Executive Committee Meeting Minutes: January 7, 2000


Thomas J. Dodd Research Center, room 162
2:00 P.M.

  1. The meeting was called to order at 2:05 P.M. Vice Provost Robert Smith presided.
  2. It was moved, seconded, and passed without dissent on a voice vote to approve as distributed the minutes of the 11-12-1999 meeting.
  3. It was moved, seconded, and passed without dissent on a voice vote to approve the list of Plans of Study and Dissertation Proposals.
  4. A proposal to realign some of the constituencies of the Graduate Faculty Council and to provide direct representation for certain Fields of Study was introduced by J. Henkel. There was discussion. It was agreed that there should be communication concerning the proposed changes with the members of the affected constituencies prior to any final action on the proposal. There was discussion about those constituencies which represent two (or more) distinct degree programs. It was noted that a degree program not represented by an elected member of the Council can choose to have an observer attend Council meetings.
    • Following discussion, it was moved, seconded, and passed without dissent on a voice vote to present the proposal as distributed [see attachment #3 to the 1-7-2000 agenda] to the full Council for consideration, discussion, and action.
  5. A request from the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology seeking approval the Satisfactory/ Unsatisfactory (S/U) grading option for four courses was considered. The courses are: EEB 480 - Seminar in Vertebrate Biology, EEB 481 - Biodiversity Seminar, EEB 483 - Seminar in Marine Biology, and EEB 485 - Seminar in Comparative Biology.
    • It was moved, seconded, and passed to approve the request for each of the four courses.
  6. A recommendation was considered to change the name of the Molecular Biology and Biochemistry Area of Concentration under Field of Study Biomedical Science to Genetics, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry. G. Carmichael explained the rationale for the requested change.
    • It was moved, seconded, and passed without dissent on a voice vote to approve the change of name as recommended.
  7. A proposal from the School of Business Administration to modify the curriculum of the full-time Master of Business Administration curriculum (offered at the Storrs campus) was considered. J. Henkel explained the main points and rationale. (The proposal calls for no change in the part-time M.B.A. program offered at Hartford and Stamford).
    • For the Storrs full-time M.B.A. program, two existing Areas of Concentration--Finance and Health Care Management--would be retained. Three new Areas of Concentration--Information Technology, Interactive Marketing, and Management Consulting--would be added. No other existing Areas of Concentration would be available to Storrs M.B.A. students.
    • Following discussion, it was moved, seconded, and passed without dissent on a voice vote to approve the proposal as presented.
      GFC Executive Committee, 1-7-2000 2
  8. A proposal received from a faculty member concerning the proposed Plan of Study for a Ph.D. student was considered and discussed. Some aspects of the proposed Plan were questioned vis-à-vis the minimum requirements for the Ph.D. degree as set forth by the Graduate School. Recommendations for modifications to the proposal were identified. It was agreed that the recommendations would be referred to the faculty member.
  9. It was agreed to call a meeting of the Graduate Faculty Council for Wednesday, January 26, 2000. Agenda items for the meeting will include: an election to fill two seats on the GFC Executive Committee, consideration of the proposal to reapportion the constituencies of the Graduate Faculty Council (see #4 above), and a report on the status of the Chancellor search.
  10. There were several announcements and updates.
  11. The Executive Committee extended its unanimous thanks for outstanding service to members Gregory Anderson, Domenico Grasso, and Stephen Sacks. Each has completed a three-year term on the Committee.
  12. Adjournment was at 3:52 PM.

Present:

  • Anderson, G.
  • Carmichael, G.
  • Faghri, P.
  • Henkel, J. (Associate Vice Provost)
  • Marsden, J.
  • Maxwell, G. (Associate Dean)
  • Pagoulatos, E.
  • Peters, T. (Assistant Dean)
  • Sacks, S.
  • Strausbaugh, L.
  • Smith, R. (Vice Provost)

Regrets:

  • Epling, G.


Respectfully submitted,

Thomas B. Peters
Secretary