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Governance Minutes ArchiveFebruary 5, 1992
MINUTES VPI&SU COMMISSION ON GRADUATE STUDIES 5 FEBRUARY, 1992 3:30 P.M. 206 SANDY HALL Present: Drs. Boyle, Brown, Eaton, Harris, Hooper, M. Johnson, R. Johnson, McCoy, Niles, O'Brien, Snoke, Sporakowski, Mr. Jay Comeaux Absent with notification: Eaton, LaBerge, Lutze, Orcutt, Stephenson, Stout, Tideman Absent: Strickland, Townsend, Faw Visitors: Marvin Foushee - Registrars Office Susan Trulove - Spectrum Representative Cortney Vargo - GSA Representative Jennifer Tank - GSA Representative 1. ANNOUNCEMENTS - Dr. Hooper distributed a letter regarding tax seminars. The Graduate School, in conjunction with Beta Alpha Psi, will offer two tax workshops for graduate and international students. These workshops will be held in Room 1640, Litton Reaves Hall, March 20 from 3:00-6:00 PM and on March 21 from 9:00 AM - Noon. Other tax assistance workshops will be conducted by Beta Alpha Psi on February 21, 29, March 28, April 4 and 11, 1992. Virginia Tech undergraduate and graduate students have represented the University well in Richmond presenting the student's and University's views on issues relating to tuition and other student issues. Dr. Bernard LaBerge is out of town on a business matters and will pres- ent a graduate student health insurance update at a future meeting. Dr. Martha Johnson announced that the Outstanding TA and Service Awards nomination deadline is February 11, 1992. These nominations will be reviewed on February 13, 1992. 2. INFORMATIONAL HANDOUTS - (1) Tax seminar announcement letter; (2) Grad- uate Taxation Issues memorandum; (3) Assessment Update article by Margaret A. Miller; (4) College of Education publication, "Preparing Tomorrow's Leaders". 3. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA - The agenda was approved with the addition (un- der new business) of 8.3 - Senior GTA Discussion. 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF 15 JANUARY 1992 - the minutes were approved as amended. 5. COMMITTEE REPORTS Course and Program Criteria Committee - Dr. O'Brien's presented the committee's report of their meeting of January 29, 1992. The report was accepted as submitted. Graduate Student Relations Committee - Dr. Brown stated that the committee is studying informational sources for graduate students. Cortney Vargo, GSA representative, stated that combination of the GSA office and the Graduate School offices should be the best sources of information available to the students. Degree Requirements, Standards, Criteria and Academic Policies Committee - Dr. Sporakowski stated that revisions are complete on the Policy Memorandum 14 statement. The revised statement will be available for discussion at the next CGS meeting. The CPAP residency proposal has also been discussed and evaluated. The committee has made recommendations and will submit those at the next CGS meeting for discussion and CGS membership approval. Scholarship Committee - In Dr. Eaton's absence, Dr. Hooper stated that the next meeting of this committee will be on 2/21/92. At this meeting, the committee will deal with Cunningham applications and with Instructional Fee Scholarship policies for next year. Commencement - Martha Johnson announced that the inserts announcing the doctoral ceremony have been ordered by the University Bookstore. Ad hoc Committee on Enrollment - Dr. Hooper stated that, under the direction of Jim Wolfe, the Provost's Office is leading discussion with the college deans regarding limiting the enrollment of entering students in order to hold steady the size of the total graduate student body. A study of the five year average enrollments by college shows that there are four colleges whose student enrollment is currently growing substantially. We are now trying to find a formula to take back to the deans to suggest appropriate levels of entering students with the understanding that the individual colleges would internally deal with setting enrollment targets (both undergraduate and graduate). 6. GRADUATE STUDENT ASSEMBLY - Courtney Vargo, Secretary of the GSA, stated that the GSA has been working closely with the SGA on the budget response activities. The "Letter Signing Campaign" was successful. A packet of signatures was sent to every legislator in the state and 60-70 responses were received back. A group of 25 students went to Richmond on the week of January 27, 1992. Ken Kahn, GSA represen- tative, and two UVA students testified in front of the House Appropri- ations Sub-Committee on Higher Education to offer specific solutions and outlined problems. They also met with Secretary of Education, James Dyke. The following day a rally was held on the Virginia Tech drill field with approximately 2,000 people in attendance to raise awareness with the students. The Graduate Research Symposium will be coming up the end of March. An exact date will be announced at a future meeting. Two committees, a Social Committee and a Committee on Disabilities, have been formed. These committees have been formed as support commit- tees. Elections will held at the next GSA meeting. Jennifer Tank was recognized for her participation in a national tele- conference sponsored by GEM. A copy of the video tape of this telecon- ference is available in Martha Johnson's office in the Graduate School. OLD BUSINESS 7. 7.1 - GRADUATE STUDENT TUITION - Dr. Hooper stated that the concept of different tuition rates for students who have completed all their de- gree requirements is being analyzed. He hopes to present a report at future CGS meeting. 8. 7.2 - GA, GTA, GRA DEFINITIONS - Dr. Hooper presented the current de- finitions of GA, GTA and GRA to the membership. He also presented pro- posed changes that were suggested at CGS meetings in 1989 and 1990. Dr. Hooper noted that assistantships have traditionally been based upon the "hours" system. One specific change, suggested earlier, was to list a normal work load as being equivalent to one-fourth faculty ef- fort. These changes are being initiated so that a student and/or fac- ulty member will be sure of just exactly what is expected from someone who would be on an assistantship. After discussion, Dr. Snoke noted that all proposed changes were not included in the agenda that the mem- bership had received. Dr. Hooper suggested that all previous recom- mended changes be retrieved from past minutes and included in an agenda for the next meeting. 9. 7.3 - ELECTION OF A CHAIR FOR 1992-93 - Dr. Hooper noted that he had recently received instructions regarding the restructuring of the Com- mission on Graduate Studies and Policies. This proposal outlines the structure and charge of the Commission on Graduate Studies and Policies in the upcoming sessions. The proposal also outlines the election of the chair of the commission. Dr. Hooper stated that the proposal calls for the chair to be elected from among the non-administrative faculty and staff members of the commission by the commission membership. Copies of the CGS restructuring outline will be distributed at the next meeting. NEW BUSINESS 10. 8.1 - REEXAMINATION OF THE PH.D. RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS - Dr. Hooper asked that the Degree Requirements, Standards, Criteria and Academic Policies Committee, chaired by Mike Sporakowski, reaffirm and/or exam- ine residency requirements. Dr. Snoke noted that, in the committee's efforts to examine the North- ern Virginia Campus CPAP program, the committee found that a basic problem that exists is the literal wording of the residency policy. Dr. Snoke suggested that the entire CGS membership should consider the aspects of the residency requirements and bring their views back to a future CGS meeting. Dr. Hooper asked that Dr. Sporakowski's committee focus the discussion for the CGS members and bring up the changes that the committee feels is necessary. 11. 8.2 - INITIATING A STUDY OF A PROPOSAL FOR JOINT DEGREE PROGRAMS - Dr. Hooper noted that Dr. Eaton is collecting materials to present at a fu- ture meeting to study joint/dual degree programs so that students can gain recognition for their efforts. 12. 8.3 - SENIOR GTA DISCUSSION - Dr. Hooper asked that Dr. Sporakowski's committee, Degree Requirements, Standards, Criteria and Academic Poli- cies Committee study a draft proposal for a new assistantship title, "Senior Teaching Assistant". Dr. Hooper stated that just as there is a GPA in the Research area where students take on considerable responsi- bility, we have GTAs who have responsibility far in excess of the aver- age assignment for a GTA. They act as a direct extension of the faculty in the department administration. We are trying to recognize their efforts in such a way that we can pay those individuals more money for that added work and recognize them by a more appropriate ti- tle. 13. ADJOURNMENT - 4:47 p.m. Respectfully submitted, John L. Eaton Secretary
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