Council of Graduate School Programs
Regular Meeting
April 5, 2002
Marquette Center, Room 30,
Water Tower Campus
MINUTES
[Approved, April 26, 2002]
Members Present: Gad Bensinger, Barney Berlin, Pamela Caughie (chair), Susan Cavallo, David Chinitz, Andrew Cutrofello, Fran Daly, Joseph Durlak, Susan Hirsch, Claudio Katz, Fred Kniss, Randolph Lucente, Michael Maher, Marcia Maurer, Joan McLane, Steven Michels, Duarte Mota de Freitas, E.J. Neafsey, Jon Nilson, Timothy O'Connell (for Mary Elsbernd, O.S.F.), Marie Opatrny, David Ozar, Diane Suter, Pauline Viviano, Yolande Wersching.
Members Excused: Steven Brown, Adam Driks, Mary Elsbernd, O.S.F., Thackery Gray, Maureen Hellwig, James Keenan, Mary Manteuffel.
Members Not Present: Martin Buntinas, Jawed Fareed, Mark Frasier, Stephen Jones, Alan Wolfe, Ta-Tanisha Young.
Graduate School Deans: Trevor Bechtel, Max Caproni, Andrew Chludzinski, Marianne Gramza, William Yost.
Guests: Michael Garanzini, S.J. (president, Loyola University Chicago), Mark Kuczewski (director, Neiswanger Institute for Bioethics and Health Policy), Thomas Wren (Department of Philosophy).
Call to Order
Pamela Caughie, chair of the Council, called the meeting to order at 1:05 p.m.
Dean's Report
William Yost distributed a written report and provided an overview of its contents.? Discussion followed.
Andrew Cutrofello raised concerns regarding the increase in the fee for Dissertation Supervision for 2002-03 and stated that the imposition of increases should be slowed down. Dean Yost discussed the rationale for the increase; he said he would communicate concerns regarding the increase to the university?s Finance division and that The Graduate School would provide Council members with data on similar fees at comparable institutions.
Discussion with Michael Garanzini, S.J.
Dr. Caughie introduced Michael Garanzini, S.J., president of the university, and posed several questions regarding graduate education and research at Loyola University Chicago:
1. What is the future of graduate education at Loyola as you see it, including both master?s and Ph.D. programs?
2. What is the future of research at Loyola?
3. Where do you see Loyola?s graduate programs positioned five years from now, locally and nationally, and in relation to other Jesuit institutions?
4. What are your ideas on graduate program review? How might graduate programs be reviewed in the future?
Fr. Garanzini discussed the university?s strategic agenda and commented on the issue of review of academic programs.? He stated that he envisions review of graduate programs as a part of departmental review, and a process that involves primarily the department and the deans.? He encouraged the use of external (to the university) reviewers as part of the process, and cautioned against reviewing more frequently than perhaps a seven year cycle because it overburdens the departments.
Council members asked and Fr. Garanzini responded to questions on the following topics: Loyola University Chicago?s position in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, inter-campus connections, distance learning, the university?s financial status, and plans for fundraising and development.? Fr. Garanzini responded positively to the goal of maintaining Loyola?s position in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, but emphasized that this must be done subject to very tight resources.? He also responded enthusiastically to implementing the technological improvements necessary to increase connections between the campuses and departments (teleconferencing, etc.).? In terms of his vision for graduate education at Loyola, he emphasized building on specific strengths and moving away from generic Ph.D.s.? Responding to a question on distance learning, he asserted that he remains skeptical about totally web-based delivery of programs.?? Fr. Garanzini also discussed the university's financial situation, noting that he is still working on getting the budgeting process up to par.? His guiding principle, however, is clear?discretionary, not across the board cuts.? He outlined plans for fundraising and development to be instituted in two years, which will include school-based teams and a focus on raising money for scholarships and endowed chairs.
Approval of Minutes
The Council approved by a unanimous vote the minutes of the February 1, 2002 regular meeting.
Chair's Report
Dr. Caughie reported on the following items: her letter to Larry Braskamp, vice president for academic affairs, regarding scheduling of graduate courses; the AAUP forum on faculty workload; and faculty participation in governance bodies.? [The text of Dr. Caughie's report is attached.]
Nominating Committee Report
Susan Hirsch, chair of the Nominating Committee, noted that the following members have tentatively agreed to serve on the Executive Committee for the 2002-03 academic year: Pamela Caughie, Marcia Maurer, Pauline Viviano, Diane Suter, Joseph Durlak, and Fred Kniss.? Dr. Hirsch stated that, because she will likely not be a member of the Council next year, the Council will likely need to select a chair for 2002-03.? She stated that a formal slate of candidates for each officer position will be presented at the April 26, 2002 meeting.
Dr. Hirsch reported that the Committee selected Patricia Mooney-Melvin, associate professor of history, as the 2002 Graduate School Faculty Member of the Year.
Curriculum Committee Report
Marcia Maurer, chair of the Curriculum Committee, introduced the proposed policy statement on distance learning and reported that the Committee recommends its adoption. Discussion followed.
Pauline Viviano stated that the definition of the term distance learning should be more specific. Dr. Maurer agreed to revise the definition.
David Chinitz moved to strike the final sentence of the Philosophy section. Joseph Durlak seconded the motion.? Discussion followed. Fred Kniss offered a friendly amendment to Dr. Chinitz?s motion that would strike only the part of the sentence following regular course load. The Council approved the motion, as amended, by a vote of 17 in favor, 3 opposed, 2 abstentions.
Following further discussion, Dr. Chinitz moved that policy #1 be amended by replacing overseen by qualified faculty with overseen by qualified members of the graduate faculty. Dr. Durlak seconded the motion. Discussion followed. Barney Berlin moved to call the question. Dr. Cutrofello objected to calling the question. The Council approved calling the question by a vote of 19 in favor, 2 opposed, 1 abstention. The Council defeated Dr. Chinitz's motion by a vote of 2 in favor, 17 opposed, 3 abstentions.
Following further discussion, The Council adopted the policy statement by a vote of 18 in favor, 2 opposed, 2 abstentions.
Dr. Maurer introduced a proposed new M.A. Program in Bioethics and Health Policy and several proposed new courses, and reported that the Committee recommends approval of the program and courses. Discussion followed. Timothy O?Connell moved to table the proposals due to insufficient time for discussion. The motion was seconded. The Council approved the motion to table vote of 17 in favor, 5 opposed, 0 abstentions.
Adjournment
Dr. Caughie adjourned the meeting at 3:10 p.m.
Council of Graduate School Programs
Friday, April 5, 2002
Chair's Report:
1. In response to the motion passed at our February meeting, I wrote to Dr. Braskamp asking that Dean Yost and, when appropriate, the Council of Graduate School Programs should be involved in all phases of decision-making regarding 400- and 500- level courses, including decisions on section size, the number of sections necessary to mount successful programs, and the development of innovations, such as section-sharing among programs. I pointed out that some courses may be required for graduation, and that canceling courses may result in students taking more independent studies, thus increasing the workload for some faculty, and may impede students? progress toward graduation.? Dr. Braskamp responded quickly that the proposal was good and that he accepted our recommendation.
2. Last meeting we discussed Dean Yost?s concern that representatives from this Council were not being appointed to key committees. When Dr. Braskamp responded to my letter, he also said he would consult (which he did) the chair of the Council on recommendations for the workload committee.? I recommended various members of the Executive Committee and Susan Hirsch is now serving on that committee.
3. Since our last meeting the chairs of Faculty Council, Academic Council, Graduate Council and the AAUP president have gotten together to discuss common concerns and initiatives. The recent forum on workload was one such initiative that we supported (Diane Suter moderated). One concern that the three chairs of these councils share is what I somewhat dramatically call a crisis in leadership. Bren Murphy pointed out that only 20% of the faculty vote for representatives for Faculty Council. [I have heard since then that the response is more like 40%.] She also noted that some members regularly fail to attend the meetings.? John McCarthy noted that while attendance at Academic Council is less of a problem, the ability to find effective leaders to serve as chair is a problem.? And Susan Hirsch has faced the problem others have in the past of not being able to get faculty to agree to serve on the Executive Committee, especially in the role of chair.
