Graduate Council Meeting Minutes

Wednesday, February 4, 2004

207 McDonough at 12 noon

In attendance: Dave McShaffrey (Chair), Jim O'Donnell, Bill Bauer, Mark Sibicky, Tina Ullman, Cathy Brown, Dan Huck, Sharon Douglass.

Meeting minutes from January 21, 2004, were approved.

Items: Papers/projects for enhanced courses: Members discussed the necessity of requiring additional papers/projects for students in enhanced undergraduate courses being taken for graduate credit. These requirements are listed in the graduate catalog and Council has the duty to ensure that these standards are maintained.

Constitution sections for Graduate Council: This item is on the agenda for the February 9, 2004, faculty meeting.  If the proposal does not pass, then Council will operate according to the current constitution; proposals for graduate courses/programs will continue to be presented to both groups for approval.

Mild/Moderate Learners Certification program proposal: Bauer outlined the program and fielded questions: this program will introduce 9 new courses to the M.A. Ed. program; the Counseling program (11 courses) is being phased out completely with all students currently enrolled finishing by spring semester 2005; faculty teaching the Counseling courses will be available and have the credentials necessary to teach the proposed courses; applicants to the program must already be licensed to teach, have a 3.0 minimum undergraduate GPA, and take the MAT; certification can be completed as quickly as 1 ½ years; student teaching can be completed in the summer school for children with disabilities which will take place on the MC campus; the summer school will be organized by students fulfilling their field experience requirement; every course will have a 15 page paper plus presentation requirement. The report by the State Superintendents Task Force for Preparing Special Education Personnel outlines the need in Ohio for teachers with this certification. Brown stated there is regional interest in this program; she has received inquiries about MC offering special education certification. McShaffrey suggested adjusting the Internship course number. Members discussed whether syllabi for each course will be required as part of the proposal package. The syllabi issue was tabled until the results of the faculty vote on the constitution are known.

Council voted unanimously to give tentative approval to the Mild/Moderate Learners Certification program, with final approval to be given if the constitutional changes are approved; otherwise the proposal will be sent to the curriculum committee.

Next meeting scheduled for Wednesday, February 18, 2004, 12 noon, 207 McDonough.

Meeting adjourned at 12:55 pm.