December 5, 2001

Present: Robert E. Davis, Robert O'Connell, Barbara Nolan, Daniel Hallahan, Pamela Kulbok, Aaron Laushway, Robert Grainger Guest: Aaron Mills, Department of Environmental Sciences

Robert E. Davis, Chair of the Academic Afairs Committee, called the meeting to order.

The minutes for the November 12 meeting were distributed, review, and approved unanimously.

Subcommittee Reports:

Subcommittee on Graduate Student Support (Non-Funding Issues), Richard Warner Chair

Robert E. Davis reported on the work of this Subcommittee. Mr. Warner was unable to attend the meeting. Mr. Davis reported that Todd Price, President of the Graduate Student Council, and Jill Phillips, a member of the Graduate Student Council, attended the last Subcommittee meeting, to help the Subcommittee determine what graduate students perceive to be the problems. One problem identified is the need for a centralized space for graduate students to meet to socialize and network. The Graduate Student council will survey members regarding possible uses for graduate student space. Space options are being explored by the Subcommittee, and they will also get information regarding peer institutions graduate student space and programs. The question was asked, "Why don't graduate students have space at Newcomb Hall?" It was suggested that graduate students could go to Student Council to request space at Newcomb Hall. In addition, the Subcommittee will continue to work with Duane Osheim and Joel Hockensmith on ways to improve graduate student recruiting efforts at the University.

Subcommittee on the Dissertation-Year Fellowships, Robert J. Davis, Chair

The Subcommittee will have its next meeting on December 10, 2001. There will be 11 fellowships funded, with some being targeted to specific schools. Five will go to the College, two will go to Engineering, and four will be "floaters," without targeted schools. The fellowships will be open to graduate students in their final year that have excelled both in teaching and research. A selection committee will review the applications in February or March of 2002. Each fellowship recipient will receive approximately $20,000, of which $3,000 is to be used for tuition and fees. There will be a banquet for the fellowship recipients in April 2002. A draft that outlines the announcement and guidelines for applying for a fellowship was distributed. There were suggestions made for revisions to the draft, and a revised draft will soon be distributed.

Subcommittee on Graduate Student Funding, Robert O'Connell, Chair

Mr. O'Connell said the Subcommittee has come up with some ideas and is making progress on the Subcommittee's charge. There have been two meetings of the Subcommittee, and one of those meetings included the members of the Faculty Senate Executive Council and Yoke San Reynolds, Vice President for Finance. There are still many questions to be addressed. The Subcommittee will complete a list of financial questions/issues that need answers, Mr. O'Connell said. How are graduate students defined (there are two categories of graduate students, in terms of funding), and what are the salaries of graduate students at peer institutions, are two issues that will be addressed by the Subcommittee.

The Committee adjourned at 1:30 p.m.