Minutes of the Graduate Committee

CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, FRESNO

5240 N. JACKSON AVENUE, M/S UC43
Fresno, California 93740-8023

Office of the Academic Senate
Ext. 8-2743

April 22, 2008

Members Present: T. Skeen (Acting Chair), Dean Dickerson,
T. Dull, G. Kriehn, N. Mahalik, R. Yazdipour.
Members Absent: M. Perez (Chair)(excused), C. Barnes (Student),
S. Brown-Welty (excused), Z. Wang (excused).
Visitor: Steve Lewis.

The meeting was called to order by Acting Chair Skeen at 2:00 p.m. in the
University Center, Room #203.

  1. Minutes: MSC to approve the Minutes of 4/15/08.
  2. Agenda: MSC to approve the Agenda as distributed.
  3. Communications and Announcements.
    a. T. Dull announced that the Executive Committee of the Faculty
    Senate approved this committee’s recommendations regarding
    APM 223 Interim Standards for Continuation and Procedures
    for Termination of a Graduate Program:
    Add II C 1 d—All graduate programs should have a
    recruitment/retention plan which is updated regularly;
    Add II E Program and Student Outcome Assessment, 1—All
    graduate programs should plan for periodic program review as
    required by the university that concludes with no serious issues
    to be resolved, 2—Student outcome assessment should take
    place as required within the program review;
    Revise II B 5 to read Theses, projects, and comprehensive
    examinations used as culminating experiences must be rigorous
    and demonstrate high standards of quality;
    On page 2, in the footnote, the word Policy should be plural and
    APM 226 - Policy on Graduate Faculty Groups for Doctoral Degree
    Programs should be added;
    The word Interim should be removed from the policy.
    b. Dean Dickerson announced the Graduate Recognition Expo
    4/22, and the Graduate Faculty Appreciation Reception 5/16.
  4. Master of Science in Geology Graduate Program Review –
    Time Certain 2:20 p.m.
    The committee discussed several areas of concern in the department.
    a. Revising the catalogue copy and look for opportunities to
    simplify/clarify the requirements;
    b. Using more direct assessment of student work;
    c. Creating a communication plan to better inform students and
    improve recruitment;
    d. Articulating a policy for inclusion into the graduate faculty
    group;
    e. Considering the project option as well as the thesis to improve
    retention rates;
    f. Continuing to work out the tensions between theoretical and
    traditional earth sciences; and
    g. Making the analysis and critique of student writing in the 201
    course part of the formal outcomes assessment process.
    The committee applauded Geology’s success at placing its graduates
    in high paying jobs in the region. Chair Lewis stressed to the
    committee that the department’s technical support funding level is
    entirely insufficient; as well there is not have enough space to allow
    the department to continue its present activities let alone to grow.

MSC to adjourn at 3:10 p.m.

The next scheduled meeting of the Graduate Committee is Tuesday, April
29, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. in the University Center, Room #203.

Agenda:

  1. Approval of Minutes of 4/22/08.
  2. Approval of the Agenda.
  3. Communications and Announcements.
  4. Graduate program review for Early Childhood Education and Reading
    Language - Time certain 2:20 p.m.

Download the PDF

This PDF is provided as a print-only reference document and may not be fully accessible to users of assistive technology. For more information, please visit Title II Rule on Digital Accessibility page.