November 12, 2001

Present: Robert E. Davis, Richard Warner, Kenneth Elzinga, Robert J. Davis, Daniel Hallahan, Pamela Kulbok, Robert O'Connell

Guest: Joel Hockensmith, Assistant Dean, Graduate Programs, School of Medicine

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

The October 5, 2001, minutes were review and approved.

Subcommittee Reports:

Dissertation-Year Fellowships, Robert J. Davis, Chair

· The program is being funded with contributions from the School of Engineering, Arts and Sciences, the Jefferson Scholars Program, and the Office of the Provost.

· The subcommittee will identify a name for the program.

· The subcommittee will evaluate the nomination packages.

· Teaching and research will both be criteria considered when evaluating the fellowship packages.

Graduate Student Funding, Robert O'Connell, Co-Chair and Aaron Mills, Co-Chair

· The first meeting was held. The subcommittee will use the Graduate Student Support Report that was written by a committee chaired by Aaron Mills, as the starting point for creating a revised report on graduate student support. The report will be distributed widely to the University community.

· The subcommittee will meet with Yoke San Reynolds, Vice President for Finance, to discuss graduate student funding and tuition differentials.

· There has been a 21% decline in graduate student applications in Arts & Sciences.

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

· The first meeting was held on November 2, 2001.

· The subcommittee reviewed the Table Reports, from the Faculty Senate Retreat.

· The subcommittee will focus on two issues that came from the Table Reports, the creation of a graduate studies center, and graduate recruitment efforts.

Joel Hockensmith discussed how the School of Medicine addresses graduate student issues and recruitment.

· Advertising

· Setting up booths at functions, to include visual and written information

· Unique email alias for tracking "hits" on informational websites Mr. Hockensmith commented that visual and time-enhanced websites tend to get more hits, or potential graduate applicants. There is a average of one applicant for every eight hits on a website.

The meeting adjourned at 5:00 p.m.