Graduate Faculty Council Meeting Minutes: March 29, 2000


United Nations Room, Student Union
3:00 P.M.

  1. The meeting was called to order at 3:10 P.M. Vice Provost Robert V. 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 26, 2000.
  3. R. Smith noted these updates and announcements:
    • Rita R. Colwell, Director of the National Science Foundation, and Jules B. LaPidus, President of the Council of Graduate Schools, will receive honorary doctorates at the graduate Commencement ceremony in May. Colwell will deliver the Commencement address, and LaPidus will address the University community on Friday, 5-19-2000.
    • The graduate Commencement ceremony will be videostreamed on the UConn Web site.
    • To facilitate more effective planning and allocation of resources, serious consideration is being given to moving up to the first day of classes the date by which graduate students must complete their initial registration in a Fall or Spring semester (as requested by Susan Steele, Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education and Instruction). There has been no significant opposition to this change to date.
  4. J. Henkel was recognized to read the following resolution:
    • 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 21, 2000; August 31, 2000; and December 31, 2000.
    • Adoption of the resolution was moved and seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
  5. Frank Labato and Stefan Wawzyniecki of Environmental Health and Safety demonstrated a computer-based laboratory safety training module. The need for campus-wide support for this laboratory safety training program was discussed.
  6. J. Henkel introduced a draft document submitted to the Council for discussion by the Task Force on Best Practices in Graduate Education.
    • Among the many topics discussed were:
      • Truth in advertising
      • Support for graduate student travel, including giving papers and attendance at conferences
      • Professional development of graduate students
      • Bringing journals to campus to enhance program quality
      • Recruitment, including travel support to bring high quality prospective students to campus
      • Timely processing and packaging of need-based financial aid
  7. Adjournment was at 4:50 PM.

Respectfully submitted,


Thomas B. Peters
Secretary

Present:
  • Abikoff, W.
  • Achenie, L.
  • Andrle, R.
  • Blank, T.
  • Blom, M.
  • Boskovic, Z.
  • Clifford, J.G.
  • Crow, L.
  • Frogley, A.
  • Galligan, J.
  • Haller, K.
  • Hamilton, M.
  • Hansen, H. (alt)
  • Higonnet, M.
  • Katz, L.
  • Lipsky, L.
  • Maresh, C.
  • Marsden, J.
  • McAvoy, R.
  • McNeal, R.
  • Miller, A. (alt)
  • Miller, D.
  • Nair, S.
  • Schultz, E.
  • Warner, G.

Graduate School:

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

Speakers: Frank Labato and Stefan Wawzyniecki, Environmental Health and Safety

Regrets:

  • Anderson, G.
  • Bohlen, W.F.
  • Chinn, P.
  • Epstein, P.
  • Maxwell, G.
  • Ratneshwar, S.
  • Rodriguez, N.
  • Strausbaugh, L.
  • Tanzer, J.