Minutes of the Graduate Committee

CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, FRESNO
5240 N. Jackson Avenue, M/S UC 43
Fresno, California 93740-8023
Office of the Academic Senate Ext. 8-2743

May 5, 2009

Members Present: T. Skeen (Chair), K. Carey (ex officio), P. English, G. Kriehn,
N.P. Mahalik, S. Skelton, R Yazdipour.

Members Absent: S. Brown-Welty (excused), Z. Wang (excused).

Visitors: J. Larralde, J. Crossfield, T. Attard.

The meeting was called to order by Chair T. Skeen at 2:08 p.m. in University
Center, Room #203.

1. Minutes. MSC to approve the Minutes of 4/28/09.
2. Agenda. MSC to approve the Agenda as distributed.
3. Communications and Announcements.
   Research symposium on Thursday. Encourage students to attend at 1:00
   in Satellite Student Union. Students who stay from 1:00 - 8:00 eligible to
   win $200 off fall fees.
4. Civil Engineering program review (2:20 p.m. confirmed).
   a. Do we recommend the continuation of this program? Discussion
   of (SOAP) Student Outcome Assessment Plan (not included).
   b. Questions were asked about the viability of the program:
   1. The number of graduate students is 19-21. However,
   documentation for this data is needed.
   2. The program has nine full time faculty members.
   • Graduate writing and SOAP: The Program needs to look at
   SOAPs from other departments and develop a comprehensive
   plan. The program has planned surveys at this time. There
   was a discussion of further ideas for outcomes assessment.
   The main issue is how will they know that the students have
   the knowledge base required at the end of the program?
   Regarding the graduate writing requirement, students
   complete a research paper in one class and the grade for
   that paper determines if the requirement is passed.
   • The committee raised concerns about the uneven
   distribution of thesis students across the faculty. The
   program needs to address this.
   • The College of Engineering has received a donation from the
   Lyle’s Family. The program has put in requests to their Dean
   for some of the money. The proposed use of the money is to
   support research and to develop the labs.
   • The program’s distance learning program was discontinued.
   • Labs: The Soils and Structures labs are closed, which keeps
   students from completing research. The Dean of Graduate
   Studies has received complaints from students regarding
   this issue. The lab should reopen in a month.
   • The committee was impressed with the number of faculty
   publications.
5. Planning for end of year luncheon.
   Discussion.
   MSC to adjourn at 3:08 p.m.

The next scheduled meeting of the Graduate Committee is Tuesday, May 12,
2009 at 2:00 p.m. in the University Center, Room #203.

Agenda.

1. Approval of the Minutes of 5/5/09.
2. Approval of the Agenda.
3. Communications and Announcements.
4. Civil Engineering - Continued discussion.
5. Viticulture & Enology program review (2:20 p.m. confirmed).

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