Graduate Faculty Council Meeting Minutes: April 28, 1999

United Nations Room, Student Union
2:00 P. M.

  1. The meeting was called to order at 2:09 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 meeting of January 27, 1999.
  3. J. Henkel was recognized and moved adoption of the following:
    • AUTHORIZATION TO CONFER GRADUATE DEGREES
      • It is recommended that the degrees of Master of Arts, Master of Business Administration, Master of Dental Science, Master of Fine Arts, Master of Music, Master of Public Affairs, Master of Public Health, Master of Science, Master of Science in Physical Therapy, Master of Social Work, Doctor of Musical Arts, and Doctor of Philosophy be conferred on those candidates who have satisfied all requirements and have been duly certified by the Graduate School for award of said degrees throughout the conferral periods ending May 16, 1999; August 31, 1999; and December 31, 1999.
    • The motion was seconded, and it passed unanimously on a voice vote.
  4. R. Smith introduced Chancellor Mark Emmert and Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education and Instruction Susan Steele who were present to discuss and to respond to questions concerning plans and projections for the University's enrollment.
    • Emmert noted that the University of Connecticut (UConn) is ranked by the Carnegie Commission as a Research I university. This is the highest ranking among research universities. The ranking is based on certain measures of doctoral-degree productivity and research funding. Emmert added that UConn has the smallest enrollment of all of the public Research I universities. He observed that peer institutions grew at rapid rates back in the 1960's while UConn's rate of growth was much smaller. UConn's relative smaller size today in many ways puts the University at a disadvantage because there are fewer (primarily undergraduate and professional) students than there otherwise might be to generate tuition dollars. Tuition represents about one-quarter of the University's current operating budget. Emmert noted also that UConn's undergraduate enrollment has dipped significantly (approximately 20%) since the late 1980's. Modest gains in enrollment are being realized at this time.
    • Steele noted that several enrollment models have been considered and discussed in recent months. She suggested that an important growth area would be students who pay out-of-state tuition since the rate is significantly higher than in-state tuition.
    • Both Steele and Emmert spoke about the advantages of increasing somewhat the percentage of out-of-state students in the total enrollment while preserving the institution's ability to accommodate academically qualified in-state applicants. Emmert noted that a recent national survey determined that a large percentage of students accept their first job and remain for at least one year in the state in which they pursued their undergraduate education.
    • A recurring theme throughout the discussion was the importance of maintaining current levels of doctoral and research master's degree enrollment while at the same time seeking to increase levels of undergraduate and professional (including professional master's) enrollment.
  5. Adjournment was at 3:45 P.M.

Respectfully submitted,

Thomas B. Peters
Secretary

Present:

  • Abikoff, W.
  • Anderson, G.
  • Bansal, R.
  • Biggs, S.
  • Blank, T.
  • Cajka, K.
  • Chinn, P.
  • Craig, J.
  • Enderle, J.
  • Frogley, A.
  • Galligan, J.
  • Haller, K.
  • Hamilton, M.
  • Hill, D.
  • Iwanicki, E.
  • Knox, J.R.
  • Kuo, L.
  • Korn, S.
  • Leonard, J.
  • Lipsky, L.
  • Maresh, C.
  • Marsden, J.I.
  • McNeal, R.
  • Miller, D.B.
  • Murphy, B.
  • Pikal, M.
  • Pitchumani, R. (alt)
  • Rodriguez, N.
  • Sacks, S.
  • Schultz, E.
  • Strausbaugh, L.
  • Westberg, K.

Executive Committee: Grasso, D.

Graduate School:

  • Smith, R.
  • Henkel, J.
  • Peters, T.

Speakers: Mark Emmert, Chancellor for University Affairs; Susan Steele, Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education and Instruction

Regrets:

  • Baldwin, A.
  • Bee, R.
  • Carmichael, G.
  • Hand, A.
  • Ratneshwar, S.
  • Warner, G.