Furman University
Graduate Council
May 15, 2007
MINUTES
The Graduate Council met in its final session of the 2006-07 school year on May 15, 2007 at 3:00 PM in the Graduate Studies conference room.
Members present: Nelly Hecker, Tom Kazee, Julian Reed and Tom Kazee
The Agenda of the meeting is attached.
After approving the minutes from the 9/28/06 meeting, Nelly Hecker and Troy Terry updated the Council on the search for a coordinator/assistant professor of TESOL, the TESOL grants applied for and denied through CHE, and the ongoing viability of the program.
Dr. Hecker updated the Council on the ongoing search for an assistant professor in Statistics and Measurement/Research. Candidate Temi Bidjerano will be visiting and interviewing on May 21, 2007.
The new Literacy Concentration, first discussed in September, was presented. The SDE is expected to recommend approval to the SC Board of Education on June 15, 2007. The first students in the new concentration will begin in Fall 2007 with expected completion by August 2009. The lengthy application will have to have additional revisions as the courses are taught for the first time, but it is expected that after the first 10 students matriculate, we will submit the program to the appropriate SPA (IRA) for NCATE program approval.
The following action items on the agenda were approved:
1) Course number changes – ED195 PDW: Curriculum and Instruction for Gifted and Talented = EDSP 113/685
ED 195 PDW: Nature & Needs of Gifted and Talented Students = EDSP 114/686
Educational Leadership: 3 changes (attached) name change for EDSL 123 Finance; a new course (Dept. approved) EDSL 118/718 Organization and Control of American Schools (will replace EDFD 108 in School Leadership Concentration core requirements); and EDSL 124 Personnel will now replace EDSL 127 Strategic Planning in the required course sequence (Both are prior approved catalog courses).
New Course: EDSP 115: Best Practices in Teaching Mathematics in the Elementary School
2) In light of a transfer course request in TESOL that includes an online course, the following decision was made:
The Director of Graduate Studies in concert with the concentration area coordinators will continue to review course transfer requests on a case by case basis. The fact that a course is an electronic, online, or distance learning course will no longer result in an automatic denial. Other factors will be considered including if the course is from an accredited institution, if the course is the same as a current course (pending description/syllabi review) and if the course has a ‘regular’ course parallel (is offered both online and on campus). The Director will continue to use ‘due diligence’ to review transfer course requests to insure that they meet Furman’s standards of excellence.
3) The presentation of a ‘draft’ of a new concentration in Liberal Studies was encouraged to move forward by the Council. The new concentration will not lead to additional certification but will offer current secondary content majors, as well as music and HES candidates, an option for an MA at Furman, especially in the fifth year program. The current draft lists a number of courses already taught in the program as electives as well as ‘cross-listed’ undergraduate courses currently offered in summer. The Council approved ongoing revision with input from the Registrar as well as the Education Faculty. The Council chair will continue to revise this program and will present an updated report and/or draft at the September Council meeting.
Next meeting date will be in late September. The Chair will advise all members once the Fall Term begins.
The meeting was adjourned.