March 20, 2007

The Tempe Graduate Council met on Tuesday, March 20, 2007, at 2:30 p.m. in Administration B building, Room 286. Graduate College (GC)Associate Dean Filiz Ozel presided.

Also in attendance were University Vice Provost and Dean of Graduate Studies Allison; Graduate College Deans Dickson, Lindquist and Webber; Professors Diaz, Newman, Thompson and Tsui; and student member Aubin.

Excused: Professors Barrett, Koonce, and Savenye

The minutes for the February 27, 2007 meeting received approval.

Dean Ozel welcomed the Council members and explained that the first item on the agenda, the proposal to disestablish the Doctor of Nursing (DNS) degree in the College of Nursing and Healthcare Innovation was an information only item for Council members to review. She also shared that this proposal was the companion piece to the implementation proposal for the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Nursing and Healthcare Innovation degree that was approved by Council members last month.

University Vice Provost and Dean of Graduate Studies Allison spoke to the Graduate Council members concerning some upcoming changes including the new University Graduate Faculty Status Model that will replace the current Affiliated Faculty Status Model. She shared that there might be a need for volunteers from Graduate Council to be part of the new Graduate Faculty Planning Committee in the future. Dr. David Young in his new position as the University Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs has established a new university-wide Curriculum Planning Committee that will review all undergraduate and graduate curricular initiative proposals. The last change that Dean Allison spoke about was the pending name change for the Graduate College back to the Graduate College that will go before the Arizona Board of Regents very soon. She concluded by telling Council members that the Graduate College will host some interdisciplinary degree programs that will be administered by GC with Executive Committee representation from the faculty involved with offering the degree.

Two groups (group A and group B) reviewed one proposal each this month. Group A reviewed the proposal to establish an Interdisciplinary Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree in Biological Design, administered by the Graduate College. Prior to the meeting, questions received from members of Group A regarding this proposal were forwarded to the unit, and the responses of the unit were incorporated into the proposal. There was an additional question from the Council members regarding clarification of the necessary required entry level skills and competencies for students. The proposal to establish an Interdisciplinary Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree in Biological Design received recommendation for approval pending minor revisions.

Group B reviewed the proposal to establish a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree in Construction in the Del E. Webb School of Construction within the Ira A. Fulton School of Engineering. Prior to the meeting, questions received from members of Group B regarding this proposal were forwarded to the unit, and the responses of the unit were incorporated into the proposal. There was an additional question from the Council members regarding student teaching responsibilities. The proposal to establish a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree in Construction received recommendation for approval pending minor revisions regarding further clarification of student teaching responsibilities.

The meeting adjourned at 4:01 p.m.

Submitted by:

Denise M. Campbell