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November 1, 1989

                                    MINUTES

                                    VPI&SU

                        COMMISSION ON GRADUATE STUDIES

                          1 NOVEMBER 1989, 4:00 P.M.

                            PRESIDENT'S BOARD ROOM

 

  Present:  Drs. Bates, Burger, Campbell, Conn, Flowers, Hooper, R. Johnson

            La Berge, Lutze, Moore, O'Brien, Snoke, Stephenson, Stout,

            Teekell, (Dr. Webb for J. Johnson), Mr. Daniel Adams, Ms. Theresa

            Fried

 

  Visitors: Mr. John Ashby

 

 

  1.  ANNOUNCEMENTS -

 

      Dean Teekell stated that a decision has been made regarding filling the

      position of Vice Provost for Academic Affairs.  An announcement from

      the President's Office will be forthcoming appointing Dr. Jim Wolfe of

      the Chemistry Department in this position effective January 1, 1990.

 

      The newsletter, Graduate School News, has been distributed to faculty

      and graduate students and the response has been favorable.  The Gradu-

      ate School plans to continue with this effort.

 

      Dean John Eaton is on a recruiting trip and Dean Martha Johnson is at-

      tending a future planning meeting for the Roanoke Center today.

 

      The Commencement Committee report has been presented to the Provost's

      Office and is being reviewed.  Commission members were encouraged, if

      contacted, to express their sentiments on the commencement activities.

 

      Dr. Arthur Snoke announced that there will be a meeting of the Degree

      Requirements, Standards, Criteria and Academic Policies Committee at

      3:00 on November 15, 1989.  The meeting place is to be announced at a

      later date.  This meeting will be to discuss academic misconduct and

      securing thesis.

 

  2.  APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF OCTOBER 4, 1989 -  The minutes were approved as

      submitted.

 

  3.  GRADUATE STUDENT ASSEMBLY - Daniel Adams distributed announcements for

      the GSA Grad Fair, November 7, 1989 from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the War

      Memorial Gym.  Over 30 schools will be represented and all commission

      members were encouraged to bring these activities to the attention of

      their colleges and departments.  Mr. Adams stated that two resolutions

      were passed by the GSA: (1) That Blacksburg Transit extend one of the

      bus route to serve the Vet School and (2) The Student Health Service

      will be asked to develop and overall health care program to address the

      needs and concerns of spouses.

 

      The issue of the "Role and Nature of Dissertations" has been presented

      to the GSA and the membership will discuss at a future meeting.  Mr.

      Adams and/or Ms. Fried will bring to the Commission the concerns and

      statements of the GSA.

 

      The Research and Development and Travel Funds monies have been distrib-

      uted.

 

      Dr. Snoke stated that an outlet for GSA resolutions should be the Com-

      mission on Graduate Studies.  He stated that the GSA could present

      these resolutions to the Commission and have them added to our minutes

      as a means of presenting them to the University Council for approval.

 

  4.  REDEFINITION OF GRADUATE ASSISTANTSHIP - Dean Teekell led the dis-

      cussion regarding the issue of redefining the GA positions so that the

      University will not be in the position of losing faculty positions in

      the future.  After extensive comments, suggestions and discussion, Dean

      Teekell asked that the membership come up with some thoughts regarding

      this issue and bring this matter back to the Commission for further

      discussion at our next meeting.

 

  5.  NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES BOOKLET - ON BEING A SCIENTIST - Dean

      Teekell distributed a copy of this booklet and announced that our of-

      fice has ordered a supply.  When these booklets come in, the membership

      will receive copies.

 

  6.  APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF THE COURSE AND PROGRAM CRITERIA COMMITTEE - Dr.

      Ron Johnson submitted the report.  Dr. Conn raised the issue that, when

      he brought this issue to the committee, he had in mind the problems

      that arise when students from other countries receive incomplete De-

      partmental information.  He feels that students are sometimes uninten-

      tionally misled and do not get an accurate idea of areas of focus and

      research.  These students arrive, having spent time and money, only to

      find that the program is not what they thought it would be.  Dr. Snoke

      asked Dean Teekell what avenues a student could take should this hap-

      pen.  Dean Teekell assured Dr. Snoke that this is an issue that the

      Graduate School monitors and any issues of this sort should be brought

      to his attention.  It was the consensus of the membership that the min-

      utes should be revised to state Dr. Conn's concerns and that another

      copy of these minutes will be presented at the next meeting for pe-

      rusal.  The minutes were then approved on the basis that these concerns

      be incorporated into the minutes.

 

  7.  OTHER BUSINESS -  none

 

  8.  ADJOURNMENT - 5:12 p.m.

 

                                     Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

 

                                     John L. Eaton

                                     Secretary

 

 

 

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