Wednesday, December 4, 2024 

9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
LJH 325

 

Council in Attendance: 
Marc Giullian (Business)
Rollin Beamish (Arts)
Kari Perry (Student Representative)
Craig Ogilvie (Dean of The Graduate School)
Katey Franklin (Health & Human Development)
Anna French (Student Representative)
Rob Maher (Faculty Senate)
Catherine Dunlop (Letters)
Stephan Warnat (Engineering)
Ezgi Balkanay (Architecture)
Brennan Reeves (Office of International Programs)
Sarah Mannheimer (Library)
Amy Reines (Sciences)
Sweeney Windchief (Education)


Also in Attendance: 
Emily Peters (Graduate School) 
Lauren Cerretti (Graduate School) 


Absent:
Akash Gulati (Student Representative)
Wade Hill (Nursing)
Ryan Thum (Agriculture)

Meeting started at 9:30 a.m.

 

November 20, 2024 minutes

  • Motion to approve by Beamish, Dunlop 2nd, 5 in favor, 0 opposed, 0 abstained

Announcements

  • Update from the Dean
    • JAGs:
      • Deadline for doctoral chair: add back in a department head could assign a chair if one isn’t appointed in the first two semesters. It’s the department’s responsibility to assign a chair.
      • Appeal policy. Legal made wording changes, but doesn’t change the essence of the policy. 2nd step, Dean of Students “must” be consulted was changed to “may” consult with the Dean of Students, only if it’s a behavioral/conduct issue. Changed “must” to “shall” in some places. Paragraph was changed to bullet points.
      • 1 cr extension approved by JAGs with no changes
    • Shorelight going live for Fall 2025, international student recruitment
      • Discussion on housing to accommodate
  • Faculty Senate update
    • Last meeting of the fall semester today
      • Tracy Ellig attending to discuss upcoming legislative session
      • Human Resources policies
      • Maher reported to Faculty Senate about the graduate student presentation
      • JAGs reviewed 3 policies, moving to Faculty Senate

Old Business

  • Using “suspended” or “dismissed” in failed comprehensive/defense policy
    • JAGs tentatively approved using the word “dismissed” when committee determines not making progress, conditional admission, using “suspended” for GPA
      • Policy subcommittee will review and revise for first spring meeting

New Business

  • Possible update to ETD guidance
    • Guidance (not policy) on Graduate School website. Ask UGC to review and provide feedback on any significant changes. 3 proposed updates:
      • 1) Broader impacts: students can describe the broader impacts of their works in a chapter of their thesis or dissertation, include definition of broader impacts
        • Discussion
          • Offers clear guidance for science. Could provide separate humanities guidance. Dunlop will email Dean Ogilvie for humanities.
      • 2) Add in guidelines that students who do a master’s before their doctorate can use their thesis as a chapter in their dissertation (this would be an option not a requirement)
        • Data shows that students completing a master’s and doctorate at MSU increases TTD
        • If a student completed their master’s at a different university, can that thesis be included in their MSU dissertation?
          • Language is “post” not “publish,” so it would be allowed, is not considered a duplication
        • Comment: students see 2 required on The Graduate School website and think that’s the requirement. Should say that the minimum requirement is up to the committee or department.
          • Suggest removing “necessary”
          • Helpful to have some guidance on the typical number
          • Will review wording
      • 3) Appendices
        • Change language to define the purpose of appendices and what should be included, but Graduate School staff will not review/enforce what can be allowed in the appendix

  • Behind the graduate mental health crisis in science article
    • Review article
      • Aspects of graduate school that severely exacerbate anxiety or depression: comparison with others, lack of structure, unreasonable expectations, negative reinforcement
    • Discussion
      • Function of the advisor is impactful
        • Graduate School experience extremely dependent on your advisor
        • Training for faculty
        • Policies regarding retaliation, protections, and resources for students to empower graduate students to raise concerns
      • Culture of high expectation in graduate school
      • Note basic needs weren’t analyzed in this survey
      • Thinking about the network of support around the student
        • Mentor map
        • CFE can lead workshops for departments
      • Recognize some level of stress is inevitable, incorporate coping mechanisms and effective strategies
        • Difference in anxiety and depression versus stress
      • Lack of understanding for current faculty to understand the stressors of students today
      • Ecological model for college student development. Peer group, policies of the institution, make system changes toward mental health.
      • Lack of structure identified as huge stressor. Maintaining graduate handbooks is a good first step.
        • Balance between structure and flexibility to foster creativity
        • Structure helps with the hidden curriculum
      • Integrating mentor workshop to the faculty orientation?
        • Need to address culture at the department level
      • Professional development requirement for junior faculty incentivizes attendance
        • More incentives for senior faculty?
      • Graduate School create template for departmental handbooks?
        • UGC developed handbooks in the past
      • Graduate School working on social isolation aspect
        • Spring wellness week theme is “Connection”

 

Public comment

 

Adjourned at 11:01 am

Next scheduled meeting – TBD