GRADUATE COUNCIL MINUTES
547th Meeting
November 1, 2004
MEMBERS PRESENT: Abdel-Motaleb, Arado, Biswas, Bose, Campbell, Carnahan, Castle
(for Jackson), Changnon, Cole, Darrah, Factor, Gupta, Harris, Holt (for Lockard),
Hurych, Johnson, Karonis, Swanson, Waas
MEMBERS ABSENT: Fernald, Lim, Miranda, Muskievicz, Nuzzo, Richgels, Rose, Russell, Schneider, Willis
OTHERS PRESENT: Sandra Arntz (Secretary), Debra Pierce (International Programs), Paul Stoddard (University Council), Kay Van Mol (Catalog Editor/ Curriculum Coordinator)
Rathindra Bose, Vice President for Research and Dean of the Graduate School,
called the meeting to order at 10 a.m. The October 4, 2004 minutes were moved
for approval by Hurych, seconded by Abdel-Motaleb, and carried unanimously.
Debra Pierce, Director of International Programs, addressed the committee
to explain further ramifications of 9/11. Pierce explained that the Social Security
Administration is tightening procedures for obtaining a social security number
for international students. While graduate students with assistantships will
still be able to obtain social security numbers, those graduate students without
assistantships will not be able to obtain social security numbers without documented
job offers. Not having a social security number will inevitably lead to difficulties
for these students, particularly in obtaining a driver’s license, obtaining
a cell phone, obtaining housing, etc. There is an urgent need to find another
mechanism to allow students that are not employed to obtain social security
numbers. Pierce explained that a significant number of international students
are on campus under their own support, and may decide to go elsewhere if a solution
to the social security number issue is not resolved. Furthermore, our ability
to attract highly qualified international students will be significantly hindered.
Many American institutions have been lobbying to get these requirements modified,
but have not yet been successful.
Committee Reports
Graduate Council Curriculum Committee
Harris moved to approve the committee’s recommendations, seconded by Abdel-Motaleb. The following new courses, course deletions, course revisions, and other changes in catalog copy were approved.
ALL-UNIVERSITY SECTION
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Requirements for Graduate Degrees Student-at-large, Study-Abroad, and Transfer Credit
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In the Department of English no more than 15 semester hours of transfer work and/or credit earned as a student-at-large may be applied toward a graduate degree (addition)
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COLLEGE OF BUSINESS
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College Introductory Section
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College Mission Statement (revisions)
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COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
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Department of Counseling, Adult and Higher Education
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CAHC 525, 550 (revisions) Master of Science in Education in Counseling (revisions)
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Department of Educational Technology, Research and Assessment
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ETT *455 (deletion, Graduate Catalog only)
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Department of Leadership, Educational Psychology and Foundations
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EPS 579 (course revision)
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Department of Teaching and Learning
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TLCI 609, 652 (course additions)
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COLLEGE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SCIENCES
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College Introductory Section
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IHHS *450 (course revision)
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COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS AND SCIENCES
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Department of Biological Sciences
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BIOS *478 (course addition)
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Department of English
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ENGL 546 (course addition) Introductory material (revisions) Footnote 4 (revisions)
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Department of Geography
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GEOG *430, *453 (course revisions)
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Department of Geology & Environmental Geosciences
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GEOL *429 (course revision) Certificate of Graduate Study – Earth Science Education (revisions)
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Department of Mathematical Sciences
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MATH 539 (course addition) Master of Science in Mathematics – Specializations in Applied Mathematics and Computational Mathematics (revisions) Doctor of Philosophy in Mathematical Sciences – Course Requirements (revisions)
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Department of Political Science
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POLS *404, *405, *432, *460 (course deletions) POLS *480 (course revisions)
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Department of Psychology
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PSYC 579, 699A (course revisions)
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| ALL-UNIVERSITY CHANGE/BACK SECTIONS | IDSP *493 (course addition) |
Graduate Fellowship Committee
Gupta reported that the Fellowship Committee met last week. Only 4 theses were submitted, and fellowship support will remain at the same level as in former years.
New Business
Student Grievance Procedure Task Force: Paul Stoddard, University Council, explained to the committee that the University Council has issued a charge to the Faculty Senate to develop a student grievance procedure. It is stipulated that the task force include two graduate or professional students appointed by the Graduate Council. It was agreed that the Graduate Council committee members will forward nominations to the Graduate School, and that the nominations will be voted on in the next Graduate Council meeting.
Old Business
Graduate students’ stipend levels: Carnahan reported that NIU’s stipend levels are below the 25th percentile of the national norms. Bose reported that this information needs to be discussed with university administrators for competitive recruiting and is asking all departments to provide him with information relative to their stipend levels compared to comparable departments in other universities.
The meeting was adjourned at 11 a.m.