Executive Committee Meeting Minutes: October 20, 2000

Whetten Graduate Center - Giolas Conference Room
2:15 P.M.

  1. The meeting was called to order at 2:21 P.M. Interim Vice Provost Ian C. Hart presided.
  2. It was moved (D. Herzberger), seconded (G. Anderson), and passed without dissent on a voice vote to approve as distributed the minutes of the 9-1-2000 meeting.
  3. It was moved (G. Anderson), seconded (D. Herzberger), and passed without dissent on a voice vote to approve the list of Plans of Study and Dissertation Proposals.
  4. A request from the Department of Psychology to change the name of Area of Concentration Child and Developmental under Field of Study Psychology to Developmental was considered and discussed.
    • It was moved (G. Anderson), seconded (D. Herzberger), and passed without dissent on a voice vote to approve the change of name as requested.
  5. The following topics were discussed:
    • Draft - Policy on Faculty Professional Responsibilities -
      • Concerning point 3 on page 5, members recommended deleting the bolded sentence and bolding the remaining sentence (which would stand alone as point 3). Members also recommended that each occurrence in the draft document of words such as should, will, and shall should be reviewed for appropriateness and consistency. As an example, it was noted that the second word of point 2 on page 5 should be changed from will to should. No other specific modifications in the draft document were recommended.
    • Preparations for the external review planned by the Chancellor -
      • It was suggested that members bring to the next meeting recommendations of any specific areas within graduate education and research that the review team should study. Related to this topic, J. Henkel expressed interest in considering seven-year reviews of the Graduate School itself (in the same manner that Fields of Study are reviewed).
    • Housing for graduate students -
      • Concern was expressed about the need for expanded on-campus housing opportunities for graduate students--including housing for students with spouses and/or children. Housing for graduate students must operate on a twelve-month basis without interruption (e.g., during holidays and vacations). It was noted that there should be graduate-student representation on any committee or group involved in the design of these new facilities. J. Henkel recommended that the Committee develop some talking points concerning housing and invite Vicky Triponey and Carole Henry to a meeting of the Graduate Faculty Council to discuss them.
    • Reconstituting the Research Support Committee -
      • I . Hart shared ideas about the membership of the reconstituted committee, which will be charged to explore impediments to conducting research at UConn. By vote of the Graduate Faculty Council at its 9-27-2000 meeting, the group will include Council members as well as additional faculty members appointed by the Interim Vice Provost. There was discussion about including representatives from the arts, the humanities, and from the School of Education as well as from the social sciences and the sciences.
    • Graduate student morale -
      • It was noted graduate students have concerns about a wide range issues. It was agreed that consideration should be given to inviting Karen Cajka and Roxanne Donovan (the Graduate Student Senate representatives to the Graduate Faculty Council) to a future meeting of the GFC Executive Committee to discuss these concerns.
  6. There was discussion about the newly-proposed modifications to the General Education requirements and about aspects of the planned implementation process. G. Anderson recommended that a sub-committee of the Executive Committee or of the full Council be established to review this matter, particularly with respect to any impact on graduate education and research.
  7. J. Henkel noted that an upcoming issue of the UConn Advance will highlight graduate education and research. A variety of ideas were discussed.
  8. G. Anderson, University Senate Liaison, reported on a variety of matters including: PTR forms, possible changes in the University calendar, review of student fees, expansion of the Deans' Council to include faculty and student representatives, and the processing of special student situations related to course final examinations.
  9. It was determined that the Graduate Faculty Council will not meet this month.
  10. The next meeting of the Executive Committee will be Friday, 11-3-2000.
  11. Adjournment was at 4:07 PM.

Present:

  • Anderson, G.
  • Faghri, P.
  • Hart, I. (Interim Vice Provost)
  • Henkel, J. (Associate Vice Provost)
  • Herzberger, D.
  • Maresh, C.
  • Marsden, J.
  • Peters, T. (Assistant Dean)

Regrets:

  • Carmichael, G.
  • Epling, G.
  • Maxwell, G.
  • Pagoulatos, E. (on leave Fall 2000)
  • Strausbaugh, L.


Respectfully submitted,

Thomas B. Peters
Secretary