for this type of grid.  The proposal requested $400 million, half of which will come from SWEPCO and the Southwest Power Pool.
    4. The University of Arkansas has been successful in securing funding from federal stimulus money, including funding for individual faculty grants, the buses and improvements to UA facilities.
  5. Professor Koski reported that the Academic Appeals Committee met and reviewed some student petitions.  There were two petitions to remove marks of incomplete and replace them with W’s; one of these was approved and one denied.  There were also several approvals of minor TOEFL waivers.
  6. Professor Koski reported that the Teaching Assistant Effectiveness Advisory Committee has planned the next year’s workshops:
    • Wednesday, September 9th:  Academic honesty, equity in the classroom and educational access
    • October:  Wikis for communication among TA’s
    • November or January:  Bringing technology into your classroom
    • February:  Wikis for communication among TA’s
    • March:  Blackboard classroom management software

    In addition, there will be a luncheon and discussion scheduled in February or March for all TA supervisors.

  7. The Council elected the following representatives to University Committees:  Lynne Webb, Calendar Committee; Terry Martin, University Course and Programs Committee; Frank Scheide, Library Committee; Betsy Orr, University Program Review Committee.
  8. There was no Old Business.
  9. There was no New Business.
  10.  The Council discussed changes to the current reporting requirement for the Annual Graduate Student Academic Review.  A revised proposal will be presented at the September Graduate Council meeting.
  11. The Council approved the graduate faculty recommendations listed in Attachment B.

There being no other business, the Council adjourned at 2:53 p.m.

Submitted by: Patricia R. Koski, Chair

Approved by: Collis R. Geren, Dean 

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