Graduate Council Charge

November 30, 2011

Overall Charge

  • Ensure through periodic review, the integrity, consistency and efficacy of graduate policies, practices, procedures and programs.
  • Monitor the alignment of program and scholarship standards of the University with generally accepted practices in academe.
  • Provide data and rationale necessary for making graduate enrollment projections for the annual budget.
  • Assist in framing a cohesive face for the graduate programs on the web and in the University.
  • Report to Dean of Graduate Education in association with the School/College Deans and the Provost.

Initial Tasks - Fall 2011

  • Policy inventory
    • Assemble existing policies from each of the graduate programs such as:
      • Admission standards;
      • Dismissal criteria and procedures;
      • Capstone course;
      • Faculty qualifications; and
      • Expectations in mixed-level courses.
    • Identify common features.
    • Identify policy gaps.
  • Make enrollment projections for 2012-2013.
  • Contribute to dialogue with the Higher Learning Commission and respond to HLC initiatives (Begun Fall 2011 with response to Proposed Criteria for Accreditation).
  • Make recommendations on enhancements for graduate portion of the website.

Intermediate Tasks - Spring 2012

  • SXU website
    • Continue the refocusing of the graduate portion.
    • Post additional existing policy documents.
    • Create additional graduate focused resources.
  • Identify and address policy gaps based on policy inventory done in fall 2011.
  • Work with Faculty Senate and Deans Council to develop a role for Graduate Council in the review of curriculum changes and the evaluation of new programs.
  • Plan graduate faculty meeting for spring 2012.
  • Inventory capstone course policies, expectations in graduate courses and procedures used for identifying faculty qualified to teach graduate courses.

Tasks That Might be Added Later

  • Work with Faculty Senate and Deans Council to develop a role in the evaluation of existing programs -- This would not be to duplicate the role of outside accrediting bodies. It would be a more narrow focus, such as looking at how the program fits in the mission of SXU.
  • Explore the monitoring and fostering of quality.
  • Comment on and contribute to development of the budget.

Membership 2011-2012

Chair

Dale Fast
Dean of Graduate Education

College of Arts and Sciences

Khaled Alzoubi
Master of Applied Computer Science Program Director

Carol Szymanski
Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology Program Director:

Graham School of Management

Monzurul Hoque
Faculty member named by Dean

Robert Weierman
Executive Director of Graduate Program

School of Education

Mitra Fallahi
Associate Dean of Graduate Studies

Julie Reinhart
Faculty member named by Dean

School of Nursing

Julie Buenting
Associate Dean of Graduate Program

Student Member

Peter Kreten
Appointed by Dean of the School of Education (non-voting)


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