Minutes of the Meeting of the Graduate Council

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE GRADUATE COUNCIL November 5, 1999

PRESENT: Dr. Taylor, Dr. Prasad, Dr. Watson, Dr. Chitwood, Dr. Bush, Dr. Williamson, Dr. Labuda for Dr. Buskes, Dr. J. Cole, Dr. D. Cole, and Dr. Eftink.

ABSENT: Dr. Eagles, Dr. Cook, Mr. McCants, and Dean Meador.

1. The minutes of October 15, 1999 were approved. 2. On a motion by Taylor, seconded by Bush, the following new text for item B in the Request for Approval of New Graduate Course form was approved:

B. For a course proposed at the 500 level (which allows undergraduates to enroll for undergraduate credit): For graduate level credit, the breadth and depth of the learning experience must be greater than for undergraduate credit. Graduate study must be at a level of complexity and specialization that extends the knowledge and intellectual maturity of the student. It must require graduate students to analyze, explore, question, reconsider, and synthesize old and new knowledge and skills. Therefore, the syllabus must clearly explain the different expectations for graduate and undergraduate students concerning course content, assignments, individual projects, grading policy, and any other relevant requirements.

3. On a motion by Williamson, seconded by Taylor, the Council approved the following revised admission criteria statement for inclusion in the Graduate Catalog:

GRADUATE ADMISSION CRITERIA

The Graduate School at The University of Mississippi recognizes the necessity of multiple criteria in admission decisions. These criteria include scores on standardized tests (i.e., the GRE general exam, GMAT, or PRAXIS) and undergraduate and/or graduate grade point average and course completion record, and may include research and practical experiences, evidence of skill (e.g., a writing sample), letters of recommendation, and scores on an English proficiency exam (i.e., the TOEFL), in the case of applicants whose native language is not English.

An official standardized test score report, an official TOEFL score report (if applicable), and an official transcript(s) are required before an application for degree-seeking status will be reviewed. When multiple GRE score reports exist, the most recent scores are considered applicable and individual sub-scores (in verbal, quantitative, and analytical reasoning) are not selected from among tests taken on different days. An undergraduate gpa is calculated over the last 60 hours. Letters of recommendation and material such as writing samples are optional requirements of academic departments.

In order to be recommended for admission in Full-Standing by an academic department, an applicant must be competitive with respect to the pool of recent applicants in the above multiple criteria. It is usually expected that a successful applicant will have an undergraduate gpa of 3.0 and will have standardized test scores that are competitive for the discipline. The University recognizes no minimum cut-off scores for these criteria, nor does the University guarantee Full-Standing admission to individuals who have competitive scores on one or more of this objective criteria, since other criteria are also considered. Admissions decisions may also take into consideration the availability of resources within a department.

In addition, in order to assure full consideration for admission, applications should be received according to the following schedule, although some programs may establish an earlier deadline and some departments consider applications at any time. General Graduate School target deadlines: April 1 for Fall and Summer enrollment; October 1 for Spring enrollment.

Applicants whose admission credentials, as judged by the academic departments and the Graduate School, are less than those expected for Full-Standing status may be admitted with conditions. For example, if an applicant has a GPA between 2.7-3.0, or GRE sub- scores that are marginally competitive, he or she may be admitted as conditional. Applicants whose credentials are significantly deficient in required undergraduate course work within the discipline may be admitted as Qualifying.

Conditional students are required to obtain a 3.0 gpa during their first 9 hours of graduate course work (i.e., during their first semester for full-time students) in order to be advanced to Full-Standing. Students who fail to advance to Full-Standing after their first 9 hours of enrollment will be changed to Non-Degree II status.

If a student is admitted in the Qualifying status, he or she must receive from the pertinent department a list of undergraduate courses (up to 15 hours work) to be taken to remove the deficiency.

4. On a motion by Prasad, seconded by Williamson the following new courses in the School of Engineering were approved:

M E 538. EXPERIMENTAL CHARACTERIZATION OF POLYMETRIC COMPOSITES. Methods for the experimental characterization of polymeric Composites. Topics include testing standards, test methods, and data analysis precedes. (3).

M E 540. FAILURE ANALYSIS. Tools, techniques, and theories of failure analysis. Topics include failure analysis tools, mechanical aspects of failure analysis, macrofactographic features, and the role of failure in design. (3).

M E 555. HEATING VENTILATING AND AIR-CONDITIONING (HVAC). The theory and design of HVAC systems for buildings with emphasis of fundamental principles, regulations, and design. (3). 5. On a motion by Watson, seconded by Bush, the following new courses in the Department of Biology were approved, subject to the department submitting a more detailed syllabus.

BISC 526. SURVEY OF THE AMPHIBIA. An introduction to the taxonomy, morphology, and evolution of salamanders, frogs, and caecilians. This course may not be counted for credit if BISC 640 is counted. (3).

BISC 527. SURVEY OF THE REPTILIA. An introduction to the taxonomy, morphology, and evolution of crocodilians, snakes, lizards, amphisbaenians, and turtles. May not be counted for credit if BISC 641 is counted. (3).

Dr. Eftink announced that The University of Mississippi's Graduate Student Council was selected as the Graduate/Professional Organization of the year for its outstanding service at the local and national level by The National Associaton of Graduate-Professional Students organization.

The meeting adjourned at 4:30 PM

Maurice R. Eftink, Chair

Robert C. Khayat, Chancellor

Recommendations of the Council are unofficial until approved by the Chancellor.