Executive Committee Meeting Minutes: September 18, 2001

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

  1. The meeting was called to order at 1:35 P.M. Interim Vice Provost Ian Hart presided.
  2. I. Hart noted the profound sense of loss being felt throughout the University and the community with the recent and
    untimely passing of Gary Epling, Professor and Department Head of Chemistry and a long-time member of the
    Graduate Faculty Council and the Executive Committee. Hart spoke of Epling's many contributions over the years,
    especially in the graduate education and research arenas. The group expressed its collective sorrow.
  3. It was moved, seconded, and passed without dissent on a voice vote to approve as distributed the minutes of the
    06-8-2001 meeting.
  4. It was moved, seconded, and passed without dissent on a voice vote to approve the list of Plans of Study and
    Dissertation Proposals.
  5. I. Hart updated the group in terms of developments over the summer concerning the impact of the report written by
    George Dambach. Dambach is Vice President for Research and Dean of the Graduate School at Wayne State
    University and was asked recently by the Chancellor to review UConn's research activities and to report his
    impressions and provide recommendations. The report has been considered and discussed by senior administration. In
    order to consider the several aspects of the report in greater depth, Hart and Chancellor Petersen have appointed three
    task forces: the Chancellor's Research Policy Committee, the Chancellor's Committee on Specialized Service
    Centers, and the Cost Accounting Committee.
  6. J. Henkel reported on the implementation of the new PeopleSoft student records software. Graduate students were the first to use the new software for course registration this semester. He spoke about some of the problems that were encountered and steps that have been taken to address them. Henkel noted that undergraduate students will begin to use the new system in early November to register for Spring 2002 courses and that many faculty and administrative staff have received training in the use of the new system.
  7. There was discussion about developing a policy and procedure by which to implement the motion passed at the March 30 / April 3, 2001 special meeting which established a rate of 5% of tuition (or the equivalent fee) to be realized from entrepreneurial degree programs to create a fund that would provide seed money for the development of new entrepreneurial graduate programs. The fund would be administered by the Office of the Vice Provost for Research and Graduate Education. Linda Strausbaugh led the discussion. She explained that support for three new entrepreneurial graduate programs has been secured from the Sloan Foundation. These are terminal master's programs in Mathematics, Genetics, and Microbiology designed for students who need professional master's-level preparation (as opposed to the master's degree serving only as recognition for unsuccessful doctoral students). Strausbaugh noted that the 5% rate described above has been included in the planning of these programs. It was noted that similar arrangements might exist at other institutions and these could be explored. I. Hart recommended that the Vice Provost report periodically to the Executive Committee on the use and distribution of funds realized in this manner. It was noted that such monies would not be used for salaries or other basic operating expenses of the Graduate School and that clear guidelines should be developed concerning the use(s) of the new fund.

    It was agreed that L. Strausbaugh and J. Henkel will draft a proposed policy and procedure and present it for consideration at a future meeting.

  8. A request received from the M.B.A. program to authorize the Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory (S/U) grading option for the
    course section MGMT 396 (01) - Special Topics in Management was considered and discussed. Enrollment in this
    course section has been required as the classroom component of Curricular Practical Training for international students enrolled in the Storrs M.B.A. program. There was discussion about alternatives to course registration for satisfying
    Immigration and Naturalization Service requirements in this regard. It also was noted that the new PeopleSoft student
    records software would not have the capability of grading individual sections of this particular course differently from
    other sections. It was agreed that this information would be passed on to the Storrs M.B.A. program.

    It was moved, seconded, and passed without dissent on a voice vote to table the matter.

  9. Adjournment was at 3:14 P.M.

Present:

  • Faghri, P.
  • Hart, I. (Interim ViceProvost)
  • Henkel, J. (Associate Vice Provost)
  • Herzberger, D.
  • Maresh, C.
  • Marsden, J.
  • Maxwell, G. (Associate Dean)
  • Pagoulatos, E.
  • Peters, T. (Assistant Dean)
  • Strausbaugh, L.

Regrets:

  • Anderson, G.


Respectfully submitted,

Thomas B. Peters
Secretary