Council of Graduate School Programs
Regular Meeting
November 2, 2001
Marquette Center, Room 30, Water Tower Campus
MINUTES
[Approved, 11/30/01]
Members Present: Gad Bensinger, Steven Brown, Pamela Caughie (chair), David Chinitz, Andrew Cutrofello, Fran Daly, Joseph Durlak, Mary Elsbernd, O.S.F., Anthony Giaquinto, Susan Hirsch, Stephen Jones, Claudio Katz, James Keenan, Fred Kniss, Randolph Lucente, Michael Maher, Marcia Maurer, Steven Michels, Duarte Mota de Freitas, Philip Nyden, Marie Opatrny, David Ozar, Diane Suter, Pauline Viviano, Yolande Wersching.
Members Excused: Barney Berlin, Mark Frasier, Maureen Hellwig, Mary Manteuffel, Joan McLane, David Mitchell, E.J. Neafsey, Alan Wolfe.
Graduate School Deans: Trevor Bechtel, Max Caproni, William Yost.
Guest: Shelley Roberts (attending for Barney Berlin).
Call to Order
Pamela Caughie, chair of the Council, called the meeting to order at 1:00 p.m.
Approval of Minutes
Diane Suter moved to approve the minutes of the Council's September 28, 2001 regular meeting. The Council approved the minutes without revision by a unanimous vote.
Dean's Report
William Yost distributed a written report and two supplementary documents: "The Costs and Benefits of Doctoral (Ph.D.) Education at Loyola University Chicago," and "Niched, Focused, Specialized, Non-Generic - Synonyms for the Future of Graduate Education at Loyola University Chicago." Dean Yost provided an overview of the material and of the October 26, 2001 president's retreat. Discussion followed and clarified several points. First, that in any cuts of assistantship stipend budget, Dean Yost would try to honor commitments to current students eligible for renewal of their assistantships. Second, that the criteria by which departments are judged should recognize contribution to society as well as academic reputation, since the former is a central part of the mission.
Dr. Caughie requested that Council members communicate further comments or questions on the dean's material via e-mail or at the Council's November 30 meeting.
Chair's Report
Dr. Caughie reported on her correspondence with Fr. Garanzini regarding the invitation for him to meet with the Council, which he declined. During the discussion that followed, the Council agreed not to press the invitation to the President and to send a delegation to meet with him if and only if Dean Yost believed it would help support graduate programs.
Dr. Caughie noted that because of the absence of several Council members from LUMC due to St. Albert's Day events, the Council would not take formal action on any business affecting LUMC graduate programs.
Dr. Caughie raised the following questions for Dean Yost:
a. Have any guidelines been established that indicate what size a graduate program at Loyola should be? That is, how small is too small?
b. Is size based on the number of students enrolled in a program? The number of degrees awarded? Over how many years?
c. Is the size of comparable graduate programs considered in determining the right size for a program at Loyola?
d. If programs are to reduce their size, how should they go about downsizing without risking termination for being too small?
Curriculum Committee Report
Marcia Maurer, chair of the Curriculum Committee, reported that the Committee plans to address issues regarding distance learning (e.g., web-based courses) at the Council's November 30 meeting.
Program Review Committee
James Keenan, chair of the Program Review Committee, reported that the Committee plans to report on and make recommendations regarding the review of graduate programs in Chemistry at the Council's November 30 meeting.
Surveys of Graduate Programs
Dr. Caughie summarized graduate program directors' responses to surveys on the future of graduate education at Loyola and on interdisciplinary programs. In the discussion that followed, Dean Yost stated that there would be administrative support for interdisciplinary programs and that the size of programs should be judged by enrollment in 400 and 500 level courses, not the number of M.A. or Ph.D. students.
New Business
No new business was raised.
Adjournment
Andrew Cutrofello moved that the meeting adjourn. Dr. Caughie adjourned the meeting at 3:00 p.m.