Minutes of the Graduate Faculty Senate Meeting
October 24, 2006

The meeting was called to order by President Thomas Dougherty at 3:30 p.m. in 407F Cornell Hall.

Senators and administrative representatives attending: Stephanie Craft, Thomas Dougherty, Mark Fine, Margaret Grogan, Stephen Lombardo, James McGlew, Eileen Porter, Paul Speckman, Alan Strathman, Nancy West, Lee Wilkins, Debbie Lelekis (Graduate Student Association), Pam Benoit, Ron Drobney,and Ruth Erwin (Graduate School).

Senators and administrative representatives absent: Tony Lupo, Peter Markie, Jay Scribner, Steve Van Doren, and George Justice (Graduate School).

A motion and second were made to approve the minutes of the September 26, 2006 Graduate Faculty Senate meeting. The motion was approved.

Report from the Graduate School

Dr. Benoit reported that the Graduate School had just conducted a Summit for Departmental Contacts. This is as the result of departmental staff attending the Directors of Graduate Studies Summit. Items covered included: Graduate Fellowships, Working with International Students/Immigration Documents, International Teaching Assistant Program, Graduate Student Progress System, Graduate Student Support Programs/Graduate Insurance, Electronic Theses and Dissertations, Academic Program Forms, and the Graduate Admission Process. She indicated that hopefully this can be a yearly event. She also reported that she has been in a meeting with MSA representatives on discussion of English Proficiency for TA's. The group has set up a workshop for TA's on ways to use visual components to enhance their verbal skills. Also all TA's will use the MCAP and have mid-semester feedback on their teaching skills. At present Post Doctoral Fellows were not included in the English Proficiency testing. In the future all Post Doctoral Fellows will also be test for English Proficiency before teaching courses. She announced that SPAR has a subcommittee to promote collaborative and interdepartmental work on campus. Awards will be made to recognize these interdisciplinary achievements.

Report from the Graduate Student Association

Ms. Lelekis indicated that the last GSA meeting was October 10 and GSA is discussing the graduate housing issue and is working with the Graduate & Professional Council on plans. Another issue they are concerned with is the Print Quota, where graduate students have a set number of copies that can be printed thought IATS. Some departments have the ability allow students to print in the departments and do not have a set number of copies students can print. This is an issue for many students as they work on their thesis and dissertations. Ms. Lelekis indicated that graduate students are being encouraged to take advantage of seminars on campus. An upcoming seminar will be CV Doctors on October 31 in the Bookmark Café in Ellis Library. Invitations were extended to faculty to assist with the session. She indicated that Dr. Justice was hopefully that faculty who had experience judging academic applications or preparing their own students for the job market who stop by and offer assistance.

Action/Discussion Items

Classified Research Policy

A motion and second were made to approve the draft Policy that Dr. Drobney had prepared that incorporated items from both of Dr. Lombardo's drafts. The purpose of the policy is: 1) To identify research that is prohibited for use in theses and dissertations; 2) To clarify that research which restricted for theses and dissertations may be allowed in another context - Namely, if approved by the advisor and allowed by UM policies.

Dr. Drobney's revised policy is as follows:

Restricted Thesis and Dissertation Research Policy vs.. Limits on Publication Policy
Students are prohibited from using in their thesis or dissertation, research (data, results or methods) that could restrict subsequent publication or public disclosure of these documents. Examples of restricted information include materials which are classified, proprietary or copyrighted (without permission). It is important to note that these restrictions do not apply to non-thesis or dissertation research that is approved by the student's advisor and allowed by UM policies.

This policy came from two drafts submitted by Dr. Lombardo as follows:

Draft: Limits on Publication Policy

Version 1
Graduate students may participate in research that is approved by their advisor(s) and that is governed by MU policies. Students may be prohibited indefinitely, however, from publishing, including in their thesis or dissertation, information that needs to be kept out of the public domain. Such information may be, for example, classified, proprietary, or belong to another party.

Version 2
Although graduate students may participate in research that is approved by their advisor(s) and that is governed by MU policies, students may be prohibited indefinitely from publishing, including in their thesis or dissertation, information that needs to be kept out of the public domain. Such information may be, for example, classified, proprietary, or belong to another party.

Both Dr. Lombardo and Dr. Drobney gave background on their drafts.

Dr. Lombardo indicated that Dr. Drobney's revised draft incorporated all the points he was trying to make in his versions.

Dr. Porter presented a third draft on the policy. Her draft version is as follows:

DRAFT: Restrictions on Content in Theses and Dissertations

Purposed: To provide guidance to graduate students and advisers as to content that is prohibited for use in theses and dissertations. Such a policy is needed as one assurance that any work emanating from theses and dissertations will not be subject to restrictions upon publication or public disclosure.

Policy: Restrictions on Content in These and Dissertations

In theses and dissertations graduate students cannot use information that is (a) proprietary; (b) copyrighted (unless permission is sought, obtained, and documented as such in an appendix); or (c) considered classified by the federal government. Advisers, with assistance of program committees, are responsible for ensuring that graduate students comply with the policy. Questions about the nature of any particular information relative to (a), (b), or (c) above should be referred to the Graduate School.

Discussion followed. A motion and second were made to approved a revised policy as follows:

Restrictions on Content of Theses and Dissertations

Purpose:
To provide guidance to graduate students and advisors as to content that is prohibited for use in theses and dissertations. Such a policy is needed as one assurance that any work emanating from theses and dissertations may enter the public domain.

Policy:
Students are prohibited from using in their thesis or dissertation, research (data, results, methods, or other content) that could restrict subsequent publication or public disclosure of these documents. Examples of restricted information include materials which are classified or proprietary. It is important to note that these restrictions do not apply to non-thesis or dissertation research that is approved by the student's advisor and allowed by UM policies. Questions regarding the applicability of this policy to thesis or dissertation content should be referred to the Graduate School.

The motion was approved.

Program Changes in Psychological Sciences

Dr. Wilkins indicated that the Academic Affairs Committee did not have concerns with the program changes requested by Psychological Sciences. She indicated they felt the changes with minor changes in bookkeeping.

The changes are:

Program Change for MA in Psychology

• change name of Social Psychology emphasis area to Social/Personality Psychology
• add an emphasis area in Child Clinical & Developmental Psychology

Rationale:

• Name change for emphasis area Social Psychology to Social/Personality Psychology -- The faculty requests a name change from Social Psychology to Social/Personality Psychology because the new name would better describe the breadth of the program.
• Addition of an emphasis area in Child Clinical & Developmental Psychology - this emphasis area would require the student to complete the requirements established by the Clinical Training Committee and the Developmental Training Committee. This emphasis area will provide specialized training in developmental psychopathology, a rapidly emerging discipline concerned with the behavioral and emotional problems of children and adolescents. This MA is not intended to be a terminal degree, but a step on the way to the PhD in Psychology with an emphasis in Child Clinical & Developmental Psychology, as requested on the Program Change Form - PhD in Psychology below

Program Change for PhD in Psychology

• change name for emphasis are Social Psychology to Social/Personality Psychology
• add an emphasis area in Clinical & Quantitative Psychology
• add an emphasis area in Child Clinical & Development Psychology

Rationale:

• Name change for emphasis area Social Psychology to Social/Personality Psychology -- The faculty requests a name change from Social Psychology to Social/Personality Psychology because the new name would better describe the breadth of the program.
• Addition of an emphasis area in Child Clinical & Developmental Psychology - this emphasis area would require the student to complete the requirements established by the clinical training committee and the developmental training committee. This emphasis area will provide specialized training in developmental psychopathology, a rapidly emerging discipline concerned with the behavioral and emotional problems of children and adolescents.
• Addition of an emphasis area in Clinical & Quantitative Psychology - this emphasis area would require the student to complete the requirements established by both the clinical training committee and the quantitative training committee. Research on public health problems addressed by the field of clinical psychology has become increasingly sophisticated and demanding over the years. In order to demonstrate the effectiveness of prevention and treatment efforts, as well as to investigate the factors that contribute to the development of mental health problems, state-of-the-art quantitative methods and techniques are required. This emphasis area seeks to train future clinical scientists who are expert in these techniques and methods and, thus, can become leaders in the field of mental health.

Program Change for MS in Psychology

• Delete the MS Program in Psychology

Rationale:

• Removal of the option for an MS in Psychology -- Since the transfer of Counseling Psychology program to the College of Education, the Department of Psychological Science does not confer MS degrees. Therefore this option should be removed.

A motion and second were made to approved the program changes in Psychological Sciences as outlined. The motion was approved.

Community Development Emphasis Area

Dr. Wilkins indicated that she had met with Dr. Judy Stallman and indicated concerns that the Graduate Faculty Senate had with the proposal. Dr. Wilkins indicated to Dr. Stallman when Community Development has all the paperwork in progress the GFS would review the proposal. It was suggested to expedite the progress the GFS might want to conditionally approve the program pending approval of all courses need for the emphasis area. It was suggested that Dr. Stallman come to the meeting and bring the paperwork and present it to the GFS. Also suggest was review the Great Plains Initiative syllabus and determine what MU's contributions are for the emphasis area. Dr. Wilkins will invite Dr. Stallman to the November GFS meeting.

Other Business

Dr. Porter gave a brief report for the Awards Committee. She indicated that Dr. Justice had prepared a calendar of activities that the Awards Committee would be acting on during the upcoming year.

Dr. Dougherty announced that the Executive Committee needs to have a meeting prior to the full Senate meeting. A time will be determined that best meets the Executive Committee's schedule.

The meeting adjourned at 4:30 p.m.

Submitted by Ruth Erwin, Administrative Associate I
Ron Drobney, Associate Dean