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Governance Minutes ArchiveMarch 6, 1991
MINUTES VPI&SU COMMISSION ON GRADUATE STUDIES 6 MARCH 1991, 3:30 P.M. 206 SANDY HALL Present: Drs. Boyle, Brown, Burger, Eaton, Hooper, M. Johnson, R. Johnson, Lutze, McCoy, Moore, Snoke, Sporakowski, Stephenson, Tideman Mr. Jay Comeaux, Mr. Anthony Townsend Visitors: Susan Truelove - Spectrum, Marvin Foushee - Registrars Office Guests: Neal Stewart, Laura Via, Bob Pienkowski, Greg Benge, Michael Hite 1. ANNOUNCEMENTS - Dr. Hooper stated that the first seminar in the series "Training the Future Professoriate" will be tomorrow March 7, 1991. Dr. Johnetta Davis from Howard University will be speaking on "Sensi- tivity to Diversity in the Classroom". This presentation will be in Conference Room G at the CEC at 4:00 p.m. The next seminar will be on March 21, 1991. Dr. Jules Lapidus, President of the Council of Gradu- ate Schools, will be speaking on "A National Perspective of Graduate Study". This presentation will be in Room 1870 Litton-Reaves Hall at 4:00 p.m. Several documents were distributed to the members and Dr. Hooper asked that they be reviewed and any discussion of these items would be pur- sued at a future meeting. 2. Approval of the Agenda - The agenda was approved as amended. 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF 20 FEBRUARY 1991 - the minutes were approved as amended. 4. COMMITTEE REPORTS Course and Program Criteria - John Eaton presented a report from their February 27 meeting. The report was accepted. Degree Requirements, Standards, Criteria and Academic Policies - Jim Burger distributed copies of the minutes of the February 26 and March 5 meetings. Dr. Burger stated that no recommendation was being made yet regarding the "I" grade resolution. The committee is awaiting the results from the upcoming CUS meeting. The committee recommended acceptance of their recommendations for procedures for processing posthumous degree awards. (Recommendation attached) The recommendation was accepted. The recommendation regarding the revision of the minimum requirements for the TOEFL examination scores was tabled until our next meeting so the membership could review the document and bring comments back to that meeting. 5. GRADUATE STUDENT ASSEMBLY - Tony Townsend announced that a general de- legates meeting will be held today immediately following the CGS meet- ing. A special meeting was held on Family Housing. The document on family housing was revised at the recommendation of Roland Wheeler to be less legalistic and more of an advisory document which would give him the appropriate legal room for negotiation of a contract with the contrac- tor of the housing facility. Secretary James Dyke met with various GSA members to discuss the future of graduate academic education in the Commonwealth. Specifically, charts were reviewed to show that Virginia graduate education in the academic disciplines are not competitive financially with other schools. The GSA asked that Secretary Dyke and the governor specif- ically impower the State Council on Higher Education to examine (1) where they expected graduate education in the academic disciplines to go in Virginia and (2) what was necessary and what were they willing to do reach those goals. The GSA members offered to go to Richmond with Secretary Dyke to meet with legislators in the behalf of the kind of program changes that will be necessary to make graduate education here more competitive. Secretary Dyke seemed quite amendable to this offer and the GSA is awaiting further comments from him regarding these is- sues. Dr. Hooper stated that this may mark the first time that a graduate student group such as the GSA has had an opportunity for an interview with the Secretary of Education. Dr. Hooper congratulated the GSA on this accomplishment. NEW BUSINESS - This area of the agenda is being shifted today to accom- modate the presentation of the Honor System Constitution Revision. 6. 7.1 - GRADUATE HONOR SYSTEM CONSTITUTION REVISION - Dr. Hooper briefly commented that the Graduate Honors System (similar to the Undergraduate Honors Systems) has been existence for quite some time. There has been a constitution in place during this system's existence and there has been a two year review and revision of this constitution. The consti- tution is being brought to the CGS for review and approval and will also be presented today at the GSA meeting for their review and ratifi- cation. Greg Benge presented a brief discussion regarding the revision of the constitution. Following the University self-study, a constitution re- vision committee was convened to evaluate the Graduate Honor System and this was prompted by the issue that the Graduate Honor System had ma- tured to such a level that the old constitution was no longer servicea- ble. The ultimate goal of the committee was to revise the constitution based upon a thorough analysis/self-study of the purpose, function and operation of the Graduate Honor System. Mr. Benge highlighted the re- visions and how each came about. Comments and suggestions were presented to Mr. Benge regarding clarifi- cations and rewording. Mr. Benge and Neal Stewart explained the func- tion of judicial honors hearings to the CGS members for clarification of questions regarding representation of the accused student. Tony Townsend and Jay Comeaux raised the concern that the GSA was bas- ically removed (in the new Constitution) as being the primary body to ratify the final nomination to the Dean of the Graduate School for the Chief Justice position. The GSA concern is that the Graduate Honor System is suppose to be a body that is impowered by the Graduate School as well as the consent of the graduate student community as a whole which is represented by the GSA. After a brief discussion, Dr. Hooper stated that the GSA and the CGS is charged with coming to an agreement with the Graduate Honor System on the constitution. The GSA will be meeting later today and with the agreement of the members it was decided that this discussion will be held again at the next CGS meeting. Dean Martha Johnson congratulated Mr. Benge on the two years of fine work and dedication he has put into this revision. OLD BUSINESS 7. 6.1 - "I" GRADUATE RESOLUTION UPDATE - Dr. Hooper stated that we are still awaiting the decisions from the CUS on this issue. 8. 6.2 - STATEMENT OF RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF GRADUATE STUDENTS - with the agreement of the GSA, this will be a carryover item for our next meeting. 9. 6.3 - SELF EXAMINATION OF GRADUATE COMMISSION/APPOINTMEMT OF STUDY COM- MITTEES - Dr. Hooper noted that, in the documents that were distributed earlier in the meeting, there was a letter from Dr. Larry Moore con- cerning the restructuring of the governance system. Dr. Hooper noted that there will be a meeting on April 1 regarding this issue and asked the membership to review Dr. Moore's letter and refer all comments/suggestions to him before that time so he can present the view of the CGS on this topic. NEW BUSINESS 10. 7.2 - STATUS OF THE GTA TRAINING PROGRAM - Dr. Hooper asked that this issue be a carryover item for the next CGS meeting. 11. 7.3 - REQUEST FROM THE ACCOUNTING DEPARTMENT TO ELIMINATE THE COMPRE- HENSIVE EXAM FOR THE MASTER OF ACCOUNTANCY DEGREE - Dr. Robert Brown presented a request from the department for such an elimination. After a brief discussion regarding the requirements for such a degree, the similarities to our MBA program and to accountancy programs elsewhere, it was voted favorably by the membership to eliminate the comprehensive examination for the Master of Accountancy degree. 12. ADJOURNMENT - 5:08 p.m. Respectfully submitted, John L. Eaton Secretary
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